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Digest of operations 17th - 19th March 1942
Preparations for the assault on Batavia continue. Several BB taskforces have bombarded the port, causing widespread damage on military facilities. Collateral damage is minimal, due to selective targeting. The worlds leading battleship - the Yamato - has joined in the attacks.
Teloekbetoeng on nearby Sumatra was also bombarded by several taskforces. CA's Mogami and Chokai report excellent gunnery and considerable damage to the colonial defenders.
Pomala in the Celebes fell on the 18th. A starving Dutch occupying force readily laid down their arms.
On the Kokoda track near Port Moresby, a large detachment of Australian troops surrendered early in the afternoon on March 19th. The remainder of the Port Moresby brigade have been located nearby and are likely to be rounded up shortly.
Headline Japan Times:-
YAMATO PREPARES FOR SEA TRIALS AT KURE! DESTINATION RESTRICTED BUT CHURCHILL AND ROOSEVELT BEWARE!
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It must have been an awesome thing to see up close..In Japan, they just had a movie about its`s last fight....A bit maudlin at times, but it was one fine looking ship (though in the end a waste of good steel).
Nice photo from 41
_____________________________
To quote from Evans/Peattie`s {Kaigun} "Mistakes in operations and tactics can be corrected, but political and strategic mistakes live forever". The authors were refering to Japan but the same could be said of the US misadventure in Iraq
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DATELINE CALCUTTA - 22 March 1942
A military spokesman for Southeast Asia Command announced this evening that Batavia, last significant Allied stronghold in the Dutch East Indies, has fallen to the Japanese. Under constant air, sea and land bombardment for the last two weeks the postition of the defenders had been adjudged all but hopeless and had been anticipated as likely to occur at any time. "The troops fought on inspite of having no reasonable expectation of relief or rescue and thereby imposed a decisive delay in the enemy's timetable of conquest." The garrison of slightly under 20,000 was composed of mostly Dutch forces but contained small contingents of British and Australian troops. Well over 100,000 enemy troops were involved in the final assault.
A small taste of what is to come saw Allied heavy bombers based in India smashing at a Japanese column advancing in North Burma and at their main supply base in Mandalay. At Mandalay several enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground and numerous supply dumps were seen to explode and burn furiously. The enemy column hit the previous day lost a large number of tanks to the bombers. Neither attack was seriously opposed in the air by Japanese aircraft.
At sea two days ago, Allied ships damaged a Japanese submarine approxiamately 100 miles WSW of Ceylon. A large oil slick was observed before contact was broken off.
< Message edited by spence -- 6/28/2006 4:33:44 PM >
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Operations between 20th to 22nd March 1942
BATAVIA FALLS! JAVA JOINS THE GREATER EAST ASIA CO-PROSPERITY SPHERE!
Java
After several further BB bombardments, elements from a numer of elite infantry divisions stormed Batavia on the morning of the 22nd. Facing only light resistance, first the Chinese then the European districts were taken within several hours. By early afternoon, the Dutch high command signalled a request for cessation of hostilities. It is estimated that well over twenty thousand prisoners of war have been taken. However it is understood that leading members of ABDA had alreadly fled the beleaguered enclave.
Kokoda trial
All remaining Port Moresby garrison units have been rounded up, after only minor skirmishes.
China
Several Chinese divisions were routed on the 21st March. These units were thought to be fleeing Nanning, however after a short battle some 60 miles to the NW of the city, they were last observed retreating back to the city, in some disorder.
Announcements
With the fall of Java, Batavia is to be renamed Jakarta Furthermore Singapore is to be renamed Syonan (Light of the South)
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DATELIE CALCUTTA - 24 March 1942
Allied bombers have continued pounding Japanese supply lines in central Burma. A Japanese air raid on Imphal was turned back with heavy losses. Half a dozen Zero type fighters and at least twice as many bombers were shot down. Several Hurricane fighters were damaged in air to air combat but the pilots returned to base safely.
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DATELINE BRISBANE -27 March, 1942
American General MacArthur announced today that the Philippine capitol city of Manila had fallen yesterday to the Japanese. "After many weeks of constant and heavy bombardment by both artillery and aircraft, the gallant American and Filippino defenders had no choice but to lay down their arms when assaulted by more than 100,000 enemy troops. Faced with insuperable odds and lacking the most basic supplies, these men gave the last full measure their of devotion to duty by resisting the enemy onslaught for so many weeks and their stand is in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Army."
Several American outposts continue to fight on in the Philippines; most notably, on the Bataan peninsula at the mouth of Manila Bay and in the area around the city of Davao on Mindanao. General MacArthur is here in Australia to lead the American counterattack but so far has not announced his plans. After breaking through the Japanese blockade of the Philippines and arriving in Perth the General did promise his former comrades that "I SHALL RETURN".
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DATELINE CALCUTTA - 28 March, 1942
Allied bombers pounded a Japanese tank column attempting to advance to the border region of India yesterday. In addition to hundreds of enemy troops and vehicles destroyed in the last few days, the enemy's previously rapid advance into northern Burma by Japanese forces has been brought to a halt.
In naval actions several Japanese submarines have been successfully attacked in the waters near Ceylon in recent days.
