Henry:
Here’s the story about yesterday’s alert.
A PBY, flying out Rabaul, reported seeing a lone Japanese cruiser near Green Island, a little over 100 miles east of Rabaul.
Military intelligence took the report and actually filed it as a submarine sighting. Given that the enemy ship was so close to a local port, and the notorious inability of patrol planes to identify ships correctly, a lone enemy ship so close to an allied port had to be a submarine, or so they thought.
That is the report that I went on as I discussed operations with the theater commanders. Australia command had no ships in the area, so the submarine was not considered a threat.
Later in the day, after I had finished my conversations with the theater commanders, they had informed me of their planned operations and the orders had gone out, I had a few hours to spend with military intelligence. I asked them to spend some time discussing with me some of the finer details of what they had learned over the past four days.
One of the pieces of information they reported was a sudden drop in the number of ships at Truk – from 45 ships to 20 – within the last 48 hours. This, combined with the fact that the military transport ship damaged at Wake Island sank while trying to reach Truk, suggested the possibility that Truk was being used as a way point for the Pearl Harbor task force. Additional reports from Truk showed that the island experienced a significant drop in air force activity at the same time. Still more research, and we found bits and pieces of evidence – civilian reports of airplanes whose descriptions matched Japanese patrol planes, mysterious disappearance of civilian ships – all east of Rabaul.
By the time we added all of the pieces together we were almost certain that this lone Japanese cruiser was not a submarine, but a single element of the Japanese carrier force.
Thus, I sent out the alert.
It was too late, however. Generals and admirals in all of the theaters of operations had already sent out their orders. The alert, and the attempt to get messages through to the relevant units, did little more than generate confusion.
The only resources that we have at risk is a troop transport at Port Moresby which is delivering emergency supplies, and two minesweepers coming down from the Dutch East Indies in the Torres Straight (that narrow band of water between Australia and New Guinea). These are slow moving ships that may not be able to avoid a Japanese carrier force.
Statistics
There is very little to report in terms of statistics today. Naval and air units were not particularly active.
Losses Inflicted
• SS KXIV reports putting two torpedoes – one near the bow and one slightly aft of center -- into the side of a military freighter south of Camranh Bay, Indochina
The Ground War
The ground forces, however, saw the opening of two large battles; one in China and one in Malaya. The China battle is a part of an ever-growing conflict in the region as Japan steps up its aggressiveness.
China
Yenen (North China) Five divisions, supported by tanks and artillery, attacked the town of Yenen in northern China. Japanese forces attacked this town over a week ago, withdrew, and have now returned. The Japanese attackers ultimately outnumbered the Chinese Communists by 4 to 1. The defenders held the city for a day, but the results of this battle are a foregone conclusion.
Nanning (South China) Elsewhere in China, at Nanning, the two Chinese units attacking this city seem to have gotten themselves into a situation they cannot get out of. They have been trying, without success, to retreat out of Nanning. However, the enemy – now reinforced – have been keeping up a steady pressure that has not allowed the Chinese Nationalists any chance to withdraw.
Changsha (Central China): Japanese forces have also marched on Changsha in central China. The Chinese defenders have manned their defenses and are waiting for the Japanese, who are assembling on the outskirts of the city. The American Volunteer Group and the Chinese Air Force, which had only recently moved into the city, quickly left again to a new station further south, at Kweilin. From Kweilin, the air force is planning future attacks against the Japanese at Canton.
Malaya
Japan received some substantial reinforcements for its attack on Malacca. Allied intelligence estimate over 45,000 Japanese troops are participating in the attack, which is greater than a 4 to 1 advantage against the defenders. The Japanese subjected the British defenders to substantial air bombardment. In a morning raid, over 100 Japanese bombers attacked allied defenses. A second raid only hours later brought another 40 bombers. Combined, allied forces counted 250 casualties in the days’ operations, but were unable to inflict any casualties on the Japanese.
One of the reasons for the limited impact is the interest that General Wavell has in conserving ammunition. There is now no hope that a ship can get to Singapore with additional supplies, so the soldiers there will have to fight with what they have left.
Holding the Hawaii – Samoa Line
Conversations with Admiral King recently convinced me of an idea that I have had since the start of this war.
I have been contemplating what to have Nimitz do with the 2nd USMC Division – whether it should go on to defend New Caledonia or stop short and secure as much of the supply line as possible. Admiral King suggested that I tell Admiral Nimitz to, “Maintain communications between the west coast and Australia, chiefly by covering, securing and holding the Hawaii-Samoa line, which should be extended to include Fiji at the earliest possible date.” It was comforting to hear my very own thoughts coming from Admiral King in his own words. It makes me think that the plan actually has some merit.
Anyway, so I talked to Nimitz, and he is going to have Major General Marston land at Canton Island and divide his command into three units at his own discretion. One of those three parts will stay on Canton Island, while two others go to hold onto British and American Samoa. This will help to secure the American toehold in these islands, and help to make sure that Japan cannot push us completely off.
The 2nd USMC Defense Battalion is a part of the same task force. Nimitz reported that he intends this unit to stay at Canton Island, which is under the greatest threat.
I have heard a lot of noise from people wanting me to move the 2nd USMC Division to New Caledonia. However, if we do this, there is a possibility of Japan moving down through the rest of the Gilbert Islands to Samoa, cutting off any units on the far side of this line. We need to make sure that the supply line to Australia remains safe, and that means securing the nearer portions of that line before we worry about New Caledonia.
The New Zealanders have promised a brigade to help in the defense of Fiji, which has already been bolstered by the addition of an artillery unit that was originally heading to Australia.
New Caledonia is going to remain a weak link for some time to come. I think that we might want to have plans for eventually recapturing it, and start to have the units that are presently stationed there start doing their best to make us some very good maps.
In the Central Pacific
Since the start of the war, Palmyra and Christmas Island have been reinforced, and the waters around Johnson Island and Midway have been mined. With the two troop transports heading back to Pearl Harbor, Admiral Nimitz is looking to the next phase in building up the region.
His plan is to send engineering regiments to French Frigate Shoals and Laysan Island – about 1/3 and 2/3 of the way to Midway respectively. A survey of the islands at French Frigate Shoals suggests that one of them can be enlarged and used as an airbase. Nimitz reports that his engineers are working on a plan to pound pilings into the coral off the island and fill it with material taken from dredging a channel through the coral. The resulting man-made extension to the island will be large enough for an airstrip.
The island itself is too small to hold anything like a military garrison. However, it could be a useful for a seaplane base and for airplanes that could not otherwise reach Midway to stop and refuel. If we complete another pit stop at Laysan Island, the longest leg of any trip from Pearl Harbor to Midway (or to Johnson Island, for that matter) would only be a little over 400 miles – well within the range of most airplanes -- even fighters.
Just to keep you up to date, Nimitz has a forward artillery regiment heading to Johnson and Midway Islands -- one regiment each. The 144th USA Field Artillery Regiment is on its way from Seattle to Midway Island, while the 183rd USA Field Artillery Regiment intends to reach Johnson Island. These islands are not very big, so there is going to be a limit to the number of people we can station there. Nimitz argues that he would like to have the means available to fire on any bombardment or landing task force.
That’s it for today’s update. I want to wish you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas – at least as merry as the current situation would allow.
Thayne[/font]
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