January 1-2, 1942
The pace of operations continues at a rapid clip. Over the last two days:
1) The KB strikes on Australian industry are reaching their conclusion, thus far they have netted ~ 1,000 VP. Not bad!
2) Port Blair is captured by Japanese paratroopers.
3) Sinkawang is taken by storm, resulting in the destruction of 20 enemy aircraft on the ground.
4) Tarakan loses 24 oil wells damaged to a well planned series of strikes by Francesco.
5) Japanese forces at Singapore are almost as rested as they can be in malaria country and the 38th Division has almost arrived.
6) Japanese forces advancing from Moulmein are about to cross into Pegu with the mission of closing the Burma road.
7) The ruse to trap enemy forces in Luzon is a smashing success. The best American/Filipino forces including all their armor chase down a Naval Guard unit that acted as bait all the way to Legaspi only to hit thin air as the Guard is evacuated by sea. Meanwhile Japanese forces land behind the enemy and trap them, and are now also converging on Manila.
8) Imperial armor routs the Chinese 8th Route Army north of Sian, while the Naval Guard keeps holding on against repeated Chinese attacks even as it reaches the end of its endurance.
The Philippines will see some pitched battles soon but the two key theaters of action right now are Java and China. I am attempting to prep the landings around Java without KB support which is not easy given the influx of enemy air/warships as well as their carriers. Southern Sumatra is almost entirely in my hands however which will provide a great springboard for operations once Singapore is captured.
In China, I am advancing forward past Sian despite what I expect to be an imminent effort by Francesco to cut the road behind me. I have planned for this though and will have forces allocated to deal with any such effort. It's a calculated risk that I am comfortable taking.
; Julia Child
