Untimely losses, p.14
Untimely Losses, page 14
part #3 of Yesterday's War Series
“You are including the continued research into atomic fission?”
“Yes, of course. But we cannot reveal any of that publically until other nations openly exhibit their own projects in the use of the atom’s power. From what our scientists who are working on this technology have explained, we can first utilize this power to produce electricity without the creation of smoke from the burning of coal.”
“What will prevent such an installation from exploding like a massive bomb?”
“I am assured that there are adequate measures that can be taken to prevent such a catastrophe. Rest assured, we will not build something in the heart of the Deutschland that will someday explode and kill many of our Volk. But for now, we work and watch the others. Remember, we agreed with the Englanders that we would give them all of our research and materials. It is far too soon after the signing of the armistice for us to overtly violate it.”
“Of course, Herr Speer. I agree completely. Our energy resources are still relatively limited, even taking into consideration our coal reserves and our newly secured access to oil from Romania and the Caucasus. Possessing another source to operate our factories would be very helpful for the Volk.” the Chancellor explained.
“Are we the only ones working on this fission technology?” General Speidel asked.
“No, Herr General. I do not believe that we are. There is someone in Australia, an industrialist named Harold Cavill, who was intimately involved in the negotiations on the armistice for the Englanders. He apparently knew a great deal about atomic fission and will very likely also be working on the same technology.
But, Herr Cavill was very interested in ensuring that atomic fission technology not be applied into weapons production. So I believe that while he will be working on its application for electrical production, he will not be attempting to build a fission bomb. Our scientists also say that he is using a different fission fuel system than the purely uranium-fueled process that we will be focusing on.”
“We will have to keep a very close eye upon Herr Cavill’s activities, won’t we?” Speer commented.
“Yes, I’m sure that Admiral Canaris already has people from the Abwehr monitoring Herr Cavill’s activities. He has been of considerable interest to us for quite a few years already for a variety of reasons.” General Speidel explained to the others.
“And we have some reasons to be thankful to Herr Cavill, don’t forget. He was instrumental in ensuring that the armistice was much more even-handed, this time.” Chancellor Schlichter noted.
“Yes. But I wish that he would not lure so many of our talented Volk to immigrate to Australia to work for him. We need brilliant people like Werner von Braun to continue to work for us on our programs.” Minister Speer complained.
“As least von Braun is not working for the French.” Speidel remarked to the amusement of everyone in the room.
“But the French are not playing ‘Pied Piper’ to so many of our most beautiful frauleins and war widows either. This Herr Cavill certainly is with his offers of jobs and a peaceful life.” Chancellor Schlichter quietly grumbled.
“True enough. But Herr Cavill has also invested several million Deutschmarks worth of capital in the reconstruction in my factories in addition to some of our shipyards. We badly need his support, regardless of who has left Germany to go work for him.” Ferdinand Porsche responded.
“That is something to be considered. We need foreign investment beyond the Ford Motor Company and our other existing foreign partners. I agree that we should watch Herr Cavill, we also should not interfere with whatever he is doing. We have too much at stake here.” Speer added.
The other men in the room nodded in agreement before continuing discussion on this and other matters.
US Embassy Consulate
Guangzhou, China
July 1, 1946
General Patton had returned to Guangzhou from the front lines to check any messages from Washington and to meet with Chinese government officials. One of the first meetings upon his arrival was at the Consulate with Brigadier General Soong Liu from the Kuomintang and a US State Department attaché named Donald Kingston. Following at Patton’s heels was his Chinese translator and Kuomintang aide Captain Leung.
General Patton found the two men standing there to be a study in contrasts. General Liu was in his early forties, a short stocky man with short-cropped dark hair and leathery skin from many days out in the field. He also wore a standard khaki field uniform, unlike so many of the other military officers that Patton had seen near the consulate. On the other hand, Mister Kingston was a tall, slender pale man who looked like he had come straight out of a college classroom and dressed as though he was still a college professor.
General Liu spoke heavily accented English. He learned the language while studying civil engineering at an American university. But when he returned to China, he joined the military because of the ongoing wars going on within his home country.
“I am very pleased to meet you, General. I’m sure that we will have much to talk about.” Patton told General Liu.
“If we are going to crush the Japanese currently occupying northeast China, we are going to need more firepower. Part of that can come from additional airpower like from the newly acquired aircraft that your government has supplied to the Flying Tigers. But the rest needs to be more artillery. Artillery can respond to a ground commander’s needs under virtually any weather conditions, even those in which an aircraft cannot fly at all.”
“We do not have enough guns?”
“I have found during my time here that the Chinese Army currently lacks sufficient numbers and sheer firepower in its artillery force. Most of your guns are copies of Japanese designs which are largely obsolete. The vast majority of your cannons are relatively small caliber as well. A seventy-five millimeter gun may be alright to provide close support to a battalion, it simply doesn’t have the reach or the punch to truly hit the Japs where it can truly hurt.”
“It is very difficult to move larger guns around though, isn’t it, General?” the State Department attaché asked Patton.
