| 2:58a |
@@@@@The attack might come sooner than thatThe
@@@@@The attack might come sooner than thatThe General debated, and decided finally to move up only two companies from 1st Battalion, save the other two for covering any retreat which might be necessary, and strip headquarters and service companies of all available platoonsHe glanced at his watchIt was eight o'clock now"Samson," he said, "at about 2300, Potential White Able and Dog will reach you by convoy march routeThey are to make contact with Paragon White and Paragon Red where they will be used according to opportunityI'll direct that as the occasion demands Everything was extremely clear to him at this momentThe Japanese would be attacking tonight, probably against the entire line, but certainly against the flanksThe storm would have delayed Toyaku's troops in reaching their assembly points, and chances were he would be unable to bring many tanks upIt could not be a probing attack, searching for weaknesses in the lineWith the mud and the sluggish maneuvering that would involve, Toyaku would have to drive at a few points, and hope he could break themThis, the General felt, he could handle"We're going to have some extremely powerful local attacks tonight," he said into the mouthpiece"I want you to contact all line units and instruct them to hold their groundThere is to be no general retreat
"Sir?" The voice at the other end of the phone was doubtful
"If the Japs can penetrate, let themThe companies on the flanks of any gap in the line are to hold their positionsI'll court-martial any officer who pulls back his unit for tactical reasonsAnything that gets through us will be handled by the reserve
Dalleson was bewilderedThe one decision he had made was that, with a newly established line and a few powerful Japanese thrusts on tap for the night, the safest thing would be to pull back the troops a mile or two, and attempt to delay the attack until morningHe felt a deep gratitude now that the General had not asked his opinionHe had assumed immediately that the General was right and he was wro |