Player Notes: I have introduced the following house rules:
(1) For political reasons, all Ground and Air Units on the U.S. West Coast, in Australia, and on the DEI island of Java must be set to accept reinforcements. Denying reinforcements to these units so that more reinforcements will be available to forward units is not to be permitted. the voters at home simply would not stand for this.
(2) Other locations, such as Pearl Harbor, Anchorage, and similar places, cannot be set to accept reinforcements until after a cargo shipped has docked there and delivered replacements. Until then, 'no reinforcements' must be set.
(3) The maximum number of ships that can be loaded at a port = (gameturn - 1), with all USA west coast ports counting as 1 port for the purpose of this rule. This is to simulate the difficulty in getting a huge war machine up to speed.
(4) Only ground units in Malaysia, Philippines, China, and Central Pacific can move until November 14th. This represents the difficulty in deciding what to do, getting orders to the units, and getting the units organized to act on those orders.
Hello,
what house rules to you use in your game? That´s all, or you have another rules?
Your rules sounds very interest for me, so i will use it in my own games.
I never really codified my 'house rules' because I am playing against the AI and these are self-imposed limits, but if I were to do so, they would look like this:
(1) "Accept Replacements" is required for all units in West Coast USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Java. Optional for China. "Off" everywhere else.
(2) India/Ceylon/Burma cannot accept replacements until December 21st (2 weeks after the start of the war).
(3) No location that begins in the "off" category can accept replacements until they can trace a line of communication (continual road, rail, or coastline hexes) to a port visited by loaded cargo ship from USA West Coast. Anchorage must be visited by a load cargo ship from USA West Coast to accept replacements.
[Note: The purpose of these three rules is to force replacements into home defense first, and frontier locations only to the degree that supplies can reach them.]
(4) No ground unit can accept any orders to do anything other than build fortifications until December 14th. Exception: China, Malaysia, Philippines, and Hawaii. This restriction is lifted for any land mass that faces an attack by land combat units.
[This represents surprise paralysis, except in regions already at war.]
(5) The number of transport ships that the allies can start loading at any port = (game turn - 1). The USA West Coast is counted as 1 port for the purpose of this rule.
[This represents the amount of effort required to get the war machine reved up from a virtual standstill. This restriction is lifted on December 21st.]
(6) If Wake Island survives the initial assault, the Allied player must attempt a rescue or resupply before the end of the year, or pay gobs and gobs of political points. [Note: I did not decide on how many political points to pay because I decided that political pressure would require a rescue.]
(7) No air units may abandon Philippines, Malaysia, or DEI unless Japanese forces have entered their base hex, or the unit has been reduced to 2 airplanes or less. No ground unit may abandon Philippines, Malaysia, or DEI -- unless it was carried into this region from somewhere else (e.g., an Australian unit transported to Java can go back to Australia if it wants to).
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
INTEL SABOTEAUR ARRESTED
(TN – Washington) Military police just this morning arrested Henry R. Sherman, an employee working on military intelligence, on charges of espionage and sabotage. Sherman is alleged to have been planting false information in the intelligence network, to give a false impression of the progress of the war.
Some of that information had been used in previous editions of the Thayne News report. Because Thayne News is committed to making sure that our readers have full and accurate information on the conduct of the war, its executive director mandated that this Special Edition be released as soon as the extent of the damage was known, and corrected information could be provided.
Investigators believe that Mr. Sherman started his campaign two days ago. Also, investigators say that they believe Sherman was acting alone, and was motivated more by malice at what he considered unfair treatment by his superiors rather than as a part of an organized campaign involving enemy agents. Therefore, the damage is limited, and it was caught early.
A re-evaluation of the information obtained by units fighting in the war indicates that the following information is more accurate, and should supercede any reports to the contrary that appeared in articles prior to this one.
AKYAB: Attacks on the fleet at Akyab, which is unloading supplies for the defense of the city, have inflicted moderate damage on the British destroyer Express. Contrary to earlier reports, the gunboat Articula remains unharmed.
MALAYA: Earlier stories about the capture of Malacca are confirmed. General Carpendale’s 28th Indian Brigade did march into the city after finding itself behind enemy lines, as reported earlier. This is the first capture by an enemy base in the war. However, the 28th Indian Brigade is now cut off behind enemy lines, and is expected to have trouble holdings its territory much longer.
BORNEO: Earlier reports of an air strike on the carrier Ryujo were false. Military intelligence has no knowledge of where the Ryujo is presently stationed, and have flown no missions against any carrier in the recent past.
Also, we have confirmed reports that the Dutch Navy, supported by American warships from the Philippines, are involved in a battle at Tarakan. The joint Allied navy entered the bay a couple of days after Japanese landings began and sank a transport ship in the harbor. The ships have since been involved in shelling Japanese positions on the shore, while the city’s garrison continues to hold on to key positions. Where the Allies have been using naval power, the Japanese have been calling in air power. The USS Parrott, a flush deck class destroyer, is reported to have been damaged in the battle.
PHILIPPINES: Reports of the capture of the 11th Philippine Division are confirmed. The Japanese surrounded the unit as it attempted to reach Clark Air Force Base and forced its surrender several miles short of its destination. The 71st Infantry Division is also cut off a short distance from Clark and may not be able to break out of its pocket.
We, the staff and management of Thayne News, are dedicated to bringing you the most accurate information available on the conduct of the war. We sincerely regret any inaccuracies that may have made their way into this publication.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
JAP DISASTER AT MANILA
(TN – Manila) American forces stopped a Japanese attempt to capture Manila by sea, inflicting massive casualties. Approximately 10 troop transports entered the harbor at night attempting to drop off an attack force. Three of the enemy ships hit mines, then coastal artillery opened up on the rest. By dawn, the harbor was filled with burning and sinking ships, with thousands of Japanese soldiers floating in the bay seeking rescue.
Coastal artillery continued its bombardment throughout the day. Some reports indicate as many as five enemy transports already sunk, though Military Intelligence is reporting only one definite enemy loss. USAFFE predicts that the remaining ships will not likely make it through another day.
About 100 miles away, Japanese forces forced the 71st Philippine Army division to surrender. It had been trying to reach Allied lines at Clark Air Force Base, when the Japanese cut off its line of escape.
Day/Night Raids Target Rangoon
(TN – Calcutta) Allied air forces have begun subjecting the Japanese airbases at Rabaul to round-the-clock attacks. High-altitude bombing from B-17 bombers continue to face minimal resistance from Japanese fighter CAP. At the altitude that the B-17s fly in making their attacks, the Zeros can put up only a token resistance, and even then must deal with the heavy machine-gun protection that the B-17 provides. At night, the Allies attack Rangoon with Blenheim night-fighters. So far, in their night-time raids, the allies have not faced any significant resistance. Yesterday’s attacks by 4 Blenheim fighters at night and 3 B-17 bombers in daylight is reported to have destroyed 3 enemy planes and damaged 9 more, in addition to delivering damage to the runway and buildings at the airfield.
Blows Exchanged at Tarakan
(TN – Batavia) A wave of nearly 80 Japanese airplanes attacked the Allied fleet at Tarakan yesterday, causing severe damage to the Dutch cruiser Java, and the British cruiser Dragon. Both ships took hits from torpedo bombers and, at last report, damage control was fighting fires on both ships. ABDA Command says that they expect the crews to bring the fires under control. However, the damage to the Dragon was bad enough to put the ship at risk of sinking. The Japanese had hit the destroyer Parrott, a part of the same task force, the day before.
The Allied naval force is remaining in the harbor to assist the Dutch garrison attempting to capture the city. The Allied navy has been shelling Japanese positions where possible, and then returning to the naval yards to replenish its ammunition, before taking another round of shots at the enemy. Over 2,000 enemy soldiers had made it onto the shore before the Allied fleet showed up and destroyed the invader’s supply ship. ABDA Command says that the battle could go either way. They report that the land forces are evenly matched.
Allies To Begin Action in Gilbert Islands
(TN – Hawaii) The American navy is set to begin simultaneous operations to garrison Baker Island and raid Japanese forces in the conquered territory of the Gilbert Islands. The operation is scheduled to begin tomorrow, and consists of two task forces that have assembled at Palmyra Atoll. A carrier-based strike force consisting of the Lexington and Saratoga will sail into the heart of the Gilbert Islands, seeking to create chaos and looking for an opportunity to sink Japanese merchant shipping in the area. Meanwhile, the battleship Colorado will lead a task force to deliver a garrison to Baker Island.
