Although he had been mentally prepared for a long time, once the premonition became a reality, the heart of Major General Whiteman, commander of the Third Army of the US Army, was still filled with a breath of despair, and he now knew that he thought that he could survive the defense line in the Calais Mountains for a week, and finally, he could take the rest of the soldiers and retreat to Manila.

The Japanese army's attack in the first three days was obviously of a tentative nature, and the three-day offensive found out the details of the Third Army, and also beat the Third Army all over the body and demoralized, and now, Ito Yanzaburo on the opposite side finally launched a ferocious final blow, if the Japanese army started to fight like this, Commander Whiteman had no doubt that his Third Army would be able to survive two days, more than a week, it would be ridiculous to think about it.

Now, even if they immediately evacuate the defense line in the Calais Mountains, it will not be possible, the fierce and bloodthirsty Japanese soldiers who are all over the mountains and wilderness will kill the soldiers of the Third Army one by one on the way to Manila like fierce beasts, and even whether he, a major general, can have the life to run back to Manila, is unknown, what can he do if he retreats to Manila, and Commander-in-Chief MacArthur can spare himself?

After a heart full of despair, a gambler's mentality, Commander Whiteman, ordered the communications officer, "Immediately convey my order, all the troops in the front, no matter what the circumstances, hold their positions for more than an hour, I will send the air force to support you, order all the fighters and bombers of the First and Second Air Forces, immediately take to the air and rush to the Calais mountain defense line to support the ground troops, and to emphasize one point, all aircraft!" ”

On the other side of the Calais mountains, in a tent, Senior General Ito Yanzaburo. Sitting on a rattan chair with the demeanor of a general, his eyes slightly closed, a command knife inlaid with gold flowers, tightly clenched on his white-gloved hands, listening to the report of Major General Kawashima, chief of staff, on the development of the offensive.

Major General Kawashima said: "Your Excellency Commander-in-Chief, at 5:30 p.m., the troops launched the attack on time, and so far, the 87th Division, the 89th Division, the 95th Division, the 120th Division, the Tanaka Brigade, and the Kuraki Brigade. Already in many places, breaking through the first-line positions of the US army, and attacking the second line of defense of the US army, the troops of the 14th Army of Commander Yoshihiko Haruta have entered the starting position. ”

Admiral Ito's eyes. Suddenly he opened his eyes and asked, "Kawashima-kun." Isn't there any movement of US military aircraft? ”

Major General Kawashima shook his head. He replied: "Commander-in-chief, it has not yet been found that the US aircraft have appeared on the battlefield. ”

General Ito nodded slightly, his face was calm, and he still had a posture as steady as Mount Tai, as if everything that happened on the battlefield was under his control. It's just that Major General Kawashima found that His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief's hands holding the war knife were grasping tighter and tighter. His Excellency the General's heart is by no means as confident and calm as it seems, he is nervous and uneasy, of course, Major General Kawashima, who is very good at figuring out the psychology of his superiors, will not stupidly point it out.

Still putting on a respectful posture of waiting, His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief ordered, after a few minutes, Senior General Ito asked, "Kawashima-kun, how long has it been since the infantry began to attack?" ”

Major General Kawashima replied: "Commander-in-chief, since the shelling stopped, the infantry units have been attacking for almost an hour, and in such a short period of time, it is enough to break through the first line of positions of the American army in many places, which is enough to prove the combat effectiveness of the soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army!" ”

Major General Kawashima misunderstood what Admiral Ito meant, and he thought that Admiral Ito was not satisfied with the effect of the infantry's attack, so he asked this question, and as the chief of staff, it was necessary to explain the attacking troops.

General Ito stood up abruptly and said, "Kawashima-kun, convey my order, all the attacking troops, immediately stop the attack on the second line of defense of the US army, and focus on annihilating the soldiers of the first line of defense of the US army!" ”

Major General Kawashima was puzzled and couldn't help asking: "Your Excellency Commander-in-Chief, the attack momentum of the troops is fierce, and the morale of the soldiers is also in full swing, why don't we take this opportunity to break through the second line of defense of the US army in one fell swoop. ”

Ito smiled contemptuously and said, "Counter-assault? Do the Americans have the guts and the ability to do this? The confusion should be the Americans, Kawashima-kun, don't forget, the purpose of our campaign, since the US planes have not appeared yet, then our Imperial Army troops, just beat them out! Do you understand? ”

Major General Kawashima suddenly realized, glanced at Commander-in-Chief Ito with admiration, and hurriedly conveyed the order.

The order was sent to the commanders of the Japanese troops, and although they complained about the incredible order given by Commander-in-Chief Ito on the battlefield, they resolutely carried it out, and this order was called a stroke of genius after the battle.

