Fantasque Time Line (France Fights On) - English Translation
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4087 - HMAS Moresby vs IJN Ro-68
March 25th, 1942
East Coast of Australia, 00:30 - After two hours of searching, the Moresby finally obtains a stable Asdic contact and carries out two depth charge passes. The second one seriously damages the Ro-68. The latter lands on the bottom at a depth of 80 meters, but is obliged to operate its pumps to evacuate the water which seeps through cracks in the engine room. The noise of the pumps is detected by the hydrophones of the Moresby, which carries out a new depth charging according to the bearings provided. The submarine is damaged again and the waterways worsen. Commander Izutsu then decides to fight on the surface, then orders to hunt everywhere... At about 01:00, his last message, in clear text, is received by the I-6 and by the Rabaul base: "Two 10,000-ton transports torpedoed and sunk. We are damaged by depth charging. Will fight on surface to eliminate enemy. We still have two torpedoes. Long live the Emperor."
00:55 - The Ro-68 suddenly surfaces less than 150 yards off the port side aft of the Moresby, and "we start fighting in the night like two mad dogs," Scott Clement, the second mate, recounts.
"On the Moresby, cheers greet the spray of foam signaling that the invisible enemy emerges. "At last!" growls Commander Charles Brown. "Port helm, all hands! Engines, give me the maximum!" As the escort abruptly changes course, the submarine, where the men hurriedly put the 75 mm gun into battery, swing around to the bow towards its adversary. The Moresby does not finish its turn. "Zero the helm!" Brown suddenly orders, eyes glued to his binoculars. "Machines, reduce to half power, but be ready to give me all you can!" The aviso remains for a few moments turned three-quarters toward his opponent, then: "Hard to port! Machines, go to full speed!" And soon after: "Zero the helm!" The aviso finally presents the bow to the submarine. Five seconds later, the lookout shouts: "Torpedoes ahead!" In total silence, all the men on deck stare, hypnotized, at the two whitish wakes that come to lick the Moresby's hull, one to port, the other to starboard. "But why did he pause before presenting the bow?" a young ensign whispers to Scott Clement. "So that the other one thinks he's in a good position and spits out his venom," smiles Clement, who is still quite pale...
The Moresby has only a 4-inch gun in the front, a 12-pounder in the back and four heavy machine guns. The Ro-68 has its 75 and two light machine guns - the fight is balanced, as the submarine is a smaller target, all the more difficult to reach as only an indecisive moon illuminates the scene. The torpedoes avoided, the Moresby rushes to ram the submarine, but the latter, showing an astonishing maneuverability, dodges, while spraying his opponent with shells. In a few minutes, six 75 mm shells hit the aviso, but without doing it much harm : exploding on impact, five of them open large holes in the hull, above the waterline, the sixth one destroying the 12-pounder and igniting a small fire behind the chimney. The two ships literally circle each other at less than a hundred yards, and the Moresby's 0.5-inch machine guns win the day, killing or wounding all of the submarine's gunners and most of the men in the kiosk, while the Australians have only two killed and three wounded.
At 01:20, the Moresby moves away just enough to allow her 4-inch to fire. At minimum inclination, the gun places in a short time two shells at the base of the kiosk and another one right at the submarine's gun. "They're done," Brown decides. "Let's go again!"
This time, indeed, the Moresby does ram the Ro-68 right at the kiosk, her prow digging deep into the side of her enemy. But the half a dozen men, jumping from the kiosk that dominated the beach before the aviso's forward deck, throw themselves on board, armed with knives and pistols, led by the submarine's commander, sword in hand!
They first fall upon the servants of the 4-inch, while a forgotten call rings out on the Moresby: "Repel the boarders!" Lacking individual weapons, the Japanese have the upper hand, until the gunnery officer throws himself into the fray. The old aviso has a set of boarding swords for practice, and Jack Thompson becomes a legend in the Australian fleet by leading four men into battle, sword in hand, challenging the Japanese officer and his sword and cutting him down with a savage slash. Only two Japanese survive, seriously wounded, while the Ro-68 sinks."
(Frank Bell, Australia Under Siege - DE Moresby in Action, 1942 - serialized in The Western Mail, Perth, 1954)*
This incredible episode, besides earning Jack Thompson the nickname "Errol Flynn", confirms to the Australian officials the validity of the convoy system... and allows the crew of the Moresby to learn, thanks to the prisoners, that their former adversary in this region is the submarine of commander Hideo Yamamoto, whose Radio Tokyo announcer, the famous "Rose of Tokyo", has been singing his praises ever since he boarded an allied tanker.
* We have already mentioned (see February 12th) this somewhat romanticized story, but inspired by real facts. We only re-established the quality of the Moresby as an aviso (and not a DE)
East Coast of Australia, 00:30 - After two hours of searching, the Moresby finally obtains a stable Asdic contact and carries out two depth charge passes. The second one seriously damages the Ro-68. The latter lands on the bottom at a depth of 80 meters, but is obliged to operate its pumps to evacuate the water which seeps through cracks in the engine room. The noise of the pumps is detected by the hydrophones of the Moresby, which carries out a new depth charging according to the bearings provided. The submarine is damaged again and the waterways worsen. Commander Izutsu then decides to fight on the surface, then orders to hunt everywhere... At about 01:00, his last message, in clear text, is received by the I-6 and by the Rabaul base: "Two 10,000-ton transports torpedoed and sunk. We are damaged by depth charging. Will fight on surface to eliminate enemy. We still have two torpedoes. Long live the Emperor."
00:55 - The Ro-68 suddenly surfaces less than 150 yards off the port side aft of the Moresby, and "we start fighting in the night like two mad dogs," Scott Clement, the second mate, recounts.
"On the Moresby, cheers greet the spray of foam signaling that the invisible enemy emerges. "At last!" growls Commander Charles Brown. "Port helm, all hands! Engines, give me the maximum!" As the escort abruptly changes course, the submarine, where the men hurriedly put the 75 mm gun into battery, swing around to the bow towards its adversary. The Moresby does not finish its turn. "Zero the helm!" Brown suddenly orders, eyes glued to his binoculars. "Machines, reduce to half power, but be ready to give me all you can!" The aviso remains for a few moments turned three-quarters toward his opponent, then: "Hard to port! Machines, go to full speed!" And soon after: "Zero the helm!" The aviso finally presents the bow to the submarine. Five seconds later, the lookout shouts: "Torpedoes ahead!" In total silence, all the men on deck stare, hypnotized, at the two whitish wakes that come to lick the Moresby's hull, one to port, the other to starboard. "But why did he pause before presenting the bow?" a young ensign whispers to Scott Clement. "So that the other one thinks he's in a good position and spits out his venom," smiles Clement, who is still quite pale...
The Moresby has only a 4-inch gun in the front, a 12-pounder in the back and four heavy machine guns. The Ro-68 has its 75 and two light machine guns - the fight is balanced, as the submarine is a smaller target, all the more difficult to reach as only an indecisive moon illuminates the scene. The torpedoes avoided, the Moresby rushes to ram the submarine, but the latter, showing an astonishing maneuverability, dodges, while spraying his opponent with shells. In a few minutes, six 75 mm shells hit the aviso, but without doing it much harm : exploding on impact, five of them open large holes in the hull, above the waterline, the sixth one destroying the 12-pounder and igniting a small fire behind the chimney. The two ships literally circle each other at less than a hundred yards, and the Moresby's 0.5-inch machine guns win the day, killing or wounding all of the submarine's gunners and most of the men in the kiosk, while the Australians have only two killed and three wounded.
At 01:20, the Moresby moves away just enough to allow her 4-inch to fire. At minimum inclination, the gun places in a short time two shells at the base of the kiosk and another one right at the submarine's gun. "They're done," Brown decides. "Let's go again!"
This time, indeed, the Moresby does ram the Ro-68 right at the kiosk, her prow digging deep into the side of her enemy. But the half a dozen men, jumping from the kiosk that dominated the beach before the aviso's forward deck, throw themselves on board, armed with knives and pistols, led by the submarine's commander, sword in hand!
They first fall upon the servants of the 4-inch, while a forgotten call rings out on the Moresby: "Repel the boarders!" Lacking individual weapons, the Japanese have the upper hand, until the gunnery officer throws himself into the fray. The old aviso has a set of boarding swords for practice, and Jack Thompson becomes a legend in the Australian fleet by leading four men into battle, sword in hand, challenging the Japanese officer and his sword and cutting him down with a savage slash. Only two Japanese survive, seriously wounded, while the Ro-68 sinks."
(Frank Bell, Australia Under Siege - DE Moresby in Action, 1942 - serialized in The Western Mail, Perth, 1954)*
This incredible episode, besides earning Jack Thompson the nickname "Errol Flynn", confirms to the Australian officials the validity of the convoy system... and allows the crew of the Moresby to learn, thanks to the prisoners, that their former adversary in this region is the submarine of commander Hideo Yamamoto, whose Radio Tokyo announcer, the famous "Rose of Tokyo", has been singing his praises ever since he boarded an allied tanker.
