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*Top Secret*

*Not to be opened before 16th January 1992.*



Printed copy of meeting between

Mr John Downer
Principle Secretary to the Prime Minister

and

John Curtin
Prime Minister

19:00Hrs 16th January 1942



*Not to be opened before 16th January 1992.*

Australian Federal Archives Office (Canberra).


PM: Good evening John.

JD: Good evening Prime Minister.

PM: So what do you have for me tonight?

JD: Well John, I was hoping to discuss the latest letter from Mr Thayne.

PM: Ah yes.

JD: Seems that the Americans wish us to choose whom will be the over-all commander of allied forces in this region.

PM Indeed?

JD: Yes they have put forward four names, all of which are in the briefing papers that you would have received earlier this afternoon.

PM: Yes.

JD: And I must say that is a very masterful diplomatic tactic.

PM: Yes John, my thoughts also.

JD: If we choose then the Americans...

PM: You mean Roosevelt.

JD: .........er yes, President Roosevelt can then say that we having nothing more to complain about as....

PM: ..........whom ever we choose was just that, our choice.

JD: Yes John, exactly so.

PM: So John what do you think?

JD: Well there is little choice for us, Mr Thayne is somewhat insistent that we make a decision and make is fast, and I must admit to being in agreement with him. At this point we are still blundering around with little in the way of unified command, and this is leading to resources being squandered and miss used, hell just look at the bloody mess that the ABDA has left in it's path. No Mr Thayne is correct, we need to make a choice and sooner would be better than latter.

PM: Yes indeed, but which of the four should we choose?

JD: Well Brett is here in Australia now, and has been named as the over all commander of American forces in Australia, seems that he is a capable sort.

PM: Uh huh.

JD: Then there is Brereton, seen as an able planner, more than likely better suited to staff work rather than that of a commander.

PM: Yes I agree.

JD: Thompson, really good bloke from all reports, doing or was doing a wonderful job in the Philippines with next to nothing and so may seem on the surface just the sort of fellow that we are looking for.

PM: And the last recommendation?

JD: Ah yes, we come to a Mr Douglas McArthur, from all accounts he is seen as some one whom is in love with his own over blown image of himself and somewhat stuffed things up in the Philippines to such a degree that he was sacked. Not the type of person that we could really use I should think.

PM: Well lets not be too hasty John, maybe we need to think this through a bit more.

JD: For what reason sir? I don't see how this McArthur fellow could be of any possible use, why he even clashes with Mr Thayne, whom I think was secretly glad to see him gone.

PM: Really? Now that is interesting.

JD: And we must remember Prime Minister, that whom ever we choose we must be able to get on with.

PM: Indeed John, what we are look for is someone whom has the same interests as we do, namely to prevent the Japanese from landing here, but not only that, we are looking for some one whom will fight as if it is their last fight, and have the connections to get the men and material that they need to do the job.

JD: John you can't be seriously considering McArthur?

PM: More so John, infact I think that we have found our man, lets look at the pros, one, he has been dismissed in shame and so will fight not only to win, but if I read McArthur correctly, will fight to win and see his name in lights as the one person whom single handed won the fight, this is his last chance to shine and he will know that. Two, he has some very good connections back in Washington DC which will prove useful to us in our constant battle to get supplies and aircraft. Three, he has been making a lot of noise about how the war should be fought against Japan, and he is saying that the counter strike should come from the North of Australia back up into the Philippines, which dovetails with our desire to see Australia protected.

JD: But he clashes with Thayne...

PM: Which is a good thing John. If McArthur is going to stage a counter offensive from Australia, he is going to have to clash with Thayne, remember John, Thayne is an American whom will be looking at the big picture, the American big picture, McArthur will be looking at only his own picture, which just happens to fit our needs also.

JD: But will we be able to control him?

PM: You miss the point John, we don't want to control him, we want to let him loose. No I think that Mr McArthur is the men that we want. Let Thayne know, and also advise him that Blamey is to be commander of Australian forces, second in command to McArthur.

JD: Yes Prime Minister.

[font="Courier New"]Friday, January 16, 1942

Henry:

Battles

Canton Island

• Allied air losses: 8x P-40B, 10x F4F
• Allied naval losses: AK Steel Voyager
• Japanese Air Losses: 2x Zero

Clark AFB

• Allied Air Losses: 4x P-40B, 6x P-40E, 4x P-26A, 3x P-35A
• Japanese Air Losses: 7x Zero


I was attacked!

The Japanese carriers struck right here at Canton Island today.

It was not the 135 Kate bombers they used at Rabaul. It was about 50 bombers (evenly divided between Kate and Val) with an escort of nearly 50 Zeros. At least, that’s what the intelligence officers, who have been debriefing people since the attack was over, have told me.

They went after AK Steel Voyager with a vengeance – treating it almost like they thought it was an aircraft carrier.

I said that I beached it where the ocean floor dropped off quickly, to get it as close to the shore as possible. The stern was still in deep enough water for them to get three torpedoes into it.

I had no idea what a torpedo could do to a ship!

They plastered the whole area with bombs. A lot of the supplies that I said we stored in the water went up as well by near misses.

However, we had abandoned the ship before the attack. More important, the Japanese were so intent on sinking the ship, they left most of the base installations alone. Our runways, beach defenses, and anti-aircraft guns are almost entirely intact.

I can’t say the same for our air force. That was depressing to watch. Officially, we have 18 pilots missing.

Intelligence tells me that the Japanese paid for their attack with the loss of 2 Zeros.

The ground crews and pilots are claiming more, of course. However, G2 says that they only have confirmed reports of two planes shot down. Those are cases where two or more people who had no contact with each other reported seeing the same thing.

This is pathetic. It is almost enough to make a grown man cry. We had everything we needed here. We were ready for them.

They just flew circles around us.

I bet, when this war is over and we can get a look at the Japanese naval records, we’ll discover that they won’t have even had an inkling of a suspicion that, on January 16th, the Japanese carrier-based air units were ambushed at Canton Island.

Only Three Carriers

G2 is also telling me that the Japanese only used the planes from three carriers in this attack. They are still trying to work out which ones. However, judging from the markings on the planes and the numbers involved, this was not the full force that the enemy could muster.

So, we still need to figure out where the other enemy carriers are.

It also means that, if we had enough supplies here to have equipped the bombers, we might have been able to get through and do some damage to them. But, the Japs drove our ships away before they could unload any of the good stuff.

AK Steel Voyager Wrecked

By the way, the damage was so extensive, that there is no hope of salvaging any of the cargo off of AK Steel Voyager. Three torpedoes destroyed the last half of the ship, and it was hit by so many bombs that there is nothing left to salvage. If anything survived the attack, the fires took care of them.

It’s a relic for the tourists to visit after all of this is over.



Fighter Sweep at Clark AFB

The Clark Field attack was a fighter sweep. There were no bombers – just fighters loaded for bear.

Naturally, the P-26 and P-35 fighters did not stand a chance. General Thompson informs me that he has no more P-35s to fight with, and he sent the last P-26 off to India through China. All that remains, really, is the 24th Fighter Group with a dozen airplanes, and the 3rd Fighter Squadron with a half dozen Tomahawks.

The 21st Fighter Squadron was also declared unfit for combat. PBY pilots ferried the last of the air crew to India, while the last three planes took off with the last P-26.


Singapore Lives

I think that Japan is settling in for a long siege against a well entrenched and well supplied defender. For the last two days, all they have been doing is shelling the city. Clearly, this is in preparation for an attack.

Apparently, they think that all of this shelling is necessary.

