Shadow Spy

Chapter 405 Blocking the Deserters’ North Evacuation Route

At 3:31 on March 16, the Tonggu Station of the Yang-Man Railway was surrounded by the armored troops of the 200th Division of the Chinese Expeditionary Force. The Indian 36th Infantry Division's direct troops and an infantry regiment, which were retreating north on three trains, had just arrived. , they were all dumbfounded - both sides of the platform were filled with tanks, armored vehicles and fully armed Chinese soldiers from the Chinese Expeditionary Force!Three trains were even ordered to stop and stall, and were not allowed to move forward.

The interpreter accompanying the 200th Division used the loudspeaker at the station to read out to the Indian 36th Division the order from General Panson, the frontline commander of the Allied Indo-Burma Theater, requiring the 36th Division to immediately turn around and return to the Mengzhen garrison, otherwise it would be deemed Deserters will be shot without mercy!

Hearing this, several arrogant and violent British officers cursed loudly, and even shouted loudly that they wanted the soldiers to get out of the car and fight with the Chinese Expeditionary Force. There were actually more than a dozen guys jumping out of the car...

At this moment, a voice came from the loudspeaker: "All troops are ready!" Then, the sound of gun bolts and tank turrets turning came from the platform. The muzzles of hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles, hundreds of The muzzles of the light and heavy machine guns were pointed at the train carriage. This terrifying sight almost scared the British and Indian officers and soldiers on the train to the point of peeing!

Without using the expeditionary force's translator to issue another warning, dozens of British officers and soldiers ran down from the train and directly carried a dozen troublemakers back to the car.

Ten minutes later, Major General Hawkes, the British commander of the 36th Indian Division, led several senior officers out of the car, walked to the 200th Division interpreter in the middle of the platform, and issued a question...

The translator who received the special order was unmoved and directly produced an order from the Allied Forces India-Burma Theater Command signed by General Panson and signed by General Stilwell. It stated in Chinese and English:
"The British-Burmese Army, the British-Indian Army, the Chinese Expeditionary Force, and the U.S. Army currently on the battlefield in Myanmar must adhere to the combat areas they are in charge of in accordance with the orders of the theater headquarters. Those who evacuate without authorization are regarded as deserters and will be severely punished by military discipline. Other troops have the right to Stop it, if the deserters dare to resist, shoot them without mercy!"

At this time, Major General Hawkes and others were dumbfounded. Some officers even argued that they had orders from the commander of the British-Burmese Army...

The translator of the Chinese Expeditionary Force replied: The British-Burmese Army is only part of the Allied India-Burma Theater and must execute the orders of the Allied Forces Command. The commander of the British-Burmese Army is no exception!
The current situation was stronger than that of humans. Hawks took a breath, took a few steps back with the order, and discussed with the senior officers.Finally, it was agreed that Lieutenant General Irwin, the newly appointed commander of the British and Burmese forces, should be consulted for instructions. No matter what his decision was, they would be responsible for executing it!Judging from the situation, this is a fight between the upper echelons of the Allied forces, and they cannot afford to interfere.

Then, after some negotiations, Hawkes was given one hour. He immediately returned to the train to send the report, and at the same time asked the senior officers to pass down the order. The troops should stay on the train and be on standby, and no dangerous actions were allowed. !

After returning to the carriage, Hawkes immediately asked the communications staff to contact the British-Burmese Army headquarters in Ren'anqiang, report the current situation encountered by the 36th Indian Division to Lieutenant General Alvin, and request instructions.
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Lieutenant General Irvine, who took over the command of the British-Burmese Army in the morning, immediately issued an order for the 17th Division of the British-Indian Army and the 36th Indian Infantry Division to withdraw northward. At this time, the plan for the withdrawal of the entire British-Burmese Army to India was being studied. Route, when he received the telegram from the 36th Division, he was furious and immediately roared, cursing the Chinese Expeditionary Force for their audacity!

After he calmed down a little, he asked the staff officer beside him, who was the deputy commander of the Allied India-Burma Theater and the commander-in-chief of the front line who issued the order?How does he have the right to issue this order?The communications staff immediately found the telegram sent by General Stilwell after noon, which clearly stated the appointment of Major General Panson of the US Army by the Allies: deputy chief of staff of the Allied Far East Theater, deputy commander of the India-Burma Theater and commander-in-chief of the front line !I muttered in my heart: When the telegram was first received, didn’t you, the new commander, not pay attention to it at all?At that time, he said with disdain that this appointment had nothing to do with the British army and should be ignored!Are you blind now?
Alvin immediately ordered: Call Stilwell and the Chinese Expeditionary Force to protest their actions and ask them to release the British troops immediately, otherwise the British and Burmese troops will use force to open the northward communication line!

Many senior British officers expressed disapproval of his order. Stilwell and the newly appointed General Panson represented the United States and the Allies. The Chinese Expeditionary Force was part of the Allied Forces. If the British-Burmese Army Disobeying orders or even using force will destroy the unity of the entire Allied Forces, and the consequences are not something the British and Burmese forces can bear.

Soon, the communications staff came back and reported that General Stilwell was now ill. Deputy Commander Panson was fully responsible for the work of the Allied India-Burma Theater Command, and his orders would not be changed. In addition, the Chinese Expeditionary Force resumed power, and the headquarters strictly implemented the Allied Forces' command. The military headquarters ordered that no threats be accepted. If there was a firefight between the two armies, the British and Burmese troops must bear the responsibility for damaging the relationship between the Allies.

After another burst of rage, Alvin could only send a message to Lord Wavell in India to ask for instructions.

Wavell called back and said that he would contact the country and put pressure on the US government and the Chinese government from a diplomatic level, but this would take time; during this period, the British and Burmese troops were required to exercise restraint and not to have direct conflicts with the Chinese expeditionary force. If necessary, they would use The focus is on ensuring the safe evacuation of personnel, and other... can be temporarily abandoned.

The meaning of the last sentence is vague, and Alvin needs to understand it himself.

Alvin was speechless after receiving the telegram. He couldn't fight (and couldn't). The Allies refused to give in. What else could he do?So, he pinched his nose and replied to the 36th Indian Infantry Division: The British-Indian Army Headquarters is resolving the dispute through diplomatic channels. The 36th Division should prioritize ensuring the safety of personnel. If necessary, for the overall interests of the Allies, it can make Make appropriate concessions.

After receiving the telegram from the 36th Division, Major General Hawks and a group of officers looked at each other. What does this mean?At what level is the appropriate concession to be made?Follow the orders of the Allied forces to retreat to the town of Meng where they started?Or directly surrender to the Chinese Expeditionary Force and enter a prisoner-of-war camp?
Seeing that the one hour given by the Chinese Expeditionary Force had expired, everyone was unable to make a decision. At this time, a staff officer suddenly said: "General, we can explain to the Chinese that the higher-ups are communicating and asking them to give them more time..."

"This won't work. Our soldiers have been in the stuffy tanker for several hours and are already very tired mentally and physically. No one knows how long the subsequent diplomatic efforts will take. Just let the soldiers do this. Waiting in the car is inhumane behavior." Another staff officer immediately said.

(End of this chapter)