With the momentum of the Allied counterattack in the Pacific Ocean, the Japanese base in rabaul has completely lost its role as a forward base and has become weaker and weaker. MacArthur is full of expectations for an early counterattack against the Philippines. However, a series of unpleasant things completely disrupted his plan. How to resolve it? It depends on his skill.
MacArthur was caught off guard by Australia's withdrawal.
1943165438+10. In October, just as he continued to attack northern New Guinea with ambition, Australian Prime Minister Curtin suddenly informed MacArthur that the Australian army would withdraw from the allied action. For him, this is an unexpected big trouble. Curtin is undoubtedly radical in doing so. Fire in the backyard? .
At present, the war is tight, and most of the ground troops in the southwest Pacific theater are composed of Australian troops. These troops have rich combat experience from Africa to Asia. Once they are withdrawn, it is equal to? Cut off MacArthur's arm? . Don't say continue to attack, I'm afraid to deal with the Japanese counterattack has become a problem. What's going on here?
Facts have proved that the role of the Australian army is still very great as the allies turn from defense to attack on all sides. This gives Curtin a very strong sense of superiority. His visit to the United States coincided with the summit meeting between the United States and Britain. In his subconscious, as an important leader of the Pacific countries, he should be invited to attend high-level meetings, but he thinks too much.
The reception was not invited to the meeting, but all of it? Low standard? Even at the end of the meeting, there was no explanation. The arrogance of the two great powers deeply hurt Curtin's heart. What's more, even in London? Treatment? No one responded to his call for the South Pacific battlefield at all.
I was invited to reward me and strive for something bigger? Affordable? Now, empty-handed, without success, anyone will go on the rampage. ? Abstinence? , not only to protest the cold shoulder, but also through MacArthur? Knock? America and Britain? Don't take bean bags as improper dry food, and don't take village officials as improper cadres? It has attracted the attention of both countries.
When MacArthur knew what had happened, he knew that Curtin was just angry at the moment. He reported the situation to his superiors and personally visited Curtin, expressing the importance of Australia on behalf of the United States. The Pacific battlefield cannot be separated from the support of the Australian army. This just calmed down? Misunderstanding? The two sides United again and continued to attack the Japanese army.
But after another wave of unrest, it started again.
At the beginning of 1944, according to the resolution of the leaders of the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union at the Tehran meeting, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States decided that the focus of the Pacific battlefield would rely on the navy to attack Japan from the middle of the Pacific Ocean. In other words, the southwest Pacific theater will become a secondary direction, and MacArthur's offensive in New Guinea can only be slowly advanced.
This makes MacArthur, who has always felt good about himself, furious. Marshall, who knew his temper, decided to go to the front in person, one to comfort MacArthur who was angered, and the other to take the opportunity to inspect the southwest Pacific theater to boost morale. But what he didn't expect was that MacArthur didn't pick up the plane in person, and he didn't even have the minimum respect. Why?
First of all, as a former army chief of staff and a hero in the eyes of Americans, MacArthur thinks he has this kind of? Senior? It is disgraceful to meet the new chief of staff at the airport in person, especially his arrogant character, which will not condescend to the younger generation? Are you welcome? .
Secondly, it is MacArthur's dream to counterattack the Philippines, and it is also his promise to brag to the public. American high-level officials are naturally very clear about his ideas. Now, if you deny his plan, you will be angry. Since Marshall is a top representative, why not give it a try? Run away? Its taste.
What is more crucial is the contradiction between Pershing and the past. In Pershing's time, MacArthur was not less angry with Pershing. After becoming the army chief of staff, he tried his best to suppress Pershing and his gang. Marshall was one of them, and even almost let him? Take off your uniform? . With such deep hatred, anyone will seek revenge, and Marshall is dissatisfied with him from the inside out.
Whether Marshall likes it or not, revenge? He, but MacArthur blamed Marshall's revenge for a series of setbacks. All conceited people are? Narrow-minded? , nature will not give Marshall a good look, he sent someone to receive Michael on the grounds of commanding the war ahead, until Marshall was about to leave, and the two met.
MacArthur is also welcome, always complaining about the neglect of the Pacific battlefield by the top management, the serious shortage of materials and personnel, and taking all the grievances out on Marshall. Marshall also cleverly put everything on General Kim. And told him that the Joint Chiefs of Staff had not finally decided on the route to attack Japan.
Knowing what happened, MacArthur decided to use this result to change the decision of the top management.
1in February, 944, MacArthur was furious and full of complaints when he learned of the overall strategy of the allies and regarded the southwest Pacific theater as a secondary position. After calming down, he thinks that the only way is to prove his idea is correct through actual results, which can even affect the determination of the top management.
So he ordered his troops to make a sharp turn, attack from north to west, and seize the whole of New Guinea by leaps and bounds. By that time, the whole Philippines will be presented to MacArthur, and American high-level officials can't help but consider changing the original strategy and taking attacking the Philippines as the main route.
Multiple thoughts? MacArthur announced the attack in advance in order not to arouse the opposition of Nimitz. Large-scale tactical reconnaissance. Three days later, he personally boarded the battleship podium and launched a surprise attack on the Japanese army in Jeronigros Island. In two hours, he occupied the whole island and controlled the airport on the island.
In any case, the Japanese did not expect that the Allies would attack behind their outposts. After waking up, the troops began to fight back. MacArthur ordered the follow-up troops to quickly follow up the reinforcements and personally waded to the island to cheer for the Allies. The defenders finally resisted the Japanese counterattack wave and firmly grasped this strategic fulcrum.
The sneak attack achieved decisive results and completely isolated 80,000 Japanese troops deployed in Bismarck, New Britain and Solomon Islands. In other words, MacArthur has been trapped in the South Pacific? Neck? The recovery of these areas is just around the corner. At the same time, Washington was also surprised.
In order to destroy the Japanese army in this area as soon as possible, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army had to revise the operational plan, approved MacArthur's plan happily for the first time, and explicitly ordered the navy to fully support his action. This result is exactly what MacArthur hoped. When he is happy, he can't help feeling sorry for himself. Superpowers? Secretly admire.
MacArthur relied on it again? Subtotal two? Let yourself become the focus of the battlefield and the focus of public attention again. With the progress of the war, the requirements of the US military for the southwest Pacific theater were basically met, and MacArthur's plan was almost approved and supported. It seems that confident MacArthur has the ability to dominate everything and it is difficult to succeed.