"A Knife Fight in the Dark" - Prince v. Grunt

[6971grunt]

April 15, 1942:

It is tax day in the United States, and all are doing the patriotic duty and giving some of their hard-earned pay to the government to conduct this war. People are buying war bonds in record numbers so that the boys at the front want for nothing. It is truly an inspiration.

The Chinese theater was very active today as reported by General Stillwell's headquarters. Wuchow's airfield has sustain yet another bombardment from the Japanese air force. Although greatly outnumbered, the plucky P-40s assigned to protect the airfield downed five [5] Japanese bombers and sustained no losses. Damage to the airfield was described as "managable".

The General Chih Lui commanding the Chinese 5th War Area Headquarters and its combat troops now besieging Wuhan, reported a major offensive by the Japanese garrison. In the biggest set-back to date for the Japanese in China, the day ended with Japanese losses of over 14,000 men, 430 guns and 13 armored vehicles. General Chih described today's Japanese effort as "utterly futile".
The siege continues.

Nigel Hughes reported that he has been briefed about some heavy fighting some 60 miles south of Lashio, Burma. British and Burmese troops have attacked the Japanese 1st Armored Regiment that is positioned north ot Mandalay and presently positioned north of the river. Losses have been reported as "heavy" for both sides.

Port Moresby's air commander today reported yet another raid on the airfield by Japanese air units. Engaging P-40s and Kittyhawks attacked and downed 17 of the escorting fighters before driving-off the approaching bombers.

Dutch Command at Soerabaja reported that the several of its planes attacked a Japanese task force some 120 miles northeast of Kragen. The Japanese troop carriers Arizana Maru and Ueizuru Maru were attacked and the Arizana Maru took a direct hit while the Ueizuru Maru narrowly escaped harm from the attacking planes.

[6971grunt]

April 16, 1942:

A very quite day in the Pacific Theater. Chinese cities and army units all over China have undergone yet another day of air bombardment by Japanese air units, but with little appreciable effect.

Air command at Port Moresby reported that their B-17s attacked Japanese shipping stubbornly remaining around Madang, New Guinea. Initial reports indicated that the Japanese merchant ship Ina Maru and troop carrier Tofuku Maru were attacked and struck by 500# bombs. However, only the Ina Maru suffered any direct hits [3 to be exact]. Apparently the troop carrier Tofuku Maru was in such close proximity that crews initially though they had struck both vessels. It did appear, however, that troops on board both ships were attempting to abandon each ship; leading this reporter to believe that things were too close for comfort for both ship's troops.

From India comes a report from the British submarine HMS Trusty that another Japanese merchant ship has surcomed to its earlier "wounds" from British and Dutch air units. The troop carrier Ayaha Maru was reported to have sunk in the Straits of Malacca near Singapore, compliments of the 498th Air Group. The Trusty crew recorded the event.

[6971grunt]

April 17, 1942:

Most of today's reported action centered around eastern New Guinea. However, word did arrive about another ground attack against the Dutch naval base at Soerabaja.

Base commander, Major General Johnas J. Pesman, reported to Darwin military authorities that the Japanese's early morning attack was essentially repulsed, but that Japanese engineers have destroyed several of their most outer fortifications. Japanese losses were put at over 570 men and 34 guns. Dutch losses were said to be "far less".

An Aussie coastwatcher near Aitape, New Guinea, reported the sinking of the Japanese troop carrier Chow Maru. This ship was reported to have bee struck by AMerican aircraft out of Port Moresby several days previous. The ship was apparently making a run for a safer harbor when it surcame to its "wounds".

