After more than a month of negotiations between the Department of the Army and the Department of the Navy, the defense responsibilities of the United States in the Pacific region have finally been clarified. Today, Roosevelt held this meeting to determine the specific candidates and take office as soon as possible to deal with new attacks that may happen to the Japanese army at any time.
attack.
Miss Lehand pushed Roosevelt into the conference room, glanced at the navy and army generals in the conference room, smiled slightly, and instructed the staff to put a cup of fresh coffee in front of everyone before she left.
Roosevelt's face was grim: "Gentlemen, you must also know that Port Moresby, the largest port city in New Guinea, has fallen into the control of the Japanese army. According to the information from the intelligence department, they are now moving to the Solomon Islands, New Herbert and New Guinea.
Launch an attack on the Brides Islands and Fiji Islands. Once the deployment of peripheral forces is completed, a landing operation will be carried out towards Australia!
"Gentlemen, I don't ask you to make a perfect plan, but you must come up with a response plan as soon as possible, otherwise Australia and New Zealand will be lost, and we will lose the bridgehead for counterattack in the Pacific region, and the war will be delayed indefinitely!"
Chief of Naval Operations Harold Stark stood up, walked to the large Pacific map that the staff had prepared on the side of the conference room, picked up the baton, pointed at the map and said:
"I have to admit that we did not interfere too much with the Japanese occupation of the Lanyin Islands at the beginning. We only protested verbally, which was undoubtedly very wrong. After more than two years of development, the Japanese army built countless forts on the Lanyin Islands.
The military airports are only in the western part of New Guinea that it occupies, including Merauke, Jayapura, Obaka, Kimaan, Japero, Uda and other airports.
"In addition, the Japanese army has also built military airports in Kupang, Dili, Vik, Tuala and other places on the Timor Island of Australia. The B17 bombers they introduced technology from our country can completely cover the northern part of Australia and the Empire.
Wenhai, Arafura Sea and Coral Sea waters. From the beginning, our Pacific strategy has been in a passive position. As the Japanese Navy gained a decisive advantage in the Pacific after the Pearl Harbor incident, our strategic deployment has become increasingly passive.
....”
Roosevelt interrupted Stark: "Harold, I don't want to hear these complaints. I just want to know how to solve the current troubles? It's almost late February. If your navy and army staff still can't get it,
If we come up with a solution to the problem, I won’t mind replacing the right person again.”
Stark's face became very ugly, and after a while he said:
"The war we are conducting is mainly a battle for forward bases. In other words, it is a battle for the mainland and islands in the Pacific. The South Pacific battlefield includes the Lanyin Islands occupied by the Japanese army, the newly occupied New Guinea Island, and the New Guinea Islands.
The British Isles and New Ireland, the advancing Australian Eastern Islands, and the Australia and New Zealand we hold.
"Before the war broke out, we had made every effort to strengthen our forces in the South Pacific. So far, the Army has transferred one army division and three army brigades to Australia. Our Marine Corps has also formed
A temporary brigade was transferred to Samoa for reinforcements. Before last year, there was only a negligible battalion in the entire South Pacific region.
"After the war broke out, Army troops have been deployed to strategic points in Australia and New Guinea to defend against Japanese attacks. In previous battles, we have lost a brigade of troops in New Guinea. And the Marine Corps' temporary
The brigade, in cooperation with the New Zealand Guard, is responsible for the defense of the Fiji Islands, Tonga Islands, Samoa Islands, Cook Islands and Line Islands.
"Last year, when the European war was at its most intense, we built a series of air force bases on these islands to protect the major shipping routes from Hawaii, mainly Johnson, Palmyra and Guangdong Island. Now with
With the loss of Hawaii and the interruption of the Panama Canal, this shipping line has become useless. The Japanese army will never leave these islands alone and is expected to be occupied by the Japanese army in a short time. Since the Japanese army has vast colonies, there is no need to
If we deploy too many troops, just a few Japanese officers and a few companies of indigenous troops will be enough, but the threat to us will be infinite!
"To support Australia and New Zealand from the country, if you start from the east coast, you must go around Cape Horn in the south of South America, enter the Chatham Islands and Antipodes Islands from the southwest basin of the Pacific, and then arrive in New Zealand. Then from New Zealand and
Kermadec Islands and Norfolk Island support Australia. This sea route is currently the only safe sea route. In order to ensure safety, it is necessary to ensure the safety of New Caledonia, Fiji Islands, Tonga Islands and Samoa Islands.
For a long time to come, this place is very likely to become the focus of competition between us and the Japanese army.
