That sounded suspiciously like the Army again blaming the Navy for what had just happened on Sakhalin, but Yamamoto did not wish to see this meeting become a finger pointing game. “The Navy is more than willing to begin active operations in the north,” he said. “The carrier Kaga will complete its refit within the week, and it will join Tosa for deployment north. I am not sure how many army planes have been assigned to Karafuto Command, but that carrier division will raise the stakes considerably. Admiral Ugaki?”
By prearranged signal, Ugaki would now convey the details. “Combined Fleet is allocating Battleship Division 1 to accompany this carrier force, which will be composed of our two newest battleships, Satsuma and Hiraga. Nagato is also on station in the north, but it will be retained at Yokohama. Cruiser Division 3, with Atago, Takao and Tone will depart Rabaul immediately and return to home waters, to join the six light cruisers already stationed there, and there are adequate numbers of destroyers available for duty in the north. Vice Admiral Kurita will also being the cruisers Mikuma and Mogami from his 7th Division, but leave Furutaka at Rabaul.”
“Then no more than two carriers and two battleships will be committed?” Imamura had a checklist he was to run down, and the Army had asked him to lean on things here with his considerable weight. Yet owing his life to the Navy, and having concluded a very cordial meeting with Yamamoto earlier, he was proceeding very diplomatically. “It was suggested that since Karafuto borders one of the home islands, a much stronger naval presence should be allocated to the north.”
“Not possible,” said Ugaki, without any deference to niceties. “The recent and most unfortunate loss of Shokaku in the Coral Sea has left us one carrier light in the south, and now we receive reports of strong enemy carrier action against our landings in the Fiji Island Group. It appears they waited until the Kido Butai was withdrawn, being too cowardly to face us directly after Admiral Hara sunk two of their carriers in the Coral Sea.” Ugaki had seen old King Kong Hara shift uncomfortably when he first mentioned the loss of Shokaku, so now he correctly gave him face.
“Well how many enemy carriers are you facing in the south?”
“We believe there are at least three, as a new ship transited the Panama Canal two weeks ago. They must be challenged and destroyed.”
Now General Hyakutake spoke. “Then you intend to proceed with the movement of the remaining detachments of the 48th Division?”
“Assuming the Army has no objection,” said Ugaki. “That division was assigned in whole to support Operation FS. Thus far only the Abe Detachment has landed in the Fijis. The delay in getting the remaining two regiments from Java compelled us to commit the Sakaguchi Detachment that was previously scheduled to reinforce Noumea. I assume additional forces are now ready to move?”
“The Tanaka Detachment has already been assigned shipping, which took some time to accumulate here in Rabaul.” Hyakutake wanted to make certain no blame would be laid at the Army’s feet with that remark, and Ugaki did not fail to perceive the defensive tone in his voice.
“Regretfully,” said Yamamoto, “all these operations have taxed available shipping, but the outcomes have been more than satisfactory. The capture of Port Moresby was most welcome news, and we are now well established on the main Fiji island. We have learned, however, that there are considerable enemy forces in theater. Admiral Ugaki has the latest report.”
It had come, in fact, directly from an enterprising Executive Officer aboard Takami. Lieutenant Commander Fukada had sought to enrich his relationship with Ugaki by secretly sending him information on the probable buildup of Allied forces in Australia and New Zealand. Now Ugaki could reveal this to the Army for the first time, and present it as if it were the latest intelligence garnered by the Navy.
“We already know that two American divisions are now stationed on the Australian mainland. But there are forces composing at least two other divisions in theater, one from their army, and a second from their Marine Corps. Given that our recent successful landing on Fiji will be most alarming, we see the need for an additional commitment by the Army in the South.” There it was, the subtle request, but it was met by the same cold frankness that Ugaki had offered earlier.
“Not possible,” said Imamura, senior to Hyakutake and also representing the Army High Command in Tokyo. “And I regret that I am much to blame for that. The loss of our 2nd Division in Western Java was most unfortunate, though who could have foreseen the eruption of that volcano? I suspect, in fact, that it has much to do with the problems now faced by both the Army and Navy. We lost good troops there, and the Navy suffered considerably when all those transports were destroyed. This was an act of the Gods, and therefore no blame should come to either side, but that does not allow me to miraculously produce yet another division for operations here in the South.”
“Any more than we can miraculously produce another fleet carrier for operations in the north,” said Ugaki.
Before this polite, but firm exchange escalated, Yamamoto spoke again. “Gentlemen. Here we face the situation I warned about earlier—a two front war.”
“Don’t forget Burma,” said Admiral Hara with a grim smile.
“Quite correct.” Everyone else nodded. “So we really have a war on three fronts now, and limitations on the forces available to deal with the situation. The Navy has now lost two fleet carriers; the Army has lost an infantry division. Yet in spite of these setbacks, we have done much harm to the enemy. So let us be realistic now. I understand General Yamashita has been sent to deal with the Siberians?”
“He has been given command of the Amur-Urajio District, with the 8th, 14th and 28th Infantry Divisions pulled from duty in Manchuria and Mongolia. But they cannot move to resolve the situation in the Karafuto Province unless the Navy provides sealift. Otherwise, all they can do is sit on the Amur River Line in a defensive role, which is not what the Army desires. And as long as we are remembering Burma, I must also point out that Karamushiro must be retaken at the earliest opportunity, and again, it will require the Navy in strong support.”
“We have no reservations about providing that support,” said Ugaki. “It is simply a matter of timing. At the moment, we have just been told that the Army does not believe any substantial enemy reinforcement can develop in Karafuto. And we have just informed the Army that the enemy strength in the South is much greater than the planners for Operation FS anticipated. It is therefore our belief that forces already assigned to Karafuto should be sufficient to hold the enemy in check. The Navy will cover any movement of additional troops by sea from Hokkaido or Urajio, and we have allocated forces we deem sufficient for that purpose.”
“What? By sending no more than three additional cruisers? All the other ships you mentioned are already assigned to the north.”
Ugaki reddened a bit, and pressed on. “What about the South? That battle is already underway, and the enemy is obviously intending to fight. The single division assigned is now thought to be inadequate by the Navy, particularly if our latest intelligence is proven to be true. The valor and ability of our troops are not in question here, but I must point out that the forces allocated would be outnumbered four to one.”