Baker Island sits about 1000 miles west of Palmyra. A base on this island would allow the Allies to watch Japanese movements throughout the Gilbert Islands, and provide an early warning of any Japanese intentions to extend their holdings in this area. In particular, the Allies plan to turn the islands around Palmyra into a major shipping center for cargo going to and from Australia. The Baker air base will be able to watch for Japanese fleets that may be seeking to conduct raids in the area. The operation is expected to last nearly two weeks, at which time the task forces should be returning to Palmyra.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
5,000 JAPS KILLED AT MANILA
(TN – Manila) USAFFE Command is estimating the number of Japanese soldiers killed in the attempt to land at Manila to be nearly 5,000 over the past two days. Officially, Military Intelligence is listing only three of the ten enemy transports involved in the attack as sunk. However, sources are privately expressing confidence that ten personnel carriers were sent to the bottom of Manila Harbor, most of them fully laden with soldiers in battle gear. Bodies have continued to wash up on the shore through most of the day. To prevent the spread of disease, McArthur has dedicated a full company to quickly dispose of the bodies.
Military analysts so far say that they are at a loss to explain what the Japanese hoped to gain by the maneuver. Colonel Antonio Padilla, formerly of the Philippine Army, told Thayne News that the Japanese had no hope for any outcome other than what we have been reporting. “The only outcome that you can expect from sailing 10 personnel transports into that harbor is to have ten fewer personnel transports.”
The loss of the units, however, does little to improve the situation for the Americans. Still heavily outnumbered, they have been pressed into a small region of the island. They have nothing personal to gain by continuing the fight. The only reason to continue fighting is the love of liberty, and an unwillingness to give it up easily.
Japs in Burma Target Mandalay
(TN – Calcutta) The Japanese army is marching north to Mandalay. When the Japanese Army took Rangoon largely without a fight, Southeast Asia Command asked whether their next target would be the inland city of Mandalay, or whether the Japanese would focus first on Akyab. Since then, the Japanese 55th Division has been marching north. Military Intelligence spokemen say that the answer is now obvious; Mandalay is their next target.
Some strategists are breathing a sigh of relief. They say that this will give them more of an opportunity to build up the defenses in and around Akyab. Additional units are already preparing to move forward and help to defend the port. The Allies are near to loading the town with more ammunition and supplies than it can conveniently handle. Some report that the Southeast Asia Command may order the supply ships Memphis City and Fairfield City back to Diamond Harbor with some of its cargo still in its hold.
Dragon Suffers Repeated Hits
(TN – Calcutta) The HMS Dragon suffered repeated hits yesterday, as the Japanese Air Force fought to prevent the Allied Navy from lending a hand to the defenders of Tarakan. The Dragon took a torpedo two days ago and suffered significant damage. In yesterday’s attacks, the Dragon took three bombs and another torpedo. According to reports to ABDA Command Headquarters, the Dragon is very close to sinking. A spokesman for ABDA Command said, “Even if they get the fires out, it would be slow and dangerous work to tow the ship to a port where it can be repaired.” The cruiser Java and the destroyer Parrott, both hit earlier in the conflict, have both gotten their fires under control, and are well underway to controlling flooding. Southeast Asia Command insists that, unless they are subject to further damage, they should make it back to a friendly port.
Forces Reach Dutch Harbor, Adak
(TN – Anchorage) In the Aleutian Islands, a chain of islands that go from the United States to Japan, Americans have added reinforcements to its forward base on Dutch Harbor, and started work on a base another 300 miles closer to Japan on the island of Adak. Anchorage, Alaska, became the beneficiary of supplies from the continental United States just a few days earlier. In some cases, they did not even unload the cargo. The North Pacific Command simply ordered garrison units onto the boats and had the cargo delivered directly to the forward bases.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
JAPS COUNTER B-17 SUCCESS
(TN – Calcutta) Yesterday’s high-altitude bombing run on the Rangoon airstrip struck with unprecedented accuracy. Aerial photographs taken during the bombing run showed 14 enemy planes destroyed, including 10 Zero and Oscar fighters. High-altitude bombing has proved to be one of the most successful Allied strategies to date in stopping the Japanese. In the past week, the 93rd Bomber Squadron has struck at Rangoon five times, and destroyed nearly 30 airplanes.
However, the Japanese are learning to fight back against the B-17 Bombers. In its most recent run, the Japanese met the bomber group with Oscar fighters. The Oscars have the ability to fly at a higher altitude than the Zeros and Nates that had been defending the base. In the air battle that resulted, seven B-17 bombers – half of the bomber group -- came home too badly damaged to fly. Allied command is saying that this may be one of the last bomber missions launched against Rangoon until reinforcements arrive. By then, the Japanese will have an opportunity to recover from the losses inflicted and regain its air superiority.
Dutch, British Ships Limp to Safe Harbor
(TN – Batavia) The HMS Dragon and Buffett, and the Dutch light cruiser Java, left Tarakan yesterday and began a dangerous trek for safe harbor. The Dragon, badly flooded from two earlier torpedo hits but with its fires under control, was still taking on water. ABDA Command thought it was better to move the ship to a safer port than to wait at Tarakan, where further Japanese air attacks would probably sink the ship. A small group of destroyers accompanied the three damaged ships.
The rest of the Allied task force stayed behind in Tarakan, and continued to shell the Japanese force that had dug in near the city. Allied forces continue to hold the strategically important locations in the city itself, where it is waiting for the shelling to take its toll on the enemy forces. There is still a good chance that the Japanese can take the city. They had managed to land a sizable force on the island, and if they should ever receive air support or reinforcements, accompanied by capital ships to drive of the Allied destroyers, it could easily win this battle.
The Dutch are struggling to destroy the landing force before either of these things can happen. ABDA Command has said that it has called in another surface fleet to add its firepower to the battle.
Tasmanian Troops Embark for Esprito Santo
(TN – Sydney) Tasmanian military units embarked onto transport ships in the port city of Hobart. Their destination is Esprito Santo. Esprito Santo is being built up to serve as an important buttress in the Pacific Wall. City and provincial governments in Tasmania protested the government decision, saying that the troops were meant for the defense of their homes. The Australian government answered that the homes of Tasmanians will be safest if the Pacific Wall holds, and that no numbers of troops will be enough if the Pacific Wall should crack. At the same time that this announcement was made, Australian government officials announced a new transportation project on the island of Tasmania, aiming to improve the roads and railroads connecting Hobart and Devonport.
Nimitz Takes Command of South Pacific
(TN – Washington) After weeks of deliberation, the Leadership Review Board has made its first recommendation for a change of leadership in the Pacific Theater. It suggested that Admiral Nimitz be placed in charge of the South Pacific, replacing Rear Admiral Ghormley. The President immediately acted on the recommendation. Neither the Board nor the President were willing to comment on the reasons behind the decision. President Roosevelt thanked Ghormley for his dedicated service, but added that the specific importance of this theater of operations demands the skills demands that the position be held by a higher-ranking officer.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
ALLIED FLEET SUNK
(TN – Batavia) Japanese carrier planes swarmed down to the allied navy at Tarakan yesterday, sinking the cruisers Marblehead, Tromp, and DuRuyter. The destroyer Witte de Withe also sank, and two other destroyers were so badly damaged that they are unlikely to survive. ABDA command has ordered the surviving ships to leave Tarakan, and has ordered the reinforcements that were on their way to aid the besieged garrison to turn back. As a result, the garrison at Tarakan is now on its own against the Japanese landing force.
Allied command had been tracking the Japanese carrier force, but lost track of it three days ago. There was some confusion about whether the location of the fleet could be trusted, given the work of the alleged Henry R. Sherman. ABDA Command had ordered a concentrated search of the area to find the Japanese carriers and confirm their position, but all searches came back negative for the last two days. Until this event, Military Intelligence was saying that Stewart did no real harm to the war effort. In raising doubts over the location of the Japanese carrier force, Stewart ultimately he set in motion a chain of events leading to yesterday’s ambush.