I am grateful for every additional day that the Japanese give us. If they want to sit back and shell Singapore for a month or two, that is fine with me. My official prediction for the fall of the city, then, is about 10 hours after the Japanese decide they want to take it. They will discover that they can simply roll past units that can do little else but throw rocks.

According to General Brooke, the defenders are rigging all important installations, particularly the naval yard, for demolition. They will wait until the last minute. Early destruction of the facilities will signal the Japanese that the allies have no more will to hold the place. We do not want to give them that kind of signal.


Overall

Does this not sound like it has been a depressing day? It is the second day in a row. Yesterday’s 13:0 loss against the Japanese in Singapore and Mandalay, in terms of air power, did little to boost my spirits either.

I was particularly shocked when General Brooke informed me that England had shipped the ground-attack version of the Hurricane fighters. I think we must also agree that the Warhawk is the ground-attack version of the Curtis P-40. The P-39 Aircobra is also more of a fighter bomber than an air supremacy fighter. And I would not trust the Australian Whirraway to deliver the mail.

The Tomahawk, I have been told, will only be provided in very limited numbers – so limited, that I just lost a one month quota of airplanes in one battle.

Could you not spare one squadron of P-38s? I just want Japan to get a taste of what they can look forward to in the future.


Tomorrow

I suspect that the Japanese are going to head away tomorrow. They probably think that they caught us by surprise. Now that we suddenly discovered where they are, and our airbase is undamaged, there is a risk that we can summon some bombers to this place and actually try to attack them.

They will not be around to find out.

I plan on going to American Samoa tomorrow. The Saratoga will show up there in a couple of days to pick up their fighters, and the remnants of the 2nd Marine Battalion are going to be dropped off there.

It would be a good place for Halsey’s headquarters, until we can secure the territory further west of here.

On that score, I am still concerned that no arrangements have yet been made to secure New Caledonia. We don’t have the forces to protect it. And the Australians keep dragging their feet, intent on defending Port Moresby rather than their lifeline. They told me that they have a brigade that will be completing its training shortly. They have asked for shipping to send it to Port Moresby. I will send them a letter to them tomorrow, saying that I have the shipping available, but only if they ship the unit to Noumea.


That’s it for today.

It has been a hard day.

I know that I was quite badly shaken by what I saw today.


Until tomorrow,

Thayne[/font]

Great AAR
Great the way the game is being played, in a realistic manner
Keep it up
1st thing I do every day, is see how Thayne is going!

[font="Courier New"]Saturday, January 17, 1942

Henry:

I have been attacked again! This time, not by the Japanese, but by the Australians.

MacArthur?

I suppose I should learn to spell his name correctly. You know me, I've never been too good at spelling. I have always blamed it on my father dragging me around the world to every port in the Pacific, learning a half dozen different languages. I never learned any of them particularly well.

But, MacArthur?

I know, I put his name on the list. I did it to illustrate a point -- that I am serious when I say that the choice was theirs to make. I assumed that they would use this opportunity to make an intelligent choice.

This makes me question the intellect of the average Australian, or at least those that they elect into high office.

But, here's the part that really grinds my teeth. I have been bending over backwards to help them. I have worked with them for the return of the 6th and 7th Divisions, rather than having them diverted to some English cause. I have negotiated the shipment of a fourth fighter group.

They have decided to reward me by stabbing me in that very back.

I cannot think of anything more destructive that Curtin could have done. To hire the very person that I fired is to stand up on top of the tallest soap box and shout, "I hereby declare that I have no confidence in the decisions that Thayne is making about the course and nature of this conflict." Because, if I was not incompetent, I would not have fired him.

In a parliamentary legal system, when a leader gets a vote of no confidence, he resigns, and the people select a new leader in whom the people can feel confident. I know that Nimitz thinks I am too cautious, and I suspect that Churchill wants me drawn and quartered -- I know he thinks that I did not do enough for Singapore.

But, I serve at the will of the President of the United States.

I have sent a message to McArthur asking him to consider the position.

However, if I should continue in this position, then there are some rules that need to be made clear.

I do not want MacArthur to be able to requisition as much as a role of toilet paper without going through this office. If he should make any attempt at all to go around me or over my head or any direction at all other than through this office, I want that effort blocked.

The worst thing that you could do to me now is promise MacArthur the divisions for Australia that I have been asking for -- allowing him to take credit for a success where I have been impotent. If you do that to me, it will render me incapable of continuing to fulfill the roles of this office.

MacArthur will be looking for a way to shut me out and make me (and this office) irrelevant. If he is going to be allowed to succeed, then we should close this office down today and save him the trouble. If it is the will of the President that this office continue to serve in the role assigned to it, then efforts like those that MacArthur will inevitably make, will need to be slapped down and slapped down hard.

I also want it known that, I fired him once, and I can fire him again, if he should show the same lack of leadership that he showed on December 7/8, I will fire him again and this time he will stay fired.


Implications for the Strategic Situation

One mistake that I am certain that MacArthur is going to make yet again is not securing his supply lines. The greatest contributing factor to the loss of the Philippines is that Japan was able to get behind him. By capturing Davao and Julu, Japan stopped any hope of reinforcing and supplying the Philippine army. He let himself be cut off.

He is going to put himself in exactly the same situation in Australia. I have been begging the Australians to protect their supply lines -- to secure New Caledonia as a way of securing the future delivery of the men and materials they will need to fight this war. I think that I almost had them convinced to give up Port Moresby and occupy New Caledonia instead,

Now, that cause is lost. MacArthur is going to insist that the navy secure his supply lines, while he moves north. Port Moresby and Timor will likely be among his earliest targets.


New Caledonia

I cannot express the level of concern that I have that now, six weeks into this war, and I have not been able to get any assistance in controlling as vital a location to our situation as New Caledonia.

I am aware that General Patch is still working on putting together a patchwork division specifically dedicated to the defense of New Caledonia. However, I am afraid that this is going to come as a matter of too little, too late.

Somebody needs to give me something to put on that island, or Japan is going to put a very powerful guard on the doorway to Australia, and starve that country into submission. MacArthur will be moving the 38th Australian Infantry Brigade, and the 808th Aviation engineer Battalion to Port Moresby -- I am certain of that.


You will get your regular daily report at the regular time.

I just wanted to make sure that the relevant issues contained within got addressed as soon as possible.


Thayne[/font]

Diary Entry Alan Brooke Diaries Sunday 18th January


Good COS meeting today. PM’s latest scheme was to transfer convoy with Australian Divisions to Java. War Cabinet and COS over ruled him without even referring the matter to the Australian High Commisioner as it has no strategic or tactical value and will just lead to more troops being in the bag. Decisions made in PM’s absence expect fireworks when he gets back.

PM due back from Washington any day now. I will hopefully find out what else he has agreed when he returns.

Dill seems to think that PM has accepted that Singapore is lost .

PM is demanding an offensive from Auchinleck to exploit from Agheila towards Tripoli. Auchinleck is still very much focussed on the Persian/ Iraq front which he views as an equal priority to the Western Desert. If we lose those oil wells we lose the war.

I am concerned that we are unbalanced in the Desert. I have doubts that Neil Ritchie is up to the job after the Crusader battles. Taking Blamey out of Middle East command increases my worry about the command structure it leaves Auchinleck with no Deputy and a weak COS. But the Australians want him at home so he will be sent back.

I have asked Auchinleck for a report on the front.

The transfer of Hurricanes to Far East has denuded the Delta of fighter cover. No offensive is expected out of Rommel for at least two months and ULTRA is quiet so we should be ok but we are running a risk.

One of the three transports with Spitfires for the Far East was sank last night in the Bay of Biscay by a U-Boat additional escorts have been ordered to protect the convoy. No troopships were sank thank god.