* We have already mentioned (see February 12th) this somewhat romanticized story, but inspired by real facts. We only re-established the quality of the Moresby as an aviso (and not a DE)
4088
March 25th, 1942
Peloponnese Campaign
00:15 - The destroyers Le Fantasque, L'Indomptable and Le Terrible enter the Argolic Gulf again to help the light forces (LCI(L)) and fast boats, (MTB and MGB) to complete the evacuation of the Commonwealth units. The evacuation continues throughout the night at a frenetic pace.
03:20 - Targeted by German 150 mm howitzers, L'Indomptable and Le Terrible respond to the 138 mm gun. The land-based gunners quickly realize that their adversaries are much more formidable than the small DE they had defeated the day before, and the fight ceases.
In the morning, the allied naval forces disengages. Most of the personnel of the 1st South African ID and of the 22nd Guards Brigade are evacuated - of course, all the heavy equipment is lost.
.........
East of Tripolis, both sides bring in reinforcements during the night, but this time the Allies have the advantage of shorter lines of communication. At dawn, the weather begins to deteriorate, greatly reducing air operations on both sides. The 15th Panzer resumes its march towards Tripolis, but it is warmly received by French and British artillery. With the help of the latter, the elements of the 9th D.I. Coloniale hold their positions solidly, supported from midday onwards by the tanks of the Hauteclocque Brigade. At 16:00, GeneralOberst Rommel recalls the attack.
Peloponnese Campaign
00:15 - The destroyers Le Fantasque, L'Indomptable and Le Terrible enter the Argolic Gulf again to help the light forces (LCI(L)) and fast boats, (MTB and MGB) to complete the evacuation of the Commonwealth units. The evacuation continues throughout the night at a frenetic pace.
03:20 - Targeted by German 150 mm howitzers, L'Indomptable and Le Terrible respond to the 138 mm gun. The land-based gunners quickly realize that their adversaries are much more formidable than the small DE they had defeated the day before, and the fight ceases.
In the morning, the allied naval forces disengages. Most of the personnel of the 1st South African ID and of the 22nd Guards Brigade are evacuated - of course, all the heavy equipment is lost.
.........
East of Tripolis, both sides bring in reinforcements during the night, but this time the Allies have the advantage of shorter lines of communication. At dawn, the weather begins to deteriorate, greatly reducing air operations on both sides. The 15th Panzer resumes its march towards Tripolis, but it is warmly received by French and British artillery. With the help of the latter, the elements of the 9th D.I. Coloniale hold their positions solidly, supported from midday onwards by the tanks of the Hauteclocque Brigade. At 16:00, GeneralOberst Rommel recalls the attack.
4089
March 25th, 1942
Northern Greece and Aegean Sea - Limnos is attacked twice, the first time at 10:40 by 18 He 111 of KG 26 escorted by 20 Bf 109F of I and II/JG 77 and the second by 16 Bf 109F Jabos of III/JG 77. The first raid is intercepted by eight P-38s, which destroy four Heinkels and three Bf 109F at the cost of three of their own. But the fighter-bombers, arriving at the level of the waves, take the defenders by surprise. They destroy four DC-3s on the ground, severely damaging the airfield.
The TB Alcione, accompanied by the torpedo boats MAS-501 and S-7, leaves Salonika and joins the flotilla of Rear Admiral Martinengo in Alexandroupolis, which (having lost the Lupo) now has fifteen ships. On the Allied side, Admiral Vian's squadron withdraws to Mytilene during the day, but as night falls, it resumes its position to the west of the island to counter any risk of night attack.
Considering the success of the neutralization of the Allied fighters based in Limnos (and under the pressure of Berlin, which is impatient), Marshal Kesselring gathers in Salonika General Student and Generals Loerzer and Geisler, commanding the IInd and Xth FliegerKorps. The two aviators are of the opinion that the losses suffered by the Luftwaffe during the previous weeks make risky, even very risky, any attempt at a major airborne operation. "But the enemy has also lost people," protests General Student, always combative. "And the Franco-British are very busy in the Peloponnese". After having listened to the various arguments and having received a new comminatory telephone call from Hitler's headquarters, Kesselring orders to launch phase II of operation "Theseus" as soon as weather permits.
Northern Greece and Aegean Sea - Limnos is attacked twice, the first time at 10:40 by 18 He 111 of KG 26 escorted by 20 Bf 109F of I and II/JG 77 and the second by 16 Bf 109F Jabos of III/JG 77. The first raid is intercepted by eight P-38s, which destroy four Heinkels and three Bf 109F at the cost of three of their own. But the fighter-bombers, arriving at the level of the waves, take the defenders by surprise. They destroy four DC-3s on the ground, severely damaging the airfield.
The TB Alcione, accompanied by the torpedo boats MAS-501 and S-7, leaves Salonika and joins the flotilla of Rear Admiral Martinengo in Alexandroupolis, which (having lost the Lupo) now has fifteen ships. On the Allied side, Admiral Vian's squadron withdraws to Mytilene during the day, but as night falls, it resumes its position to the west of the island to counter any risk of night attack.
Considering the success of the neutralization of the Allied fighters based in Limnos (and under the pressure of Berlin, which is impatient), Marshal Kesselring gathers in Salonika General Student and Generals Loerzer and Geisler, commanding the IInd and Xth FliegerKorps. The two aviators are of the opinion that the losses suffered by the Luftwaffe during the previous weeks make risky, even very risky, any attempt at a major airborne operation. "But the enemy has also lost people," protests General Student, always combative. "And the Franco-British are very busy in the Peloponnese". After having listened to the various arguments and having received a new comminatory telephone call from Hitler's headquarters, Kesselring orders to launch phase II of operation "Theseus" as soon as weather permits.
4092
March 26th, 1942
Solomon Islands Sea, 08:40 - The aircraft carriers USS Wasp, Lexington and Yorktown, positioned 45 nautical miles off the southern coast of Papua, launch an attack group of 152 aircraft, keeping only about thirty aircraft for protection. This imposing force flies through the Owen Stanley Mountains, guided by Commander W.B. Ault (of the Lexington), whose plane flies over the highest point of the pass through which the attackers have to go through. Of these, only thirteen of the TBD-1s are equipped with torpedoes, as it was not certain that the Devastators would be able to cross the mountains with this load.
It is a kind of celebration for the American aircraft!
In front of Lae, the Americans attack the transports, whose unloading is almost completed. The auxiliary cruiser Kongo Maru (8,624 GRT) and the auxiliary minesweeper Tenyo Maru (6,843 GRT) are sunk, while the transport Kokai Maru and two small minesweepers are damaged (one of the minesweepers eventually sank a few days later).
At Salamaua, the cargo ship Yokohama Maru (6,143 GRT) and the large minelayer Tsugaru were sunk, while the latter's sister ship, the Okinoshima, is slightly damaged.
American planes attack the light cruiser Yubari, which was patrolling between the twoports. The cruiser escapes about sixty bombs of all calibres and ten torpedoes, but it is still hit quite seriously. After the battle, more than 3,000 bullet holes and bomb fragments are counted!
After having shot down an E8N2 seaplane which was bravely trying to make a stand, the Wildcat machine guns generously, aiming in particular at flak positions, destroyers and even small boats trying to rescue Japanese sailors. Some planes, carrying out a reconnaissance, spot the Kiyokawa Maru, which is taking off other seaplanes. The supply ship, practically defenseless, has no chance: several bombs hit it, setting fire to the aircraft still on board as well as to the fuel and ammunition. It sinks quickly.
The American aircraft only lose two of theirs, two others are damaged and have to land in Port Moresby.
Back to their carriers, the airmen, although they overestimated, as they often do, the number of sunk or damaged ships, ask for a second raid, but Admiral Brown does not dare to risk his ships any longer and withdraws to Nouméa. One element also attracts attention during the debriefing: only three of the thirteen torpedoes launched seem to have been hit with certainty or probability, and even then, on stationary targets.
This raid is considered by the Americans as "the first ray of hope in the Pacific" (Morrison)... as well as a good training for the carrier air groups.
At the end of the day, eight B-17s from the 435th Bombardment Squadron increase the Japanese losses. However, the soldiers had long since disembarked and damaged ships could easily be beached, limiting losses among the sailors.
In total, this battle, if it does not question the landing in New Guinea, it is a serious setback for the Japanese navy. The latter lost one more seaplane tender but also a modern minelayer and several transports, while the Yubari is unavailable for many weeks.
