The French Concession incident in the early morning of the 24th caused too much fear and shocked all parties. Agence France-Presse described it as "a brutal and bloody attack unprecedented in the history of civilized society." France was shocked by the news.
The bad news caused an uproar. The government responded quickly and issued a statement that "it will conduct a rigorous investigation into the incident and resolutely
A solemn statement to punish those who commit violence. However, once the statement was released, it immediately aroused huge protests from anti-war opponents. The press published various news sent back from Shanghai. The opposition parties also used the concession authorities to "bring disaster to the despicable
"Acts" launched a fierce attack on the ruling party, and the whole country was noisy and restless.
Previously, for the sake of their own interests, the French government and press have continuously condemned the Japanese army in the domestic media for rejecting the mediation efforts of the international community and insisting on launching an escalating war of aggression against China. France's interests in the Far East suffered serious losses under the gunfire of the Japanese army.
, and the nearly 30,000 wounded on both sides since the war began.
The exaggeration of the death of the French Concession made countless French people who were deeply in the economic crisis extremely disgusted with the Japanese army and full of fear of war. The cause of the sudden explosion in the French Concession was that the French Concession authorities privately allowed the Japanese troops to enter the concession to attack the Chinese army.
How could the consequences of this not shock the French government and the public?
Before the people who clamored for blood for blood could figure out who did it, they triggered a crusade from rational people: the economic crisis has been getting deeper and deeper for several years and the country has not seen a turn for the better. The Germans have publicly announced that they will stop all war reparations and have stopped paying war reparations. However,
implicitly accept americans
With huge loans to develop heavy industry and quietly expand the strength of the army, the lives of the vast majority of French citizens are deteriorating and precarious. Under such circumstances, do we still need to spend huge sums of money to recruit troops to expedition to Eastern China, which has been plundered by the foreign powers and is completely impoverished?
The British and American governments also condemned this "catastrophic bloody violence" and once again called on China and Japan to stop fighting and return to the negotiating table co-hosted by Britain, the United States, France and Italy.
At the same time, an emergency martial law order was issued in the Shanghai Public Settlement. All areas, including the edge of the Japanese Settlement, were guarded with guns by British and American naval officers and soldiers stationed in Shanghai. A regiment of U.S. Marines urgently transferred from the Philippines was arriving at high speed.
At the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, the assistant military attache Colonel Clayburgh walked into the first secretary's office with several documents: "Kate, please take a look at these two statements of accusation. If necessary, please forward them to Mr. Ambassador. For the first time, the Japanese have condemned China for ten years."
The equipment and use of various units of the Ninth Route Army violates international treaties
dum bombs, causing huge casualties to the Japanese army. Chinese diplomats also issued almost the same statement of condemnation again, calling on the international community and the League of Nations to punish Japan, which has repeatedly violated international treaties since the beginning of the war and used aircraft to launch dum bombs, causing heavy casualties to Chinese military officers and soldiers.
impose sanctions.”
Kate, who was nearly forty years old, took the document and hurriedly read it. She raised her head and asked in surprise: "Tom, the Japanese use of dum bombs happens from time to time. It is known to all countries. In the past, Japanese embassy officials and the army disdained our inquiries.
Take a look, why did you issue a statement of condemnation for this today? Furthermore, where did the Chinese army obtain the dum bombs? Germany or the United Kingdom? Don't tell me that the Chinese made them themselves."
Clayburgh grinned: "Surprised you? According to our analysis, China's largest and most technologically advanced Jiangnan Arsenal in Nanchang, with the secret support of the Germans, has already mastered the manufacturing of dum bombs and high-energy incendiary artillery shells.
Technology, they have already succeeded in imitating the 75mm artillery and 120mm howitzers produced by the Swedish company Krupp. Now they are deployed in the Jiangbei area, causing huge trouble to the Japanese Navy and the Chongming Island search force.
The annoying independent division of the ace force is already equipped with a battalion of 120mm howitzers, otherwise it would be impossible to injure the Japanese warships traveling 13 kilometers away from the north bank of the Yangtze River, and I believe that this ace division has completely solved the artillery strike
The rapid positioning of targets and strike technology, it is even suspected that there are three to five German military advisers with extremely rich experience in the last world war hidden in this ace division, otherwise it would be difficult to explain their rapid progress."
Kate nodded and motioned for Clayburgh to sit down: "It makes sense. This possibility cannot be ruled out. After all, the ace division hidden in Jiangbei was created by the hawkish general An Yi. This crazy guy dares to do anything, even
He can do things we never expected.
, for example, it has been confirmed that he installed a Swedish twin high-level machine gun on our American-made Dodge four-ton off-road truck to use it to fight tanks... Tom, I will forward these two statements to the ambassador in time. It is probably a routine matter.
Both sides can make some suggestions and that's it.
, the League of Nations is getting disgraced by the Sino-Japanese War, and has no energy or ability to care about these specific small things. Our British friends are very impatient to watch the huge economic losses that occur every day. Multinational companies such as Boeing and Rockefeller
And the National Agricultural Association is putting pressure on the President and Congress every day. Faced with tens of millions of dollars of goods exported to China piling up on the West Coast docks and unable to be shipped, the President is also worried! I want to hear your opinion now. What do you think about this situation?
When will the war end?"
"Kate, how could you even think of listening to me?" Clayburgh asked in surprise.
"Because I'm tired of the clichés from your bosses and the officers stationed in Nanjing!"