Malta fights on. We need to get them some Spitfires to improve air cover.

[font="Courier New"]Saturday, January 17, 1942

Henry:

• Singapore Falls. Implications for Java, Burma, and India

• Reinforcements for Week Starting January 18, including British CV and BB

• British Hurricanes lose again, 11 to 0

• Japanese Carriers Moving North


Singapore Falls

With the fall of Singapore, we should now look for the war to enter a new phase. The big changes are:

• Gen. Archibald Wavell’s ABDA Command is next

Japan wants resources, and those resources are found in the Dutch East Indies. We know where Japan is going to attack next. Balikpapan and Palembang will be the next targets, ultimately aiming at the capture of Java.

Can we hold Java with our available forces? No. Our problems are logistic. We do not have enough planes, and we do not have enough spare parts to keep the planes we do have flying. We do not have enough ships, and we do not have enough fuel for the ships we do have without sailing underneath the Japanese air umbrella. We have troops and ammunition, but nothing to support them with, at least not at this point.

The ABDA fleet has almost completely exhausted its available fuel reserves. We have a small stockpile left in Darwin. Other than that, the only way it has to find fuel is to visit a port like Soerabaja or Balikpapan. Either option would mean subjecting the fleet to a Japanese aerial attack – the same type of attack that cost us BC Repulse and CA Houston. We can expect a couple more of our combat ships to disappear, with nothing really to show for it.

The main distinguishing factor here remains air power. Japan does it, we do not. Japan can protect its ships from our air attacks, we cannot protect our ships from their air attacks. We cannot sail our ships under Japan’s air umbrella without losing them. We have no air umbrella for Japan to be concerned about.

Until we get airplanes into the ABDA Theater, Japan has free reign.

• Japan has troops available to complete the conquest of Burma.

No doubt, Japan is going to want the resources in Burma as well, and now has additional divisions it can throw into that fight. Japan may wait until Java has fallen, or it may take advantage of the fact that their soldiers are in the neighborhood and spare some troops for Burma right away.

Our main concern is with getting the Chinese soldiers to Burma before Japan closes that road. The first troops will arrive in a couple of weeks. I do not think Japan can reach Myitkyina in time to stop them. We will find out.

• Japan has uncontrolled access to the Indian Ocean

I have spoken with General Pownall about preparing the Indian Ocean fleet for the possibility of a Japanese attack. Our greatest concern is shipping to Diamond Harbor from Karachi. Since the start of the war, Pownall has been shipping supplies as quickly as possible from Karachi and Bombay to Diamond Harbor. Now, we can expect the Japanese to threaten these shipping lines.

The last 400 miles to Diamond Harbor is under the Japanese air umbrella flying out of Rangoon. This means that any ship that passes north of midway up the coast of India is at risk of getting sunk. I’m afraid that large task forces will give the Japanese air units multiple targets to shoot at. Smaller task forces will be at risk of attack from Japanese submarines.

This also means that Ceylon is at risk of attack. I am very much concerned about getting additional reinforcements to that island. Pownall has promised me that the next reinforcements that England releases to him will go there. England has made a number of promises, but no reinforcements are due to arrive in the foreseeable future.


Reinforcement Schedule

Speaking of reinforcements, it is that time of week again.

The highlights are the fact that the British are sending in CV Indomitable and BB Royal Sovereign this week, just in time to challenge Japan for control of the Indian Ocean.

The 30th Australian Brigade becomes available this week. Unless the Australians suddenly succumb to a bout of sanity, I do not expect to see these units in New Caledonia as I had hoped.

The specifics are:

Sunday, January 18, 1942

• CL Hobart at Sydney
• AK Mormaodove at San Francisco
• TKs: Deroche, La Plaontia, D.G. Scofield, W.S. Rheum, Antietam, Hadnot at San Francisco

Monday, January 19 1942

• CL Sumatra at Soerabaja
• AP President Hayes at Los Angeles
• AKs: Makena, Mormachawk, Red Jacket at San Francisco

Tuesday, January 20, 1942

• 30th Australian Bde at Sydney
• CV Indomitable at Karachi
• AKs: Mana, Mormacul, City of Rayville, Arcata at San Francisco
• TKs: Samuel Q. Brown, Dillwyn at San Francisco

Wednesday, January 21, 1942

• SS O23 at Soerabaja
• AKs: Wilhelmina, West Ira at San Francisco
• TK Empire Airman at Karachi

Thursday, January 22, 1942

• AKs: Mormaowren, West Planter at San Francisco
• TKs: Byron D. Benson, Gulfcoast at San Francisco

Friday, January 23, 1942

• 51st Aviation Regiment, San Francisco
• VP-9, 12x PBY Catalina, San Diego
• MSW Lismore at Sydney
• AKs San Angelo, American Leader, Sage Brush at San Francisco
• TKs La Purisima, Ruth Kellogg, Gulfdisc at San Francisco
• AK Empire Dryden at Karachi

Saturday, January 24, 1942

• BB Royal Sovereign at Karachi
• DD Russell at San Francisco
• TK Watertown at San Francisco


Hurricanes Lose 11 to 0

Japan attacked Mandalay again and shot down 11 Hurricanes without a loss.

In discussions with General Pownall, we have agreed to pull these two squadrons out of combat, appoint new leaders, and give them 1 week to get this unit back into fighting shape. In the mean time, the lack of fighter cover means that we also have to pull the bombers out of Burma.

This will limit our ability to hinder any Japanese advance up the road to Myitkyina.

I had no idea that the Hurricanes were this pathetically bad. In comparison, I now have pilots begging for transfers out of the Hurricane squadrons into the Buffalo squadrons. Some of my military experts tell me that the problem is not with the airplanes, but the pilots. To me, it does not matter much. What I know is that I still have nothing in India that can even start to challenge the Japanese for control of the air.


Japanese Carriers Moving North

The Japanese carrier force left the waters around Canton Island, and were spotted again east of Baker Island at Dawn. All ships within the Hawaiian Waters Defensive Triangle (Midway – Palmyra – Pearl Harbor) have been put on alert. Those ships who do not have vital duties to perform have been ordered to withdraw.

We have one operation at risk. TF1078 is delivering the 804th Engineer Aviation Battalion to Laysan Island, 300 miles southeast of Midway, to construct a stopping-off point for planes hopping to Midway. At Admiral Nimitz’ request, that operation has been ordered to continue.

Also, all supply operations at Johnson and Midway Islands will continue.

Nimitz has also ordered VMF 211 (19x Wildcat) and the 46th Fighter Squadron (23x Warhawk) to Johnson Island to intercept any Japanese attack. Other air units presently at Pearl Harbor have been put on alert.

Johnson Island has a big enough airstrip that it could provide significant assistance to a carrier battle in these waters. CVs Enterprise, Yorktown, and Lexington are close enough to be able to reach this area and intercept the Japanese.


Until tomorrow.

Thayne[/font]

As an AAR writer myself I just thought I should let you know that I am greatly enjoying this AAR.

From:Prime Minister J Curtin

To : President Roosevelt



Mr Roosevelt,

The fall of Singapore even though it was expected has come upon this nation as a great shock. For decades now, Australia has always rested assured that Britain would be there to protect and defend this small out-post of western civilization against any threat from the north. How hollow this promise now seems.

I take no comfort from the fact that I saw this disaster coming, and if you recall even wrote to you this December just gone, expressing my concern about Singapore and it's ability to defend itself and asking you to help get our boys home. And now here we are only weeks latter having to come to terms with the loss of over eight thousand Australians. A very heavy price for such a small nation.