Solomon Islands Sea, 08:40 - The aircraft carriers USS Wasp, Lexington and Yorktown, positioned 45 nautical miles off the southern coast of Papua, launch an attack group of 152 aircraft, keeping only about thirty aircraft for protection. This imposing force flies through the Owen Stanley Mountains, guided by Commander W.B. Ault (of the Lexington), whose plane flies over the highest point of the pass through which the attackers have to go through. Of these, only thirteen of the TBD-1s are equipped with torpedoes, as it was not certain that the Devastators would be able to cross the mountains with this load.
It is a kind of celebration for the American aircraft!
In front of Lae, the Americans attack the transports, whose unloading is almost completed. The auxiliary cruiser Kongo Maru (8,624 GRT) and the auxiliary minesweeper Tenyo Maru (6,843 GRT) are sunk, while the transport Kokai Maru and two small minesweepers are damaged (one of the minesweepers eventually sank a few days later).
At Salamaua, the cargo ship Yokohama Maru (6,143 GRT) and the large minelayer Tsugaru were sunk, while the latter's sister ship, the Okinoshima, is slightly damaged.
American planes attack the light cruiser Yubari, which was patrolling between the twoports. The cruiser escapes about sixty bombs of all calibres and ten torpedoes, but it is still hit quite seriously. After the battle, more than 3,000 bullet holes and bomb fragments are counted!
After having shot down an E8N2 seaplane which was bravely trying to make a stand, the Wildcat machine guns generously, aiming in particular at flak positions, destroyers and even small boats trying to rescue Japanese sailors. Some planes, carrying out a reconnaissance, spot the Kiyokawa Maru, which is taking off other seaplanes. The supply ship, practically defenseless, has no chance: several bombs hit it, setting fire to the aircraft still on board as well as to the fuel and ammunition. It sinks quickly.
The American aircraft only lose two of theirs, two others are damaged and have to land in Port Moresby.
Back to their carriers, the airmen, although they overestimated, as they often do, the number of sunk or damaged ships, ask for a second raid, but Admiral Brown does not dare to risk his ships any longer and withdraws to Nouméa. One element also attracts attention during the debriefing: only three of the thirteen torpedoes launched seem to have been hit with certainty or probability, and even then, on stationary targets.
This raid is considered by the Americans as "the first ray of hope in the Pacific" (Morrison)... as well as a good training for the carrier air groups.
At the end of the day, eight B-17s from the 435th Bombardment Squadron increase the Japanese losses. However, the soldiers had long since disembarked and damaged ships could easily be beached, limiting losses among the sailors.
In total, this battle, if it does not question the landing in New Guinea, it is a serious setback for the Japanese navy. The latter lost one more seaplane tender but also a modern minelayer and several transports, while the Yubari is unavailable for many weeks.
4093
March 26th, 1942
Peloponnese Campaign - Under a cold and heavy rain, the French entrench themselves east of Tripolis, while the Yugoslavs do the same in the northwest.
During the night, under the cover of heavy clouds, the first elements of the 3rd German Mountain Infantry Division begin to cross the Gulf of Patras. Since the day before, the men of the 4th Alpine Cuneense Division (General Battisti) had preceded them. Together with the 1st Mountain Infantry Division and the Arezzo Division entrenched in front of Patras, these divisions would form a German-Italian army corps, which Rommel agreed - as a diplomatic gesture - to entrust General Pafundi, who no longer had much to command...
As a result of this decision, General Messe retains within his XXXV CA only the 131st D.C. Centauro, the 1st Rapid Division Eugenio di Savoia and the two Isonzo and Messina Infantry Divisions
Peloponnese Campaign - Under a cold and heavy rain, the French entrench themselves east of Tripolis, while the Yugoslavs do the same in the northwest.
During the night, under the cover of heavy clouds, the first elements of the 3rd German Mountain Infantry Division begin to cross the Gulf of Patras. Since the day before, the men of the 4th Alpine Cuneense Division (General Battisti) had preceded them. Together with the 1st Mountain Infantry Division and the Arezzo Division entrenched in front of Patras, these divisions would form a German-Italian army corps, which Rommel agreed - as a diplomatic gesture - to entrust General Pafundi, who no longer had much to command...
As a result of this decision, General Messe retains within his XXXV CA only the 131st D.C. Centauro, the 1st Rapid Division Eugenio di Savoia and the two Isonzo and Messina Infantry Divisions
4094
March 26th, 1942
Aegean Sea - New raid against Limnos, led this time by 15 Ju 88 of KG 77 escorted by 24 Bf 109 of JG 53.
As the increase of the German radio traffic reveals the imminence of a large-scale operation, the Allied command orders the 1st and 3rd Battalions of Gambiez's 1st Shock Group, resting on Lesbos, to go and reinforce Limnos. In the afternoon, Gambiez's men board ships of the Aegean Sea Squadron. They arrive at Moudros around 23:00 and disembark in haste before the ships of the Rear Admiral Vian leave for Mytilene
Aegean Sea - New raid against Limnos, led this time by 15 Ju 88 of KG 77 escorted by 24 Bf 109 of JG 53.
As the increase of the German radio traffic reveals the imminence of a large-scale operation, the Allied command orders the 1st and 3rd Battalions of Gambiez's 1st Shock Group, resting on Lesbos, to go and reinforce Limnos. In the afternoon, Gambiez's men board ships of the Aegean Sea Squadron. They arrive at Moudros around 23:00 and disembark in haste before the ships of the Rear Admiral Vian leave for Mytilene
4095
March 27th, 1942
Pindus (Continental Greece) - The poor village of Metsovon, at the mountainous limit of Thessaly, Epirus and Macedonia, had never thought that it would become the capital of a principality. And today, it has reason to curse the most ambitious of its children: Alcibiade Diamandi, a merchant who, by dint of intrigues between Romania and Fascist Italy, has become the self-proclaimed prince of the Wallachians of Pindus.
Seven coffins are lined up in front of the church, seven young, gullible Wallachians who had believed in Diamandi's promises to the point of enlisting in his "Fifth Roman Legion". The Italian general Alessandro Gloria comes to attend the funeral of his unfortunate auxiliaries. He has reason to worry: for a few weeks, he has not been dealing with a simple band of brigands, but a well organized group, which attacks the Wallachian legionnaires, the Greek gendarmes and the isolated Italian detachments. These outlaws leave each time, taking with them as many weapons, ammunition and provisions as possible. It is said that they carry as trophies the black sheep hats taken from the Wallachian legionaries. It is said that their leader is called Aris, that is to say Ares, the Greek name of Mars, the god of war. Ridiculous! But a big worry for General Gloria, whose 37th Modena Division was in charge of relieving the Skandenberg Korps in Epirus.
By the way, the general thinks, this Aris is attacking everyone except the Germans. Either he is careful, or he is a communist and strictly observes the Hitler-Stalin pact.
Pindus (Continental Greece) - The poor village of Metsovon, at the mountainous limit of Thessaly, Epirus and Macedonia, had never thought that it would become the capital of a principality. And today, it has reason to curse the most ambitious of its children: Alcibiade Diamandi, a merchant who, by dint of intrigues between Romania and Fascist Italy, has become the self-proclaimed prince of the Wallachians of Pindus.
Seven coffins are lined up in front of the church, seven young, gullible Wallachians who had believed in Diamandi's promises to the point of enlisting in his "Fifth Roman Legion". The Italian general Alessandro Gloria comes to attend the funeral of his unfortunate auxiliaries. He has reason to worry: for a few weeks, he has not been dealing with a simple band of brigands, but a well organized group, which attacks the Wallachian legionnaires, the Greek gendarmes and the isolated Italian detachments. These outlaws leave each time, taking with them as many weapons, ammunition and provisions as possible. It is said that they carry as trophies the black sheep hats taken from the Wallachian legionaries. It is said that their leader is called Aris, that is to say Ares, the Greek name of Mars, the god of war. Ridiculous! But a big worry for General Gloria, whose 37th Modena Division was in charge of relieving the Skandenberg Korps in Epirus.
By the way, the general thinks, this Aris is attacking everyone except the Germans. Either he is careful, or he is a communist and strictly observes the Hitler-Stalin pact.
4096
March 27th, 1942
Malaya Campaign - While the Navy bombers based in Kuching maintain their program of two raids per day against Singapore, Penang is attacked by fourteen D3A1 escorted by nine A6M2. The raid surprises the old British destroyer Thanet, which receives three 250 kg bombs and sinks immediately.
On its side, the Japanese Army redeploys two "Special Groups" of ground support on small runways near Singapore.
Malaya Campaign - While the Navy bombers based in Kuching maintain their program of two raids per day against Singapore, Penang is attacked by fourteen D3A1 escorted by nine A6M2. The raid surprises the old British destroyer Thanet, which receives three 250 kg bombs and sinks immediately.
On its side, the Japanese Army redeploys two "Special Groups" of ground support on small runways near Singapore.
4098
March 27th, 1942
East coast of Australia, 22:30 - The Ro-65 thinks she sees a small ship 12 nautical miles north-east of Newcastle, and launches two torpedoes. One explodes after a longer run than expected. Not seeing the targeted ship, Ro-65 claimed to have destroyed a 2,000 ton freighter.