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DATELINE HONOLULU - 28 March, 1942
The Navy Department released today this dramatic photograph of the last minutes of an enemy reconnaisance bomber. The plane, code named 'MAVIS' by the Navy, was shot down near Palmyra Island over 900 miles SW of Honolulu 5 days ago. This type of plane is heavily armed and carries a crew of about 10 men. The Navy noted that this particular plane exploded in midair several seconds after being photographed and that there were no survivors. However the Navy also said that enemy crewmen had been taken prisoner from several other MAVIS type aircraft shot down in the last few weeks. In fact, the Navy reported that a patrolling PT Boat picked up one Japanese crewman just this morning near Palmyra. The crewman, reported as an unidentified officer, had reportedly been drifting in a raft for 10 days since being shot down. He is said to be quite grateful for his rescue and 'speaking freely'.
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DATELINE COLOMBO - 29 March 1942
Freak atmospherics may have contributed to this reporter's interception of the following:
"Jerry's got her....look at that bloody b!tch burn!!!....(different voice) yellow section, you take the one to port...(third voice) blue attacking now...(another voice)....GOT HER, GOT HER AGAIN THE BLEEDING SOD!!!!...(sounded like the second voice)ALL OF YOU KEEP QUIET NOW!!...KEEP YOUR EYES OUT FOR THE FIGHTERS!!!!....(another voice) red two's had it...oh God...!!!!
The transmissions faded after this. From the sound of it British forces have attacked the enemy somewhere with some success. When approached for comment headquarters here in Colombo had no comment.
< Message edited by spence -- 7/5/2006 3:28:27 PM >
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DATELINE COLOMBO - 30 March, 1942
Naval Headquarters here announced today that Fleet Air Arm Swordfish bombers had successfully attacked a large Japanese force off the Southern coast of Sumatra. An enemy battleship of the Nagato class was hit by numerous torpedoes and heavily damaged. Last seen afire and with her forecastle awash it is quite possible that the ship may have sunk, however this is unconfirmed at this point. Another battleship of the Kongo class was also struck and heavily damaged. No enemy fighters were encountered over the targets and FAA losses were light.
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26th March 1942 - BLACK DAY FOR ALLIES
Luzon
General Homma announced the fall of Manila today. Several divisions assaulted the city after a heavy air bombardment and by lunchtime resistance was quelled. A large bag of prisoners has been collected, estimates range up to fifty thousand mixed American/Filipino troops. An assault on Bataan is expected soon. Morale of the remaining enemy troops is very low, due to McArthur's premature departure.
Sumatra
Teloekbetoeng fell to a short attack from a mixed brigade today. About one division of Dutch colonial troops were captured.
Tokyo
Prime Minister Tojo released details of a proposed peace plan. China, the Phillipines and the DEI are to be regarded as 'Japanese spheres of influence'. Pearl and surrounding islands are to be demilitarised. Wake Island and Guam are to be annexed. India is to be freed from British colonial rule and a nationalist 'interim' goverment headed by Subhas Chandra Bose, set-up. All remaining U.S. battleships and carriers must be scrapped and no further ship building over ten thousand tonnes is allowed. Full war reperations must be paid by the British and American goverment. As the Japanese are not a colonial power, Kiska Island (Aluetians) will be returned on acceptance of these terms.
Leaflet distributed to remaining Filipino troops:-
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Digest of operations 27th to 28th March 1942
Burma Hq report an successful air attack on Imphal. Many of the enemy's most advanced fighters, believed to be Hurricanes, were destroyed in a morning operation on the 27th.
SS I-158 reports the torpedoeing of DD Isis. The submersible is returning to Syonan (Singapore) for minor repairs.
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Padang, Sumatra 29th March
The combined arms operation to capture Padang has run into some minor difficulties. Early in the morning the BB Nagato was hit at least several times by torpedoes. Exact details are unclear at the moment, as the area was surrounded by heavy fog at the time. Enemy aircraft were heard and many were shot down. It is unlikely that the ship was hit by the antique type 'Swordfish' bi-planes, intelligence sources suggest that they were a decoy to allow PT boats or submersible to hit the ship from close range. Repairs on the Nagato are now underway and due to the primitive facilities available, will take some time. In the interim, the crew of the ship are being relocated to perimeter garrisons.
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DATELINE WASHINGTON - 1 April 1942
A spokesman for the U S Department of State replied to the so-called Peace Plan of the Japanese Emperor this morning: "Ize figur dem Japs is just gonna have to git uze to livin in dee caves an gittin hunted like wile animuls", he said. George Washington Abraham Lincoln Jones has served at the State Department since moving as a boy to Washington in 1865 from Charleston, SC.
< Message edited by spence -- 7/7/2006 11:02:03 PM >
Naval Headquarters here announced today that Fleet Air Arm Swordfish bombers had successfully attacked a large Japanese force off the Southern coast of Sumatra. An enemy battleship of the Nagato class was hit by numerous torpedoes and heavily damaged. Last seen afire and with her forecastle awash it is quite possible that the ship may have sunk, however this is unconfirmed at this point. Another battleship of the Kongo class was also struck and heavily damaged. No enemy fighters were encountered over the targets and FAA losses were light.
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Sitrep 31st Mar - 3rd April 1942
Madang in Papua New Guinea was occupied with a small Naval detachment on the 1st April. Shortlands also fell on the 3rd April.
Burma Hq reported a night time raid on Rangoon by enemy B-17E's and LB-30's. The attack was a complete failure and considerable civilian casualties were incurred. A number of local schools and hospitals were destroyed and many are feared dead. A number of planes were believed to be shot down by AA fire.
China Hq reports further advances. In a two day assault, Sining (Xining) capital of Qinghai province was captured by a number of Japanese divisions. A large bag of prisoners were captured in this important commercial hub. Many of the enemy were identified as communist forces. Chairman Mao is believed to have fled into the hinterland with a small number of soldiers. Pursuit forces are being organised.