Looking at the conduct of the war in the Middle east and now in Asia I must seriously question the Allies conduct of the war thus far. Certainly from a British perspective it has been nothing less than a disaster, and as a result of this I find that my country is now under direct threat. The fact is now plain and simple, there is nothing between Australia and Singapore to stop the Japanese.

Australia now looks to the United States for direct support in our war against Japan as Britain is not capable of helping, regardless of the fact that we have sent thousands of Australians to Europe to help fight Nazi Germany it is clear that there will be no help coming from that quater.


Mr President, The Battle for Australia has now begun.

Sincerely

J Curtin
Prime Minister

To: John Downer
Secretary to the Prime Minister

From: Thayne

By now you have likely heard of the fall of Singapore.

There is additional news that is also relevant to these developments.

• General Wavell informs me that there is a large Japanese invasion fleet in the waters just north of Batavia. G2 believes that this is an invasion fleet aiming at Batavia.

• The ABDA fleet, nearly out of fuel, is will be at Darwin in two days and will need supplies to continue operations.

• AK Bridge, containing airplane spare parts for Australian and Dutch military planes manufactured in America (e.g., the Hudson bomber) will be at Sidney in two days.

Given these developments, General Wavell has asked me to express his alarm and concern that his air units have been placed in such a remote location as Adelade. He wishes me to stress that he needs those units to fight for Java. Though he agrees that the situation in Java is hopeless, he at least hopes to put up a sufficient fight to buy the British and Americans some time to set up their defenses further south.

He has asked me to express his opinion that Australia, itself, could use some time to prepare its own defenses.

Toward that end, he has asked me to relay his request that the Dutch air units that have retreated to Australia move to Sydney or Brisbane where the air units can immediately obtain the benefit of the new parts and planes that will be arriving in a few days. As soon as his air units are built up, General Wavell would like to have those units return immediately to the front line to take part in the defense of Java.

He has expressed fears that it will take so long for spare parts to reach Adelade, that Java will be lost before the supplies can get to his troops and the troops can get back to the front line. The cost of this is that the northern coast of Australia will face a threat of invasion far sooner than it would otherwise have.

Sincerely,

Thayne

[font="Courier New"]Sunday, January 18, 1942

Henry:

Weekly Summary

It is time for my weekly wrap-up.

In seven weeks of war, not including December 7, 1941, no week has been as bad as this one. In the last 7 days:

• We lost Singapore.

• The air war took a sudden downward spiral as Japan shoots down 77 allied airplanes in the past week. According to G2, we have shot down 115 Japanese airplanes since the start of the war.

• Our operation to reinforce Canton Island was interrupted by a Japanese raid, forcing our landing ships south to Pago Pago.

• Japan continues to force the Chinese back from Shanghai-Hanoi railroad.

• Japan continues to tighten its grip on the ports around Rabaul.

• MacArthur got a new job, leading the Southwest Pacific theater.


Ships Lost: 20 ships total, 1 in the past week

• BC Repulse
• CAs: Houston, New Orleans
• CL Danae
• PGs: Isabel, Asheville
• ASs: Otus, Canopus
• MSW Penguin
• SS S-38, KXV
• AP President Madison
• PTs: 21, 31, 32, 34
• AK Steel Voyager*, Taurus
• TKs: Gertrude Kellogg, Manatawny

* Ships lost in the past week

Air War: 776 Planes Lost – 97 in the past week

• 266 planes shot down (+76)
• 377 planes destroyed on the ground (+4)
• 20 planes shot down by AA
• 113 planes lost due to accident (+17)

Top 12 Air Loss by Type

• 124x P-40B Tomahawk (+16)
• 76x Buffalo (+7)
• 57x P-40E Warhawk (+10)
• 43x PBY Catalina (+1)
• 34x Hudson (+2)
• 33x Martin
• 30x Brewster 339D (+1)
• 28x SB-2c
• 27x P-36A Mohawk
• 27x Blenheim IV
• 24x P-26A (+4)
• 24x Blenheim I (+1)

The plane types with the biggest losses not on this list are:

Hurricanes: 18x lost in air-to-air alone
F4F-4 Wildcats: 10x lost in air-to-air alone


Summary by Region

North Pacific: We haven’t seen hide nor hair of the Japanese up here. I may not have mentioned this before, but we have a picket boat out looking for signs of trouble. MSW Oriole sits at Kiska Island. It sails around from time to time to take a measure of Japanese patrols. Actually, there aren’t any. TF1186 just arrived at Dutch Harbor carrying the 11th Air Force HQ. This is the first step in turning Dutch Harbor into a major forward port. After unloading the HQ unit, TF1186 will travel between Dutch Harbor and Anchorage, building up the garrison at Dutch Harbor. Meanwhile cargo ships continue to build stockpiles at Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, and Nome.

Central Pacific: The 804th Engineer Aviation Battalion finished dredging a port and building an airbase at French Frigate Shoals. It was then loaded onto the troop transport U.S. Grant and shipped up to Laysan Island, 300 miles southeast of Midway. There, it will work with the 34th USA Engineer Regiment to build a port and airstrip there.

Minelayers continue to sail all around the Hawaiian Islands dropping off mines. Every port from Midway to Hilo now has a respectable collection of mines.

Further south, the presence of the Japanese carrier fleet cancelled plans to occupy Baker Island. Had we continued with the operation, our landing force would have been at Baker at the same time that the Japanese carrier fleet sailed by.

South Pacific: The Battle for Canton Island was a slaughter of American pilots. We lost 18 fighters and the large cargo ship Victoria Steel. But the damage, overall, was minimal.

Cargo ships reached many of the southern islands with badly needed supplies. All of the garrisoned islands from Pago Pago to Suva have been visited by fully loaded cargo ships.

New Zealand is sending two brigades to Suva. They left Aukland just the other day. We also plan on dropping off the rest of the 2nd USMC Defense Battalion and 2nd USMC Division at Pago Pago as soon as the Japanese carrier fleet goes away. I think we can make the trip tomorrow.

I still have no units to use to put a garrison on New Caledonia. Sorry, Henry, but this is the sorest of the sore point that I have – even worse than my exasperation over how poorly the Hurricane pilots in India.

Southwest Pacific: The Australians picked Douglas MacArthur to lead SWPA. As far as I am concerned, this dooms the whole theater. Japan is consolidating its holdings around Rabaul – operations that have included the occupation of Lae on the northern coast of New Guinea. The Australians have increased the air garrison at Port Moresby, and even managed to get a cargo ship up there where it has unloaded military equipment for the last two days.

I have no doubt that MacArthur will order the 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion and the newly arrived 30th Australian Brigade to Port Moresby, even though I have begged the Australians to use them to garrison New Caledonia. MacArthur thinks that if he has two cops and a rowboat he can use them to capture Tokyo. The man is delusional, and the Australians pick him to lead SWPA. Sorry, I know, I’ve already been through this rant.

The good news is that AK Bridge, with 4,500 tons of crated airplanes and spare parts, will be in Sydney tomorrow. Immediately after it reaches port, its spare parts and planes will be sent out to the air units in Australia. No. 453 RAAF Squadron will get its Hurricanes, and Hudson bomber squadrons – now largely down to 1 or 2 planes each – will get their replacements. Other replacements include Brewster 339D fighters for the Dutch.

ABDA: All the Dutch can do is sit and wait for the Japanese to advance. They have no planes or ships to fight back with at this point. The recent arrival of spare parts and planes at Australia may change that – then the Dutch may challenge the Japanese advance. Until those planes can get to the front line, however, the Dutch can do nothing but sit and wait.

