Age of Rebirth

The sudden report from the communications staff interrupted Stilwell's inspiration. In his mind, a flash of light seemed to capture the essence of the matter, and then suddenly went out, and his thinking became confused again. Whether it is an ordinary person or a general, this state Next, interrupted thinking, the mood will not be good!

Stilwell was full of anger, wishing to kick him to death. The communication staff officer who came at an untimely time said coldly: "Read!" Surprisingly, since General Stilwell, the commander of the [-]th Infantry Division, came to the Calais mountains, not a single day has been pleasant, and the staff officers who followed him have all gotten used to it. .

The staff officer quickly opened the folder and read: "Major Cindy Hall, commander of the 18th Infantry Division, will call. The defensive positions of the No. [-] and [-] Infantry Regiments of our division were violently attacked by the Japanese at about [-] o'clock this afternoon, causing casualties. It is very large, and I would like to ask Your Excellency the Commander for approval to retreat from the current position to the Parapag line and rebuild the blocking line."

Stilwell frowned. If Major General Cindy Hall's request is approved, it means that the overall defense line of the 40th Infantry Division will retreat at least [-] kilometers from the current position, and it will be close to the [-]th Infantry of the [-]th Division. The defensive position of the division has become a prominent part. All the attack pressure of the Japanese army will be concentrated on the Eighth Infantry Division, which can be said to affect the whole body.

The Japanese army did not make any major moves all day today, but in the evening, they launched a fierce attack on the position of the Fifth Infantry Division. Could it be that the Japanese army wanted to choose the defensive direction of the Fifth Division as a breakthrough?If this is the case, the follow-up troops of the Japanese army must be pressing up. This may be the prelude to the Japanese army's large-scale attack on the defense line of its own troops in the Calais Mountains! [

In my mind, the confusion and ominous feeling that has been lingering should not exist. It can give two US infantry regiments full of troops, strengthen a 155mm caliber howitzer regiment, and two tank regiments.Causing heavy casualties, the Japanese army dispatched at least one division. If the Fifth Infantry Division was not allowed to retreat, it would take less than three days.The troops will be exhausted!

But once the [-]th Infantry Division retreated to Palapag.This means that the overall defense line in the Calais Mountains will be forced to retreat across the board, next.The depth of the campaign and defense that he conceived became empty talk, and Stilwell suddenly felt a headache, and this determination was difficult to make.

Stilwell thought for a while, and said to the communications staff officer: "Send a telegram immediately. Ask the commander of the Fifth Infantry Division, Major General Cindy Hall, about the number of troops dispatched by the Japanese army to attack your division's defensive position, and the status of other equipment, and ask him to send the report immediately. Report the battle situation to the headquarters of the battle group! I'll be waiting in the headquarters!"

The night was dark, and the sporadic sound of guns and guns, in the Calais mountains at night, seemed extraordinarily mournful and monotonous.Stilwell was still thinking about it, but he couldn't connect with his fleeting thoughts.

Adjutant Major Higgs, holding a trench coat, looked at Stilwell with a sad face.Put it on him, and said: "Your Excellency, Commander, it's late at night and the fog is heavy. I'm worried about your health, why don't you go back to the headquarters?"

Stilwell looked at this loyal adjutant who had followed him for many years.With a sigh in my heart, I was rejected by MacArthur and demoted to the Calais mountains. My military career was almost at its lowest point, but the adjutant never gave up and followed me to this battlefield where I could die at any time. The lonely and hesitant Stilwell was grateful from the bottom of his heart.

He looked at the adjutant and said: "Higgs, thank you for taking care of me. I don't know why, but there is always a sense of ominousness in my heart. The Japanese army's attack is always limited. In the mountains of Calais, it took six days to block the Japanese army, and the Japanese army put into battle only two divisions, the [-]rd and [-]th, this is what I don't understand the most!"

"Higgs, if the report from the Fifth Infantry Division is the prelude to the Japanese army's all-out attack, my worry is unnecessary. Our days in the Calais Mountains will not be very long. Next, hundreds of thousands The elite Japanese soldiers will flock to Manila like a tide. In the chaotic army, any unexpected situation may happen. My life as a commander may be lost at any time. Higgs, I want you to retire, no You must accompany me and wait to die on Luzon Island."

This is what Stilwell said from the bottom of his heart. His old subordinates who have followed him for many years should give him a good home. When the Calais mountain defense line is broken by the Japanese army, it is the day when the battle group is completely defeated. , It seemed that tears flashed, just as he was about to say something, the communications officer hurried over, and Higgs swallowed the words that came to his lips.

Opening the telegram handed over by the communications staff officer, Stilwell was so angry that he almost vomited blood, and cursed: "Bastard, what kind of violent attack by the Japanese army is nonsense!"