In fact, the submarine's commander is mistaken about the size of the ship, as well as about its destiny. It was the modern freighter Hannington Court (5,449 GRT, Court Lines, going alone from San Francisco to Newcastle, with a very important cargo of machine tools, welding equipment and... 2,000 tons of raw TNT! The torpedo that hit her severely damaged its hull and started a fire in the stern. However, the ship did not explode! The captain, Ambrose M. Crompton, managed to convince his crew, composed mostly of "lascars" (natives of the Pacific), to fight the flames and to save the ship. Because of the risk of explosion, he decided not to enter the nearby Newcastle harbor. After several hours of effort, knowing that their ship could explode at any moment, the sailors of the Hannington Court manage to enter Port Stephens, where the ship is beached and scuttled to extinguish the fire and prevent the explosion.
The cargo is virtually unharmed: the explosives occupied the lower holds and the others remained above water. For this feat, Captain Crompton is awarded the George Cross, and his entire crew will be generously rewarded by the Australian government, as the machine tools are eagerly awaited and a serious shortage of explosives was threatening to reduce the production of ammunition. The ship is unloaded by droghers and the cargo is transferred to a train at Karuah.
The Hannington Court is refloated a few months later.
East coast of Australia, 22:30 - The Ro-65 thinks she sees a small ship 12 nautical miles north-east of Newcastle, and launches two torpedoes. One explodes after a longer run than expected. Not seeing the targeted ship, Ro-65 claimed to have destroyed a 2,000 ton freighter.
In fact, the submarine's commander is mistaken about the size of the ship, as well as about its destiny. It was the modern freighter Hannington Court (5,449 GRT, Court Lines, going alone from San Francisco to Newcastle, with a very important cargo of machine tools, welding equipment and... 2,000 tons of raw TNT! The torpedo that hit her severely damaged its hull and started a fire in the stern. However, the ship did not explode! The captain, Ambrose M. Crompton, managed to convince his crew, composed mostly of "lascars" (natives of the Pacific), to fight the flames and to save the ship. Because of the risk of explosion, he decided not to enter the nearby Newcastle harbor. After several hours of effort, knowing that their ship could explode at any moment, the sailors of the Hannington Court manage to enter Port Stephens, where the ship is beached and scuttled to extinguish the fire and prevent the explosion.
The cargo is virtually unharmed: the explosives occupied the lower holds and the others remained above water. For this feat, Captain Crompton is awarded the George Cross, and his entire crew will be generously rewarded by the Australian government, as the machine tools are eagerly awaited and a serious shortage of explosives was threatening to reduce the production of ammunition. The ship is unloaded by droghers and the cargo is transferred to a train at Karuah.
The Hannington Court is refloated a few months later.
4099 - Start of Operation Theseus, Phase II
March 27th, 1942
Northern Greece and the Aegean Sea, 06:00 - Phase II of Operation Theseus begins with an airborne and naval assault supported by a series of air raids against Mytilene and Limnos.
The raid against Mytilene is carried out by 24 Ju 88 of I and II/KG 77, escorted by 32 Bf 109F of JG 53. Detected by the radar of Lesbos, the raid is intercepted by 16 Hurricanes of Sqn 605 (RAF) and 1 (SAAF) and by 12 P-38 of the 13th EC. Operating at the limit of their range, the German fighters have difficulty protecting their bombers; seven Ju 88s and six Bf 109s are shot down at the cost of four Hurricanes and three P-38s. Nevertheless, this raid prevents the allied fighters from protecting Limnos until the beginning of the afternoon.
At the same hour, 24 Ju 88 of I and II/LG 1, escorted by 16 Bf 109 of I and II/JG 77, attack Limnos. Moudros, the Baumann* base and the harbor are hit hard. At 11:30, the island is attacked again, this time by 18 He 111 of KG 26 and 12 Bf 109 Jabos of III/JG 77.
During this raid, 72 He 111P (former converted He 111) of KG zbV-5 and 20 and 144 Ju 52 of KG zbV-60, 101, 102 and 105 drop three thousand parachutists, while 41 gliders - 36 DFS 230 and five huge Me 321 - land on the airfield or in the fields north-west of Moudros. The attackers are the men of the four battalions of the Parachute Assault Regiment (Lieutenant-General Eugen Meindl) and the 1st Battalion of the 1st Parachute Regiment (Major General Bruno Bräuer) of the 7. FliegerDivision (see Order of Battle).
This air assault is coordinated with a naval landing. The big destroyers Antoniotto Usodimare and Emanuele Pessagno (on which Admiral Martinengo put his flag) and the smaller and more recent Geniere and Lanciere, which left Alexandroupolis during the night and made the crossing as quickly as possible, disembark the 85th Mountain Regiment and a battery of the 95th Mountain Artillery of the 5th Mountain Division (5. Gebirgs-Division, Lieutenant General Julius Ringel) on the shore not far from the drop zone.
Then, the four ships engage the Greek and French artillery batteries while withdrawing, inflicting some damage to the Greek 25-pounder and the French 105 howitzers.
The airborne assault is unevenly successful. Near the northern coast of the island, with the support of the units disembarked from the Italian destroyers, the paratroopers manage to organize themselves, although the rugged terrain inflicts 10 percent losses on them. But near the airfield, the Germans are instantly engaged by units of the 1st Greek Brigade, the Foreign Legion and the Shock troops. The first wave suffers very heavy losses. Many paratroopers are hit while still swinging in the air. Others are pinned down by their opponents' fire and cannot reach the weapons containers that had been dropped separately. The Assault Regiment's report, transmitted in the afternoon, states.
"The bulk of the 3rd Battalion was crushed after a valiant resistance, losing 400 men (including its commander) out of 600. The remnants of the 9th Company had to fight their way through enemy lines to reach the positions of the 2nd Battalion, which deployed on the beaches on the north shore of the island." To relieve the airborne troops, a new air raid is organized: at 12:10, 18 Ju 87 of I/StG 1 and II/StG 2 attack the allied positions near the airfield.
The allied air reaction begins with the dispatch of two French Lockheed F-4 (P-38 PR) reconnaissance aircraft. One photographs Limnos, the other one pushes to the Greek coast and discovers other enemy ships coming from Alexandroupolis. These are the destroyers Euro, Turbine, Francesco Crispi and Quintino Sella, the torpedo boats Circe and Alcione and the torpedo boats S-7, S-35 and S-56 as well as the Italian MAS-501, which escort the seaplane carrier Giuseppe Miraglia, loaded with men and heavy equipment. These eleven ships are soon joined by the four destroyers of the vanguard, which had turned back to cover the main part of the fleet.
The allied staff, considering that these naval reinforcements constitute the most serious threat, order twelve DB-73 M1/M2 bombers of the AB-9 squadron of the French Navy and six torpedo bombers Northrop N-3PB of the AT-11 (which were redeployed in Lesbos after the destruction of their base of Limnos). At this moment, rear-admiral Vian has already left Mytilene and heads for Limnos with the CLAA HMS Dido (admiral) surrounded by the DDAA HMS Gurkha and the MN Mogador, Guépard and Verdun, and accompanied by the attack group commanded by Captain W.G. Agnew: CLAA HMS Delhi (Admiral) and MN La Galissonnière, DD HMS Legion, Partridge and Penn (the Laforey, victim of an engine problem, remains in Mytilene).
15:30 - The second wave of parachutists arrives. It is composed of two battalions of the 1st Parachute Regiment and the 1st Parachute Artillery Battalion. Men and equipment are transported by 108 Ju 52s and 48 He 111Ps, accompanied by ten Me 321 gliders (six of which carrying one Panzer III each) towed by specialized Bf 110s. These aircraft are escorted by 24 Bf 109 of the JG 77, but ran into 22 P-38s, all the available aircraft of the 13th Fighter Squadron. A furious melee takes place over Limnos. At the cost of nine of theirs, the P-38s shoot down five Bf 109F, but especially eleven Ju 52, four Me 321 and seven of the Bf 110 tugs. On the ground, the men who look at the sky with anguish or with hope witness the terrifying spectacle of an Me 321 that opens in two under the shells of a P-38 and lets escape its Panzer III, which falls like an enormous stone, from several hundred meters...
Shortly after this drop, the Luftwaffe makes a new effort to support the parachutists, vigorously attacked by the Franco-Greek troops. At 16:10, 12 Ju 87 and 12 Ju 88, escorted by 16 Bf 109, succeed in breaking a counter-attack of the 13th DBLE which threatens to reject the German troops who are holding on to the airfield. And at 17:30, 16 Bf 109 Jabos of the III/JG 77 attack the allied forces again.