They do not need to wait for long. A Japanese invasion fleet sits in the water 100 miles north of Batavia, and a Japanese army is moving to Balikpapan from Tarakan. I think, in the next week, we can expect a Japanese attack at Batavia and for Balikpapan to fall into Japanese hands.

The ABDA Fleet will be pulling into Darwin tomorrow. Darwin is the only port in the area with enough fuel to maintain the fleet. It will not last long. MacArthur is asking that the ships be diverted to the Southwest Pacific Theater, where he can put them to use. Some of those ships are Dutch ships, and the Dutch are not going to be so quick at giving up on their country. The ships still Wavell’s to command.

Malaya We lost.

Burma: The Japanese have been sitting in Rangoon since they got here. They have made no attempt to try to secure the interior of the country, which does not upset me at all. I have 9 Chinese “Divisions” heading for Myitkyina in northern Burma. The lead units in this chain will reach the town in 2 weeks. If Japan wants to give me that kind of time, I am not going to complain.

Japan has been working on taking control of the air over Burma. General Pownall had built a sizable air force at Mandalay in central Burma, protected by the newly arrived Hurricane fighters. The Japanese have been slaughtering Hurricanes since they showed up. Right now the kill ration for Hurricanes is 18 to 0 – in favor of the Japanese.

Pownall has been using heavy bomber squadrons borrowed from the Philippines to bomb Rangoon – to no good effect. They fly in at an altitude where the Nates and Zeros cannot reach them, but the Oscars can, and the Oscars have been chewing the heavy bombers up with great efficiency. Pownall has not lost any planes, but it takes days to put what is left of the bombers back together after each mission.

India: With the fall of Rangoon, the shipping lanes to Diamond Harbor have become less secure. The cargo ships are now stopping at Columbo in Ceylon and Madras. In conversations with Pownall, he will be sending some supplies to Australia as well.

The British have put together a fairly large air force around Calcutta. There are 92x Fighters, 59x Heavy Bombers, 101x Medium Bombers, 12x Torpedo Bombers, and 18x Patrol Craft in the region. Now, all Pownall needs to do is to learn how to use these resources effectively.

One of the major problems in the India region is the lack of ground support crews. That problem will persist through the next week, then it will vanish. The 221st Royal Air Force is moving up from Karachi to stations in Dacca and Chadpur.

My main concern with this region is the security of the island of Ceylon. At my urging, Pownall has added the 26th Indian Division, as well as the 1st and 28th UK Forward Artillery Regiments to the garrison at Columbo. Our plans are to add the 7th Armored Tank Brigade when it becomes available in early March – if that is not too late.

China: Japan is clearing the Shanghai, Hanoi railroad with an army of over 200,000 soldiers. Right now they are at Kweilin, in southern China. For some reason, even though they have a numerical superiority, they have only been shelling the city. Chang Kai Shek has given permission for the Chinese army to retreat to Kweiyang. Chang is not interested in standing and fighting.

The AVG suffered serious losses due to not having enough skilled ground crew to take care of their airplanes. They retreated to Kweiyang as well, where they now have less than 40 operational planes. The Chinese are taking steps to build up the air support at Kweiyang to handle the fighters. In the mean time, the AVG is making plans to split into three squadrons and scatter across China.

Near Nanning, the Chinese have gathered a significant force. The generals down there are in a bit of a rebellion. Attempts to order them back to Kweiyang have been ignored. They are insisting on driving the Japanese out of Nanning, and they have collected a force of 6 divisions. I don’t think that they are going to accomplish very much, but I am pleased to see somebody there with some initiative and fighting spirit.

This is now things stand today.

We will see what new and exciting things will happen tomorrow.

Thayne[/font]

From: John Downer

Principle secretary to the Prime Minister

Department of the Prime Minister. Canberra.


Mr Thayne.


It is felt that to put the Dutch air units currently based in Australia back into the line is a mistake, as all of these units have been reduced far below operational ability. However if it the express wish of the Dutch government to waste good men and machines, then there is little that this government can do to stop it.

All support for these Dutch units will be given for their re-deployment if that is what infact the Dutch government wants.

General Wavell's views are just that, views and are not considered by this government as relevant to the current situation. General Wavell would do a lot better looking after his own problems rather than concerning himself with Australia.

In closing I would simply like to echo the words of Prime Minister John Curtin, "The battle of Australia has now begun".


John Downer.

[font="Courier New"]Monday, January 19, 1942

Henry:

Japanese Take Lae on New Guinea

The Japanese are starting to make a big push to consolidate their holdings in the Bismarck Archipelago. Today, I received reports of landings at Lae. We sent bombers against them. They had Zeros flying CAP this time. The Japs shot up the Whirraway escort with their typical efficiency, and also brought down one of the bombers. Five of our planes got through to the ships, but we have no reports of a confirmed hit.

It is turning out to be more difficult than we imagined to hit a ship from an airplane. Billy Mitchell’s demonstrations were against huge ships, sitting still, unable to fight back. If you significantly reduce the size of the target, put it to sea where it can twist and turn, and give the crew AA guns to frighten the pilots, and hitting a ship is turning out to be nearly impossible.

Japan will have full control of this port soon enough.

Admittedly against my advice, the Australians sent a supply ship to Port Moresby, which has been unloading much needed supplies there. I warned them that the ship would likely get sunk by torpedo bombers operating out of Rabaul. I was mistaken. AK Elcano has dropped off 1500 tons of supplies at Port Moresby, and will certainly get more cargo unloaded by morning.

I have to admit that I am glad that these military commanders do not listen to me from time to time. I also cautioned Nimitz to protect the ships delivering cargo to his forward bases. He ignored me and sent ships to all those bases. For the most part, his decision has resulted in the forward bases getting loads of supplies that they would not have gotten if I was giving the orders.

Against my advice, Nimitz began unloading the 804th Engineer Aviation Battalion at Laysan Island southeast of Midway last night. It now appears that he will have that unit fully unloaded without any interference from the Japanese.

The south Pacific islands from Pago Pago to Suva now have a healthy stockpile of supplies.


Australia Supplies

AK Bridge, with 4,500 tons of airplane supplies, will reach Sydney tomorrow. There is almost nothing that Japan can do to stop this shipment now. This will make a significant contribution to rebuilding the Australian and Dutch air forces. They are in such desperate need of planes by now.

It will take about a week to the parts to the bases and into the planes, and uncrate and reassemble the replacement airplanes. This is not an instant quick fix. But, it ends the downward slide that has inflicted the Australian and Dutch air forces since the start of the war.

Actually, the Australians have not done too badly. They have converted about half of their Hudson squadrons to Beauforts. The Beaufort shows promise of being an excellent anti-shipping weapon -- which brings me one again to the total failure of these planes to hit any of the ships at Lae. I have some fears that the Beauforts will demonstrate their potential against enemy ships the way the British Hurricanes have demonstrated their potential against enemy fighters.


Java

General Wavell is preparing for a Japanese landing at Batavia. Actually, he is suggesting that he does not expect the Japanese to hit Batavia directly at all, but to land at Merak, to the south. He has no units defending this port, but there are minefields blocking the Japanese path.

According to my conversations with the General, he was worried about the possibility of a Japanese attack directly on Batavia that might cut his soldiers off and force them to retreat into Merek. The Japanese attack on Merek itself means that his army will be able to negotiate a more orderly retreat across Java.

I believe that the Japanese are still not aware of the fortification work being done on Bali. I do not think they realize how large a force they will need to take that island. I hope that they seriously underestimate the island’s strength when they make their first assault, and we will have an opportunity to drive their first invading force back into the sea.

