The Japanese commanders all believed in what Major General Saburo Sakata said.
Who doesn¡¯t know that if you eliminate the enemy in front of you, you will own the entire South Borneo? However, the main force of the Indonesian anti-foreigner army is so powerful, does it mean that it can be eliminated by annihilating it?
Thinking that countless of our own officers and soldiers were lying dead in front of the Indonesian anti-foreigner army, but unable to shake the enemy's main positions, all the Japanese commanders fell into deep thought.
"Cough!" Akira Watanabe, the commander of the 3rd Division who had just arrived, coughed and said loudly: "Sakata-kun, as far as I know, there are currently about 10,000 enemy troops in the main force, and they occupy favorable terrain. They will not retreat. Under such circumstances, do you have any good strategies to eliminate them?"
"This" Saburo Sakata showed an embarrassed look, lowered his head and said: "Your Excellency Watanabe, you are humble and foolish, and for the time being, you can't think of a good strategy to annihilate the enemy here."
Watanabe Akira looked around at his colleagues and saw that they all looked gloomy. Only Ichibei Ichito, commander of the 17th Division who was sitting at the head and serving as temporary commander-in-chief, was smiling and looking confident.
Watanabe Akira was overjoyed and asked happily: "Ichito-kun, you have always been resourceful. Have you come up with a clever plan to annihilate the enemy army?"
"Yes." Ichitobei didn't hide anything, and said in a shocking tone: "Gentlemen, the Indonesian anti-foreigner army insists on the front line of Shentou Village, and it is self-destruction. If they continue to hold on to Shentou Village, within half a month, they will be killed. Our army will have a great opportunity to annihilate them all."
What? It was a blessing to be able to defeat the Indonesian anti-foreigner army and occupy Shentou Village. You actually want to annihilate them all, you must have too much appetite.
Many captains of the regiment looked puzzled. Is it possible that Ichitobei will continue to attack Shentou Village? In that case, each regiment on the front line is in danger of being crippled.
"The commander-in-chief of the Indonesian Anti-foreign Army did not originally intend to fight our army here." Ichitobei analyzed and said: "It was just because the 19th Regiment was greedy for credit and rushed in and fell into their siege. They tried to annihilate the 19th Regiment. The regiment gave our army a greater blow before sending the main force to stop our army.
Now our army has occupied Ningyuan Village and other villages. After leaving the mountain roads behind these villages, it only takes one day to reach the place where the 19th Regiment is besieged. As long as our army sends two regiments to rescue the remnants of the 19th Regiment before the Indonesian anti-foreign forces react, and then builds a blocking position there, we can trap the Indonesian anti-foreign forces in front of us here. "
Tsukamoto Katsuyoshi frowned and asked: "Ichito-kun, what you mean is to stop the attack on Shentou Village, let the troops of the 19th Rescue Regiment cut off the retreat and logistical supplies of the Indonesian Anti-foreign Army, and then wait for the Indonesian Anti-foreign Army Collapse on its own due to lack of food, huh?¡±
"Yoshi, that's exactly what happened. This is the best result." Ichibei replied.
Tsukamoto Katsuyoshi said with a wry smile: "However, the commander-in-chief of the Indonesian Anti-Foreign Army is not an idle person. He will definitely send troops to attack and hinder the advancement of our army. The remnants of the 19th Regiment are short of medicine and food. They will wait until our army arrives. By that time, it is very likely that they will be unable to hold on and be unable to withstand the enemy's offensive and be destroyed. Moreover, the commanders of the Indonesian anti-foreign forces are not fools. If the situation is not right, they will definitely escape early."
"Tsukamoto-kun, please don't forget that our army has a powerful cavalry unit that has not yet been put to use." Ichitobei said calmly: "On the road from Shentou Village to Kunsha Town, the terrain is open and there are no large You can flee and hide in the mountains and forests. The Indonesian anti-foreigner army¡¯s biggest mistake was to stop us here.¡±
"That's right." Watanabe Akira understood and said with approval: "Our army currently has three regiments of cavalry troops gathered here. Whenever the Indonesian Anti-Foreign Army retreats, our cavalry can pursue and surround them in time. Block it so they have no way to escape.¡±
"After occupying the villages on the right side of Shentou Ridge, the Indonesian Anti-foreign Army became even more passive. Of course, the later the Indonesian Anti-foreign Army retreats, the more beneficial it will be to our army." Ichibei said with a smile.
Tsukamoto Katsuyoshi nodded and suggested: "Ichito-kun, in that case, starting tomorrow, our army will concentrate its artillery fire and troops to capture all the villages on the right side of Shentou Ridge."
"It's just what I want." Ichihebei said happily: "Gentlemen, everyone knows that annihilating the enemy in front of you is of very great significance. Therefore, I have a big appetite. No matter what the price, I will do it." Eat them."
Then, Ichitobei ordered Kitaro, the captain of the 6th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Division, and Hashimoto Junmasa, the captain of the 53rd Infantry Regiment of the 17th Division, to lead their respective officers and soldiers early the next morning. Sandow went to rescue the 19th Regiment.
Of course, the most important task of the two regiments is to try their best to cut off the retreat and logistical supplies of the Indonesian anti-foreign forces. If this is not possible, we should try our best to give Indonesia an anti-foreign military system.?Trouble.
Early the next morning, the 6th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Division and the 53rd Infantry Regiment of the 17th Division, led by regimental commanders Hashimoto Junmasa and Kitaro respectively, headed for the mountains.
And other Japanese troops gathered to attack the predetermined target.
Soon, Ichitobei received a report that the Indonesian Anti-Foreign Forces had abandoned all the villages on the right side of Shentou Ridge and entered the mountains and forests behind the villages.
Without effort to attack, he won these villages. A soldier and guards did not care about worry, because he knew that after these troops entered the mountains, they would cause great interference to the fast -moving Japanese troops.
After some consideration, Ichitobei transferred another regiment and ordered the three regiments to form a group. Under the guidance of the guide, they divided into multiple routes to advance from the mountain road, striving to reach at least 3 regiments in the shortest possible time. The troops of this brigade arrived at the place where the 19th Regiment was besieged.
In the next few days, most of the Japanese troops in front of Shentou Village stopped attacking and rested in place, waiting for the moment of attack and pursuit.
Of course, in order to prevent the Indonesian anti-foreign forces from finding out that something was wrong, they escaped secretly. Ichitobei also sent out several troops from time to time to conduct probing attacks on various positions of the Indonesian Anti-Foreign Army. What reassured him was that the firepower of all the defensive positions of the Indonesian anti-foreign forces was still very powerful and impeccable.
However, the three regiments that set out from the mountain roads behind each village to rescue the remnants of the 19th regiment continued to receive news that they were attacked and harassed by the Indonesian anti-foreigner forces, causing heavy losses and extremely slow progress.
For this, Ichitobei had long been mentally prepared and strictly ordered the brigades of each regiment to overcome all difficulties and move forward bravely, even if they all sacrificed, they still had to complete their missions.