But this concentration of the German forces on Limnos leaves the Italian flotilla without protection - especially since the communications between the Regia Marina and the Luftwaffe are, as often, poor. At 16:50, the bombs of the DB-73 sink the small destroyer Turbine and damage the large Antoniotto Usodimare. This one had to stop after two bombs put its boilers out of order by exploding to touch its hull. Some minutes later, an N-3PB places a torpedo in the side of the ship, which breaks in two and quickly sinks. Rear Admiral Martinengo orders his ships to head north-west for a moment, as if they were returning to Salonika, hoping to deceive the Allied reconnaissance. He still has thirteen ships at his disposal: six destroyers including the Emanuele Pessagno (flag), two torpedo boats, four speedboats and the Giuseppe Miraglia.
19:00 - Martinengo sets course for Limnos.
.........
At the end of the afternoon, Marshal Kesselring and General Student consider a parachute drop to reinforce their troops before the following morning. The officers on the spot paint a rather gloomy picture of the situation. Three of the hoped-for tanks had been "shot down" in their Me 321 and another severely damaged on landing. Only two Panzer IIIs are operational. Without reinforcements, the attack could well fail.
The discussion is interrupted by the news that the Salonika grounds are under attack. This time, 24 NA-73 of the 2nd E.C. strafe the airfields where the transport planes had landed after the drop of the second wave. Fierce fights take place at low altitude, while the light flak, in the dim light of dusk, indiscriminately sprays everything that flies, friendly or enemy. Seven French planes are shot down (and two too damaged to be repaired). But the Mustangs destroy or seriously damage 17 Ju 52, 4 He 111P and one Me 321, plus five Bf 109 shot down in aerial combat, including three Jabos of III/JG 77, surprised on their return from their raid on Limnos. The German commanders have to give up the planned night parachuting and rely on the troops transported by the Italian flotilla.
.........
On Limnos, the nightfall does not interrupt the fighting. The men of the 1st Greek Brigade, helped by M3 light tanks, furiously attack the German invaders all night long.
Approximate location of Axis landings on Limnos
* The air base was named after the French general who commanded the area during the Great War.
Northern Greece and the Aegean Sea, 06:00 - Phase II of Operation Theseus begins with an airborne and naval assault supported by a series of air raids against Mytilene and Limnos.
The raid against Mytilene is carried out by 24 Ju 88 of I and II/KG 77, escorted by 32 Bf 109F of JG 53. Detected by the radar of Lesbos, the raid is intercepted by 16 Hurricanes of Sqn 605 (RAF) and 1 (SAAF) and by 12 P-38 of the 13th EC. Operating at the limit of their range, the German fighters have difficulty protecting their bombers; seven Ju 88s and six Bf 109s are shot down at the cost of four Hurricanes and three P-38s. Nevertheless, this raid prevents the allied fighters from protecting Limnos until the beginning of the afternoon.
At the same hour, 24 Ju 88 of I and II/LG 1, escorted by 16 Bf 109 of I and II/JG 77, attack Limnos. Moudros, the Baumann* base and the harbor are hit hard. At 11:30, the island is attacked again, this time by 18 He 111 of KG 26 and 12 Bf 109 Jabos of III/JG 77.
During this raid, 72 He 111P (former converted He 111) of KG zbV-5 and 20 and 144 Ju 52 of KG zbV-60, 101, 102 and 105 drop three thousand parachutists, while 41 gliders - 36 DFS 230 and five huge Me 321 - land on the airfield or in the fields north-west of Moudros. The attackers are the men of the four battalions of the Parachute Assault Regiment (Lieutenant-General Eugen Meindl) and the 1st Battalion of the 1st Parachute Regiment (Major General Bruno Bräuer) of the 7. FliegerDivision (see Order of Battle).
This air assault is coordinated with a naval landing. The big destroyers Antoniotto Usodimare and Emanuele Pessagno (on which Admiral Martinengo put his flag) and the smaller and more recent Geniere and Lanciere, which left Alexandroupolis during the night and made the crossing as quickly as possible, disembark the 85th Mountain Regiment and a battery of the 95th Mountain Artillery of the 5th Mountain Division (5. Gebirgs-Division, Lieutenant General Julius Ringel) on the shore not far from the drop zone.
Then, the four ships engage the Greek and French artillery batteries while withdrawing, inflicting some damage to the Greek 25-pounder and the French 105 howitzers.
The airborne assault is unevenly successful. Near the northern coast of the island, with the support of the units disembarked from the Italian destroyers, the paratroopers manage to organize themselves, although the rugged terrain inflicts 10 percent losses on them. But near the airfield, the Germans are instantly engaged by units of the 1st Greek Brigade, the Foreign Legion and the Shock troops. The first wave suffers very heavy losses. Many paratroopers are hit while still swinging in the air. Others are pinned down by their opponents' fire and cannot reach the weapons containers that had been dropped separately. The Assault Regiment's report, transmitted in the afternoon, states.
"The bulk of the 3rd Battalion was crushed after a valiant resistance, losing 400 men (including its commander) out of 600. The remnants of the 9th Company had to fight their way through enemy lines to reach the positions of the 2nd Battalion, which deployed on the beaches on the north shore of the island." To relieve the airborne troops, a new air raid is organized: at 12:10, 18 Ju 87 of I/StG 1 and II/StG 2 attack the allied positions near the airfield.
The allied air reaction begins with the dispatch of two French Lockheed F-4 (P-38 PR) reconnaissance aircraft. One photographs Limnos, the other one pushes to the Greek coast and discovers other enemy ships coming from Alexandroupolis. These are the destroyers Euro, Turbine, Francesco Crispi and Quintino Sella, the torpedo boats Circe and Alcione and the torpedo boats S-7, S-35 and S-56 as well as the Italian MAS-501, which escort the seaplane carrier Giuseppe Miraglia, loaded with men and heavy equipment. These eleven ships are soon joined by the four destroyers of the vanguard, which had turned back to cover the main part of the fleet.
The allied staff, considering that these naval reinforcements constitute the most serious threat, order twelve DB-73 M1/M2 bombers of the AB-9 squadron of the French Navy and six torpedo bombers Northrop N-3PB of the AT-11 (which were redeployed in Lesbos after the destruction of their base of Limnos). At this moment, rear-admiral Vian has already left Mytilene and heads for Limnos with the CLAA HMS Dido (admiral) surrounded by the DDAA HMS Gurkha and the MN Mogador, Guépard and Verdun, and accompanied by the attack group commanded by Captain W.G. Agnew: CLAA HMS Delhi (Admiral) and MN La Galissonnière, DD HMS Legion, Partridge and Penn (the Laforey, victim of an engine problem, remains in Mytilene).
15:30 - The second wave of parachutists arrives. It is composed of two battalions of the 1st Parachute Regiment and the 1st Parachute Artillery Battalion. Men and equipment are transported by 108 Ju 52s and 48 He 111Ps, accompanied by ten Me 321 gliders (six of which carrying one Panzer III each) towed by specialized Bf 110s. These aircraft are escorted by 24 Bf 109 of the JG 77, but ran into 22 P-38s, all the available aircraft of the 13th Fighter Squadron. A furious melee takes place over Limnos. At the cost of nine of theirs, the P-38s shoot down five Bf 109F, but especially eleven Ju 52, four Me 321 and seven of the Bf 110 tugs. On the ground, the men who look at the sky with anguish or with hope witness the terrifying spectacle of an Me 321 that opens in two under the shells of a P-38 and lets escape its Panzer III, which falls like an enormous stone, from several hundred meters...
Shortly after this drop, the Luftwaffe makes a new effort to support the parachutists, vigorously attacked by the Franco-Greek troops. At 16:10, 12 Ju 87 and 12 Ju 88, escorted by 16 Bf 109, succeed in breaking a counter-attack of the 13th DBLE which threatens to reject the German troops who are holding on to the airfield. And at 17:30, 16 Bf 109 Jabos of the III/JG 77 attack the allied forces again.
But this concentration of the German forces on Limnos leaves the Italian flotilla without protection - especially since the communications between the Regia Marina and the Luftwaffe are, as often, poor. At 16:50, the bombs of the DB-73 sink the small destroyer Turbine and damage the large Antoniotto Usodimare. This one had to stop after two bombs put its boilers out of order by exploding to touch its hull. Some minutes later, an N-3PB places a torpedo in the side of the ship, which breaks in two and quickly sinks. Rear Admiral Martinengo orders his ships to head north-west for a moment, as if they were returning to Salonika, hoping to deceive the Allied reconnaissance. He still has thirteen ships at his disposal: six destroyers including the Emanuele Pessagno (flag), two torpedo boats, four speedboats and the Giuseppe Miraglia.
19:00 - Martinengo sets course for Limnos.
.........
At the end of the afternoon, Marshal Kesselring and General Student consider a parachute drop to reinforce their troops before the following morning. The officers on the spot paint a rather gloomy picture of the situation. Three of the hoped-for tanks had been "shot down" in their Me 321 and another severely damaged on landing. Only two Panzer IIIs are operational. Without reinforcements, the attack could well fail.