"Because it occupies a large number of colonies and the Japanese army has sufficient troops, while competing with us for these islands in eastern Australia, it is very likely that a landing operation will be carried out from the northwest corner of northwest Australia, the Kimberley Plateau or Darwin Port, or it is also possible to launch a landing operation from Morz
Port Piraeus was used as a forward base to force a landing on the Cape York Peninsula. It was even possible for the enemy to launch an expedition, bypassing the western coast of Australia from the Lanyin Islands, and from the Indian Ocean to the Nullarbor Plain, Sparser Bay and Barbados in the Great Australian Bight.
A surprise attack was launched in the Sri Lanka Strait.
"In a word, since the Japanese Navy temporarily has sea control in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, we cannot contain the enemy's military actions. We can only defend step by step in Australia and the South Pacific region, stabilize our position first, and wait for opportunities to launch counterattacks. Here we will
It will be the main battlefield in the South Pacific. According to the agreement we reached with the Army Operations Department, we decided to establish the Supreme Allied Command of the Southwest Pacific Theater here, with General MacArthur as the commander-in-chief, and temporarily under the jurisdiction of one army division and three combat brigades.
, two Marine Corps brigades and six Australian divisions urgently formed from the Australian militia, and at the same time, the ships stranded in the waters surrounding Australia will be formed into the Seventh Fleet and allocated to the theater for use."
Roosevelt frowned in displeasure: "Why didn't you tell me this decision earlier? I just agreed two days ago that General MacArthur would lead his troops withdrawn from the Philippines to participate in the counterattack against the Japanese in northern China. Now the order has been changed.
How will the Nanjing government view us?"
Army Chief of Staff George Marshall stood up and said: "This decision was finally made after repeated consultations. Looking at the army, no one can have the prestige of Douglas. He said at Nanhua Xinjing Airport, 'I want more.
The declaration of "Go Back" has spread throughout the world. As the hero we vigorously promote, there is no one more suitable than him."
"So, what should China do?" Roosevelt asked.
Marshall replied: "We are going to send General Stilwell to replace Douglas. General Stilwell graduated from West Point Military Academy, participated in the last European War, and served as the attaché of the U.S. Embassy in China. From 1926 to 1929, he served in Tianjin.
He served as battalion commander of the 15th Infantry Regiment, chief of staff of the regiment, and then returned to China to serve as director of the Tactics Department of the Infantry School at Fort Benning. Five years ago, he went to China again as the military attache in China. He later visited Guangzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, and Nanning.
He served in the defense of Hankou, Xuzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang and other places. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War in China, he established an intelligence team to promptly report the progress of the war to the country. He returned to China two years ago and served as the commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division. He took up the post in January last year.
Commander of the 7th Division and commander of the Ord Barracks in Monterey City; promoted to major general in April, and served as commander of the Third Army when the army expanded in August.
"Originally we were planning to appoint General Stilwell as the Commander-in-Chief of the North African Expeditionary Force after Germany declared war on us, but now Germany has not declared war on us. Instead, the Pacific battlefield is full of war. In view of General Stilwell's close relationship with China,
, therefore, after consultation with the Naval Operations Department, we believe that he is the only suitable candidate to replace General MacArthur as the commander of the China Theater. In the future, after the Navy opens up the Indian Ocean channel, the Department can dispatch Australia to support operations there."
"Stilwell!?"
Roosevelt pondered for a moment, and after a while he remembered who this gentleman was, and was very satisfied: "Very good, General Stilwell has been to China many times and can speak Chinese fluently. He may be more adaptable to dealing with China than General MacArthur."
Dealing with people. This appointment is good, and the transfer order can be issued immediately after the meeting."
Stark was a little embarrassed: "There is a problem now. We don't know how to send General MacArthur to where he should go quickly and easily. The Japanese army has blocked all sea and air routes from Indochina to Australia.
It will take a month or two to return from Europe and venture from the West Coast to Australia. During this time, the war situation in Australia may not have undergone major changes, and we cannot afford to waste time!"
"I'll coordinate this!"
Roosevelt waved his hand and said with a smile: "The British have promised to return all the cultural relics they looted from China. Many of the Chinese cultural relics collected in our major museums are stolen. I am ready to return them when the time is right.
For the Chinese. South China has a naval force, including submarines acquired from the Far East Republic. I think General MacArthur can go directly to Australia on an ocean-going submarine. Of course, this may cause him some hardship, but this is the fastest way at the moment.
The safest way.”
Stark was very happy when he heard this, and then explained the battle situation based on the map.