“Relatively speaking, yes. But I know of several designs that are much more mobile. Even the lighter guns can be made much more mobile using certain measures. While I served in North Africa, I witnessed the British practice of putting piece pieces and light anti-tank guns on the backs of trucks to increase their mobility and bring them into action much more quickly. They referred to it as ‘portee’ configuration. Your troops could do the same thing.
I have also read reports about some new self-propelled artillery pieces that the Australians used to help defend themselves when the Japs attempted to invade a couple of years ago. They would also be very helpful, especially since the Australian guns were heavier than almost anything that the Kuomintang has in its inventory at this time.”
“You wish for our government to purchase some of these guns from Australia for use against the Japanese, I take it?” General Liu asked.
“That is part of the solution. But we need to do more than that. We need to increase the mobility of as many of your current artillery pieces as possible. They need to be able to move rapidly to support a very mobile striking force, whether it is armor or cavalry. This is how we will be able to defeat the Japanese.” Patton explained. Kingston found it curious that Patton was referring to himself and the Chinese as ‘we’ in his description as they had common cause.
“The Kuomintang will certainly need to purchase or produce more self-propelled, or at least, easier to move, artillery pieces. But these weapons also need to be powerful enough to defeat enemy armor and fortifications. Range is an important factor as well for these weapons. Artillery firepower will create the openings for our new mobile forces to strike through, one way or another.” Patton passionately continued.
“Will your government help provide any of this new artillery that you say that we need, General?” Liu asked.
“I don’t think so. First, they really don’t have any designs readily available that will fit our needs. Secondly, I do not believe that the US government, even with our new President, is totally committed to prosecuting this war. Therefore, I believe that we will have to find sources other than the United States government. The Chinese people will have to pay for it, but I think that we can perhaps obtain what we need from Australia.”
The Chinese general was intensely interested in what Patton had to say. On the other hand, the American attaché was almost aghast. Patton had just told the Chinese that the American government was not really interested in helping them defeat the Japanese invaders. The diplomat dared never be as blunt and honest as the old cavalryman had just been.
The conversation between Patton and General Liu continued while Mister Kingston quietly seethed.
But before Mister Kingston could confront General Patton, they see General Chennault and Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek’s wife Madame Chang walking up to meet them.
“Good afternoon, General Patton. I have heard so much about you from my husband and the many news reports. I have been looking forward to finally meeting you in person.” Madame Chang pleasantly said as she greeted the old General and the others who were with him.
“Thank you, Ma’am. I am very honored by your complement.” Patton said as he bent over and gently kissed her on the hand.
“You are indeed, quite the romantic. I had heard that about you too, General.” Madame Chang replied sweetly.
“I am afraid that I am the victim of a formal education, Ma’am. But I also believe that I have a destiny that I must fulfill.”
“I see. It is unfortunate that Captain Birch was not able to be with you. I enjoy talking with him very much. He too, feels that he has a destiny that he must fulfill, only his destiny comes from God. I’m sure that you have been struck by his dedication and talents.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I certainly have. Fortunately, I have Captain Leung here to help me in Captain Birch’s absence.”
“Captain Birch is quite a remarkable man. He has so many skills and so much passion for his work as well. Did you know that he went to the same university that my sister and I attended?” Madame Chang said with a glowing smile.
“No, Ma’am. I didn’t. The captain certainly has been very helpful in assisting me in my task of advising some of your cavalrymen and officers. I just that I had him available more often. I think that Captain Birch spends as much time being a chaplain as he does being an intelligence officer.” Patton said with a sardonic laugh.
“General, I completely agree. Captain Birch certainly is very committed to his faith.”
“As I am very committed to my duty and fulfilling my mission, Ma’am. That is why I am here today. The Kuomintang needs something better than a bunch of short-ranged Japanese artillery copies.
I already know that the Chinese have purchased a fairly large number of surplus RAF warplanes to refit the Flying Tigers and stand up several new squadrons of its own. I’m sure that the Chinese government can find a way to obtain modern artillery and armored vehicles to use in its quest to drive the Japanese invaders out of China for good.” General Patton explained.
“And you wish to lead this force into battle, don’t you?” Madam Chang asked.
“Yes, Ma’am. It would be my honor. I have already been on the front lines with many Chinese cavalrymen. They have proven themselves to be brave, dedicated warriors. Give them the tools and I am sure that they will leave the battlefield, victorious.”
The wife of the Chinese leader was very impressed with the passion that General Patton showed towards his mission and the troops that he had doubtlessly already led into battle.
“I will talk to my husband about your request. Please give General Liu the details on what you need and where you believe that it can be obtained. We have a shared desire here, General. We will do all that we can to accomplish this.”
“Thank you, Ma’am. That is all that I can ask for.” Patton replied.
He remained oblivious to the glaring gaze of the angry American diplomat standing nearby. Patton continued to talk with Madame Chang, General Chennault and General Liu while Mister Kingston stood back a few steps away. Kingston was being left out of the discussion almost as though he was a little child instead of a credentialed State Department diplomat.
