Update (February 1st 1945)
0000 February 1st 1945.
Imperial Palace. Tokyo, Japan.
"Your Majesty, Gentlemen, good morning." Hideki began the monthly meeting. "After last months reports we will return to the more standard summary reports beginning with Industry."
"Good morning your Majesty, Gentlemen. Dissent amongst the population has been reduced to the minimum level possible, and the industry that had been designated for that purpose has been re-allocated." began Ginjiro.
"Our Transport Capacity is higher than we would like and is caused by partisan activity and excess supplies needed for offensives in the most part. This is unlikely to reduce significantly but there are possible research opportunites to increase our base level.
Stockpiles are still high but are reducing at a high rate as always. The rare materials problem will be explained in greater detail during the military reports as Minister Satoru has the map. Supplies are increasing fairly quickly but there is an almost constant need for more due to offensive operations.
Financially we are fine but Minister Kuniaki has begun to put some holes in our funds with an increase in espionage activity. Manpower is growing at a steady pace which is at the highest it has been for many years.
All of our Escort type vessels are required for convoy duty but I have ordered more to be produced for predicted future usage. Additional Convoys have also been ordered.
Replacements are also now being made available to our damaged forces which should increase as production completes. It will still be some time before upgrades can begin as there was a small delay in production during January to speed along the reduction of dissent. Our first new infantry divisions are due to be raised around February 20th. Nothing further." concluded Ginjiro.
"Military please."
"Your Majesty, Gentlemen. Our Armed Firces continue to perform at the highest level and I will hand you over to Minister Satoru to begin the more detailed Military briefings." said Tanigawa.
"Thank you Minister Tanigawa. Good morning your Majesty, Gentlemen." Satoru began. "Things have progressed fairly well in all areas during January although we have suffered some losses."
"The Pacific looks largely the same but there is one small matter to note that has changed."
"British forces captured Tinian island in the Marianas towards the end of the month. This is not considered to be a major threat to the area, although it will allow our enemies to concentrate more on the important islands in the region. All three main islands, Saipan, Guam and Palau, have had their defences increased by one infantry division as per Yamamoto's request. It would take something fairly major to successfully assault any of these islands which would also require a significant amount of air support. The extra interceptor wing is already flying to prevent such air support causing much harm.
We are considering the possibility of moving Carrier Group C to the Marianas to engage the American surface fleets as they seem to be operating without any type of Carrier support. They could be very vunerable to our Carriers but this is extremely risky as they could decimate our fleet if they managed to close to guns range. If we do move Carrier Group C it will not be for at least a month as it is due to support a small secret operation that will start shortly."
"More secrets Minister Satoru?" asked Hirohito.
"Yes your Majesty." replied Satoru.
"You can brief me afterwards."
"Of course your Majesty."
"Progress in Asia is very good and there have been few if any setbacks. The two garrison divisions currently defending Saigon will be moved to China, as shown, to provide anti-partisan coverage. They will be replaced by the two cavalry divisions to their west which will in turn be replaced by one infantry division from the Bangkok garrison. I will go into each area in more detail beginning with the north."
"There has been a significant build up of Soviet forces facing Toyohara. To counter these forces we would require a formidable force but we will instead be removing the garrison and ceding Toyohara if the Soviets attack. It is not worth the forces required to defend it and if the Soviets should attack these forces are going to be needed elsewhere. There has been no build of Soviet troops on our north western Chinese border so this could just be an exercise. We do need to decide if we are going to build up our own forces on the Soviet border and I think we need to decide that now as the first new troops are due this month."
"We will not risk antagonising our northern neighbour for the time being. Any troops sent to Asia must remain away from the front line or it is likely that the Soviets will respond to our build up with one of their own. There is little of value in any of our border provinces so their loss would not be too great with the exception of provinces in north Korea. We are creating forty five infantry divisions Minister Ginjiro?" asked Hirohito.
"That is correct your Majesty." Ginjiro replied.
"Eighteen of those divisions will remain in Japan where they can be deployed to the front lines of Korea very rapidly. The other twenty seven you can move to Asia but they must be out of the front line." continued the Emperor.
"Our puppets will not like losing their territory your Majesty." stated Mamoru.
"They do not have to like it Minister Mamoru. They shall do as I command." replied Hirohito.
"As you wish your Majesty."
"Will this present any major problems for you Minister Tanigawa?" asked Hirohito.
"Some your Majesty but we can work around them." replied Tanigawa.
"Please continue with your report then Minister Satoru." stated the Emperor.
"Yes your Majesty." Satoru replied.
"North western China has not changed at all. British forces still advance and gain nothing."
"India has changed considerably. Our defensive perimeter has been established and is holding with a slow but steady build up of enemy forces facing us. We control all of southern India for now and we are basically just holding. The attacks on this map are merely there as a possibility if our enemy allows us to advance and on the availability of aircraft from the Burmese front. Needless to say Kathmandu would be a high priority to knock Nepal out of the War in this scenario.
You will notice that there is an enemy fleet in Bombay. We may send some of our more modern Tactical bombers to investigate if they can be spared or we may just ignore it. It is not repairing as there is no port which means it is likely to be of little consequence."
"Burma has also been going according to plan. We have advanced in the north and will continue to do so. Our forces in the center and south are primarily defensive until such time as we can thin out our enemies forces using our aircraft.
British forces arrived in Phitsanulok in Siam a few hours ago and will be evicted immediately. Lashio province will be attacked by our main northern force once they have regained organisation after their march through the mountains.
As soon as our troops arrive in Kalewa we will attack the then cut off British troops in Akyab province. Troops from Arakan, which were amphibiously landed, will support this attack before moving south to Bassein.
Advances in the south will involve the marines in Bangkok mostly as they are suited to the jungle terrain of Alor Star and Moulmein. As soon as Moulmein is taken the armour in the south can be redeployed north.
The main driving force is the army in Baoshan which has a lot of work to do. The Imperial Japanese Air Force will be doing all it can to remove as many enemy troops as possible.
Currently we plan to isolate a small force in the Shan States and the remainder in Rangoon. There is no possibility of taking Rangoon, which is the new depot location of the Allies, without a major force.
Minister Ginjiro mentioned our rare material problems. A lot of our supply comes from Siam. The map shows a very large stockpile in Singora which our Ally cannot move as it has no convoy capacity. Once we can restore a direct link to Bangkok from Singora this problem will resolve and we should receive a large influx of resources.
I will stress that this is how we want the conflict to unfold in this area and it will take months to achieve. Significant enemy reinforcements could halt the entire plan. I will hand you over to the Chief of Staff for the Navy for his briefing, which will highlight why we think reinforcements will not be arriving for our enemies." concluded Satoru.