The discussion is interrupted by the news that the Salonika grounds are under attack. This time, 24 NA-73 of the 2nd E.C. strafe the airfields where the transport planes had landed after the drop of the second wave. Fierce fights take place at low altitude, while the light flak, in the dim light of dusk, indiscriminately sprays everything that flies, friendly or enemy. Seven French planes are shot down (and two too damaged to be repaired). But the Mustangs destroy or seriously damage 17 Ju 52, 4 He 111P and one Me 321, plus five Bf 109 shot down in aerial combat, including three Jabos of III/JG 77, surprised on their return from their raid on Limnos. The German commanders have to give up the planned night parachuting and rely on the troops transported by the Italian flotilla.
.........
On Limnos, the nightfall does not interrupt the fighting. The men of the 1st Greek Brigade, helped by M3 light tanks, furiously attack the German invaders all night long.
Approximate location of Axis landings on Limnos
* The air base was named after the French general who commanded the area during the Great War.
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4100
March 27th, 1942
Tripolis - As the weather improves, air battles resume. North of the city, the French positions facing the 21st Panzer are bombed several times by the Ju 87s of the I and II/StG 3, escorted by the Bf 109s of the JG 27, and Ju 87 of I and II/StG 3, escorted by Bf 109 of JG 27, and by Fiat CR.42 of 158° Gruppo Autonomo Assalto (captain Alessandro Cerutti), escorted by the Macchi MC.200 of the 8th Gruppo (Major Mario Bacich). These raids come up against French, Yugoslav, Greek and British Hawk-81 and 87 fighters. These fighters also escort the allied ground support aircraft (P-39D and light bombers) that attack the German positions.
In total, the Axis planes accomplish 157 offensive missions over the Tripolis area that day, and the Allied aircraft 172. Both sides suffer serious losses: seven Ju 87s, four Bf 109s, four CR.42s and three MC.200s for nine Hawk 81/7s, five P-39Ds, three Martin-167 and a Blenheim IV.
Tripolis - As the weather improves, air battles resume. North of the city, the French positions facing the 21st Panzer are bombed several times by the Ju 87s of the I and II/StG 3, escorted by the Bf 109s of the JG 27, and Ju 87 of I and II/StG 3, escorted by Bf 109 of JG 27, and by Fiat CR.42 of 158° Gruppo Autonomo Assalto (captain Alessandro Cerutti), escorted by the Macchi MC.200 of the 8th Gruppo (Major Mario Bacich). These raids come up against French, Yugoslav, Greek and British Hawk-81 and 87 fighters. These fighters also escort the allied ground support aircraft (P-39D and light bombers) that attack the German positions.
In total, the Axis planes accomplish 157 offensive missions over the Tripolis area that day, and the Allied aircraft 172. Both sides suffer serious losses: seven Ju 87s, four Bf 109s, four CR.42s and three MC.200s for nine Hawk 81/7s, five P-39Ds, three Martin-167 and a Blenheim IV.
4101
March 27th, 1942
Plymouth - The aircraft carrier USS Ranger arrives at 08:00. There, it is quickly moored next to HMS Indomitable, and these two carriers embark 66 Spitfire V. At 20:00, the two ships and their escort set sail for Gibraltar.
.........
Bari - The Regia Marina, desperately looking for operational ships to reinforce the Aegean flotilla, assembles the destroyers Freccia and Strale (7th CT squadron) and the torpedo boats MAS-574, 575 and 576. The five units leave Bari at 02:25 for Piraeus, through the Corinth Canal.
Plymouth - The aircraft carrier USS Ranger arrives at 08:00. There, it is quickly moored next to HMS Indomitable, and these two carriers embark 66 Spitfire V. At 20:00, the two ships and their escort set sail for Gibraltar.
.........
Bari - The Regia Marina, desperately looking for operational ships to reinforce the Aegean flotilla, assembles the destroyers Freccia and Strale (7th CT squadron) and the torpedo boats MAS-574, 575 and 576. The five units leave Bari at 02:25 for Piraeus, through the Corinth Canal.
I spent my honeymoon on Curaçao and visited all the forts on the island. Most of them are old Spanish and Dutch construction dating from the 1600-1700s. But they were all modified during ww2 and have concrete mounts for American AA guns and radar. Pretty cool.
4102
March 28th, 1942
Dihua, Xinjiang Province, China - Soviet Consul General Pushkin is bubbling over. He has been pacing back and forth for an hour in the waiting room of Governor Sheng's residence. The puppet is definitely taking himself more and more seriously... This only confirms the alarming reports sent in recent days by his men and those of the NKVD. He tries to calm down when he is told that he will finally be received. Governor Sheng Shicai is a puppet, no doubt, but Pushkin will have to respect his status and be kind to this ingrate.
- My deepest respects, Mr. Governor.
For a few moments, Sheng and Pushkin make a show of politeness. The Soviet cuts to the chase: "And my deepest apologies for having asked to see you so urgently. But I really wanted to clarify with you the current situation in our province."
Sheng immediately counters: "I am surprised, surprised and worried that you seem to be unaware of what is going on, Mr. Ambassador! My province is currently threatened by a conspiracy and I have to face an attempted... coup d'état!" Sheng takes care to use the possessive adjective - it's "his" province - but he has a panicked look on his face that Pushkin finds particularly misleading. The honorable governor, who has the honorto be used by the great Soviet Union in its policy in Central Asia is nothing more than a local tyrant from the Middle Ages. That he is also paranoid seems normal, one usually goes with the other. But what did he invent this time? A coup d'état? From whom? Japanese agents, whom he sees everywhere? Or Trotskyist Chinese, his usual excuse when he wants to carry out a purge since the USSR helped him to break the Kumul Uprising a decade ago, and that it has gained a say (and more) in Xinjiang affairs?
- I'm afraid, Mr. Governor, that I lack information. Please enlighten me," replies Pushkin, torn between concern (what if the puppet is right?) and curiosity (what real or imaginary mess are we going to have to get him out of?)
- A plot by the Communists! I mean, Chinese communists, of course!" Sheng exclaims, raising his arms to the sky. Pushkin has trouble deciding whether his attitude is more delirious or hypocritical. In any case, they are not the usual Trotskyists, so this is a welcome change, he says to himself, managing not without difficulty to conceal a smile.
In front of Pushkin's doubtful face, Sheng understands that he will have to argue the existence of a Communist plot to an official representative, or very nearly so, of the Comintern.
- My younger brother, Sheng Shiqi, commander of the Dihua Motorized Brigade, was murdered a few days ago [on the 19th] under obscure circumstances, as you know! My intelligence services have provided me with the formal proof that this is the first act of a plot by the Chinese Communist Party to remove me from office and to establish a new republic of Jianxi, a new stronghold for their cause, but also to take revenge for the purge that your predecessors forced me to carry out five years ago!
Forced, forced... You didn't have to push him very hard, the governor! The anti-trotskyst purge of '37 had allowed Moscow and Sheng to get rid of some real Trotskyists and White Russians, radical Muslims, Chinese communists neglecting their duty to the workers' Fatherland and in general, of all those who could contest the influence of the said Fatherland and the rule of the governor.
- The CCP? Do you have any proof? Is that why you banned the publication of Fandi Chanxian* and closed down all the uyushmas** in the province?
Sheng pretends not to hear his questions: "At the moment, my security forces are arresting about 100 CCP activists throughout Xinjiang and other ... progressives who might have joined the coup!"
Pushkin easily translates: the category "progressives" is obviously a catch-all used to avoid mentionning the members of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the few religious and/or influential representatives of minorities that Sheng thought it worthwhile to include in the current batch destined for his jails.
But Sheng is outspoken: "Mao Zedong has been planning this for months! The leaders of the plot were Chen Tanqiu***, Mao Zemin, Mao Zedung's younger brother, and, for the past five years, my own finance minister, and Du Zhongyuan, the director of Xinjiang University [What? What? He's accusing his childhood best friend?" wonders Pushkin, aghast.] Finally and above all, the armed wing of this attempted putsch was a woman: Chen Xiuying, the wife of my unfortunate brother, whom I think is responsible for his death!
Pushkin cannot stand it any longer: "Do I have to tell you that this dangerous spy, your sister-in-law, is first of all a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union! But, I think, you are also a member of the CPSU, Sheng, do I need to remind you? Or is it better to inform certain people of your political commitment?" The Soviet consul, fed up with Sheng's vague explanations of the alleged coup, is delighted to put him in his place. It is now up to him to speak with authority: "That the CCP is playing its own game is possible, but what would our CP members have to do with it? And when it is true of Ms. Chen, why the Chan-Hsian Fan-ti? Would the newspaper of which YOU are the director be involved in a conspiracy? Why the uyushmas? Sheng! Are you forgetting the trust Comrade Stalin placed in you met in Moscow in 1938? Do you no longer believe in this new Xinjiang that you wanted, the one in which all its nationalities could have a happy and prosperous life? Do you no longer believe that communism is the savior of Humanity? [Pushkin repeats Sheng's words to Stalin, Molotov and Voroshilov in 1938]. In a word, Sheng, are you denying the Party?"
