Ramp-Rat
Monthly Donor
The appointment of General Cunningham to command 12th Army, is a welcome step. While Percival has ITTL done a lot better than he did IOTL, he is still not the man to command a fighting force directly. Being able to step back and assume the High Command position, while leaving the day to day management of the fighting forces to another, will suit him well. And Cunningham with his experience of commanding in East Africa, another region that had poor infrastructure and tight logistics, is well suited to the role he has assumed. His initial conference with Percival, will have given him a reasonable overview of the situation, as Percival was a superb staff officer, and would have all the necessary information to hand. His determination to continue the advance of the forces under his command, abet at a slightly lower pace, is for now correct. It keeps the pressure on the Japanese, while allowing him to visit his various commands and get to know their situation and his subordinates. The question of intelligence coming out of Thailand is going to be resolved in the coming months. Up until the fall of France and the subsequent Japanese occupation of FIC, the primary threat to Malaysia was from the sea, and the focus of British intelligence efforts was concentrated on the Japanese Navy. The British have had to in a short time develop an intelligence capability in Thailand, FIC, and Southern China, essentially from scratch, and with limited resources of both personnel and equipment. If we examine the Thai population, it divides into a number of groups, from those in the Thai establishment who resented the extent of unofficial British control in Thailand, a small number of whom believed that by allying with the Japanese, they could receive some material benefits. The vast majority of the population, whose basic concern was how to keep a roof over their heads and a meal on the table. And a tiny number of people who had benefited from their contacts with British, of which a few would be prepared to stick their neck out, and risk the consequences of working with a British intelligence operation.
Since the start of the conflict, the Japanese forces have as was often the case, been engaged in winning the hearts and minds of the local Thai population. While those who thought that there were going to be major advantages from siding with the Japanese, and believed in the first few months that the British were going to be rolled over and humiliated. Are now beginning to see that they just might have backed the wrong horse, and it might be time to make a counter bet. While those who were from the start, and have survived up until now, rooting for the British. Will have had their choice confirmed, and along with receiving greater resources from the British. Will by now be receiving clandestine approaches from their fellow Thai’s, who want to make it known that despite appearances they were always on the British side. They actions of the Japanese military and security forces, will now be prepared to assist the British operatives in for filing their missions, or providing them with a constant source of information. By the time that the British seriously decide to enter Thailand, with the objective of throwing the Japanese out, the British will have an extensive and effective intelligence apparatus established, and well equipped in Thailand. Plus a number of irregular forces that are making life for the Japanese, especially their rear echelons a total misery. At the same time that the British are expanding their clandestine operations in Thailand, I would expect that they are similarly establishing themselves in FIC and Southern China. Note that Southern China will be the easiest area to operate in, as with little to no troops on the ground and very few areas under direct control. The British with their infinitely greater resources, gold sovereigns go a long way to buying loyalty, in a world where paper money has little or no value. There is little question that a British officer who speaks the local language, with one or two Anglo Chinese companions, and a Chinese communications team. Can easily buy/rent themselves a suitable base with servants to care for them. Along with renting a troop/squadron of the local warlords Calvary to act as their defence force against possible Japanese attacks. And pay for a continuous stream of information on the Japanese over a large area, while being able to operate in relatively safety. Things will be more difficult at first in FIC, as a lack of suitable French officers and British officers who speak French will, plus the greater concentration of people along the coast. Will make the establishment of safe areas harder, and the lack of indigenous military gangs, such as existed in China, make providing a defence force difficult. But by the middle of 1943, from Thailand up to Hong Kong and even further North the British should have at least in the coastal areas, a well established and effective intelligence system.
RR.
Since the start of the conflict, the Japanese forces have as was often the case, been engaged in winning the hearts and minds of the local Thai population. While those who thought that there were going to be major advantages from siding with the Japanese, and believed in the first few months that the British were going to be rolled over and humiliated. Are now beginning to see that they just might have backed the wrong horse, and it might be time to make a counter bet. While those who were from the start, and have survived up until now, rooting for the British. Will have had their choice confirmed, and along with receiving greater resources from the British. Will by now be receiving clandestine approaches from their fellow Thai’s, who want to make it known that despite appearances they were always on the British side. They actions of the Japanese military and security forces, will now be prepared to assist the British operatives in for filing their missions, or providing them with a constant source of information. By the time that the British seriously decide to enter Thailand, with the objective of throwing the Japanese out, the British will have an extensive and effective intelligence apparatus established, and well equipped in Thailand. Plus a number of irregular forces that are making life for the Japanese, especially their rear echelons a total misery. At the same time that the British are expanding their clandestine operations in Thailand, I would expect that they are similarly establishing themselves in FIC and Southern China. Note that Southern China will be the easiest area to operate in, as with little to no troops on the ground and very few areas under direct control. The British with their infinitely greater resources, gold sovereigns go a long way to buying loyalty, in a world where paper money has little or no value. There is little question that a British officer who speaks the local language, with one or two Anglo Chinese companions, and a Chinese communications team. Can easily buy/rent themselves a suitable base with servants to care for them. Along with renting a troop/squadron of the local warlords Calvary to act as their defence force against possible Japanese attacks. And pay for a continuous stream of information on the Japanese over a large area, while being able to operate in relatively safety. Things will be more difficult at first in FIC, as a lack of suitable French officers and British officers who speak French will, plus the greater concentration of people along the coast. Will make the establishment of safe areas harder, and the lack of indigenous military gangs, such as existed in China, make providing a defence force difficult. But by the middle of 1943, from Thailand up to Hong Kong and even further North the British should have at least in the coastal areas, a well established and effective intelligence system.
RR.
