On October 18, 1944, the US military transport ship moved in and out of Laite Bay, and the landing battle on Laite Island was about to break out!
I have to mention one thing. From October 12 to October 14, before the US military launched the landing operation, the US Army's 38th Task Force conducted air strikes on Taiwan under Japanese control.
The Japanese Army and Navy Air Force fought with it and suffered heavy losses. However, although these pilots were beaten with black noses and swollen faces, the cowhide was blown loudly.
They claimed to have destroyed 11 aircraft carriers and damaged 8 aircraft carriers. Although the Japanese Navy quickly discovered that the pilot was bragging, it did not notify the Army of the matter due to face and conflicts with the Army.
The consequence of this incident was that the senior Japanese army believed that the US fleet landing on Laite Island did not have an aircraft carrier and that they could completely annihilate it.
So regardless of Yamashita Fengfumi's objections, he changed his plan for the decisive battle on Luzon Island, invested the main force on Laite Island, and annihilated the landing US troops with the cooperation of land-based aviation.
To this end, the Japanese Army transferred the 1st and 26th Divisions from Northeast China to fight on Laite Island. On the evening of the 19th, the entire U.S. fleet gathered in Laite Bay. MacArthur looked at this huge fleet and was extremely excited. He believed that the landing would be successful and that he could fulfill his original promise.
In the early morning of the 20th, the US amphibious landing formation entered the designated position. The amphibious landing formation was divided into two parts, north and south, based on orientation.
At the landing point of the US military, the Japanese army did not focus on fortification, so the resistance encountered by the US military was not strong. In addition, the US military received sufficient firepower and air support this time. Therefore, this landing became a rare event in the Pacific War. An extremely smooth amphibious landing operation.
The U.S. troops landed from 8 o'clock until dark. Except for sporadic Japanese mortar counterattacks, they encountered no obstacles.
The total casualties of the four U.S. divisions throughout the day were only a few hundred. On the first day, the U.S. military established two landing sites with a depth of more than 1 mile, making a good start.
MacArthur was also ashore with ordinary American soldiers that day. Seeing that the landing went very smoothly, he left the cruiser at 1 p.m. and began to disembark. A reporter recorded this historical moment.
After MacArthur landed on the beach, he immediately released his speech to the entire Philippines through a radio transmitter. In his speech, he said emotionally: "Filipino people, I am back. Thanks to the Lord Almighty, our troops are standing in the Philippines again." On the land where the blood of our two peoples was spilled, we returned to destroy the remaining enemies that control your daily lives and to restore the foundation of indomitable strength and the freedom of your nation." This speech became a key moment in MacArthur's life. One of the most famous speeches.
This speech quickly spread throughout the Philippines through various channels and had a great impact on the Philippines.
For the Filipino people, they saw hope in driving away the Japanese colonizers. Although this is actually driving away the wolf through the front door and attracting the tiger through the back door.
But they quickly launched a struggle against the Japanese colonizers. This forced the Japanese army to deploy part of its forces to carry out brutal suppression.
For Japanese overseas Chinese in the Philippines, they are increasingly frightened. They couldn't wait to get out of this damn place.
But there's only one way for them to leave: the "Awa Maru"! Especially the first successful transportation made them even more eager and enthusiastic!
Everyone tried their best to get the boarding permit. They used all kinds of methods.
The rich spend money, the poor use people. Every agent in the Japanese secret service was bribed.
Regardless of whether bribing these spies works or not, the Japanese expatriates are like red-eyed gamblers, pinning all their hopes on whether they will go big or small.
For this reason, Meng Shao always turned a blind eye. What does it have to do with him? Some spies took the money but did not help you, causing Japanese expatriates to come to question you or even cause trouble.
It happened to be seen by Meng Shaoyuan. Originally, it was very embarrassing for a Japanese spy to receive money but not do anything.
But he never expected that Meng Shaoyuan not only did not punish them, but also drove out the Japanese expats who made trouble.
This also makes these Japanese spies feel grateful to His Excellency Director Taniguchi. What a good agency chief, your Excellency. Ever since he took office, he has always thought about his subordinates.
Meng Shaoyuan's attitude also made these Japanese agents become more unscrupulous. This also has two consequences.
The reputation of the Japanese secret service has become unsavory in the eyes of Japanese expatriates. They refused any cooperation with the secret service.
There is another result. In the work of Fa Zheng et al.
Under the "effect of setting an example," Japanese special agents began to use various means to make money crazily. Their work ethic has long gone by the wayside.
How could arresting rioters or destroying resistance organizations be as real as seeing a lot of money coming into one's pocket?
The Japanese special agencies in Manila fell into disorder and chaos in the shortest possible time. Even those people in the stalls are gearing up and rolling up their sleeves to get started.
During the day, the huge Japanese special agency was almost empty, and almost all the agents went to the streets of Manila to look for opportunities to make a fortune.
Meng Shaoyuan has never been so relaxed and comfortable doing intelligence work until now. He can easily enter the archives room and access those top-secret archives.
The entire Manila intelligence system has no secrets for him. The same is true for Iwate.
Top-secret telegrams to the Allies were sent without hindrance. No one cares.
In any battlefield, once intelligence work is paralyzed, it will be fatal. a ship
The "Awa Maru" is the hope for all Japanese expatriates to leave, but it has also become a nightmare for Japan's intelligence work in Manila!
"It would be great if we could be as relaxed as today in China." Even the instigator, Fa Zheng, sighed: "In that case, we wouldn't have sacrificed so many comrades."
"It can't be done. It depends on the form of war." Meng Shaoyuan replied rationally: "At that time, the Japanese army was in full swing, and the intelligence system was working hard and effectively. But now, Japan is at the end of its rope, and many people Their minds are no longer on the battlefield. What they are thinking about is what they will do if the war fails? They no longer consider the so-called interests of the empire. All they care about is themselves. What a war, go to hell."
"This is all caused by you." A smile appeared on Fazheng's lips: "Boss, you have turned this place into a city of complete chaos!"
"It's not me, it's the war, it's the situation!" In any case, this place has become a city of chaos!