Air commanders at Port Moresby reported that their B-17s attacked Gasmata and Mandang today with "more than pleasing results". The Gasmata raid punched holes in the runways of the Japanese airbase. No losses to the Gasmata raiders were reported, although several Japanese fighters were reported to have been destroyed on the ground. Another flight of b-17s and B-26s struck the naval anchorage at Madang. The Japanese troop carriers Tofuku Maru, Nichiren Maru, Tunsima Maru and Taimei Maru were all attacked with the Tunsima Maru sustaining one [1] direct hit and the Taimei Maru being struck twice by 500# bombs. A Japanese merchant ship, the Boko Maru, was also struck by a bomb and set afire. Air crews reported that Madang is "rich" with shipping.

In the final note of the day, American aircraft spotted and attacked the Japanese patrol craft Shoei Maru today in the waters surrounding Rabual, but reported no direct hits. The belly-gunner on the "Rhonda" was able to take this photo of the attack of their sister plane "Lulu Mae" as it made her pass at the Shoei Maru. The photographer was reported to have been "dressed down" by his commander for taking a picture and not firing on the patrol boat. Apparently he has lost some rank because of his photographic eye.

[6971grunt]

April 18, 1942:

Port Morseby reported today that their B-17s struck at the airbase at Madang, New Guinea. Nineteen B-17s entered Madang airspace to deliver a terrible blow to the Japanese air units sitting in the airbase hangers. When all was said an done, over 10 Japanese planes were left smoking on the ground along with the pot-marked airstrip.

The Dutch at Soerabaja reported that their air force units attacked the Japanese at Malang, Java. The troop carriers Genkai Maru and Achow Maru were attacked by several Swordfish from Soerabaja. The returning pilots indicated they thought they had struck the Achow Maru with one of their "fish", however they could not confirm the hit.

Nigel Hughes, our man in India, reported that air units from Dacca, India, conducted another raid on the industrial areas in and around Hanoi, French Indochina. Several Squadrons of B-24 Liberators, numbering forty-four in all, brushed aside rather feeble air resistance and dropped over 180,000 tons of high explosives on the industrial heart of Hanoi. The picture below was taken by one of the crew of the "Strawberry Witch" as the flight of B-24s approached Hanoi.

[6971grunt]

April 19, 1942:

Our man in India, Nigel Hughes, reported today that air units out of India conducted strategic raids on Pagan and Mandalay, Burma. The raid on Pagan resulted in the continued destruction of resource areas in and around the city. The Mandalay raids targeted the staging areas for Japanese troops and recruitment. Damage in both raids was described as "modest".

Scouting planes from Soerabaja, Java reported the sinking of the Japanese troop ship Angun Maru in the port of Malang, Java. The Angun Maru had been struck by Swordfish out of Soerabaja several days ago.

Once again Swordfish out of Soerabaja found a target along Java's southern coastline. At the town of Tjilitjap, several Swordfish found and twice struck the Japanese troop ship Meigen Maru with 500# bombs. The Imperial War Department out of London was kind enough to provide our readers with a picture of a Swordfish torpedo bomber, like the ones that punished the Meigen Maru.

[6971grunt]

April 20, 1942:

It is with some personal indignation that I inform our readers that the photgraph for yesterday's release was censored by the military at the request of the British government. Evidently, the Brits did not wish to have a nation-wide publication of their beloved Swordfish. This reporter is is unsure as to the need for secrecy for a aged bi-plane. In any event, we will attempt to get the picture published at a later date.

The most interesting action of the date has taken place in China. The Chinese 19th Group Army, some 60 miles to the northwest of Canton, China, went over to the offensive against the Japanese 51st Infantry Division. It is reported that the Chinese sought to push the Japanese from two tactically important railway towns. In a daring pre-dawn attack, the units of the 19th Group Army overran one of the towns and in fierce fighting eventually captured the other town.

To the north, the Chinese 9th Group Army struck at river postions of the Japanese 1st Independent Brigade 60 miles east of Ichang, China. The 9th Group Army's goal was to reduce a pocket of Japanese infantry and artillery on the western side of the river. Under the cover of a rolling artillery barrage, elements of the 9th Group Army breached those westerly Japanese defenses and forced the Japanese to release their foothold on the western side of the river.