Bombing Rangoon

Pownall flew another bomber mission against Rangoon today. Preliminary reports came in telling of the confirmed loss of 2 Oscars. However, one of the bombers came in at a total loss. The pilot had the crew bail out over Akyab, then tried a water landing. The plane’s wing caught a wave cart wheeled across the water. Most of the crew is safe, but we lost the plane.

Bombing Rangoon at 35,000 feet meant that we did little damage. In fact, the bomb assessment suggests that the bombers hit a rubber tree plantation orchard about 3 miles away from the airfield.


That is about all of the news for today. Tomorrow, I am flying down to Pago Pago. The task force that retreated from Canton Island earlier, including CV Saratoga and the remnants of the 2nd USMC Defense Battalion and 2nd USMC Division, will be landing there tomorrow. I want to be there when the ships arrive. This means that another section of the Pacific Front becomes a little more secure.

Until tomorrow.

Thayne[/font]

To Secretary Thayne, General Wavell, General Pownell

From General Alan Brooke (CIGS)

Convoy to India via Cape hit by extensive U-Boat Wolf Pack last night off of Gibralter.

Both transports with Spitfires suffered extensive damage and one sank with heavy loss of life.

With requirement for reinforcing Desert following DAK offensive and current retreat of 8th Army it is unclear how quickly replacement Spitfires can be sent to India.

I expect it to be at least June before Spitfires can be sent via a replacement convoy.

Alan Brooke

To: John Downer
Secretary to the Prime Minister

From: Thayne

I wanted to drop off a quick note to address several items of mutual interest.


MacArthur

At your request, Mr. MacArthur has once again returned to active military duty and given the rank of General, where he will take command of forces in the Southwest Pacific Theater. We expect that Gen. MacArthur will be able to assume command upon arrival in Brisbane on January 29th of this year.

However, I do not feel it is my place to pick the staff for any of the officers leading the troops in this war. Therefore, the status of General Blamey as Second in Command is an issue that you must negotiate with General MacArthur directly. On that issue, I wish you the best of luck.

Per your requirement that we formally ask for units to be assigned to the Southwest Pacific Theater of Command, on behalf of General MacArthur, I formally request that all active-duty Australian Armed Forces be transferred to the Southwest Pacific Theater of Command subject and that the orders of General MacArthur be regarded as if they came from the Australian goverment itself.

Anticipating your full approval of this request, General MacArthur has ordered AP Barnett to Sydney Harbor to pick up the 30th Australian Brigade for transport to Cairns, from which it will be transported to Port Moresby by the safest method available, followed immediately by the 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion presently in Brisbane.

I feel it is my duty to try one last time to persuade you that the security of New Caledonia is more important to the future security of Australia than Port Moresby, and that I fear that the fate of Australia should Japan succeed at cutting the supply lines from the United States. I urge you to use whatever influence you may possess to consider the defense of New Caledonia your top priority.


The Dutch

I have learned that arrangements have been made to deliver the new Dutch airplanes and parts to Adelade where, as I write this, are being used to rebuild some badly depleated air units. By the end of the week, I expect that they will be returning to do battle in Java.

News has reached me that the Japanese are likely to land at Marek, south of Java, within the next 24 hours. Their intent to take Java is clear. If they use anything like the 150,000 troops they used to take Singapore, I do not expect the island nation to last long.

However, the Dutch do expect to make a fight of it. They are doing nothing that I would not expect you and the nation of Australia to do if Japan should set food on your soil.


British Planes

AK Bridge has brought with it not only supplies for Australia, but elements of the 12th Bomber Group destined for India. That equipment is sitting at the docks in Sydney. We have been seeking arrangements to transport the equipment to Perth, where the Philippine transport Bisayas is waiting to pick up the equipment and transport it to Ceylon.

AK Bisayas will be escorted by a task force of British destroyers and the cruiser Durban and Dragon. Once this task force reaches Ceylon, their instructions are to return to Perth escorting the ships that will be bringing the 7th Australian Division back to Australia.

We urgently request expedited transport of these planes and pilots to Perth.



Sincerely,

Thayne

To General Alan Brooke

From Thayne

I have just recieved your news of the delay in getting fighters to India.

I have also just received news of a Japanese air attack on Diamond Harbor where twenty (TWENTY!) British fighters were shot down at the expense of zero (ZERO!) enemy fighters.

Concerning the urgency of getting decent airplanes and pilots to India, I will let these numbers speak for themselves.

Thayne

[font="Courier New"]Tuesday, January 20, 1942

Henry:

I came to American Samoa as soon as I heard the news about CV Saratoga.

I want to report that the damage is not as bad as first appeared. She was hit just out of port. The ship was able to sail into the port under its own power where the port’s own emergency crews are working with the ship’s crews to fight the fires. She was listing about 10 degrees to starboard. This has been corrected by counter-flooding. Now that she is in port, one of the things being done is to remove as many of the planes as possible.

We have confirmed that the submarine that hit Saratoga was sunk. The debris field is obvious and I have no doubts that these reports are true.

Honestly, the ship is not that badly damaged.

My biggest fear right now is that the Japanese, knowing where Saratoga is and that it is damaged, may reverse course and come down to finish it off. General Nimitz has ordered that Saratoga leave port as soon as possible. However, her planes are going to stay behind at American Samoa to protect the port and to be ready for the Japanese carriers if they should strike.


Air Losses -- Japan: 20; England: 0

We also have to deal with the air losses in India. Japan attacked Diamond Harbor today a little after noon. The Zeros escorting the bombers took down 12x Hurricane and 8x Buffalo Fighters. We have some reports that a Japanese Nell bomber might have put as many as three bullet holes in the tail of one of their Nell bombers.

Seriously, Henry, this is not acceptable. I need fighters in India that are capable of actually hitting a Japanese airplane.

I know of only one squadron that has a proven record of shooting down Japanese Zeros. That is the 24th Fighter Group in Bataan. I am fully aware of the ramifications of making it appear that we are abandoning the Philippines. The call has always been to provide those soldiers with as much help as possible, not take help away. However, I need something capable of stopping the Japanese air force in India, and this is the only thing available.

I have already sent the 6th and 21st Fighter Squadrons from the Philippines to Dacca. However, this is only because these units were so badly depleted that they had lost all combat effectiveness.

The 6th Fighter Squadron left with only one (1) fighter remaining – most of its pilots being ferried to Dacca on PBY Catalina transport planes.

I have ordered P-39 Airacobras transported to Dacca for this squadron.

I fear that Prime Minister Curtin may have wrongly assumed that the Philippine air force would withdraw to Australia. However, Australia is already getting four fighter groups from the US – the first due to arrive there within two weeks. India, on the other hand, as recent events prove, has no fighter protection worth mentioning at all.


Dutch Air Force: 0; Japan: 7

The Dutch Air Force was similarly mauled yesterday. The Dutch lost 4x Demon and 3x Brewster fighters to the Japanese in a raid on Soerabaja, again without suffering a loss. For all practical purposes, the Dutch are down to 15 bombers and 8 fighters in the entire theater.

Most of the Dutch air units have withdrawn to Adelaide, Australia. My original hope was that we could station them at Alice Springs, where they could be easily and quickly deployed to anywhere in Australia that Japan may threaten. However, the Australians wanted the Dutch pilots out of the way.

I am trying to get the Australians to help rebuild the refugee Dutch air units to send them back to Java. They have provided assistance, albeit grudgingly. Now that the invasion of Java has begun, I am hoping for no delay in delivering whatever reinforcements to the Dutch that we can get shipped.


Java Invaded

The invasion of Java has been such a hot topic that I have not felt the need to mention much about it in my reports.

