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1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (9/27/2015 3:15:08 AM)
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To
The Minister of War
Commonwealth of Australia
from
Commander Australian Army
General Blamey
Secret
Frank Ford carefully picks up the thin document, wearily wipes his brow.
It is damn near 100 degrees in the shade today, the last thing I need today, is to have to wade through
Blameys bloody tripe......
"An appreciation of Japanese intentions and tactics"
So now the barsted thinks we are going to war against the Japanese........
As if.
Frank pauses.........the document, as thin as it is probably demands attention
Probably.
A drop of sweat falls upon the document, spreads across the typed words. One falls
upon the word Japan....the ink running, spreading octopus like.
Japan has today announced a new supreme commander, who has, ominously, been called
upon to "restore order and freedom to the South east Asian sphere'
It is the considered opinion of this Command that he will attempt to do this by force.
Likely actions:
Naval:
The new Commander is carrier concentric. Long an advocate of combined carrier operations, he can be expected
to indulge himself in long range deep operations, seeking to strike isolated outposts
and shipping routes
Surprise strikes against major allied bases NO MATTER HOW FAR from the empire may be struck
These strikes will be conducted (in my staffs appreciation) by the 6 large
carriers of the newly created Combined fleet
Secondary operations, the conquest of the DEI's, an absolutely essential component of
any war against us, will be covered by lighter carriers, and the battleships of the 1st fleet
Psychologically these operations will have less "appeal" to the new Imperial high command, and
may well be conducted in an expectation of easy victory
How we will take advantage of this I will detail in further papers....
Army
The Japanese Army has just 11 divisions to deploy in the pacific.
This is more than adequate AGAINST SCATTERED AND NON CO ORDINATED units of our
army, and all allied forces in the pacific
However, there is very little reserve for un expected delays or heavy resistance....
As already discussed, the formation of ABDA Command is key to our defence of vital interests
The enemy will attempt to sieze Malaya, Burma, all of the DEI
being a "glamour" operation, I anticipate an early attempt to take Port Moresby (supported by Combined
Fleet carriers) and Noumea, Suva
Central to all this is the current argument between our Prime Minister and Churchill over
the 7th and 6th Australian Divisions.
This is neither time nor document to discuss this ....
7th Australian............
And Jason
My second son......home ward bound at last, but are you?
A hard thing for the Minister of war, the Deputy prime Minister, to have all 4 sons in uniform
A hard thing....
Airforce
The Japanese airforce is poorly equipped, poorly manned, poorly trained
The Army considers the current forces available to us adequate for the defence of Malaya
We are alarmed at the paucity of forces available to Australia, but do NOT
consider an invasion of this continent a possibility.....
Frank pauses
The first page done, and Blamey seems to have it all under control in his own mind......
And what of India?
Of the phillipines?
And what of the Americans?. Would they come in?
His Irish blood stirs
For the British Empire?..........aye, not bloody likely?
Ok then, this is what he thinks THEY will do (and again, Japan at war with the empire?, China, the Dutch
and possibly America?.....madness)
What then, does Blamey intend to do?
ABDA plans
Carefully the Minister reads the document, his frown deepening with every paragraph
So, Jason, I know where Blamey wants you to go..........
It is just on dusk as he finishes reading
A fighting document indeed.......
And one that quite possibly would work, would exploit the New High Commands weaknesses to
the T
One that Curtain would never agree to........
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