“Surprising information,” said Imamura, seeming to diffuse the exchange. “The Army Chiefs were not aware that the enemy buildup had progressed to that level, and I can assure you that I will request a full investigation from Army Intelligence to confirm this.”
That was a double edged statement. On the one side, Imamura seemed to be grateful for the recent Navy intelligence concerning the Allied buildup; on the other, he was calling it into question by suggesting the Army needed to confirm it. Which side of that blade he really intended to cut with was anyone’s to guess, but he said this with a conciliatory tone, further masking the fact that he had clearly looked the gift horse in the mouth where Ugaki’s intelligence was concerned. This was the subtle ebb and flow of Japanese manners, where things were said and expressed in roundabout ways, while everyone present knew what each man there was really suggesting.
“May I interject one thing here,” said 17th Army Commander Hyakutake. “I suppose it is yet another matter for Naval Intelligence, but we have heard some very strange rumors of late at Rabaul. The first concerns a new Siberian ship that the men on the quays have now come to call Mizuchi.”
That fell like a stone into a quiet pool of water, and everyone at the table waited to see where the ripples would go before Yamamoto finally spoke again.
“Mizuchi… Yes, we have not only heard of this ship, but we have also seen the direct evidence of its alarming capabilities. Neither of you may yet know this, but our carrier, the Hiryu, was not sunk because of any damage it sustained during the Pearl Harbor operation. I know this is what the Army may believe, but it is false. That ship was sunk by this Mizuchi you mention, and with a very advanced weapon that the Navy is much concerned about.”
“Then the rumors are true?”
“The rumors are rumors,” said Yamamoto. “What I am telling you is the truth. Mizuchi exists, and it is very dangerous. But the Navy is taking the measure of this ship, and I can assure you that we will deal with it.”
“I see,” said Imamura. “Would such measures have anything to do with the demonstration that took place at Davao recently?”
Again, the silence, and this time Ugaki seemed quite flustered to realize the Army knew what had happened there, but before he said anything more, he looked at Yamamoto.
“Davao…” said Yamamoto. “Yes, I suppose it would be too much to think such a test could be conducted without the Army knowing about it. Well gentlemen, the Navy has operations, plans, ships, equipment that the Army may not yet measure. I said we will deal with this Mizuchi, and we will. But let me impress upon you both that operational secrecy is most important. As far as both of you should be concerned, nothing whatsoever happened at Davao. Understand?”
He said that with the full weight of his considerable reputation and rank, and both Imamura and Hyakutake understood the warning he was giving them. Yamamoto waited briefly, then continued. “So we will be sending more than three cruisers north to join our naval forces already in theater there—but let us not speak further of this.”
After a sufficient pause, Ugaki continued to press for additional Army support for Operation FS. “Considering that we are now fully committed to resolving matters in the north, can the Army provide us with any further troops in the South?”
Imamura’s eyes narrowed. He had been on a most unusual ship, he now realized, rescued by it at sea. Yet the more he thought about that time, the more suspicious he became. The Captain and crew were dressed strangely, as though they were some secret new branch of the Navy. He realized now that they were making great efforts to keep him confined in the sick bay, and that their maneuver to deliver him to the meeting with Yamamoto was not entirely on the up and up. A few discrete inquiries revealed the truth of that to him. There had been no order by the Army Chiefs that he come to meet Yamamoto at Davao. That had all been quietly arranged by the Navy. And when he saw that most interesting demonstration in the bay off Davao…
Now his quick mind began to realize that something most unusual was afoot here. The Navy had a new ship—a secret ship. His inquiries had also revealed that it was not even on the register of active vessels, and so he assumed it must be a top secret command unit, or weapons development project.
So, the Navy is really worried about this new Siberian ship, he thought quickly. In fact, they are indeed going to send more than three cruisers north to deal with it. How I would love to be on that strange ship that rescued me when it does sail north to battle, for clearly this is what Admiral Yamamoto was suggesting. And he looked directly at me, the senior Army officer here, as he said that. So I think I must oblige him in exchange.
“Considering the gravity of these operations,” he said to Yamamoto directly, “I think we can come to some agreement here. General Nishimura is still sitting on Singapore under all that ashfall with the Army he inherited from General Yamashita. He has both the 18th Division and his Imperial Guards Division on the main island now, and that is more than enough to manage that situation. Therefore…. It would seem that the 5th Division, whatever remains of it, would be available.” He smiled.
Yamamoto returned the smile, and with an ever so subtle nod of his head. “Yes,” he said quietly, reaching for his white dress gloves. “I think we can come to an agreement.”
Chapter 23
That same evening Yamamoto summoned the senior officers from Takami to confer with them on the situation and issue new orders. Harada and Fukada met him in that same stateroom aboard Yamato, and were soon surprised to learn what he had in mind.
“We are now facing two enemy operations,” he began, “one in the north, and a second aimed at reinforcing Fiji in the south. We have spoken with the Army to see about obtaining additional forces for Operation FS, and an agreement was reached. The Tanaka Regiment of the 48th Division is boarding transports as we speak and it is my intention to depart Rabaul and lead the Kido Butai south again immediately.”
“Very well,” said Harada. “Takami is ready to accompany you.”
“That will not be necessary. In fact, I have new orders for you. The situation in the north has changed. Last night the Siberians staged another surprise landing in the far north of Kira Karafuto province. It was not a substantial landing, but we believe they delivered a reinforced regiment there, and have every intention of pushing south to increase their lodgment. The Army has sufficient forces on the island to respond, but it will soon become necessary to send additional forces from Hokkaido. Your mission will be to assure that these troops arrive safely.”
“I see,” said Harada. “Where will they come from?”
“Sapporo—elements of our 7th Division, which now garrisons Hokkaido. We could move them by land to Wakkanai in the North Cape area, but that is a fairly small port. The facilities at Sapporo are better suited to receive the shipping required, and boarding transports there was deemed a safer option by the Army.”
“A safer option?” Fukada heard more in that. “Then you expect that any cross channel operation from Wakkanai in the Soya Strait would be opposed?”