Yesterday, at shortly after noon, over 250 carrier planes flew into the harbor, having flown in from the direction of Brunei. They focused their attention on the three cruisers. By some counts, the Marblehead took over 50 bomb hits, and the DuRuyter was hit over two dozen times. Shortly after the carrier planes left, nearly 70 land-based airplanes entered the harbor. Betty and Nell torpedo bombers were able to inflict additional damage on a number of ships.
As evening approached, ABDA Command ordered all seaworthy ships to leave the port. They left behind two surviving destroyers, the Edsall and the Stewart. The Edsall was dead in the water, and the Stewart’s engines were so badly damaged that she could only make six knots on the open ocean.
Oscars Defeat B-17s Over Rangoon
(TN – Calcutta) Yesterday, Oscar fighters once again rose up to meet the daily B-17 attack on Rangoon. This time, the bombers were unable to complete their mission. Faced with devastating attacks, they dropped their bombs early and turned back for base. This was the first time that a B-17 raid against Rangoon had failed to complete its mission. The Japanese now have control of the skies over the base. With this, they should be able to complete repairs on the runway and, from here, provide unrestricted air cover to its ground assaults in the region.
In a related news story, the Japanese still has not found a way to respond to the nighttime bombing raids of 27 Squadron. Flying Blenheim fighters, six members of the squadron visited Rabaul two nights ago, destroying six enemy airplanes on the ground. The Blenheims faced no flak or fighter defense. ABDA Command is considering moving the bomber squadrons to nighttime attacks as well. In Europe, the British strategic bombing campaign consists mostly of nighttime bomber attacks to limit losses from flak and fighter CAP.
28th Indian Brigade Returns to Singapore
(TN – Singapore) After a surprise move to recapture the city of Malacca, the 28th Indian Brigade managed to march half way across Malaysia and move through Japanese lines at Johore Bharu and on into Singapore. As soldiers celebrated the unit’s return, however, the Japanese stepped up its attacks on Johore Bharu, and bombed the city of Singapore itself. The attacks served as a reminder that the 28th Indian Brigade did not make it to safety. It has only returned to a larger and roomier trap.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
JAP CARRIER RYUJO HIT
(TN – Batavia) Like a prophesy, alleged saboteur Henry R. Sherman’s planted story about the Dutch air force damaging the Ryujo came true yesterday. The Dutch air force spotted the carrier, then a Hudson bomber planted a bomb through the flight deck at the stern of the ship. The only differences between Sherman’s planted story and what appears to have happened is the location. Instead of hitting the carrier in the port of Brunei on the island of Borneo, the Dutch found the carrier in open waters east of Kuching. As was reported in the earlier story, this makes the second Japanese carrier temporarily taken out of action in the Pacific Theater.
ALLIES ATTACK TARAWA
(TN – Hawaii) The American carriers Lexington and Saratoga yesterday launched a strike against the Japanese conquered island of Tarawa yesterday. The Allies struck the island with nearly 100 Dauntless and Devastator bombers, doing significant damage to the airbase and slight damage to the port facilities. The purpose of the mission was to damage facilities that Japan may use to threaten moves presently underway to occupy Baker Island over 500 miles southeast of the Japanese-held position. Damage to the runway should thwart any Japanese efforts to harass the landing operations with long-range bombing. The carrier mission also helps to ensure that there are no enemy surface fleets operating in the area. Central Pacific Command has expressed particular concern about the possibility of a Japanese mission attempting to occupy the same island.
Within the next day or so, Task Force 1110 will land over 6,000 soldiers on the island, with nearly 5,000 tons of equipment and supplies. The American garrison will immediately get to work improving the airstrips and building defenses with the intention of holding the island. Central Pacific Command reports that they expect the island to be subject to ruthless attack by long-range bomber and surface fleets in an attempt to keep the facilities out of commission. A statement from Central Pacific Command has stated that this will be a race symbolic of the war itself. “It is a test of the Americans’ ability to build faster than the Japanese can destroy,” the statement said.
Japs Finish Off Destroyers Edsall, Stewart
(TN – Batavia) The Japanese sunk two destroyers that the Allied fleet was forced to leave behind at Tarakan yesterday. After a devastating attack from Japanese carriers that sank 3 light cruisers and a destroyer, the Allied fleet was ordered out of the harbor and into safer waters further south. The destroyers Edsall and Stewart were too badly damaged in the original attack to accompany the rest of the fleet. ABDA Command made the painful decision to leave the destroyers behind. Yesterday, Japanese Betty bombers flying from captured bases in the Philippines attacked and torpedoed both ships, sinking both ships.
The surviving ships moving south include two badly damaged light cruisers and four badly damaged destroyers. One light cruiser and one destroyer are still in danger of sinking. The fleets are assembling at Balikpapan, where efforts will be made to patch up the surviving ships well enough to send them to safe ports further south.
Jap 55th Division Nears Mandalay
(TN – Calcutta) The Japanese 55th Division has fought its way north from Rangoon, Burma, to within 100 miles of Mandalay. Mandalay is an important Allied base that Southeast Command earlier promised to defend. The 20th Indian Division is attempting to reach the city before it falls to Japanese hands. However, its travel through the mountains of western Burma has been slow, and it will be several more days before the Allied relief force arrives. Even then, there are questions about whether the unit will have enough supplies to fight effectively.
The Japanese 55th Division may be diverted in its drive to Mandalay to take care of a problem on its right flank. The The 1st and 2nd Burma Rifle Brigade, and the BFF Brigade, occupy the town of Taung Gyi east of Mandalay. If the Japanese concentrate their efforts on Mandalay, this may leave them open to an attack from Taung Gyi. The Burmese units have been instructed to be ready to move against the 55th Division if the opportunity comes up.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
JAP CARRIERS GIVE CHASE
(TN – Batavia) After forcing the Allied fleet to withdraw from Tarakan, with a loss of three light cruisers and three destroyers, the Japanese turned their attention on the garrison. A flight of over 50 bombers struck the city yesterday, pounding the defenses in the naval yard where the allied defense is centered. Meanwhile, Japanese infantry have taken over most of the city, except for a few strategic buildings near the navy yard itself.
Manwhile, the Allied fleet has retreated to Balikpapan. There, crews are working to make six warships damaged in the recent fighting – 2 cruisers and 4 destroyers – fit for travel back to a port where they can be repaired. Balkipapan is still within bomber range of many of the Japanese-held bases in the Philippines, and there is some concern that the fleet will suffer lingering damage if it says there too long.
ABDA Command is keeping eyes on the Japanese carrier fleet, which destroyed the Allied task force as it fought the invaders at Tarakan. The Japanese fleet has left Brunei, and was last seen heading north. It is strongly suspected that the Japanese intend to sail around the island to strike at Balikpapan and whatever Allied ships are still there at the time. ABDA Command has given the Allied fleet 24 hours to affect whatever repairs they can, gather ammunition and other stores from the city, and head south.
Japanese Forces Expand Conquests in Bismark Archipelago and Solomon Islands
(TN – Sydney) The Japanese forces yesterday worked to expand their conquests of the islands north of Australia yesterday. The Japanese army captured the port of Gasmata yesterday, over 100 miles away from Rabaul, and are now in possession of half of the island. They also landed at Shortland yesterday, however citizens in the area report that the Japanese have not yet entered the city. Japanese reconnaissance airplanes have been seen over Admiralty Island, Buna, Madang, Salamaua, and Emirau. These are towns and bases around Rabaul which the Japanese will no doubt seek to invade in order to secure a perimeter around its key central base at Rabaul.
Troop Landings Begin at Baker Island
(TN – Hawaii) As a part of its operation in the Gilbert Islands yesterday, Allied forces began to move onto Baker Island in force. The 102nd USN Base Force, with the 250th Coastal Artillery Regiment, entered the port shortly before dusk, and immediately got to work fortifying the island. Over the next several days, they will be putting coastal guns into place, setting up defenses, and then begin work on building up the island to support future operations against Tarawa and other nearby islands. VP-13, a seaplane squadron, is also setting up on the island to keep an eye on Japanese activities in the region.
Fighting Continues at Singapore and Manila
(TN – Bombay) The fiercest fighting of the war continues to be near the cities of Singapore and Manila.
