Beiyang reactionaries

Before the Battle of Myitkyina at the beginning of this year, Myitkyina fought back and forth for a year.During this year, the British Indian Army and the Japanese Army fought against each other in Myitkyina many times.In one year of confrontation, there were three large-scale battles alone.Over the past year, the British and Indian troops lost more than 20 troops, and it was very difficult to hold Myitkyina.If this were not the case, Indian Governor Wavell would not have sent the newly formed Tenth Army to Myitkyina.But it was this unit that did not perform well in the Battle of Myitkyina, which implicated other units.

In the Battle of Myitkyina that broke out at the beginning of this year, the number of British and Indian troops decreased by nearly 40.

In other words, since the outbreak of the Burma campaign, the British and Indian troops have lost nearly one million.The elite British and Indian troops trained by the British in India were almost exhausted in the Burmese battlefield.The last elite force is the No.16 Army of the British and Indian Army. At present, the British and Indian Army can stabilize Myitkyina because of the No.16 Army.If this unit is gone, it will not be easy for the UK to train an elite British and Indian army again.

"That's why I say it's a good opportunity."

Duan Xun turned his head to look at Wang Jingwei and said: "Vice Chairman Wang, now is the time for our diplomacy to show its talents. If the UK wants to counterattack the Japanese army, it can only rely on the British and Indian troops. But now it takes time to train the British and Indian troops, and The source of troops is not so easy. At present, there are not many forces that are capable of providing the British with a source of troops, or directly sending troops to assist the British."

"The chairman means, the All India Muslim League, the Akali Party, and those upper states?"

"Correct."

Duan Xun nodded.

Then he said: "At present, those who have the ability to directly send troops to help Britain are those powerful states, because they have their own armies. Although those armies are not strong, they are armies after all. Just give them enough weapons and equipment. It is still possible to do more training, fight against the wind, and cheer for the British army. Except for these states, the Sikhs are the best source of troops in India. 25% of the British and Indian troops are from the Sikhs. We and The Akali Party cooperated and sent them a lot of munitions, allowing the Akali Party to form its own troops. There is also the All-India Muslim League. We have trained more than 4000 officers for them for a short period of time. Currently There are 3000 people who are still receiving training. In addition to the arms we support, the armed strength of the All-India Muslim League is not weak. The British want to restore the strength of the British and Indian troops in a short period of time. Requisitioning these troops is the best way .”

"This is a good opportunity for these forces. Now is the time when the British army needs them, and they can boldly put forward conditions with the British. Ask Britain to agree to their post-war independence, ask to maintain the command of these troops, etc. I think as long as the frontline If the situation is not good, Britain will back down."

After all, Britain ruled India for many years.

On the issue of Indian independence after the war, Britain had the greatest say.Therefore, whether it is the All-India Muslim League, the Akali Party established by the Sikhs, or even those states that want independence, they all need the support of the United Kingdom.

Now is a great opportunity.

The situation of Britain in India and Myanmar is very unfavorable, and it needs to rely on these powerful Indian factions.

Wang Jingwei nodded.

I understood what Duan Xun meant.Britain not only has to rely heavily on these powerful Indian factions, but is even more worried that these powerful factions will take refuge in the Japanese.Now is a good opportunity to put pressure on the UK.

"I'll send a telegram to Wei Chen's team right now."

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"Marshal Wavell, the marching speed of the troops is too slow, we must let them speed up. We need reinforcements here now, and their marching speed will ruin the big thing. And Imphal was completely cut off by the Japanese army. Our support. Imphal's army cannot last long without our support."

Calcutta.

All of a sudden, this place became the most important place, and troops from all sides gathered here, and a large amount of logistics materials also came here.This is also the headquarters of the No.11 Army Group, and Mountbatten, commander-in-chief of the Far East Allied Forces, also placed the command organization here.Even Indian Governor Wavell came here when he inspected the front line.Because after the outbreak of the Battle of Imphal, the Japanese army marched very fast.Within a few strokes, Imphal was already surrounded.Not only Imphal, but even important cities such as Dhaka were besieged by the Japanese army.Mountbatten and their headquarters can only be set up in Calcutta.

The frontline situation is so dangerous now, but the Far East Army is not as fast as expected.It has been two months, and only one division of the Far Eastern Army has arrived in Calcutta.Other troops are still on the way.

This made Mountbatten very dissatisfied.These bloody bastards are dragging their feet on the road.

"For the Far East Army, I have already sent a telegram to London. Let London urge the Far East Army to catch up. But to support Imphal, we lack transport planes."

Wavell shook his head.

The current situation in the UK is not very good. As a result, it cannot give more support to the British and Indian troops.If you look at the weapons and equipment of the British and Indian troops, you will know that they are all purchased from China.

Imphal is currently besieged by the Japanese army, and there is no support on the road.The only channel of support is the air.But Wavell currently lacks air forces, especially transport aircraft.

Without enough transport aircraft, it is impossible to support Imphal.