Cornered, Sheng protests vigorously, "No! Of course not. It is only... only that I must ensure the brightest possible future for my province, in strict compliance with the "Nine Duties of Government" of 1934, right? In particular, Duty 8 ["Build a New Xinjiang", remembers Pushkin]... and Duty 6 [Oh oh... "Keep Xinjiang as a Chinese province forever"...] Am I not right?"
Pushkin grimaces: "No doubt, Mr. Governor... I hear you... But these good intentions should not be allowed to run counter to other duties, like number 7, "Maintain close relations with the Soviet Union". Isn't that right?"
Distraught, Sheng tried to regain the initiative, "Of course, of course, Consul. But I wanted to take advantage of this meeting to deal with two... small problems. [Sheng clears his throat, he has to show that things have to change, he straightens up and frowns a little more]. I mean, to decide two major issues! [Small problems or major points? Pushkin doesn't even bother to stifle a sigh of annoyance]. The first is the exploitation of Xinjiang's natural resources..."
Pushkin jumps up: "Are you questioning the Tin Mine Agreement of November 1940?" [These secret agreements concluded between the USSR and Sheng grant to the USSR almost all the benefits of the exploitation of the resources of the subsoil of Xinjiang, various minerals and oil, the government of Xinjiang, or more exactly Sheng himself, receiving the rest].
Sheng squirms in his chair: "Nooo... Of course not. But this coup has shown that many activities in my province were beyond my control... my supervision.That's why I thought we could consider adding some amendments to our agreement, as the situation is not the same as it was a year and a half ago."
I don't see how, Pushkin thinks, but he just articulates, "I understand. I will notify the Ministry of Commerce, which will contact your consuls in Moscow."
Sheng has an embarrassed chuckle: "Impossible. I recalled my consuls in Moscow today. I don't think it's appropriate for my province to continue its own diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union."
Pushkin sighs again. His predecessors in the 1930s really did bet on the right horse, no doubt, he thinks wryly.
"Good, Mr. Governor. I'll pass it on to the office of the People's Commissar for Trade, Arseny Zverev. [He won't, of course - at least not to Zverev.] Did you mention two small problems?" [I might as well get to the bottom of the nonsense right away.]
Sheng smiles embarrassedly: "Yes, I would like to talk to you about the situation of the Eighth Regiment in Kumul... We should start considering a withdrawal of this unit. I don't think it is really beneficial to have a unit from a friendly, yes, but non-belligerent country, stationed in China, what do you think?"
For the time being, Pushkin thinks he is right: he has heard that in Chongqing, it is repeated that if the USSR provides the Chinese army with so much equipment, it is because it will soon be engaged in the war against Japan. But he knows that this is not what Sheng has in mind. The latter continues: "The Eighth could be withdrawn... [He pauses - Pushkin stares at him without any emotion, which is not very comforting]. Well, when I say withdrawn, I mean, of course, redeployed. For example, one half could ensure the security of the Dihua airfield and the other half the security of Soviet interests in Xinjiang. What do you think, Mr. Consul General?"
What the Consul General thinks is difficult to reproduce without offending decency. Rather than express it aloud, he prefers to answer: "That sounds like a good idea, Mr. Governor. I need not remind you that the presence of the Eighth Regiment in Xinjiang is to provide security for the governor of the province. It should be considered as nothing more than what it really is: a token of affection and esteem of the Soviet Union towards one of its closest and most faithful friends. If the Governor feels that he can do without it, I will confer as soon as possible with the commander of the regiment to study the possibility and the modalities of a withdrawal." [Is it needed to specify that this "as soon as possible" will never come?]
On this tirade, Pushkin leaves - he is anxious to return to the consulate to report what he has just heard to the right person. The consul leaves behind him a delighted governor Sheng: he thinks that the meeting went much better than he had hoped and thinks he has made Pushkin bend. Didn't Pushkin believe in the reality of a CCP plot?
Of course, there was neither a coup nor a plot. Sheng's brother, Sheng Shih-chi, had been executed eight days earlier, but on Sheng's own orders. The governor was afraid that his brother, head of the Motorized Brigade of the capital (a post that Sheng Shicai had given him!), could use his Brigade to take power, with the support of the Soviets. After all, Sheng Shih-chi had studied at various military academies in Moscow, from where he had returned only a few months earlier to take up his new post.
As for his wife, Chen Hsiu-ying, she is paying for being a member of the CPSU: her elimination is a "proof of goodwill" to Chongqing, as is that of one of Mao's brothers and a "historic" CCP member. Moreover, Chen Hsiu-ying makes an ideal scapegoat for Sheng's alleged CCP plot. Of course, she will confess to her husband's murder and be executed in the process - which only proves how effective Governor Sheng Shicai's police force is at getting confessions (any confession).
All in all, Sheng's change of heart from "more Stalinist than Stalin" to "more nationalist than the KMT" will not surprise those in Moscow and Chongqing who know him well.
Sheng Shicai is an ambitious, tyrannical and power-hungry warlord: he is ready to do anything that will further his ambitions, without any qualms or trivial considerations
like justice, friendship or family ties...
The USSR will not react - not right away, anyway. Why be nervous? The Eighth Regiment will not move, of course. And the Tin Mine agreements will not be touched. The Soviet Union will retain control of the vast majority of Xinjiang's natural resources, including oil. Moreover, it will always be very influential with the petty bourgeoisie and the notables (whose children will continue to learn primarily Russian at school), as it will remain the province's leading trading partner. Easy to keep a peace in the mind when the Fatherland of Socialism will soon have other things to worry about very big and fierce cats, like leopards, and Governor Sheng is after all only, after all, a little kitten.
* Literally "Anti-Imperialist War Front", monthly newspaper singing the praises of the USSR and distributed in the major cities of Xinjiang.
** Sort of pro-Soviet propaganda clubs.
*** Founder and historical figure of the CCP, Chen was a CCP delegate to the Comintern between 1935 and 1939.
Dihua, Xinjiang Province, China - Soviet Consul General Pushkin is bubbling over. He has been pacing back and forth for an hour in the waiting room of Governor Sheng's residence. The puppet is definitely taking himself more and more seriously... This only confirms the alarming reports sent in recent days by his men and those of the NKVD. He tries to calm down when he is told that he will finally be received. Governor Sheng Shicai is a puppet, no doubt, but Pushkin will have to respect his status and be kind to this ingrate.
- My deepest respects, Mr. Governor.
For a few moments, Sheng and Pushkin make a show of politeness. The Soviet cuts to the chase: "And my deepest apologies for having asked to see you so urgently. But I really wanted to clarify with you the current situation in our province."
Sheng immediately counters: "I am surprised, surprised and worried that you seem to be unaware of what is going on, Mr. Ambassador! My province is currently threatened by a conspiracy and I have to face an attempted... coup d'état!" Sheng takes care to use the possessive adjective - it's "his" province - but he has a panicked look on his face that Pushkin finds particularly misleading. The honorable governor, who has the honorto be used by the great Soviet Union in its policy in Central Asia is nothing more than a local tyrant from the Middle Ages. That he is also paranoid seems normal, one usually goes with the other. But what did he invent this time? A coup d'état? From whom? Japanese agents, whom he sees everywhere? Or Trotskyist Chinese, his usual excuse when he wants to carry out a purge since the USSR helped him to break the Kumul Uprising a decade ago, and that it has gained a say (and more) in Xinjiang affairs?
- I'm afraid, Mr. Governor, that I lack information. Please enlighten me," replies Pushkin, torn between concern (what if the puppet is right?) and curiosity (what real or imaginary mess are we going to have to get him out of?)
- A plot by the Communists! I mean, Chinese communists, of course!" Sheng exclaims, raising his arms to the sky. Pushkin has trouble deciding whether his attitude is more delirious or hypocritical. In any case, they are not the usual Trotskyists, so this is a welcome change, he says to himself, managing not without difficulty to conceal a smile.
In front of Pushkin's doubtful face, Sheng understands that he will have to argue the existence of a Communist plot to an official representative, or very nearly so, of the Comintern.
- My younger brother, Sheng Shiqi, commander of the Dihua Motorized Brigade, was murdered a few days ago [on the 19th] under obscure circumstances, as you know! My intelligence services have provided me with the formal proof that this is the first act of a plot by the Chinese Communist Party to remove me from office and to establish a new republic of Jianxi, a new stronghold for their cause, but also to take revenge for the purge that your predecessors forced me to carry out five years ago!
Forced, forced... You didn't have to push him very hard, the governor! The anti-trotskyst purge of '37 had allowed Moscow and Sheng to get rid of some real Trotskyists and White Russians, radical Muslims, Chinese communists neglecting their duty to the workers' Fatherland and in general, of all those who could contest the influence of the said Fatherland and the rule of the governor.
