At around three o'clock in the afternoon, a secret telegram from Washington was transmitted to the headquarters of the US military in the Philippines. A few minutes later, the telegram was translated, and the Americans collectively exploded - "The Pacific Fleet was attacked and the entire army was destroyed -" "
God, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor!”…
The telegram was quickly sent to MacArthur. The old American man was initially annoyed because the staff officer who sent the telegram looked panicked. After scanning the telegram, he felt his head explode, and he swayed twice, almost being kicked on the butt.
He fell straight down and sat down. "How is it possible? There must be a mistake -" he murmured in his mouth. After a few minutes, he came back to his senses and shouted in a deep voice with a pale face: "Hurry up and give it to Gu
Nate called and asked him to order all the troops in Mindanao to enter a state of combat readiness immediately. The Japanese, the Japanese are crazy!"
The Japanese Combined Fleet's attack on Pearl Harbor was indeed crazy. Not to mention that it was still the storm season in the Pacific. The 6,300-kilometer voyage alone included nearly a hundred warships, and there were countless possible factors for accidents. So in MacArthur's view, it was not so much that
This action of the Japanese was a sneak attack, more like a gamble. However, the fact is that the Japanese won the gamble - the Japanese were so crazy! The Pacific Fleet is the United States' greatest reliance to protect its interests in the Far East. Now
However, the entire army was destroyed, which means that the North Pacific has been dominated by the Japanese Combined Fleet for a considerable period of time since then. As an island country, the Philippines, without the Pacific Fleet, would be like a woman taking off her clothes, and its safety would be
There is no guarantee at all - MacArthur thought this way, his face switching between red and white, completely losing his calm and calm temperament. Then, with a map of Mindanao and the surrounding waters, he kept sending out
Various orders. So with Cebu City as the center, the US military stationed in the Philippines, including all the Philippine troops under its jurisdiction, were all mobilized. In just a quarter of an hour, all the Philippine Islands, except Palawan Island, which was indirectly abandoned, were nervously and
It was enveloped in a busy atmosphere of war preparations.
A quarter of an hour later, after issuing several orders, MacArthur woke up and remembered Guo Kui and his Second Expeditionary Army. He was about to send Pace to invite Guo Kui over, but Guo Kui had already arrived uninvited.
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Guo Kui came with Chief of Staff Huang Hua. After he and MacArthur separated, he went back to the headquarters of the Second Expeditionary Army and held a small war preparation meeting with Huang Hua, Guo Da and others. Huang Hua and Guo Da
After hearing the news that the Japanese expeditionary fleet appeared in the Sulu Sea far away from Zamboanga, they all agreed with Guo Kui's view and believed that the Japanese might really launch an attack this time.
The defense situation in Mindanao was adjusted accordingly, and then Guo and Huang came to MacArthur together to remind the old American to be more vigilant.
When MacArthur saw Guo Kui, he smiled bitterly and said: "Commander Guo, it is indeed unfortunate for you to say so. The Japanese really cannot judge by common sense!"
Guo Kui still didn't know about the Japanese combined fleet's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, and the military situation was raging. He didn't dwell on the topic anymore and asked directly: "How many nautical miles are the Japanese still away from Zamboanga?"
"I just received a report from Brereton that Japanese fighter planes have already headed towards Zamboanga. It is estimated that Zamboanga will be bombed by the first round in ten minutes!"
"Didn't Brereton send fighter planes to support him?"
"It's definitely too late this time."
After MacArthur became the commander-in-chief of the US military in the Philippines, he ordered the construction of a front-line airport in Cebu City. However, it now seems that his decision was conservative. Cebu City is four to five hundred meters away from Zamboanga and General Santos City.
kilometers, even if they could detect the movements of Japanese bombers in advance, it would not be enough to rush over to support them immediately.
Guo Kui frowned and said: "If we lose air control, sea control will become empty talk. General, with all due respect, if we can't find a way to seize air control, then Zamboanga won't be able to defend it for long!"
"I know. Commander Guo, I heard that your army's special artillery regiment is very good at air defense. I don't know-"
The special artillery regiment is Huang Hua's old unit and is still under his command. He answered: "Our special artillery regiment is still in Malawi. It will take at least seven or eight hours to reach Zamboanga. The question is, can Zamboanga
Will you hold on for so long?”
MacArthur pondered for a while and said: "We have a division in Zamboanga, plus a brigade of your army. If the scale of the Japanese bombing and artillery attacks is limited, we should be able to hold it for seven or eight hours."
Huang Hua said unceremoniously: "I hope the Japanese will lower the scale of bombing and artillery attacks - General, I hear you say, you have no confidence in holding Zamboanga! Where is your Far East Fleet? If the dispatch of the Far East Fleet is delayed,
If it takes a period of time, let alone seven or eight hours, any longer will be fine."
"I have communicated with Admiral Hart. We believe that without aviation support, the Far East Fleet alone may not be the opponent of the Japanese Expedition Fleet. Chief of Staff Huang, you have no idea about the situation of the Far East Fleet.
Understand, we lack heavyweight ships..."
Although Guo Kui had not been in contact with the senior officials of the US military in the Philippines led by Huang Hua and MacArthur for a long time, he had a certain understanding of their character. Americans like to make decisions before taking action and do not like to do things that are uncertain.
This is not necessarily a bad quality, but it is definitely not suitable for the ever-changing battlefield. Guo Kui and Huang Hua have followed Ouyang Yun for a long time, and their personalities are somewhat influenced by him. They advocate adventure and like to fight their way out of desperate situations. In this case, they are special.
He couldn't stand the way Americans behaved like this. Before MacArthur could finish his words, he was interrupted by Huang Hua with a sneer: "Without the support of the aviation force? What about General Brereton's Far East Air Force? A distance of more than 400 kilometers.
, they can arrive at the battlefield in just a few hours. If the time difference is calculated, they can definitely have a good fight with little Japan!"
Huang Hua acted a bit aggressively and his words were extremely disrespectful. In normal times, MacArthur would have launched a furious counterattack long ago. However, now, because Hart's Far East Fleet is still in Manila Bay, it is impossible to catch up in a short time.
to the battlefield, so even though he was furious, he could only maintain restraint. The old American man took off his military cap, scratched his hair in an inelegant manner, then gritted his teeth and told Guo and Huang the truth while looking at each other.
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Guo Kui's nose became angry when he heard this, and asked: "Sir, are you kidding me? The Japanese Expeditionary Fleet has been operating along the west coast of the Sulu Sea for a long time. Isn't Admiral Hart at all vigilant?"
Huang Hua shook his head and said: "It will take at least a day and a night for the Far East Fleet to arrive from Manila Bay. What should we do now?"
Guo Kui: "What else can we do? Let's withdraw the garrison of Basilan Island first. If we do that and fight the Japanese, there may be a chance of improvement. Commander-in-Chief MacArthur, Zamboanga must not be lost. Once Zamboanga is lost,
The Japanese army will definitely take advantage of the situation to attack Negros Island. The defense force of Negros Island is weak. Once lost, the Western Expedition Fleet will be able to cut in from the strait between Negros Island and Mindanao Island. By that time, the defenders on Mindanao Island will
What should the army do?”
MacArthur scratched his head again: "Of course I know the importance of Zamboanga, but the Japanese are so despicable. Who would have thought that they would go to war without declaring it?" When the old American said this, he suddenly raised his head and confronted Guo Kui and Huang Hua.
Looking at it, he said seriously: "Commander Guo, Chief of Staff Huang, in order to improve combat efficiency, I solemnly suggest the establishment of a joint command. What are your opinions?"