At Singapore, the Allied forces are hanging on to a small piece of land just across from Singapore itself. Allies remain in control of the bridges into the city, and have been rotating battle-weary units on the continent with rested soldiers in the city. Within the city, the British army is working to build up its defenses on the landward side of the island. Singapore has long been well protected from any invasion by sea, but its guns are fixed pointing east, while the Japanese have been pushing into the city from the west. The ‘back door’ of Singapore is virtually unguarded.
At Manila, the Japanese are satisfied, for the moment to sit back and bombard allied positions at Manila and Clark AFB at a distance. They have made no attempt to assault the Allied defenders, though they do outnumber the defenders. The American forces fire back when they can, and continue to prepare for the inevitable assault.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
ABDA FLEET GETS BREAK
(TN – Batavia) The Japanese Carrier Fleet gave up pursuit of the Allied navy and retired into the South China Sea yesterday. ABDA Command reports that its spotting planes which has been tracking the task force believes it was last seen about 150 miles southwest of Brunei. In light of this news, ABDA Command has granted its fleet at Balikpapan an extra day to affect repairs on damaged ships and stockpile whatever it can get from the city. ABDA Command is looking at the possibility that the enemy fleet could try to circle around the south end of the island. This maneuver would cut off the Allied fleet’s escape, but would also put the carriers in range of bombers stationed in Java.
Second Invasion of Menado Begins
(TN – Batavia) The Japanese are trying for a second time to take the port of Menado. Its previous attempt was defeated when ABDA Command ordered its fleet to the port. The collection of Dutch and British ships sank a supply ship it found in the harbor, then pounded the Japanese units that had already landed. In an coordinated attack, land and naval units destroyed the beachhead. With the Japanese carrier fleet heading west, away from Borneo, there are those in ABDA Command who are considering the option of sending the fleet to Menado again. However, this time the fleet would be missing all but one light crusier, and a half dozen destroyers.
Jap Transport Fleet Decimated
(TN – Washington) Members of the Allied Command have been expressing greater optimism recently on the eventual outcome of the war, based largely on the fate of Japanese merchant shipping. An unnamed source in the War Department says that the allies have confirmed the sinking of 25 Japanese transports, and have the unconfirmed sinking of 25 more. If the amount of shipping that has been damaged is figured in to this calculation as well, it means that nearly 10% of Japanese cargo-carrying capacity has been destroyed since the start of the war. According to one source, “This is a war that depends very much on the ability to get supply from the home country to the battleground. The country that can do that the best will be the eventual winner. At this rate, the furthest reaches of the Japanese Empire will start to starve before 1943, and at that time we can easily hack off its weakened outer limbs, and work our way back to the home islands.”
Allied forces are continuing to retreat on all fronts. Japanese forces are getting nearer to Mandalay in Burma, and unidentified reinforcement units have been seen marching into the country from Thailand. The Japanese continue to pound the defenders around Singapore and Manila, and while the Japanese obtain fresh supplies there will come a time when the allies in these sectors will have nothing left to fight with. Against the Dutch, the Japanese are trying for a second time to take the port of Manadao. With the Allied fleet destroyed, this attack may well succeed. In the Solomon Islands, the Japanese have landed at, but not yet taken, Shortland Island. Yet, Allied Command is in agreement, “The further it overextends its reach, the easier it will be to attack.”
Port Manager at Hobart, Tasmania Sacked
(TN – Sydney) William Rowlands, the manager of the port facilities in Hobart, Tasmania, was fired yesterday. The move came as a result of massive confusion and disorganization in loading the Tasmanian units for use in building the Great Pacific Wall around Japan. Two units in Hobart, its 110 RAN Base Force, and the Hobart Coastal Artillery Regiment, were given orders last week to embark on transports that were being sent. They are to be transported to Esprito Santo to prepare for its defense. However, the job of loading the ships was so chaotic, Allied Command was forced to order that the ships be unloaded again, so that they could be loaded correctly.
According to sources in Australia Command, the first sign of problem came when Colonel Blake, the commander of the Hobart Coastal Artillery Regiment, protested about the sleeping accommodations for his soldiers. According to the report, his soldiers were told to claim a space in the cargo hold of a transport ship, sleeping on boxes and crates of ammunition. Meanwhile, Rowlands had loaded the troop quarters of the troop transports that arrived with the unit’s guns and artillery pieces. “He cut the frippen doors to make them wider to get the weapons to fit!” Blake said in his report.
At first Australian Command dismissed the protests. It is well known that Colonel Blake believes that the purpose of the unit is to defend Tasmania, and has repeatedly protested the decision to move his unit to the Great Japanese Wall. “This leaves Tasmania virtually undefended,” he said. An investigation into the matter, however, revealed that most Hobart’s unit did not even have room on the ships. When General Blamey heard of the matter, he ordered Rowlands dismissed and put Colonel Blake personally in command in seeing that the ships were unloaded and loaded correctly.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
CARRIERS INVADE JAVA SEA
(TN – Batavia) The Japanese Carrier Fleet chose to invade the Java Sea yesterday. At dawn, Dutch land-based bombers took off to destroy the invading fleet. Only a few of the pilots were ever seen again. The Japanese carrier fighter pilots destroyed each flight of attackers in detail. No hits were scored against the enemy fleet.
ABDA Command quickly determined that the flaw lied in the small Dutch air groups. Analysts determined that the only way to score significant damage against the carriers against the fighter defense was to overwhelm that defense with a bulk of airplanes. For the Dutch air force, this would require somehow coordinating approximately two dozen small squadrons of airplanes.
Meanwhile, the Carrier fleet has the whole of the Java sea open to it. ABDA Command has ordered all ships to seek safe harbor further south. At Balikpapan, the faster ships were ordered not to wait for the slower, more badly damaged ships still fighting flood or engine damage.
B-17s Return to Rangoon With Big Success
(TN – Batavia) The B-17 Bomber squadrons made a return visit to Rangoon yesterday in one of the most destructive attacks of the war. Recon airplanes still watching Rangoon had been reporting that there were sometimes no Oscar fighters in the sky. Taking a chance, Southeast Asia Command ordered all B-17s that had been repaired to Rangoon to attack the airfield. The Japanese are believed to have been convinced that they had beaten the Allies off, and had not disbursed their airplanes. Aerial photographs taken of the airfield after the attack showed approximately three dozen Japanese airplanes demolished on the ground, and countless others damaged. Analysis for Southeast Asia Command state that the success of the mission will help to ensure the safety of shipping in the region, and take away some of the offensive capability of the Japanese division heading toward Mandalay.
Singapore Subject to Daily Bombardment
(TN – Singapore) The sound of air-raid sirens has become a daily event in Singapore. The Japanese air corps is believed to have seen the need to wipe out the Singapore air force, which has been dealing heavy damage to the Japanese transports heading for the Malecca Straight. Many of the raids consist of just a few bombers, accompanied by heavy fighter escort. As a result, the fighter cover over Singapore has been virtually destroyed. Southeast Asia Command predicts that, soon, Japanese air forces will have unrestricted access to the skies over Singapore. At the same time, the Japanese army continues to fight its way to the gates of the city. Unnamed sources in Southeast Asia Command has told Thayne News to expect news soon that the Singapore force has been pushed back to the island itself. The Siege of Singapore will then begin. British forces have promised to hold out as long as possible, but unnamed sources have said that there is one inevitable conclusion.
Shot at Battleship Costs Sub
(TN – Batavia) The Dutch submarine SS KXL got a shot off yesterday at the battleship Kirshima. It missed, and paid for the effort with its life. The battleship is a part of the large Japanese carrier force entering the Java Sea. The KXL found the battleship just off of the southwestern coast of Borneo. The Captain fired his torpedo, but it missed its target. The carrier force’s substantial escort then hunted down and killed the destroyer. Officials believe that this is the third submarine that the Carrier fleet has sunk so far.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
DISASTER IN THE JAVA SEA
(TN – Batavia) ABDA Command is watching a disaster unfold in the Java Sea this week as the Japanese carrier force cruises through the territory. Japanese land-based air force attempted to swarm the Japanese CAP and attack the fleet, but the plan met with disaster. Only two of the scheduled attack squadrons reached the target at the same time. A small handful of planes managed to make it through the CAP and attack the carrier force, but they were unable to do any damage to the Japanese ships. One group arrived early and was destroyed before the main attack showed up. Another group, arriving late, met a well rested defense force. Two groups arrived together, and a small handful of planes managed to break through and attack the ships. However, they scored no hits. In the attempt, the Dutch lost 32 airplanes. They scored no confirmed damage against the enemy.
