November 1940 - February 1941
Siege of Yenan Broken
Although there were 10,000 Japanese casualties defending the city through the winter months, they caused at least twice as many Chinese casualties. Generals were taking a grim view in January when the city was surrounded and hope looked far away. News from the Yellow River brought new life to the division protecting Yenan as Taiyuan was retaken by a division of brave soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army.
Backed up by Army bombers and fighters, the defenders of Yenan made a fight of it and broke a hole in enemy lines that allowed them to withdraw to Taiyuan, and save over 15,000 Japanese lives.
The city of Yenan remains empty, but sources say that the cowardly Chinese, still broken from the fighting retreat of the Japanese army, has not yet mustered the strength to take the city back.
and secretly...
Generals Debate China-South Pacific Strategy
While more than enough soldiers exist on the Yellow River to defend from any Chinese incursions, Generals in Tokyo debate strategy. More reinforcements could be comitted to the battle, and a possibility of taking Sian exists. With three divisions ready in the South and three in the North, it's said that another two divisions to both front may be able to finally break the backs of the Chinese and break through to Sian.
However, as war with America seems more and more likely, opponents to this plan cite failures in earlier expeditions to produce results on this front. They also state that overcommiting on this front would severely reduce the ability to commit on other fronts in the coming year. In their opinion, it would take almost six to eight months to muster the strength needed to begin an offensive on the Yellow river to take Sian, what they call an "unacceptable misappropriation of military resources."
Proponents point to the newly completed Army Recruitment center, that it will be able to provide at least a division every few months, and that more than sufficient manpower exists to commit to the plan. More debate will have to be conducted before the army comes up with a definite plan for 1941.
and not-so-secretly...
Imperial Japanese Army on the Move
The Imperial Japanese Army, with assistance from Thailand, was able to snap up Cambodia and all of Southern Vietnam with exception of DaNang. The biggest windfall was in December 1940 when Saigon fell without resistance and Japanese soldiers marched on to DaNang. Some French soldiers decided to make a fight of it and were punished the next week by the Battleship Kongo and her escorts. DaNang was vacated by the cowardly French and the army is poised to take it in the first days of March.
Siege of Yenan Broken
Although there were 10,000 Japanese casualties defending the city through the winter months, they caused at least twice as many Chinese casualties. Generals were taking a grim view in January when the city was surrounded and hope looked far away. News from the Yellow River brought new life to the division protecting Yenan as Taiyuan was retaken by a division of brave soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army.
Backed up by Army bombers and fighters, the defenders of Yenan made a fight of it and broke a hole in enemy lines that allowed them to withdraw to Taiyuan, and save over 15,000 Japanese lives.
The city of Yenan remains empty, but sources say that the cowardly Chinese, still broken from the fighting retreat of the Japanese army, has not yet mustered the strength to take the city back.
and secretly...
Generals Debate China-South Pacific Strategy
While more than enough soldiers exist on the Yellow River to defend from any Chinese incursions, Generals in Tokyo debate strategy. More reinforcements could be comitted to the battle, and a possibility of taking Sian exists. With three divisions ready in the South and three in the North, it's said that another two divisions to both front may be able to finally break the backs of the Chinese and break through to Sian.
However, as war with America seems more and more likely, opponents to this plan cite failures in earlier expeditions to produce results on this front. They also state that overcommiting on this front would severely reduce the ability to commit on other fronts in the coming year. In their opinion, it would take almost six to eight months to muster the strength needed to begin an offensive on the Yellow river to take Sian, what they call an "unacceptable misappropriation of military resources."
Proponents point to the newly completed Army Recruitment center, that it will be able to provide at least a division every few months, and that more than sufficient manpower exists to commit to the plan. More debate will have to be conducted before the army comes up with a definite plan for 1941.
and not-so-secretly...
Imperial Japanese Army on the Move
The Imperial Japanese Army, with assistance from Thailand, was able to snap up Cambodia and all of Southern Vietnam with exception of DaNang. The biggest windfall was in December 1940 when Saigon fell without resistance and Japanese soldiers marched on to DaNang. Some French soldiers decided to make a fight of it and were punished the next week by the Battleship Kongo and her escorts. DaNang was vacated by the cowardly French and the army is poised to take it in the first days of March.
Comment