"Marshal, we need the help of the Americans now. To support the [-] troops in Imphal, we need about ten transport squadrons. Now only China and the United States are capable of supporting our dozen or so transport squadrons. But China is Will not be directly involved in such operations, so we can only resort to the US. As long as there are a dozen or so transport squadrons, then there will be no problem supporting the Imphal side. There will be no shortage of troops on the Imphal side Ammunition and logistics."

Mountbatten offered his own advice.

In the current situation, there is only one way for the British and Indian troops to support the frontline troops, and that is air support.Because the land route has been completely cut off by Japan.The British and Indian troops themselves did not have many air forces, and the limited air force suffered heavy losses in the confrontation with the Japanese army.In the past, if the supplies of Myitkyina wanted to be supported from the air, they would spend money to ask the transportation squadron of the Southwest Military Region of China to help.

But now it's directly on the battlefield.

Troops from the Southwest Military Region of China will not participate.So the best way is to ask the help of the US Air Force.At present, the only thing Britain can ask for is the United States.

"America, America. I see."

Wavell nodded.

Wavell is a very good British general with rich battlefield experience.Many people even think that Wavell performed better than Montgomery in the Second World War in Britain.We can see Wavell's ability.

Wavell knew that the current situation was very unfavorable to the British and Indian troops, so he could only ask for the support of the US military.For the current UK, it is more difficult to dispatch more than a dozen transport squadrons.But for the United States, dispatching more than a dozen transport squadrons is completely easy.The United States produces so many aircraft a year, most of which are transport aircraft.The United States can produce tens of thousands of transport aircraft a year.

As long as the United States agrees, it will take about four or five days for these transport planes to depart from the United States and pass through the Soviet Union to bypass Central Asia.In other words, it doesn't take ten days for these transport planes to go to war.

"Marshal Wavell, I see you are absent-minded. What happened?"

Mountbatten was very puzzled.

Wavell came to Calcutta this time to investigate the situation in Calcutta.But Mountbatten found that Wavell was always inattentive, and he was mostly coping with talking to himself.This was completely different from the Wavell Mountbatten had known.

Mountbatten had heard of Wavell's reputation.

As an experienced general, he shouldn't be like this now.

Wavell smiled bitterly: "Before I came here, I met Indian parties such as the National Congress Party, the All India Muslim League, and the Akali Party, as well as several important representatives of the upper state. Now the frontline situation is unfavorable, and we must To rebuild the British and Indian Army, their support is needed. But the situation is not very good."

"how?"

Mountbatten has just come to India and is not very familiar with the situation in India.

Mountbatten was originally from the Navy and has always served in the Navy.After the outbreak of World War II, Mountbatten was reused and has been responsible for the maritime defense of the British mainland.After that, he was mainly responsible for research and command of landing operations.The United Kingdom has carried out many landing operations in recent years, including landing operations in French ports, Italian ports, and North African ports.These things are basically Mountbatten's responsibility.

Although many of them were unsuccessful, they also allowed the British army to accumulate a wealth of experience.Mountbatten was transferred to India this time, and encountered the Battle of Imphal just after he arrived.So Mountbatten doesn't know what's going on in India.

"General Mountbatten, I will tell you the truth. Under the current situation, it is not easy to reorganize the British and Indian Army in a short period of time. The British and Indian Army groups we built before are already very difficult. Of course, although it is not easy, But it does not mean that there is no way. These upper states in India have ready-made armies in their hands. Although their combat effectiveness is not strong, it is no problem to do logistics work and cooperate on the battlefield. Moreover, some of these upper states do not have military equipment. Not bad. The other Congress parties, the All India Muslim League, and the Akali Party are all relatively powerful parties in India, and they all have their own troops directly under their control. As long as we get their support, we will get twice the result with half the effort in forming the British Indian Army There will be no problem in forming more than 20 troops in a short period of time."

Mountbatten was Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in the Far East.

In the future, the main battlefields will be in India and Myanmar, so Wavell carefully introduced the situation in India to Mountbatten, and told the division of power in India, so that Mountbatten can have a deeper understanding.Although it was a simple introduction, Mountbatten also began to understand the situation in India.

Understand how complicated the domestic situation in India is.

"They made unacceptable conditions?"

Mountbatten was a smart man.

Listening to Wavell's words, one knows that these powerful factions in India must have put forward some conditions that caused Wavell a headache.Otherwise, Wavell, the all-powerful general on the battlefield, wouldn't have such an expression.

"Yes."

Wavell sighed.

Dao: "When the world war just broke out, we declared war on behalf of India against Germany, Italy and Japan. However, the Indian National Congress Party expressed its dissatisfaction with our actions, and the troubles were serious. At that time, the leaders of the National Congress Party, we arrested many There were less than 300 people, and we suppressed them in the end. But then the scale of the war became bigger and bigger, and the Japanese army became more and more powerful. The National Congress Party allowed India to become independent after the war. But India is a very complicated country. The local states are powerful and have many sects. These people have their own strengths. Many states not only have their own army, but also It has its own independent administrative system, fiscal system, and financial system, and even has its own currency. These states have their own views on India's independence, and each has its own interests."

"They have little interest in an independent and united India?"