Meanwhile the disaster only threatens to worsen in the next few days as the carrier force catches up with ships leaving Balikpapan. A convoy of merchant ships, though ordered to flee the city, stayed behind to load a few more tons of cargo onto their ships. There is a very real danger of the carrier fleet catching and sinking this fleet. Several task forces of badly damaged ships also lay in the path of the carrier fleet. If the Japanese continue in this direction, there is also a chance that they can catch several ships in the ports along northern Australia. Trapped against the land mass of Australia itself, it would be difficult for these fleets to get out of the way of the Japanese threat. Attempting to do so would require running within range of Japanese land-based bombers from New Guinea and the Bismark Archipelago.
Meanwhile, ABDA Command earlier gave approval for a plan that aims to catch another batch of Japanese transport ships at Menado. A task force made up of undamaged destroyers and one light cruiser sailed for Menado two days ago. Their route took them along the northern edge of Sulawesi island, and within range of Japanese air units in the Philippines. They fell under attack twice yesterday afternoon, but did not take any damage. They are expected to reach Menado a little after dusk, after which they will join the rest of the allied fleet in trying to find a safe way to escape the carrier force.
Even if the carrier force manages to inflict no further harm on the forces of ABDA Command, the destruction of the air force means that the Japanese will be able to attack the rest of the Dutch East Indies with less concern about air attacks. At the same time, the Dutch surface fleet would have been scattered.
BRITS RETREAT TO SINGAPORE
(TN – Singapore) The Malaysian Army pulled the last of its soldiers back onto the island of Singapore yesterday, and blew up the bridges to the island. The Japanese are wasting no time setting up guns, so that they can begin to wear the Allied defenses down with artillery bombardment. The Japanese are expected to continue their aerial attacks against the city as well.
Meanwhile the Singapore air force continues to shred Japanese task forces attempting to use the Straight of Malecca. In the last day, Singapore pilots attacked a six-ship convoy trying to sneak around the island. They are reported to have damaged five ships, four of them seriously. Southeast Asia Command believes that losses like this will cause the Japanese air corps to focus a lot of attention on the Singapore air force.
Supplies Reach Upulo and Pago-Pago
(TN – Hawaii) Cargo ships from the western United States, carrying military equipment and emergency supplies, landed at Upulo and Pago-Pago yesterday. The ships were reported to have been carrying weapons, ammunition, construction equipment, and spare parts for the larger guns that the defenders of the islands may need. The additional supply should make it easier to defend the islands from Japanese attempts to cut the Los Angeles/Sydney supply line.
The supply convoy is expected to continue on to PagoPago while separate task forces are expected to continue on to New Caledonia as the allies continue to construct and strengthen the Pacific Wall.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
WEATHER SAVES JAVA FLEET
(TN – Batavia) Heavy weather in the general location of the Japanese carrier fleet, as well as the Java fleet fleeing the area, prevented the Japanese carriers from inflicting any damage yesterday. ABDA Command is reporting confidence that the faster and less damaged Allied ships will be able to escape the Japanese menace. Some of the slower task forces containing damaged ships are still at risk. ABDA Command is particularly concerned about the fate of a group of cargo ships that were carrying resources out of Balikpapan. These particularly slow moving ships will be within range of Japanese carrier-based airplanes as the storm front moves through. ABDA Command has ordered the fleet to scatter in the hopes that some of its members will be able to escape.
Dutch Fleet Sinks Another Transport Fleet at Manado
(TN – Batavia) Those Dutch ships that had not been damaged in earlier action made an assault on the second Japanese invasion fleet at Manado. ABDA Command was hoping to repeat history, when elements of the Java fleet sunk a Japanese supply ship, then assisted the garrison in fighting off the Japanese invasion. This time, the Java fleet found two Japanese transports in the harbor, and sank both of them. However, their actions came too little, too late, for the defenders. Weakened by the original attack, and facing twice the opposition that they faced the first time, the garrison at Manado surrendered yesterday. The Japanese were able to quickly take control of the base.
ABDA Command expects that the Japanese will quickly arm the base with airplanes to cover invasions further south. The Manado air strip puts the supply port of Kendari under the Japanese air umbrella. ABDA Command had a task force heading to the port to pick up supplies before the Japanese could capture them. The threat of air attacks from Manado has some people at ABDA Command arguing that the fleet should turn around. “We are not going to be able to save the supplies; we should at least save the ships,” one source told Thayne News.
Japanese 55th Division Captures Pagan
(TN – Calcutta) The weather yesterday did not play favorites. Southeast Command yesterday had arranged for heavy air attacks against the Japanese 55th Division as it attempted to take Pagan. However, heavy weather throughout the day at Pagan prevented all flights from reaching their target. In spite of the rain, the Japanese division launched its attack and captured the base. Allied forces were retreating to Mandalay.
The ease of the Japanese victory at Pagan had a devastating effect on the morale of many at Southeast Command headquarters. They had been expecting to be able to hold out for a short while at Mandalay. However, some sources at headquarters are whispering that the base will be in Japanese hands before the week is out. There is no hope that reinforcements, sent in from India, will be able to reach the base in time.
There are some at headquarters who are expressing doubt that the Allies will be able to hold the Japanese at the Indian border. Allies have a well-developed infrastructure connecting a series of locations from Impal to the south to Ledo in the north, and are presently moving units into those locations. Units retreating from Burma will also be able to contribute to the defense of these regions. At the same time, any Japanese attack would have to come up the mountains along trails where it would be difficult to ship supply.
At the same time, Southeast Command is worried about a land attack through Akyab, and is busy attempting to fortify that base. A third option is a Japanese amphibious assault in the area around Calcutta, or an assault that aims to take the island of Ceylon on the southern tip of India. “In fact, the Japanese can attack anywhere on a wide front, and we cannot defend everywhere,” one official at Headquarters reported.
Massive Air Attack on Singapore
(TN – Singapore) As expected, with the British army now cornered on Singapore island, the Japanese began a campaign of reducing the defenses by air. Over 65 enemy airplanes took part in yesterday’s raid. The British were only able to put up four Buffalo fighters to defend the base. The attack did significant damage to the airfields as well as air units on the ground. Southeast Asia Command is considering evacuating those airplanes that have sufficient fuel to reach bases in India, contributing to the defense of Calcutta and Bombay.
Allied Command Concerned About Fleet Damage
(TN – Washington) An inventory of the number of ships reveals that the Japanese have taken a substantial portion of the Allied fleet out of action.
Total Allied ship losses now includes 1 battleship, 1 heavy cruiser, 3 light cruisers, 3 destroyers, 1 minesweeper, 3 submarines, 1 tanker, 3 cargo ships, and 1 troop transport.
Total Allied ships significantly damaged includes 8 battleships, 1 battle cruiser, 1 heavy cruiser, 3 light cruisers, 6 destroyers, 1 PC, 7 submarines, 1 tanker, and 1 troop transport.
Blamey Replaced as Head of Australian Command
(TN – Sydney) At the recommendation of the Leadership Review Board, Allied Command placed Lieutenant General Hazard in charge of Australia Command yesterday, replacing General Blamey. Sources inside the War Department say that officials were getting fed up with the disorganized state of the Australian defense. Anonymous sources say that several officials at Allied Command were fed up with the disorganized state of the Australian defense, and its inefficient response to the need to contribute to the building of the Pacific Wall. Said one official, “We are three weeks behind schedule in our operations in Australia, and we are only five weeks into the war.”