Japan has firm control of Merek on the island of Java. Our attempts to mine the straights have proved unsuccessful. Japan has also occupied Jambi in central Sumatra, and is moving south toward Balikpapan on the eastern coast of Borneo.

The Dutch air force (of 15 bombers and 8 fighters) has assembled at Macassar, southeast of Balikpapan on the island of Slawesi.


Halsey

I have Nimitz sending me letters demanding that we launch a raid against the Japanese. I am certain he is getting pressure from Halsey.

I’m considering it. I have asked Nimitz for a battle plan for an assault north from New Caledonia, into the waters west of Nauru. I’m certain that Japan is anticipating a raid against its forward bases. But, it is best to hit them where they do not expect to be hit, and the best place for that is in the open waters between the islands. There, Japanese shipping is at its most vulnerable.

According to G2, there is a strip of water which is beyond the range of Japanese land-based fighters. Bombers, if they attacked, would have to attack without escort. We can strike pretty far north, as long as we know in advance where the Japanese carriers are.


Overall, it has been a very bad day. Across the entire Pacific theater, we lost 32 airplanes – 27 of them to Japanese air activity -- without taking down a single Japanese. The Saratoga has been crippled. The invasion of Java has begun.

I tell you, by the time the day was over, I was ready to just walk into the ocean.

It is hard to sleep tonight. In the darkness, I can see the flames from the Saratoga out the window. The side of the ship is actually glowing from the heat of the fires inside, and red flames flow in and out of black clouds climbing into the nighttime sky. It is not cloudy, but I cannot see the stars. The sky is too black from smoke and my eyes blinded by the lights used by the crews fighting the fires. If Japan were to bomb tonight, they would have no trouble finding us.

Crews are tackling the fires with everything they have, while every effort is being made to remove vital stores in preparation for the worse. They are dumping fuel, and throwing some bombs in the water as the fastest way to get them away from the flames.

Watching this; looking at the reports from India and Java sitting at my desk . . . .

I will write to you tomorrow, Henry. Maybe I will have better news.

Thayne[/font]

[font="Courier New"]From: John Downer

Principle secretary to the Prime Minister

Department of the Prime Minister. Canberra.


Mr Thayne.


This government looks forward to general Macarthur's pending arrival and have already put in place the framework for a unified Southwest Pacific command. How this is to work will be discussed in detail between General Macarthur, the Prime Minister, and the Australian Department of Defence when the General arrives, but let me reassure you the we see no problems arising in this area.
The movement of the Australian 30th Brigade to Port Moresby fits in well with our defence plans and is a valid example of how much intune the General is with Australia's needs.

Mr Thyane, in regards to the issue of New Caledonia I am going to be somewhat frank and to the point with you.
New Caledonia is not the key to the sea lines of communication between Australia and the US, it is infact the Fiji and Samoa Island groups as well as New Zealand . If New Caledonia was to fall, and at this point I will note that there have been no sign of Japanese activity in that local area, then the SLOC will not be cut as you continually stress, they will merely be bent, forcing convoys to steam further south and adding only a three to five days sailing time. If however the Fiji and Samoa Island group were to fall then yes that would cause major problems, but seeing as the New Zealand Government is sending a full Brigade to Fiji, I don't see this as being a problem. Nor do I see a direct threat to New Zealand if New Caledonia is taken, simply because of the great distance between the two. No bomber aircraft have the range to strike as far south as New Zealand from New Caledonia, so once again is seems unlikely that the Japanese will push that far south.

However what is a much more pressing situation is the Japanese push in PNG. From PNG Japanese bombers can reach the Australian mainland, and if PNG falls then the Japanese have a perfect jumping off point for their invasion of Australia, and the loss of Australia makes the entire issue of New Caledonia pointless, there is simply no point in worrying about SLOCs if there is no destination left for the convoys to sail too. The defence of PNG must be flagged as the key stone to the defence of the allied cause, and war fighting equipment and men must be allocated to this area in great haste. New Caledonia is not the pivotal point in this war, PNG is.

In regards to the remains of the Dutch airforce currently in Australia, we understand their desire to defend what is left of the Dutch East Indies, however foolish this plan is. We both know that to date the performance of the Dutch against the Japanese in the air has been poor, but this government understands the desire of the Dutch government to fight with all that it has and the Australian government is even willing to help by supporting the Dutch with No 2 Squadron RAAF, currently based in Perth, along with HMAS Vampire and HMAS Vendetta.

As for the disposition of the 12th Bomber group currently in Sydney, you can rest assured that all efforts will be made to help this unit reach it's destination.

Sincerely,



John Downer[/font]

[font="Courier New"]Wednesday, January 21, 1942

Henry:

CV Saratoga Lives

The fires on CV Saratoga are out and the ship is resting comfortably. Crews are working on sealing up the damage to the hull.

We’re going to send it out to sea tomorrow. There is too much of a risk of the Japanese carriers showing up, looking to finish her off.

The damage really is so light that there is even talk of keeping her on the front line a while longer, just to surprise the Japanese. I am not paying attention to this talk. I am going to send the carrier back to the United States with one squadron of SBDs to scout for subs along the way. However, this does give you an idea of how little damage was actually done.

CV Enterprise took some damage when a Wildcat pilot cracked up on landing. It could use some time in port getting some repairs. I have been assured that the damage does not hinder its operations in any significant way. If we send it to port, then we will have two carriers out of the war for a while.

CV Enterprise is sailing with CVs Yorktown and Lexington north of Pearl Harbor. With much of the air force in Hawaii sitting on Johnson Island, it was thought prudent to guard the northern approaches to Hawaii as well.

The reason that the bulk of the Hawaii air force is at Johnson Island is in case the Japanese carrier force is intending to continue north. G2 has had trouble tracking it since it sailed past Baker Island a few days ago. It could show up anywhere from Midway back to Canton Island at this point, but Johnson Island is a likely point of attack, so Nimitz is building it up as a likely point of counter-attack.

If there turns out to be no activity at Johnson Island in a few days, Nimitz reports that he will draw the air groups back to Pearl Harbor.


Pearl to Fiji: Reinforcements

I thought I would fill you in on the status of reinforcements for the line from Pearl Harbor to Fiji.

• TF1083 at American Samoa with the support staff for the 2nd USMC Division and 2nd USMC Defense Battalion presently on Canton Island.

• TF1078 at Laysan Island unloading the rest of the 804th Engineer Aviation Battalion.

• TF1104: 250 miles east of Christmas Island. Its cargo includes (a) 102nd USN Base Force for Palmyra, the 250th Coastal Artillery Regiment and 206th Coastal Anti-Aircraft regiment for Baker Island – though these units will probably get unloaded at Christmas Island temporarily. It also holds the 2nd USMC Parachute Battalion destined for Tongatapu (between American Samoa and Fiji)

• TF1153: 500 miles northeast of Johnson Island with the 56th USA Coastal Artillery Regiment

• TF1154: 800 miles southwest of Fiji with two New Zealand battalions destined for Suva.

• TF1245: 1200 miles East by Northeast of Christmas Island. This task force has a number of stops planned. First, most of the 40th USA Infantry Division and the 188th Field Artillery Regiment will get dropped off at Christmas Island. The rest of the 40th USA Infantry Division will get dropped off at Palmyra. Then, the task force will sail north to Midway and drop off the 161st Regimental Combat Team. These units were included in one convoy because of a shortage of escort ships.

• TF1134: 1200 miles east by northeast of Pearl Harbor with the 205th Coastal Anti Aircraft Battalion destined for French Frigate Shoals.

• TF1133: 2000 miles northeast of Christmas Island with the 101st USN Base Force destined for that island.