Nearly 100,000 Japanese soldiers immediately spread out to the left and right flanks to besiege the US troops, and under the ferocious attack of the Japanese troops, the first line of defense of the US Third Army was riddled with holes in an instant, and more than 30,000 US soldiers were caught in the division and encirclement of the Japanese army.

On the battlefield in the mountains of Calais, the sound of guns and shouts of killing shook the sky, and the news reached Commander Whiteman, who was so anxious that his eyes were red, if the troops on the first line of defense were surrounded and eliminated by the Japanese army, the more than 20,000 soldiers on the second line of defense would not be able to stop the momentum of the Japanese offensive in any way, and the only thing he could do was to order commanders at all levels to withdraw the troops on the first line of defense to the second line of defense as much as possible.

In other words, more than an hour has passed since the Japanese infantry attacked, and the American officers and soldiers, the long-awaited plane, have not yet appeared, listening to the gunfire on the first line of defense, looking at the smoke of gunpowder, the American soldiers on the second line of defense, trembling in their hearts, praying for their brothers' blessings.

If according to the normal method of warfare, the Third Army of the US Army at this time should immediately organize its troops, launch a counter-assault on the Japanese army, and beat the Japanese army back, but in the hands of Commander Whiteman, there are so few pitiful troops, and it is a drop in the bucket to defend the second line of defense, how can there be strength to fight back? Commander Whiteman was not stupid enough to fight back against nearly 100,000 Japanese troops, which was almost like looking for his own death.

Approaching 5 o'clock in the morning of 30 August, facing the morning light in the east, the US soldiers finally saw a flock of eagles flying in the sky, and after a delay of more than 30 minutes according to the strict order of Commander Whiteman, the 1st and 2nd Air Forces of the US Southwest Pacific Theater and all the fighters poured out to support the ground troops in the Calais Mountains.

Looking at the belated group of planes, the American soldiers on the second line of defense, as if they saw God, couldn't help but shout, not only the plane, but also the protector who could ensure that he would not be killed by the fierce Japanese soldiers, with cold bayonets, pierced into the chest, for the American soldiers who were extremely dependent on air and ground firepower, the planes painted with white pentagram flying under the wings from the sky were like giving them a reassurance, and the morale of the soldiers was immediately different!

Commander Whiteman, who received the report, immediately perked up, and he finally gave the first order with a clear purpose since the beginning of the battle, "All the troops on the second line of defense, under the cover and support of the aircraft, immediately begin to counterattack, recapture the positions of the first line of defense, and rescue the soldiers of the surrounded troops!" With hundreds of planes, he has such confidence and courage.

As far as the shape of the battlefield is concerned, Commander Whiteman's order is undoubtedly correct, the first position is lost, and the second position is immediately finished! Moreover, judging by the distance between the first and second lines, it is clearly not suitable for a large group of aircraft to support the defense, if it is not done well, the bombs will fall on the heads of the Americans themselves, and without the support of aircraft, the third army is nothing in front of the fiercely attacking Japanese troops!

On the other side of the Calais Mountains, the Japanese headquarters, Chief of Staff Kawashima, hurriedly ran into the tent and excitedly reported to General Ito, who was obviously unable to sit still: "Your Excellency Commander-in-Chief, as you expected, when the Imperial Army troops were dividing and encircling the American troops on the first line of positions, the US planes appeared. ”

Admiral Ito could no longer maintain his pretense of composure, Huo Ran got up and said loudly: "I want the west!" To the West! Kawashima-kun, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, has finally arrived, order the Kashima Air Force, Araki Air Force, and Kuroda Air Force to attack according to the predetermined plan, and tell them that what I want is to shoot down all the planes of the Americans! ”

Kawashima hurriedly instructed a senior staff officer to convey the commander-in-chief's order, and he said to Admiral Ito: "Commander-in-chief, there is also not too good news, after the US plane appeared on the battlefield in the Calais mountains, the US army, under the cover and support of the aircraft, launched a counterattack on the whole line of defense against the troops of our imperial army who were encircling and annihilating the US army, and the strength of the US army was about 30,000 people, and at the same time, the US army, which was divided and surrounded by our army, was trying its best to break through the encirclement!" ”

General Ito suddenly burst out laughing, smiling very proudly and happily, laughing so that Chief of Staff Kawashima was confused for a while, and looked at the laughing Commander-in-Chief Ito with straight eyebrows, and he found that he couldn't figure out this boss a little!

General Ito stopped laughing, looked at the stunned Major General Kawashima, and said in a very smug tone: "Kawashima-kun, this is great news!" You see, since the US military has taken the initiative to attack, it relies on aircraft that provide fire support, and the Americans have abandoned their existing positions, and when the Imperial Army units attack the second line of positions of the US troops in the next step, it will not be like entering a no-man's land! ”

(To be continued) (To be continued.) )