- The CCP? Do you have any proof? Is that why you banned the publication of Fandi Chanxian* and closed down all the uyushmas** in the province?
Sheng pretends not to hear his questions: "At the moment, my security forces are arresting about 100 CCP activists throughout Xinjiang and other ... progressives who might have joined the coup!"
Pushkin easily translates: the category "progressives" is obviously a catch-all used to avoid mentionning the members of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the few religious and/or influential representatives of minorities that Sheng thought it worthwhile to include in the current batch destined for his jails.
But Sheng is outspoken: "Mao Zedong has been planning this for months! The leaders of the plot were Chen Tanqiu***, Mao Zemin, Mao Zedung's younger brother, and, for the past five years, my own finance minister, and Du Zhongyuan, the director of Xinjiang University [What? What? He's accusing his childhood best friend?" wonders Pushkin, aghast.] Finally and above all, the armed wing of this attempted putsch was a woman: Chen Xiuying, the wife of my unfortunate brother, whom I think is responsible for his death!
Pushkin cannot stand it any longer: "Do I have to tell you that this dangerous spy, your sister-in-law, is first of all a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union! But, I think, you are also a member of the CPSU, Sheng, do I need to remind you? Or is it better to inform certain people of your political commitment?" The Soviet consul, fed up with Sheng's vague explanations of the alleged coup, is delighted to put him in his place. It is now up to him to speak with authority: "That the CCP is playing its own game is possible, but what would our CP members have to do with it? And when it is true of Ms. Chen, why the Chan-Hsian Fan-ti? Would the newspaper of which YOU are the director be involved in a conspiracy? Why the uyushmas? Sheng! Are you forgetting the trust Comrade Stalin placed in you met in Moscow in 1938? Do you no longer believe in this new Xinjiang that you wanted, the one in which all its nationalities could have a happy and prosperous life? Do you no longer believe that communism is the savior of Humanity? [Pushkin repeats Sheng's words to Stalin, Molotov and Voroshilov in 1938]. In a word, Sheng, are you denying the Party?"
Cornered, Sheng protests vigorously, "No! Of course not. It is only... only that I must ensure the brightest possible future for my province, in strict compliance with the "Nine Duties of Government" of 1934, right? In particular, Duty 8 ["Build a New Xinjiang", remembers Pushkin]... and Duty 6 [Oh oh... "Keep Xinjiang as a Chinese province forever"...] Am I not right?"
Pushkin grimaces: "No doubt, Mr. Governor... I hear you... But these good intentions should not be allowed to run counter to other duties, like number 7, "Maintain close relations with the Soviet Union". Isn't that right?"
Distraught, Sheng tried to regain the initiative, "Of course, of course, Consul. But I wanted to take advantage of this meeting to deal with two... small problems. [Sheng clears his throat, he has to show that things have to change, he straightens up and frowns a little more]. I mean, to decide two major issues! [Small problems or major points? Pushkin doesn't even bother to stifle a sigh of annoyance]. The first is the exploitation of Xinjiang's natural resources..."
Pushkin jumps up: "Are you questioning the Tin Mine Agreement of November 1940?" [These secret agreements concluded between the USSR and Sheng grant to the USSR almost all the benefits of the exploitation of the resources of the subsoil of Xinjiang, various minerals and oil, the government of Xinjiang, or more exactly Sheng himself, receiving the rest].
Sheng squirms in his chair: "Nooo... Of course not. But this coup has shown that many activities in my province were beyond my control... my supervision.That's why I thought we could consider adding some amendments to our agreement, as the situation is not the same as it was a year and a half ago."
I don't see how, Pushkin thinks, but he just articulates, "I understand. I will notify the Ministry of Commerce, which will contact your consuls in Moscow."
Sheng has an embarrassed chuckle: "Impossible. I recalled my consuls in Moscow today. I don't think it's appropriate for my province to continue its own diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union."
Pushkin sighs again. His predecessors in the 1930s really did bet on the right horse, no doubt, he thinks wryly.
"Good, Mr. Governor. I'll pass it on to the office of the People's Commissar for Trade, Arseny Zverev. [He won't, of course - at least not to Zverev.] Did you mention two small problems?" [I might as well get to the bottom of the nonsense right away.]
Sheng smiles embarrassedly: "Yes, I would like to talk to you about the situation of the Eighth Regiment in Kumul... We should start considering a withdrawal of this unit. I don't think it is really beneficial to have a unit from a friendly, yes, but non-belligerent country, stationed in China, what do you think?"
For the time being, Pushkin thinks he is right: he has heard that in Chongqing, it is repeated that if the USSR provides the Chinese army with so much equipment, it is because it will soon be engaged in the war against Japan. But he knows that this is not what Sheng has in mind. The latter continues: "The Eighth could be withdrawn... [He pauses - Pushkin stares at him without any emotion, which is not very comforting]. Well, when I say withdrawn, I mean, of course, redeployed. For example, one half could ensure the security of the Dihua airfield and the other half the security of Soviet interests in Xinjiang. What do you think, Mr. Consul General?"
What the Consul General thinks is difficult to reproduce without offending decency. Rather than express it aloud, he prefers to answer: "That sounds like a good idea, Mr. Governor. I need not remind you that the presence of the Eighth Regiment in Xinjiang is to provide security for the governor of the province. It should be considered as nothing more than what it really is: a token of affection and esteem of the Soviet Union towards one of its closest and most faithful friends. If the Governor feels that he can do without it, I will confer as soon as possible with the commander of the regiment to study the possibility and the modalities of a withdrawal." [Is it needed to specify that this "as soon as possible" will never come?]
On this tirade, Pushkin leaves - he is anxious to return to the consulate to report what he has just heard to the right person. The consul leaves behind him a delighted governor Sheng: he thinks that the meeting went much better than he had hoped and thinks he has made Pushkin bend. Didn't Pushkin believe in the reality of a CCP plot?
Of course, there was neither a coup nor a plot. Sheng's brother, Sheng Shih-chi, had been executed eight days earlier, but on Sheng's own orders. The governor was afraid that his brother, head of the Motorized Brigade of the capital (a post that Sheng Shicai had given him!), could use his Brigade to take power, with the support of the Soviets. After all, Sheng Shih-chi had studied at various military academies in Moscow, from where he had returned only a few months earlier to take up his new post.
As for his wife, Chen Hsiu-ying, she is paying for being a member of the CPSU: her elimination is a "proof of goodwill" to Chongqing, as is that of one of Mao's brothers and a "historic" CCP member. Moreover, Chen Hsiu-ying makes an ideal scapegoat for Sheng's alleged CCP plot. Of course, she will confess to her husband's murder and be executed in the process - which only proves how effective Governor Sheng Shicai's police force is at getting confessions (any confession).
All in all, Sheng's change of heart from "more Stalinist than Stalin" to "more nationalist than the KMT" will not surprise those in Moscow and Chongqing who know him well.
Sheng Shicai is an ambitious, tyrannical and power-hungry warlord: he is ready to do anything that will further his ambitions, without any qualms or trivial considerations
like justice, friendship or family ties...
The USSR will not react - not right away, anyway. Why be nervous? The Eighth Regiment will not move, of course. And the Tin Mine agreements will not be touched. The Soviet Union will retain control of the vast majority of Xinjiang's natural resources, including oil. Moreover, it will always be very influential with the petty bourgeoisie and the notables (whose children will continue to learn primarily Russian at school), as it will remain the province's leading trading partner. Easy to keep a peace in the mind when the Fatherland of Socialism will soon have other things to worry about very big and fierce cats, like leopards, and Governor Sheng is after all only, after all, a little kitten.
* Literally "Anti-Imperialist War Front", monthly newspaper singing the praises of the USSR and distributed in the major cities of Xinjiang.
** Sort of pro-Soviet propaganda clubs.
*** Founder and historical figure of the CCP, Chen was a CCP delegate to the Comintern between 1935 and 1939.
4103
March 28th, 1942
Port Blair (Andaman Islands) - After a thorough examination by French and British naval engineers, the seaplane carrier Commandant-Teste, seriously damaged by Nagumo's planes, is considered to be irreparable. She ends her career in Port Blair, to be used as a base for seaplanes and submarines. This is the final straw to the man who had been at the origin of the creation of the Aéronavale and who had constantly repeated that planes, and not seaplanes, would dominate the sea.
Port Blair (Andaman Islands) - After a thorough examination by French and British naval engineers, the seaplane carrier Commandant-Teste, seriously damaged by Nagumo's planes, is considered to be irreparable. She ends her career in Port Blair, to be used as a base for seaplanes and submarines. This is the final straw to the man who had been at the origin of the creation of the Aéronavale and who had constantly repeated that planes, and not seaplanes, would dominate the sea.
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