"The North Pacific battlefield, this area includes Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. The Aleutian Islands are located in the southwest of Alaska, in the shape of a semicircular belt, from east to west, almost reaching the Kamchatka Peninsula in Asia, the entire length
More than 2,700 kilometers. Most of the islands in the Aleutian Islands are volcanic islands, and some volcanoes still have intermittent activity. The climate is affected by the Alaskan warm current and polar ocean air masses, with rain, fog and strong winds. The temperature difference between the four seasons is small. Due to the strong wind, there are no trees and no vegetation.
Mainly grassland and moss. In this area, we only have one battalion of the Marine Corps stationed in Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island. It must be strengthened again in the future, otherwise it is not ruled out that the Japanese army will launch an attack here.
In a sense, attacking Alaska is also an attack on our homeland in North America, which has great symbolic significance."
Secretary of State Cordell Hull frowned: "The Aleutian Islands and Alaska are desolate and dusty all year round. The Japanese would not dare to be interested. Now I am worried that their aircraft carrier task force may threaten our west coast."
After all, after bombing the Panama Canal, the mysterious fleet suddenly disappeared, so we must always be vigilant."
Stark did not argue and continued:
"The Central Pacific region includes a vast oceanic area, located north of the equator, extending from Hawaii to the Philippines, including the mainland of Japan. Most of this area is composed of small islands, and most of the coral reefs are
After the last European war, the Communist Party was appointed by the League of Nations to rule.
"The largest of these island groups is the Caroline Islands. From east to west, with the huge naval base of Turuk in the middle, it is known as the 'Pearl Harbor of Japan'. To the east is the Marshall Islands.
Its barrier is backed up by powerful bases on Shrike Island and Saipan. As the Japanese army raided Pearl Harbor and sent troops to land on Oahu, plus the Guam and Wake Island they occupied from our hands,
Midway and other islands, as well as the entire Central Pacific region, Japan has built a complete defense line. Through the airports built on these small islands, the Japanese army can continuously send locally produced fighter jets and bombers to Oahu to support
It has started a war in the entire Central Pacific region. If we launch a counterattack in the future, this island chain will become our biggest threat and obstacle.
"According to our coordination with the Army Operations Department, the Central Pacific and North Pacific regions have become a new theater - the Pacific Theater, with General Nimitz, commander of the Pacific Fleet, as commander-in-chief. The current main task of this theater is to prevent
The Japanese navy harassed our Pacific coast area. After accumulating enough strength, it launched a counterattack against the Japanese army. The primary goal was to capture the Hawaiian Islands and gain a fulcrum in the Pacific, and then advance steadily until it approached Japan.
Until the mainland of *.”
Roosevelt was not surprised by this appointment. He nodded, and then asked Donald Nelson, the newly appointed Director of the War Production Bureau: "Dear Donald, are you sure you can produce enough guns, ammunition, and ships and cannons to support frontline operations?"
?”
Before he became director of the War Production Bureau, Donald Nelson was the vice chairman of Hills-Roebuck Company and was very experienced in managing production. He answered without hesitation: "Yes, Mr. President. After I took office
Within two weeks, a ban had been issued on the production of 300 consumer goods, from quiche irons to toothpaste, canned beer and automobiles, all metal products, with priority given to ensuring war needs. Factories across the United States, all
We have shifted from manufacturing toys, sporting goods, catering tools and other civilian production to manufacturing guns and bullets. We are confident that by the end of the year, we will produce 25,000 aircraft, 25,000 tanks, 10,000 anti-aircraft guns and 4 million
tons of new ships to quickly reverse the decline in the war against Japan."
"No, this production plan is too conservative!"
Roosevelt shook his head and said without argument: "I will set a goal for you now - before the end of the year, the number of aircraft produced must reach 40,000, the number of tanks must also be 40,000, 20,000 anti-aircraft guns and 8 million new ships.
tons. Only such numbers can completely deter the Nazis and Nazis. They will think carefully about what their past achievements are. Such oppressive numbers will symbolize
America’s efforts to defeat the enemy and surpass the enemy in production in a total war that permeates our lives every moment.”
Donald Nelson was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "Dear Franklin, it seems that I am going to ban the production of hundreds of consumer goods again... Sigh, now my villa will probably be thrown by the angry crowd.
It’s full of rotten eggs and rotten tomatoes!”
All the participants, including Roosevelt and Hull, couldn't help but laugh. They unanimously concluded that when the American industrial sector carries out production vigorously as planned, no matter how great a victory the Communists win, they will eventually be defeated.
If defeated, the industrial power of the United States will produce more products than Japan, and its consumption alone will be enough to bring Japan down.
But, are things really that simple?
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