Chinese High Command reported that losses to both sides were heavy, but that tactically important ground had been gained by the attacks of the 9th and 19th Group Armies. At the briefing, the High Command proudly displayed a picture of the river area gained by elements of the 9th Army.

[6971grunt]

April 21, 1942:

China Command reported that the 19th Group Army again attacked the entrenched 51st Japanese Infantry Division along the railhead some 60 miles to the Northwest of Canton. Although ground was taken by the Chinese, commanders reported that their attack fell short of its objective. Losses were reported to amount to 300 men and 15 guns total for both sides.

Our man in India, Nigel Hughes, reported today that a B-25 raid on the Burmese city of Taung Gyi caused heavy destruction of the areas surrounding resources. Air Command reported that two (2) B-25s were lost in the otherwise successful raid.

The air command of Port Morseby reported that a scouting B-26 struck the Japanese troop carrier Teizui Maru with a 500# bomb and set it afire. Men and supplies were reportedly seen in the water around the burning ship.

The Dutch appeared to be the most active today with attacks on Japanese forces all along the island of Java. Japanese forces once again attacked the Dutch harbor fortress of Soerabaja and penetrated some of its outer-most fortifications. Dutch command indicated that they have nearly re-fortified near the captured area. Losses to the Japanese were very heavy wsith a reported losse of over 1,100 men and some 25 guns of varies calibers.

British Swordfish from Soerabaja did not want to be left out of the glory and attacked Japanese shipping remaining in the area of Madang. The Japanese troop carriers Ginyo Maru and Genhasi Maru were attacked with the Genhasi Maru absorbing two torpedo hits. This reporter notes that the Dutch air units in and around Java have delt Japanese shipping in DEI severe losses and damage. It is suspected that the Japanese are hoping to eliminate this "side thron" in the very near future or sustain further losses that will require one of their commanders to "take the honorable course" for abject failure.

To further reinforce on this observation, Dutch 2-T.IVa bombers found and placed two 500# bombs into the Japanese oil tanker Goyo Maru loitering off Batavia. Oil was reported to be burning in the water as well as the Goyo Maru.

[6971grunt]

April 22, 1942:

General Stillwell's headquarter's spokesman, Colonel Robert Brown, reported yet another airstrike against the airbase at Wuchow. Damage was reported to be "moderate" and that the airstrip will be "back in business" in two or three days. Col. Brown did not indicate any damage to any air assets that may have been at the base.

Colonel Brown also reported a substantial victory was obtained by the Chinese 9th Group Army, 60 miles Northwest of Canton. According to Col. Brown, Chinese forces seized a tactically important crossroad necessary to keep the rail line open to their forces presently seiging Japanese forces in Canton. In a typical reaction of the Japanese in China, and showing their disrespect of the Chinese fighting man, a battalion from the 51st Japanese Infantry Division under took a banzai charge on those Chinese forces holding the crossroad. For their efforts, the Japanese 51st Infantry Division is now down one infantry battalion (lossess were estimated at that level). Maybe some healthy respect of the Chinese fighting ability is in order for the Japanese 51st Division.

Our man in India, Nigel Hughes, reported a massive raid on the resource production areas in and around Mouliem, Burma. Over forty (40) Liberators from India dropped a total of 320,000 pounds of high explosive on their targets. As of this printing, the planes have yet to return from the mission, so specific damage assessments were not unavailable.

A brief press release from Port Moresby, indicated that a scout plane from that airbase noted the sinking of the Japanese troop carrier Ina Maru at Madang, New Guinea.

Dutch forces on Java report that the naval fortress of Soerabaja were again attacked by the besiging Japanese forces. The Dutch report that the Japanese gained little for their loss of over 650 men and 16 guns of various calibers.

Dutch air assets from Soerabaja again attacked Japanese shipping loitering around Madang, Java. The Dutch pilots placed a torpedo into the Japanese troop carrier Ginyo Maru, as this recently cleared photo demonstrates.