Problems attributed to the Australian commander include the mess at Tanzania as Australian officials try to load reinforcements for the Pacific Wall. Thayne News has also learned of a mess that has been generated in the Australian air corps. General Blamey apparently ordered several squadrons of Hudson bombers to Brisbane for upgrade to Beaufort fighter bombers. Allied Command felt that the more versatile airplanes that can fulfill multiple roles as required would work better on the smaller airfields available closer to the battle, However, Blamey had also ordered its mechanics north in order to man airfields closer to the battle. As a result, there are over 30 airplanes sitting in crates in Brisbane with nobody to put them together.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
JAP CARRIERS CATCH JAVA FLEET
(TN – Batavia) The Japanese Carrier pilots found and attacked the Java fleet yesterday, sinking 6 ships and badly damaging one other. The ships sank include the cruisers Boise and Dragon. In addition, the Japanese pilots sank two minesweepers, two patrol gunboats, and a tanker. A second tanker, the Tinity, carrying a load of oil from Java, was hit and left burning south of Bali. At last report, the Japanese carrier fleet is only a little more than an a hundred miles away from the tanker, and ABDA Command stands ready to add it to the casualty list.
The Japanese caught the Java fleet in two groups. One group, consisting of the light cruiser Dragon and its escort was sailing through Magassar when the Japanese airplanes showed up. Nearly 100 dive bombers and torpedo bombers attacked the fleet. Further to the South, the Boise was traveling with a group of tankers that had left Soerabaja two days earlier. ABDA Command considered the Boise task force to be safe, since it was south of Java and heading for the open ocean. At the same time, at dusk two days ago, the Japanese carrier fleet was last seen heading north. The Japanese fleet instead must have turned around shortly after dark, and appeared this morning just north of Java. From Java, the task force could strike both the Dragon task force north of its position, and the Boise task force to the south.
From its current position, the Carrier Group has several options open to it. If the group sails north, it will have the opportunity to catch the rest of the Dragon escort group, a convoy of merchant shipping that left Balikpapan late, and another task force of damaged ships centered around the cruiser Java – the only cruiser left in Dutch waters. If the group sails east, many of the ships listed above would still be in danger. In addition, the carrier group has the ability to catch a second merchant convoy on its way to Darwin. The carrier group could also head south, catching shipping trapped in ports along the northern coast of Australia.
Siege of Singapore Begins
(TN – Singapore) The Japanese threw an army of 100,000 soldiers against the defenses of Singapore yesterday in an attempt to quickly capture the city. They are also working with the assistance of about 100 airplanes. Engineers have been brought in to work on the systematic destruction of the defenses, building makeshift bridges to the island from Malaya and organizing the destruction or neutralization of key defensive strongholds. Some at Southeast Asia command are predicting that Singapore will be in Japanese hands before the end of the month.
Southeast Asia Command had ordered the last of the air units out Singapore and ordered to aid in the defense of India. This ended the era of destruction for the Japanese transports attempting to use the Straight of Malecca. With the loss of the Singapore air strips, Japan now has clear use of the straight, and can be expected to use it to send reinforcements to Rangoon, as well as launch potential amphibious assaults against the coast of India and Ceylon. The flights will take different routes in order to reach the airbase. Southeast Asia Command ultimately plans to use the airplanes to aid in the defense of Ceylon – which should give the remaining pilots an opportunity to get some rest.
Japanese 55th Division Closes on Mandalay
(TN – Calcutta) At last report, the Japanese 55th Division has closed to within 70 miles of Mandalay. Its advance up the heart of the nation has been as methodical as a marching drum, covering approximately 60 miles per day across lightly defended ground. At this rate, it is expected to be in Mandalay itself sometime tomorrow. Southeast Asia command has told air units stationed at Mandalay to be ready to retreat to safer ground. Recalling the Debacle at Kuantan, where Japanese forces took the city too quickly for air units to leave, Southeast Asia Command is likely to evacuate the city the instant the 55th Division becomes a threat.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
QUIET RETURNS TO JAVA SEA
(TN – Batavia) After a day of devastating attacks against the ABDA fleet, the Japanese carrier force retired north yesterday. They still have a lot of targets at their disposal. Several damaged ships still sit in Macassar. Crews there are diligently fighting fires on four ships still burning as a result of attacks two days ago. There are also several merchant ships and minesweepers in these waters making possible targets for the Japanese fleet. Finally, ABDA Command reports that the Japanese carriers could still move east and catch up with the merchant and damaged combat ships moving in that direction. General Wavell said in a statement, “We must prepare for things to get worse, before they can get better.”
When confronted with the magnitude of the destruction, ABDA officials answered that a substantial ABDA fleet still escaped destruction. According to an anonymous source, TF1103, centered on the light cruiser Java and containing 16 destroyers, left Balikpapan the day the Japanese carrier force started its rampage. Its orders were to go to Manada, where the Japanese had just landed, and destroy the transports. The mission carried TF1103 out of the Japanese path of destruction, and allowed the ships to escape easily into waters further east. As of yesterday evening, TF1103 was 1,000 miles east of the Japanese carrier group.
Singapore Air Force Abandons Island
(TN – Diamond Harbor) Under orders from Allied command, the Singapore air force has abandoned the island, its planes disbursing and making their way west through any route available. Repeated attacks against the island had virtually eliminated the CAP over the island, and was quickly making the runway unusable. While they could still do so the surviving pilots loaded up on the few planes that were available and headed west. Key civilian personnel, including Thayne News correspondents working in Singapore, were also given a chance to leave the island.
One air squadron, the 36 Squadron consisting of six surving Vildebeasts, took off to the east, assigned the task of aiding in the defense of northern Australia. Three squadrons of Buffalo fighters, and 1 squadron each of Vildebeasts, Swordfish, Catalinas, and Blenheims flew west. Combined, the Singapore air force had been reduced to 11 Vildebeasts (in 2 squadrons), 6 Buffalo (in 3 squadrons), 1 Blenheim, 1 Swordfish, and 3 Catalinas.
After reaching Ceylon, Southeast Command hopes to begin the task of rebuilding these units back up to strength. In the mean time, the units will be added to the general defense of Ceylon, where surviving pilots will have an opportunity to rest, and replacement crews will be given an opportunity to train. The units will be available to provide additional resistance if the Japanese should try any move against Ceylon or southern India.
Ships of Pacific Fleet Bombard Aspamama
(TN – Hawaii) While waiting for the crews at Baker Island to unload cargo and supplies, the fleet’s escort took a quick trip to the west to attack the Japanese held island of Aspamama. A heavy cruiser and three destroyers approached the island at night and fired on its defenses. According to a source in South Pacific Command, the mission aimed more at harassing the enemy and allowing them to know what was possible than to do any real damage. During the bombardment, there was a large secondary explosion on the shore suggesting at least one of the shells hit a cache of ammunition. Also, officials report that the carriers Lexington and Saratoga remain in the area, to deal with any Japanese shipping that should enter these waters, and is planning additional attacks on land targets.
The task of establishing a garrison on Baker island is nearly complete. The defense force has been set up and is well supplied. South Pacific Command is assisting in the development of Baker Island. They have moved a force of C-47 transport airplanes to Canton Island, approximately 500 miles south of Baker Island, to fly supplies to Baker from a safe distance. At the same time, a second supply mission to Canton island is also being under way. A supply ship, carrying thousands of tones of supplies to be flown to Baker Island over the next few weeks, as well as additional reinforcements for Canton Island itself, has nearly finished unloading its cargo.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
JAP CARRIERS RETIRE NORTH
(TN - Batavia) The Japanese carrier force continued north past Balikpapan yesterday without causing any additional damage to Allied shipping. The move improves the chances that many of the survivors fleeing the Japanese invasion fleet will be able to reach Australia.
Even though the Japanese task force did not strike any allied targets yesterday, the damage it caused on earlier strikes continues to grow. Fires burn out of control on five allied ships; two destroyers and two minesweepers at Macassar, and the tanker Trinity south of Bali. The full extent of the Japanese destruction will not be known for a few days.
In the mean time, the Japanese are following up their raid with an invasion fleet that is expected to land somewhere in Borneo. The task force, spotted just north of Sulawea, is being escorted by a task force of heavy cruisers.
100,000 Japanese Assault Singapore Defenses
The Japanese are wasting no time bringing down the defense of Singapore Island. They have invaded the island with a force of at least 100,000 men, and are subjecting the defenses to repeated bombing attacks. Three heavy bombing raids hit Singapore island yesterday alone. They have established a foothold on the island, and are pushing the defenders further into the harbor. The citizens of Singapore, with nowhere left to run, are huddled in masses on the far end of the island. There, they become victims of the Japanese bombers.
