Chapter Eighty-Four : Independence Guaranteed - 32.1.1938 To 15.2.1938
Utsunimiya’s War
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter Eighty-Four : Independence Guaranteed - 32.1.1938 To 15.2.1938
The Economic Front
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter Eighty-Four : Independence Guaranteed - 32.1.1938 To 15.2.1938
The Economic Front
Fuel was flowing into the stockpile. Either from the processing of the nation’s oil or from being imported from foreign sources. But that meant the nation’s bank account was also becoming smaller and smaller.
Of course the Foreign Minister and the Minister of Armaments continued to do their best to keep Japan from going broke. The Treasury had to be stabilized.
Deals were canceled with the Soviet Union, Canada, and the US.
And completely new ones were made with Canada, Saudi Arabia, Tibet, and the Soviet Union.
By the 6th of February the Treasury and the fuel supply were both in the ‘Green’. In fact both coal and military supplies were also increasing.
That same day the Foreign Minister also asked Siam, Yunnan, and Guangxi Clique for Transit Rights. All three nations refused and this was what the Minister wanted as it would make relationships between Japan and this nations worse. And make declaring war on them later all the more easier.
The Ministry of Armaments was also able to announce some advancements made during this time period.
On the 3rd they announced that one of the Research Teams had finally completed their work on improving the military’s Arctic Warfare Equipment.
After a short break the Team was assigned to upgrading the Air-Launched Torpedo system. This would benefit both the Naval Bombers and the Carrier Attack Groups. It would make them better ship killers.
On the 5th it was announced that one of the Ministry of Armaments’ other Teams had improved on the equipment, and training, of field medics. In other words they had improved on the basic First Aid used on the battlefield.
After a small party the Team was sent to work on improving the theory and practice of Aeronautic Engineering.
On the 8th, while this was happening, the Foreign Minister had all his new recruits taken away from him by the military. Seems the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had thousands of employees doing nothing at the moment and it was decided to funnel any of the NEW recruits into officer training.
On the 13th the Research Team working on Advanced Construction Engineering announced their success! This would allow the Japanese to build roads and railways in some of the most horrible of Asia’s inland regions.
The Team was then assigned to improving on the science of Artillery. With many upcoming units having artillery this was thought to be a good idea.
With the new advances in construction the Minister of Armaments ordered new roads and rails built all along the border of Guangxi Clique. It was hoped these would supply the troops when the war started. OR at least help them when it was time to invade Yunnan.
The Military Front
On the 31st the 1st Navy finally made it to their home port of Sasebo. They were happy to be with family and friends again.
That same day the 1. Hikoutai landed in Gaoxiong. They quickly made the airbases there their own, taking over the barracks, the mess halls, and the officer clubs.
After that both the IJAA and the IJN became ‘still’ as they waited for future wars. This ‘ stillness’ would be useful in building up the fuel supply also.
In the occupied territories of China was where all the activity was happening as the units under ‘China Operations’ painfully moved south over the horrible roads.
On the 13th the Chief of Staff finally approved the return of Supply shipments to the minor islands of the Pacific. But not one drop of fuel was sent to any of the Garrisons.
The Dutch East Indies
It was the 8th of February, on a Tuesday, around 8 PM . It was raining so hard outside that it was almost impossible to see outside the office’s windows. The crowds of clerks and staff who worked at Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office HQ had disappeared long ago leaving behind Guards, some janitors, and those who stayed late to get in extra work.
Tokyo was truly having miserable weather. The Chief of Staff was not looking forward to being driven home. But the plan for the invasion of the Dutch East Indies had finally arrived by courtier and he wanted to go over it before heading home.
Peeking one last time out the window he stepped back to his desk, sat down in his worn chair, and unlocked the small briefcase that held the report and maps created by General Sho-ichi Utsunimiya.
When he had been promoted he had decided to stay in his old office. One office was as good as another. And over the years this one had become a home away from home.
As he pulled out the slim report and unfolded the maps that came with it he noticed the list of required military units were small.
The General had taken the Prince’s requirement that he only use his Special Corps to heart. In fact outside of his own divisions the General only required six Transport Flotillas and one Task Group.
Two divisions would land in the Port of Osthaven and take it. Once secure one of them would march north and take the Province of Palembang with its Oil Refineries.
One division and the HQ unit would take the Port of Batava. Once there the division could easily take the Province of Serang with its Gold.
The remaining two divisions could take the Port of Soerabaja. Once secure they could take both the Province of Malang, with its supply of Cinchona, and the Province of Samarang, with its supply of Rubber.
Of course many of these provinces and ports also held metals, oil, rare materials and airbases. Aircraft could easily be brought in by the IJAA to occupy and use the airbases.
And the General pointed out once the major resources were secure secondary targets, mostly with oil fields, could be taken easily via more landings from transports. Nice, simple, easy to understand.
But there was one major barrier to this plan reported by the General in the final page of the report. The UK guaranteed the Netherlands’ independence. If Japan invaded the Dutch East Indies they would end up in a war with the Allies.
The Prince sighed to himself and placed the papers and maps back into the briefcase. He closed it and carefully locked it. It looked like the plan would have to be shelved. For now.
Of course once the Allies were engaged in a war with Germany or Russia….
The German Factor
The restaurant was still as popular as ever. Both Yasuji Okamura, Head of Intelligence, and Keisuke Fujie, Minster of Security, had been forced to wait for a table.
But they didn’t mind. The food was good and the main room was loud. Perfect place to chat and exchange information.
A waitress soon took them to a table in the middle of the main dining room. It had just been cleared and was still slightly wet. Both men ordered their usually noodle dish and waited till she was gone before saying anything.
“You look depressed,” said Keisuke as he leaned forward on the table with his elbows. The men were just another couple of businessmen, or maybe family members, having lunch.
“You might say that,” replied Yasuji with a nod of his head. “It’s the Americans.”
“Oh?”
“Well…the numbers have changed,” remarked the Head of Intelligence.
“Changed?” responded the Minister of Security. “What do you mean?”
They became silent as the waitress brought their orders and a pot of tea with two porcelain cups.
They waited till she had moved away before starting on their meal. They stayed quiet for a few minutes before Yasuji said, “The support for the different parties have changed.”
“What do you mean?”
Yasuji sighed and said, “The American First Party have about 28 percent of the public behind them but now the Democratic Party’s support has jumped to 31 percent.”
“How? What changed?” demanded the Minister of Security.
“The only factor that changed was that the Germans are now trying to influence the American populace,” replied the Head of Intelligence.
“Surely they are NOT helping the Democratic Party?” stated Keisuke almost forgetting to keep his voice down.
“I don’t know. But that’s the only thing that changed since my last report.”
“Well,” replied Keisuke. “You may wish to start causing some trouble for the Americans. Start trying to attack their unity. Spread rumors. Make them think they can’t trust their own rulers. Make it easier for….well, if somebody goes to war with them we want them as weak as possible.”
“True,” remarked Yasuji.
“Oh,” added Keisuke after sipping some of his tea loudly. “You may wish to assign some domestic agents to supporting our own government. Just in case the Germans try to ‘influence’ us.”
Yasuji sighed. “Damn those Germans.”
Misc. Events
Not only did the Head of Intelligence pass on the bad news of the American First Party and the Germans he also reported to the Chiefs and Ministers some more bad news. Between the 32nd of January to the 15th of February three Japanese spies was captured in Portugal, six Japanese spies was captured in the US, five Japanese spies was captured in Yunnan, and three Japanese spies was captured in Brazil.
It looked like the pathway to glory was going to be somewhat bumpy.
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