In the telegram, Major General Cindy Hall, the commander of the 18th Infantry Division, said: "The Japanese troops attacking the defensive positions of No. [-] and [-]th Infantry Regiment of our division consisted of two regiments equipped with large-caliber field artillery and a considerable number of troops. The exact number of tanks is unknown, and there was no mention in the telegram as to why there were casualties."

Stilwell felt sad, this is the U.S. Army, this is the U.S. general, a division, facing the attack of two regiments of Japanese troops, was so panic-stricken, retreating, just running away!I'm afraid even the heavy casualties were fabricated?

Stilwell yelled at the communication staff officer furiously: "Convey my order immediately, Major General Cindy Hall, commander of the [-]th Infantry Division, your troops must stick to the current line of defense, and you are not allowed to retreat in one step. If there is no order from me, Leave the position without permission, I don’t mind executing you personally, and I repeat, only my order is the only one, and the order of Commander MacArthur is not acceptable!”

After the communication staff officer finished recording the telegram of His Excellency the Commander, he hurried away, and Stilwell said sadly to Higgs: "Higgs, look, this is the troops under my command, and this is our general." , Higgs, I am very sad, when did the army of the United States of America become like this?"

Adjutant Higgs hesitated for a moment, but still mustered up the courage to say: "General, there is one thing I must tell you, otherwise, I will be sorry for you!"

Stilwell looked at his adjutant in surprise, his eyes were full of doubts, and of course, there was encouragement, Higgs said: "As for the attack on the Fifth Infantry Division this afternoon, and the actual combat situation, we I learned something from other sources!"

"Actually, the attacking Japanese army had less than two regiments and no tanks. The No. 18 and Nineteenth Infantry Regiment suffered the most casualties due to the fact that the Fifth Infantry Division The attached artillery regiment, because of the forward troops, indicated that the coordinates of the bombardment were wrong, and most of the artillery hit their own positions. The casualties caused by the attacking Japanese army were far less than our own casualties. Commander Cindy Hall, concealed If you don't report it, it's just to find a reason for yourself to retreat!"

Stilwell's eyes darkened, his tall body swayed a few times, nearly fell down, and his heart throbbed violently. He absolutely believed, followed the words of his adjutant for many years, and believed that he would not lie to deceive himself, but it was still unbelievable. Asked: "Higgs, on your soldier's honor, you are not lying!"

Higgs did not swear, but just looked at the pale Stilwell, and Stilwell suddenly lost the courage to ask further. The whole person seemed to have aged a lot at this moment, and there was pain in his expression. And lonely. [

Suddenly, Stilwell's eyes blazed with anger, and he said to the adjutant: "Higgs, I will definitely investigate this matter, that Cindy Hall, I will personally send him to the military court and drive him out." U.S. Army, before my life is over, I must severely punish this scum!"

Higgs just said lightly, "General, is this necessary? To deal with a major general and division commander, you want to get approval from the headquarters!"

Stilwell stopped talking. Higgs' words hit the pain in his heart. He couldn't deal with that scum commander, Major General Cindy Hall. MacArthur would not be able to pass this level. Although he was a commander, his authority was to direct operations. In other words, what kind of troops and commanders MacArthur sent to him can only be accepted conditionally.

Stilwell lost his strength all over his body. The troops in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific region of the United States were rotten to such an extent. He was still ambitiously organizing battles one after another, trying to turn the tide. When you are trying in vain, that kind of disappointment and sadness is enough to break a person's spiritual pillar!

He thought he was a fighter, but in the eyes of others, he was a real clown. Suddenly, the thought that flashed through Stilwell's mind suddenly jumped out, and quickly connected into a clear result. It should have been an epiphany after extreme disappointment and heartbreak.

Stilwell fully understood that it was not because of his commanding ability, let alone how powerful the U.S. Army was. With less than two regiments of Japanese troops, a regular attack frightened a fully loaded Japanese army. The commander of the infantry division did not hesitate to lie, conceal the real situation, abandon the position, and retreat to the rear. It is not a miracle that such a unit can stop the Japanese army for five days, definitely not!

The Japanese did it on purpose, and the ominous feeling in Stilwell's heart became clear. Facing the US troops that would be defeated in one blow, the Japanese were not in a hurry to attack. They were brewing a huge trap. The core of this trap , It is on Luzon Island to attract US military forces, continue to consume them, and then attract local troops to come to aid, so as to gradually consume US military strength.

Stilwell almost galloped back to the headquarters and drove everyone out. He wanted to report his findings to the Joint Chiefs of Staff immediately, and even stabbed him directly in front of the President.

(To be continued).