Some in Southeast Asia Command have expressed surprise over the speed at which Japan is executing the attack. Analyst reports previously filed at Southeast Asia headquarters suggested that the Singapore defense force could hold the island fortress for several weeks to months even against a determined Japanese assault. More recent reports suggest that the fortress will be in Japanese hands by the end of the month. Over 100,000 Japanese soldiers involved in the attack will be able to turn their attention to Burma or the Dutch East Indies once Singapore false.
Anonymous sources in Southeast Asia Command state that the British army is not ready for a full-fledged attack against India either eastern India or Ceylon. "We won't be ready for a couple of months," one anonymous source told Thayne News. "Now, it looks as if we will not have a couple of months."
Allies Assess Java Sea Raid
(TN - Washington) With the horrors of the Java Sea raid still fresh in the mind, military planners in Washington have sat down to review its effects. We caught up with one senior Military official on his way to the meeting, who told our Thayne News correspondent, "We still have a lot to learn about fighting this war. We are a peaceful people."
Briefing papers used in the meeting and provided to Thayne News report that the biggest lesson concerned the ineffectiveness of small, scattered air units. According to these documents, this lesson will be immediately applied to the construction of the Pacific Wall. Major Demitri, the author of the paper, said, "Our original plan for the Japan Wall was a string of islands, each with its own air and ground defense." Demitri announced that this model is no longer considered viable. "The Japanese carrier fleet can just start at one end of wall and work its way to the other, destroying everything in its path, just as it did at Java."
Demitri is proposing that the Pacific Wall instead be constructed with strong points anchoring each end. This plan calls for focusing the air force on Baker Island in the east, and Esprito Santo in the west. These strong points will be built up with enough air power to deal with any Japanese threat. In addition, the Pacific front has the benefit of three carriers, capable of adding about 250 planes to any fight.
Demitri is also proposing that air forces ignore the Japanese carrier fleet unless they are specifically ordered to attack, an order that he argued should only be given to a strong point. "The only thing we get when we fly several small groups of planes at a task force is a lot of dead pilots." Demitri added that any base could be declared a strong point if there was a sufficiently large allied carrier force nearby.
In India and Burma, the British are putting the lessons of the Java Sea into practice by building air force strong points around Celon and on the island of Cyprus. The Cyprus strongpoint will be made up of air units that survived the Singapore battle, whereas the regular Indian defense force will concentrate around Calcutta.
The War Department is also reviewing the decision that ABDA Command made to have the fleet take just one more day for repairs at Balikpapan before heading for the open water. This decision proved to be fatal, since many ships that may have been out of range of the Carrier fleet found their retreat cut off. This lead to the loss of several ABDA ships. New general instructions are going out to all commands to give the Japanese carrier force more respect, and to send ships to safety the instant that a carrier threat is declared.
Allies Practice Raids and Bombardments
(TN - Hawaii) Admiral Kimmel ordered the crews of the carriers Lexington and Saratoga, as well as their support ships, to continue their actions in the Gilbert Islands. Sources within Central Pacific Command report that Kimmel is concerned with the lack of experience that the American fleet has in these types of operations, and does not trust training to give the soldiers the type of experience they need to conduct these operations efficiently. Therefore, he wants the crew to get experience against actual enemy bases.
As a result of his order, the carriers have been sitting off of the Gilbert Islands making raids against the defensive forces and assessing their results. They have been experimenting with different ways of organizing a strike to get the most efficient results.
From time to time, a Japanese Mavis has showed up to look over the operations, but there is no sign of a counter-attack in these waters. The Japanese carrier fleet is in the Java Sea, so the task force is taking advantage of their absence to practice in relative security.
At this point, there is some concern that the Japanese forces may be considering some sort of counter move to these training exercises, so some thought is being given to pulling out of the region and trying again elsewhere.
Kimmel Reconsiders Occupying Wake
(TN - Hawaii) Admiral Kimmel, the commander of the Central Pacific, has requested his subordinates to provide plans for the re-occupation of Wake Island.
With the Baker and Samoa Island operations nearing completion, Kimmel is said to be looking ahead to the next plan against the Japanese. The garrisons now on Baker and Samoa islands secures the northwestern part of the Pacific Wall, freeing Allied resources to consider other options. The enemy has not made any move to capture Wake Island. In fact, they have not even moved to photograph it since the historic first battle in which the 1st USMC Defense Battalion fought off the Japanese invaders. Analysts who have been bade aware of the plan speculate that Kimmel is wanting to pressure the Japanese holdings in the Gilbert and Marshall islands from both the north and the south.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
BUILDING THE PACIFIC WALL
This is a special edition of the Thayne News Campaign Report. In this issue, we discuss the efforts being made to build a wall around the Japanese expansion. Like firefighters, the Allied Command has decided that the Japanese are to first be contained within a defensive parimeter. Once contained, then it can be killed. This report concerns the progress being made in building a containment wall.
Marines Reach New Caledonia
(TN - Noumea) The 2nd US Marine Division reached Noumea yesterday, putting its section of the Pacific Wall on a solid foundation. The Marines immediately began unloading and deploying around the island. The convoy that brought the Marines also arrived with a great deal of military supply – enough to turn the Southwest Pacific front from a region of units hunkering down and fearing Japanese aggression, to one that can begin to consider challenging Japanese expansion in the region. A second convoy is due at Noumea in about a week carrying over 100 military aircraft.
In addition to the buildup at Noumea, the Pacific Wall has also benefited recently from the landing of a garrison at Baker Island, and landing reinforcements at Canton Island. In the region of Fiji, allied transports are in the process of unloading military equipment at Upolu, Pago-Pago, and Tongatapu Island. Additional supplies are on their way to Fiji. Engineers in the region are working double shifts trying to build up the military infrastructure in the region.
Two convoys are on their way to the island of Nanomea. The 2nd Marine Parachute Battalion is heading toward the island from the east, bringing with it coastal defense units and airplanes. An engineering battalion from New Zealand is approaching the island from the south to provide engineering support. Meanwhile, the Lexington and the Saratoga continue to patrol the Gilbert Islands to make sure that the Japanese do not interfere with the landings. Nanomea would be a likely next target for the Japanese if they were considering to continue their expansion south from the Gilbert Islands.
Though significantly behind schedule, the Tasmanian units being deployed to Esprito Santo and Efate have finally been loaded properly and have started their journey. The task force is scheduled to make stops in Sydney, Newcastle, and Brisbane to pick up additional supplies, before crossing the ocean to their destination. Once they arrive, this region should be secure from any Japanese invasion.
Finally, New Zealand has released its 3rd New Zealand Division to help garrison the South Pacific Islands. The area is getting so crowded with soldiers, that Southwest Pacific Command is considering using the New Zealanders to garrison New Caledonia, while the 2nd US Marine Division considers offensive operations against the Japanese.
Australia Builds Northern Defenses
(TN – Sydney) Under Lieutenant General Hazard, new airplanes are now arriving at bases in northeast Australia. In addition, several infantry and cavalry divisions, as well as coastal defense units and engineers, are also taking up position here. Further west, reinforcements have spread out along the northern coast of Australia from Darwin to Darby to provide additional resistance if the Japanese should advance onto the mainland. Hazard has also ordered a risky operation to try to hold onto Kai Island, 300 miles north of Darwin. Hazard intends to use the island to break up the Japanese advance. Ultimately, if he can hold the island, Hazard would like to propose using it to advance back into the Dutch East Indies and threaten the Japanese oil shipments from the region.
British Build Ceylon Strongpoint
(TN – Columbo) The remnants of the Singapore air force, recently evacuated to Ceylon, is witnessing a rapid rebirth as the British attempt to turn the island into a secure strongpoint for future operations. The Ceylon air force has grown to almost 100 airplanes overnight, as replacement planes and pilots are assigned to the newly arrived air squadrons. Some Buffalo pilots from Singapore found themselves exchanging the planes they have known as Flying Coffins for new Hurricane fighters, and a Blenheim squadron found over a half dozen additional airplanes boxed up at waiting for it in Ceylon.
In other news . . .