Kate grumbled unceremoniously: "Now, maybe I can hear some clear judgment from your mouth. Tell me, Tom, I always thought you were much more upright and sensible than your rhetorical colleagues."
Clayburgh smiled slightly: "Thank you for your praise, dear Kate. In this case, I will express my opinion. Based on the current war status and the rare determination and courage of the Chinese army, I think the Japanese army can only increase its deployment again."
Only when three to five divisions of troops come to China can it be possible to break the current stalemate. However, do you think the Japanese army, whose domestic conflicts between the military and the government have become public and increasingly acute, can be determined and obtain the consent of the Japanese cabinet?
Send more troops?"
Kate pondered for a moment and was unsure: "If it is possible that Shanghai will fall without a fight, it is difficult to draw a conclusion now. The thinking of Easterners is indeed elusive. Based on the current predicament of the Japanese army, they are probably fighting for face and the army."
The interests of Japan have prompted the escalation of the war. Although it is currently difficult for Japan to afford such heavy military expenditures, it does not mean that the army will not make a desperate move. Tom, I want to know whether the current deadlock can be broken before the Japanese army increases its troops again. What will happen to us next?
One-step decision-making is very important.”
Clayburgh put away his smile and replied seriously: "No! According to our intelligence, eleven divisions of the Chinese army have moved to an area about a hundred kilometers away from the Songhu battlefield, and it can be seen from the attitude of the Nanjing government
, once the Japanese army expands the theater and escalates the war, these hundreds of thousands of troops will be put into the battlefield one after another. In the short term, the Japanese army has no chance of winning. Take today as an example, the Japanese army originally planned to
Even if we launch a strong attack on the Chinese garrison positions at 6:30 in the morning today, the main breakthrough point will be the right-wing position of the 19th Route Army. The Japanese troops who secretly marched through the French territory to the west last night were for this plan.
Unfortunately, the conspiracy of the Japanese and the despicability of the French were exposed in the sudden series of explosions, so today the confrontation between the two armies was very quiet.
However, just an hour ago, gunshots and artillery sounds from Jiangbei and Chongming Island shook Shanghai again. The Japanese army's immobility does not mean that the Chinese army dare not move. You also said just now that getting along well with us and becoming our
General An Yi, a big buyer of American companies
He is a crazy guy. This guy has amazing military talents and never plays his cards according to common sense. The two assassinations of the Japanese failed to succeed. The despicable trick of kidnapping his sister was also defeated. For this reason, he was also killed by the Chinese military police.
Four members of the operation were captured.
As early as three days ago, the Chinese army, especially the Ace Division in Chongming Island and Jiangbei, had used DAM bombs on a large scale. The Japanese search force of more than 2,000 people lost more than half of it in the guerrilla tactics of a special agent group of the Ace Division. The guard post on Jiang'an
Most were wiped out
According to the digital analysis reported by the Japanese today as evidence, there are more than 130 Japanese officers and soldiers whose legs were broken by dum bombs on Chongming Island and the Yangtze River Estuary in Jiangbei. From this simple number, I can
I saw that ace master very much
A terrible but effective tactical change. They did not use precise marksmanship to kill the searching enemies. Instead, they specialized in wounding and maiming the enemies. Just imagine, a wounded person needed at least two people to carry him off the battlefield. The attrition of the Japanese army and the reason for this
The huge cost will increase significantly, which will make the Japanese, who have far insufficient search troops, an extremely headache. Otherwise, they would not angrily condemn the Chinese army's despicable use of dum bombs when they have already illegally used dum bombs.
bomb."
Kate nodded with admiration: "Tom, I benefit a lot every time I talk to you in detail. I believe you will be promoted soon. I am very confident in your future."
"Haha! Thank you Kate, if one day comes, I will invite you to Nanjing Confucius Temple to enjoy authentic Chinese food." Clayburgh said with a funny smile.
Kate laughed, and then asked: "Tom, you and An Yi have met a few times, and they both feel good about each other. Do you think this young general will fight to the end as he disclosed to the press? And it's very important.
Do you think the incident in the French Concession was planned and directed by him?"
Clayburgh hesitated: "Kate, without any evidence, I can't draw any conclusions about this, especially after more than ten hours of investigation by the special investigation team formed by the four countries, there are still no clues.
Prove that this was done by the Chinese army. In this case, any guesses and judgments lacking evidence cannot stand the test, although... although I know that this is a sabotage plan that was carefully planned and timed very accurately.
This plan cannot be carried out by any social group or those ubiquitous but insignificant anti-Japanese organizations, and the huge losses caused shocked the whole world, but this does not prove that it was the Chinese army, especially since the explosion site was in
In the self-contained French Concession, the French should be the first to take responsibility. My personal opinion is that we had better not get too entangled in this incident, as this is not in the national interest of the United States."
Kate stood up with a slight smile, held Clayburgh's hand, and walked him to the door: "Tom, I am deeply honored to be able to work with you, and I sincerely hope to get your help from time to time in future cooperation."
Clayburgh laughed: "You're welcome, Kate, I have always admired your work ability and attitude. There is no need for too many polite words between us, haha... By the way, I have something to say to you.
Said, if my judgment is correct, the Japanese are likely to launch a large-scale attack on the Chinese army on the Songhu battlefield within twelve hours. Don't take the Sino-Japanese negotiations tonight too seriously, just go through the motions!