• TF1170: San Francisco (leaving today) with the 27th USA Infantry Division destined for Hawaii – the big island.

Right now, a weak spot on our defensive line is American and British Samoa itself. The original plan called for elements of the 2nd USMC Division to first be unloaded at Canton Island, then elements sorted out for redeployment to Samoa. Those units got trapped on Canton Island. That island is now over-garrisoned (without support staff), and these islands are under garrisoned.

CV Saratoga, which was assigned the task of protecting the ships making the transfer, is now out of the action, so things may stay this way for a while.

I hope that Japan does not find out about this.

I am very nervously watching Nimitz as he has ordered that these units continue their missions unless there is an imminent threat of a Japanese attack. He does not seem to mind taking risks. Personally, it keeps me up night. But, he is the officer in charge.


MacArthur

Doug sent me his first request for units today. He wants three carriers and three divisions so that he can start to push north.

I laughed. I told him that all units are to make due with what they have.

However, we still have the outstanding issue of the 6th Australian Infantry Division (and the potential withdraw of the 9th Australian Infantry Division from the Middle East).

I will guarantee you, Henry, that if you postpone this discussion until Java or Port Moresby falls, Curtin will yank those divisions right out from under you. He now has MacArthur to lean on as well, and Doug is certainly telling him, “Recall those divisions, John. I want them here where I can use them.”

This is not a threat, Henry. This is a warning. You had better get me something to bargain with, or the Australians are going to pull those divisions right out from underneath you.


New Caledonia

I could overrule MacArthur and order him to send the 30th Australian Battalion to New Caledonia.

I am sorely tempted, I assure you. I can’t imagine that a nation that is having so little difficulty taking Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, and Rangoon, is going to have any trouble taking Port Moresby. Any unit sent to that island is going to end up POWs within four months at this rate.

In addition, I need to show MacArthur who is the boss. I am going to find some excuse to pull his leash up short here within the next few days, just to get that message across.

However, I do not want to get into the habit of micromanaging this war. I want to show these leaders that I can trust them. Against that, I am already in enough trouble ordering Nimitz to hold the carriers in reserve. Halsey has been spitting nails for a month.

Give me something for New Calendonia, Henry. I need it, and I need it sooner rather than later.


China

Another hot spot that I need to report on is Kweilin, China. Chang Kai Shek is abandoning the city. He does not mind if Japan take it, as long as he keeps his soldiers. It has been an orderly withdraw so far – he has gotten his wish.

Japan is also advancing reinforcements on Nanning. There, Chang has assembled an army of about 25,000 soldiers. However, they are going up against 30,000 Japanese – soon to be more, as soon as the reinforcements get there.

I have no idea what his plan is down there. He may just be doing this as a token act of appeasement – his way of saying, “See, Thayne, I am attacking the Japanese. Now, send me more weapons.” But, it is not enough to do serious damage to the Japanese.

Honestly, I wish I could transport MacArthur or Halsey to China. It seems that I have exactly the type of leader I do not want in each of these theaters. The Chinese have a million men under arms. If they knew how to fight, they could give the Japanese a serious fright. But Chang Kai Shek is not interested in fighting. He is interested in surviving until we have taken care of the Japanese. Then, he will turn on Mao. A leader who actually wants to use those one million soldiers would do a lot of good right now.


That is the extent of the war right now, Henry. You can expect to hear from me again tomorrow.

Thayne[/font]

[font="Courier New"]Mr. Downer

I thank you for interceding to arrange for the rapid transportation of the 12th Bomber Group to Perth.

Furthermore, the British have dispatched an additional four transport ships to Perth, each fully loaded with supplies. For their return trip they will be picking up additional bombers and transport aircraft that we would like to transport across Australia.


Fighters for Australia

Also, I wish to inform you of the due dates for fighter groups presently en route to Australia.

In case it has not been made clear, these units are assigned to the Southwest Pacific Theater and will be used in the defense of Australia.

All dates represent expected arrival time at Sydney.

(1) 8th Fighter Group: February 2nd
(2) 35th Fighter Group: February 13th
(3) 54th Fighter Group: February 16th
(4) 49th Fighter Group: February 18th

These are approximate times and subject to change according to travel conditions and any need to take detours due to enemy activity.


New Caledonia

If, as you say, New Zealand is safe from a Japanese invasion, then so is Australia.

Japan's tactic so far has been to cut off an enemy, and then to destroy it.

They isolated the Philippine army by taking Davao and Jolo.

They isolated Singapore by taking Kuching and Khota Bharu and loading them with planes that prevented the flow of supplies to the city.

They will take Australia the same way. Their first step is to cut it off. If we can prevent Australia from being cut off, we can prevent it from being attacked.

Fiji and Samoa are not crucial to these efforts. Because of recent Japanese attacks on Canton Island, we have been using a long route to get to Australia that bypasses even these islands. Your statement that the loss of New Caledonia will mean only a few days' delay in supplies applies to these South Pacific islands as well.

The only place where Japan can get bases on both sides of the route to Australia is to take New Caledonia and New Zealand. If they succeed here, Australia will starve and will be too weak to defend itself once Japan does attack.

If they take New Zealand, then we will be at a disadvangage because there are no bases near the islands from which to launch a counter-attack. Any counter-attack on our part would have to be on the line from Christmas Island, to Samoa, to Fiji, to New Caledonia.

Whoever controls New Caledonia controls Australia's future.

On the other hand, Port Moresby lends itself perfectly to the same tactics that Japan used successfully at Singapore. They will use air power to isolate the base. Then, with the troops starving and ill-equipped, and harrassed constantly from the air, they will move in.


Last Word

Having said that, I am not inclined to do nothing while we debate the issue. I am a firm believer that doing something, even if it is wrong, is better than doing nothing.

I will not be involking my authority to order MacArthur to garrison New Caledonia.

Thus, AP Barnett is due at Sydney in 2 or 3 days. As I understand it, minesweepers have been sent from Brisbane to provide escort, and ASW patrols along the east coast of Australia have become routine.

Those units will go where MacArthur orders them to go.

I would strongly caution having the entire battalion loaded onto one ship sailing to Port Moresby. Rather, I would argue for transporting the unit to Cairns. Then, using AP Barnett to carry only the heavy equipment, while destroyers and other ships transported the men and lighter equipment. This will prevent the possibility of the entire unit being lost in one Japanese air strike.

I will relay these concerns to General MacArthur as well.

There is no need to respond to this unless you have changed your mind about sending the troops to New Caledonia. The time for debate has ended. The time for action has come.

Thayne[/font]

[font="Courier New"]Secretary Downer

After giving some thought to my letter earlier today, I felt that you may find the attached intel documents interesting and useful.

Should the Japanese decide to attack Port Moresby, I suspect that you may expect to encounter a force that looks like those that participated in the attacks on Rabaul (Dec. 30), Tarakan (Jan. 7) and Java (Jan. 21).

In short, I expect an attack on Port Moresby to consist of:

(a) An invasion fleet well protected by capital and other surface combat ships

(b) A bombardment/surface engagement task force to prevent any fleet from interfering with the landing

(c) A small-carrier naval force to provide CAP over the base and, perhaps, participate in air bombardment of the target and naval attack against any allied fleet seeking to interfere with the landings.

In addition, I expect that such an attack will also have the support of the main Japanese carrier task force, presently located somewhere north of Baker Island in the Pacific.

I believe that Japan will assemble its invasion force at Truk Island or Rabaul. If it is the former, allied military intelligence will not likely learn of the attack until it is in progress.

I hope that this information proves useful.

Thayne[/font]