Singapore Defenses Continue to Crumble
(TN – Columbo) Officials estimate that the Japanese are using over 100,000 troops to systematically destroy the defenses at Singapore. Supplies are already starting to run short for the defenders, and Southeast Asia Command is telling Thayne News to expect to report the fall of the island fortress within the weak. Southeast Asia Command is trying to soften what will inevitably be a severe psychological blow to the British forces in the region. With the rapid capture of both Singapore and Rangoon, and the expected loss of Mandalay in Burma before the end of the month, the British army has been severely demoralized. The Leadership Review Board is looking at the resumes of those who are in charge of the operation to determine if changes may be in order.
The only bright spots on the Far Eastern front have been the actions of the air units fighting in defense of Akyab and against the Japanese air force buildup at Rangoon. However, it does no good to the British army to know that the bomber and fighter groups inflicting the most harm on the enemy are all manned by American soldiers. The American Volunteer Group, a collection of American mercenaries on China’s payroll, and the 19th and 93rd Bomber Squadrons rescued from the Philippines and rebuilt, are the only units that have been able to inflict noticeable damage on enemy units. Yesterday, in a bombing raid on Akyab, the enemy had four airplanes shot down, while the AVG pilots defending the base lost no planes of their own.
One branch of the AVG has traded in their P-40B Tomahawk fighters for P-40E Warhawks. The Warhawk airplanes are designed to be used in bombing ground targets. Southeast Asia Command hopes that the AVG Pilots will be able to inflict some damage on the Japanese ground units making their way up the center of Burma, as well as aid in the inevitable Japanese attempt to take Akyab.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
JAP CARRIER FORCE HEADING EAST
(TN – Batavia) The Japanese carrier force has entered the Celebes Sea and was last seen heading east. Allied command is putting all units in the South and Central Pacific regions on alert.
Some analysts are saying that the carrier fleet is probably responding to reports of the Lexington and Saratoga raids in the Gilbert islands. The fleet can be expected to appear somewhere near Tarawa, and move on from there to conduct Java Sea style raids in the area of Baker, Canton, and Christmas islands. All shipping in the region has been notified to be prepared to evacuate the area the instant an alert is given.
Other analysts are speculating that the carrier force is moving on to cover the next big assault. They suggest that the Japanese navy may be planning to take Wake Island or Port Moresby, and will be using its carriers to cover the assault.
Another theory going around the halls of Allied command is that the carrier group is simply retreating to refuel and refit at Palau, after which it may move out in any direction. This group of analysts is warning against any type of speculation that suggests that the Indian Ocean will not be subject to any type of carrier raid in the near future, and that it can plan its missions accordingly.
Singapore Continues to Weaken
(TN – Columbo) The allied defense of Singapore continues to crumble against the onslaught of 100,000 Japanese troops. Casualties in the battle are amounting to an excess of 2500 per day on both sides, with the British army suffering twice as many casualties as they inflict.
Japanese Focus Air Force on Philippines
(TN – Manila) The Japanese launched four large bomber strikes against allied forces in the Philippines yesterday. They struck at defenses in Batan twice, Clark AFB once, and once at Manila. Combined, approximately 60 bombers and 20 fighters were involved in the raids. The Japanese army is making its greatest headway against the forces at Clark AFB, where they have started to overrun key defensive positions. By contrast, in the area of Manila, the Japanese appear content to stand back and pound the are with artillery, committing no soldiers to taking ground.
If the Japanese succeed in capturing Clark AFB, this will have the effect of cutting the allied defenders in two. Half of the allied army will be at Manila, while the other half will be on the Batan peninsula. USAFFE Command seems unconcerned with the effects of having a divided force. Aides for McArthur says that the general sees value in holding both places. One aid, in discussing how the General views this battle, said, “McArthur could pull all of the troops into Batan, but then the enemy will just seal us off there and go about their business. It’s Manila that they want. It is Manila that they will start to repair once they have obtained control of it. It is Manila that we must keep out of Japanese hands as long as possible. Manila is what we will defend.”
Rumors had been circulating that McArthur was thinking about declaring Manila an open city and handing it over to the Japanese intact. Some aids report that McArthur has a soft spot for the city and did not want to see it scarred by war. However, Allied Command insisted that no Allied general would consider handing over vital war materials to the enemy without a fight, and that it would be better that Manila be destroyed than that it exist whole in service to the tyranny of Japan.
B-17s Score Another Big Success Against Rangoon
(TN – Calcutta) Two squadrons of B-17 bombers reached Rangoon yesterday less than an hour apart, and caught the Japanese with their defenses down. The only CAP that the bombers saw over the city was a half squadron of Zero fighters. The Zeros do not have the ability to fight at the altitude the B-17s were flying, so the bombers were able to deliver their payload with free of all concerns but flak. Dropping their bombs from an altitude of over 35,000 feet, the bombers were still able to get precise hits on the Rangoon airstrips. Allied intelligence puts the official tally at 36 enemy airplanes destroyed on the ground, with two-thirds of the casualties being Sally bombers.
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
SINGAPORE SURRENDERS
(TN – Columbo) Allied Command was shocked yesterday to hear that Lieutenant General Percival yesterday surrendered 56,000 soldiers and the city of Singapore to the Japanese yesterday. The development stunned General ???? of the Southeast Pacific Command who had expected General Percival to hold on for at least another week.
Amid this development, there is rampant speculation about why Singapore fell to the Japanese so quickly. Some are calling Percival a traitor for surrendering so quickly. Others say that the fault rests with those who left Percival in charge. Still other unnamed sources have speculated that General Percival was upset over the lack of help he received from his superiors. According to some, Percival had privately commented that he was being ‘tied up and hung out as bait.’ One source, who asked not to be named, quoted General Percival as saying, “Allied Command may not care about what happens to these soldiers, but I do.”
Southeast Asia Command is now holding emergency sessions to determine how best to deal with 100,000 well-equipped troops, with air superiority and a powerful navy, ready to add their strength to the strike at India. With Singapore in Japanese hands, the Japanese now has unrestricted access to the Indian Ocean. The 22,000 man 55th Division has been able to defeat the British army in Burma single-handedly and decisively driving the British back out of every region it decides to strike. It is about to strike Mandalay, and with this will take control of the heart of the country. The addition of 100,000 soldiers would mean a significant striking force against Akyab and, from there, against Calcutta in northern India.
Over the course of the next few weeks, an armor and infantry brigade and approximately 50 fighter aircraft are expected to add their strength to the British defense of the region. However, this would not be enough to hold the region from a determined attack by 150,000 Japanese soldiers, and no other reserve forces are available.
ALLIES RUSH PACIFIC WALL
(TN – Hawaii) Facing news that the Japanese carrier force is heading east, Central Pacific Command and South Pacific Command jointly issued orders to hurry current operations on the Pacific Wall.
In Central Command, the next phase of the development of Baker Island involves transporting the rest of the 250th USA Coastal Artillery Regiment and the 65th USA Coastal Anti-Aircraft Regiment from Palmyra Atoll. Two personnel carriers already in the area were requisitioned for the task. The battleship escort that made the original trip to Baker Island will be returning to Palmyra to escort the reinforcements.
In the South Pacific, the carriers Lexington and Saratoga were ordered south to provide air defense of the two units due to arrive at Nanomea by the end of the week.
South Pacific Command is particularly concerned about the units heading to Esprito Santo and Efate. These units got a late start due to mismanagement in loading their transports in Tasmania. As a result, it will be a couple of weeks at least before these soldiers arrive, and this gives the Japanese carrier fleet ample time to arrive and take control of the area.
Japanese Surprise Allies At Kendari
(TN – Batavia) A Japanese invasion fleet showed up unexpectedly at Kendari yesterday. They showed up, just as a minesweeper that had taken critical damage during the Carrier Raid entered the port. According to reports, the minesweeper Cedric had just pulled into port when the Japanese invasion fleet also entered. Rather than allow his ship to fall into enemy hands, the captain of the Cendric ordered his troops to abandon ship and allowed the fires to consume the ship. The crew was picked up by the cargo ship Lematang, which was also in port at the time. Though the transport was heavily laden with cargo, the Japanese invasion fleet left it alone as it picked up survivors and slipped out of the harbor.
In related news, the tanker Trinity, which was also badly damaged during the Carrier raid, sank yesterday in the waters 300 miles south of Sumba. The Trinity was carrying a full load of oil when enemy bombers set it on fire. It had been burning out of control since then. By yesterday, the flames had destroyed most of the superstructure, allowing high ocean waves to break the ship apart.