Kingston listened in for a few more moments before turning on his heel and walking away in disgust. He promised himself that he would write a report to send to Washington that would not be complementary of General Patton. The diplomat knew of several of his co-workers who were none too happy about Patton’s arrival here in China in the first place.
Chapter Thirteen:
Commercial Seaplane Ramp
Cleveland, Ohio
July 6, 1946
President Dewey had quietly boarded a train the night before after receiving word that Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies was traveling to the US via seaplane and wanted to meet with Dewey on a very important matter.
“It is damned presumptuous of Prime Minister Menzies to basically demand a covert meeting on such short notice. He was just elected for the second time to be Prime Minister there, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, Sir. Menzies represents their new Liberal Party which is a coalition of over a dozen opposition parties. The Australian Labor Party received a major blow after a recent corruption scandal. The Labor candidate for Prime Minister, Ben Chifley, accused one of the Liberal Party supporters of having manufactured the evidence for the scandal in retaliation for attempts to nationalize some of his industrial and mining holdings.
In the wake of the scandal, the Liberal Party managed to eke out a narrow victory in the Australian Parliament. Menzies was the natural selection for Prime Minister in view of former Prime Minister Billy Hughes’ advanced age.”
“Still, did Prime Minister Menzies give any idea as to why it was so important to have this meeting?”
“He only said that it was vital considering the current situation with the Pacific conflict.”
Just after sunrise, a massive Cavalier flying boat flew in from the west, turned over Lake Erie and gracefully landed on its waters. The Cavalier quickly taxied across the water to the end of the seaplane ramp where it finally came to a gentle stop. After its six powerful engines had come to a stop, the side door below the cockpit swung open for a walkway to be extended from the ramp into the Cavalier’s doorway.
A few hard-faced men stepped out first onto the ramp, obviously security for the Prime Minister. Finally, the Australian Prime Minister stepped out. He quickly walked and got into a waiting sedan that immediately drove to a hotel where President Dewey was waiting.
Prime Minister Menzies was escorted from the car where he took an elevator to the fifth floor suite that the American President had secured for the meeting. Menzies then was accompanied by Secret Service agents who opened the door to the suite.
The Australian leader walked up to President Dewey with his hand already extended.
“Mister President, thank you for meeting on such short notice and without much fanfare. It was hard enough for me to slip out of Canberra unnoticed. Fortunately, I had a little help from an ally back home with considerable resources. But the politics are difficult enough without the press interfering in what we need to do.” Menzies said as he firmly shook President Dewey’s hand.
“Which is?” A curious President Dewey asked while looking the Australian Prime Minister straight in the eye.
“We need to coordinate our actions and resources much more closely. We also need much more of America’s military assets deployed forward to help in taking the fight to the Japanese. The example of our joint operation in retaking North Faluku should be only the beginning of this.
We, in Australia, simply do not have the manpower to effectively pursue offensive operations against the Japanese, even with the weakened state of the Imperial Japanese Navy. While England is still nominally supporting us, they have progressively weakened the numbers and quality of forces fighting in the Pacific.”
“Aren’t you all part of the Commonwealth?”
“Yes, Mister President. Prime Minister Churchill has done an admirable job fending off the Axis with very little assistance outside of the Commonwealth. He has always put England’s interests first and foremost however. Commonwealth troops and ships have played a substantial role in assisting England’s defense in the West.
Even at the beginning of the war, England only sent two capital ships to reinforce the naval forces in the Pacific. Now, we only have the battle cruiser Tiger since the withdrawal of the battleship Prince of Wales. While Tiger has been significantly modernized, she is still a battle cruiser design from the previous way. The French have withdrawn their battle cruiser Strasbourg also. But at least she was replaced with the battleship Richelieu and the battleship/aircraft carrier Jean Bart. The French Navy aircraft carrier Bearn may also be deployed to French Indochina as well.
With the war having crippled the British economy and the debt further strained England’s ability to rebuild, we have scant resources available to pursue the continued conflict here. We have even received indications that HMS Tiger will soon be withdrawn and scrapped herself because England’s budgetary and logistical issues.
The rest of the Royal Navy here in the Pacific consists of older heavy cruisers and carriers like Furious. Now that Singapore appears to be secure, England seems to feel that our part of the world does not need first line units here any longer.
Part of what cost my predecessor his job was the loss of nearly half of our navy’s cruiser force in the Pacific to Japanese submarine torpedoes in the months just prior to the election. We have been building up our escort forces as quickly as possible. But our manpower issues continue to prevent us from having enough escorts. The cruisers themselves are irreplaceable because we do not have the ability at any of our shipyards to build a new cruiser or capital ship.
Unfortunately, England has not seen fit to provide the help that we need. That is why I have come here to see you. Australia needs a strategic partner that it can count on. Not someone who thinks that we are at their beck and call, but gives us short thrift in our time of need.” The Australian Prime Minister explained.
