After Nimitz learned about the situation, he sent a telegram to Stilwell, asking how a disobedient soldier like Zhang Chi could become a regimental commander, and Stilwell would even send this officer to the Pacific theater to be deployed by the navy.

Stilwell couldn't help but laugh when he read the telegram, and he called Nimitz back: "Your Excellency, Admiral, if you find that this officer is disobedient, then you are right...... Based on my experience in Myanmar, at this time, you should think more about what you are doing wrong than about doubting him. ”

Holding this reply, Nimitz felt a little unbelievable, thinking that only a general like Stilwell would think like this.

However, Nimitz had to admit that the Chinese regiment commander who did not obey the order was indeed like Stilwell said, although he did not obey the order, but he did the right thing. After all, the facts are in front of us, and the Japanese airfield and supplies on Kuah Island were taken over by the US military almost intact.

So now......

Nimitz then issued a new order to Brigadier General Wilhelm: "Immediately build a defensive ring around the airport and put the airport into operation as soon as possible." ”

This strategic approach was quickly implemented.

"Here's the thing!" Clifton pointed to the map and said to Zhang Chi: "We will transport the new division ashore as soon as possible, and then take the airport as the center and focus on defense...... To the north is Cape Lunga, where a Chinese regiment is put in to prevent a possible landing of the Japanese army and is used as a reserve, and a Chinese regiment is deployed to the east to advance the defense line to the line of Crocodile Creek and Blood Ridge, and to the west is the Matanikau River, the terrain in this area is relatively flat and not conducive to defense, I think...... It's up to your troops to garrison. What do you think of my 1st Marine Regiment being deployed to the south as a mobile unit? ”

"Oh my God!" Before Zhang Chi could reply, Clifton looked southwest and exclaimed, "They told me that Mount Austin is just a small hill overgrown with weeds. And it's very close to Cape Lunga...... Fuck it, I still want to deploy the Marine Regiment on Mount Austin! ”

Zhang Chi followed Clifton's gaze and knew why Clifton was swearing, where was a small hill overgrown with weeds, but a typical tropical mountain, and the straight-line distance from Cape Lunga was more than eight kilometers.

So it became impossible to garrison Mount Austin...... Because this will make the defensive circle too long and wide, so that everything is very weak and easy to be broken through by the Japanese army.

This is obviously another example of the US Navy's lack of detailed intelligence...... This is a common thing for the Navy, because the Navy often does not do intelligence like the Army, which does intelligence accurately to every bridge and every high ground, and often sends scouts to map on the spot. Because they knew that this was likely to affect the entire battle situation, they didn't dare to make any mistakes.

But the Navy, they often send a few planes to take pictures, and then guess what the terrain is and how far away it is, but because of the clarity and angle of the photos, these will be biased, so they will see the tropical mountain of Austin as a small hill covered with weeds, and the straight-line distance of more than eight kilometers as only three kilometers.

"Colonel!" After thinking about it, Zhang Chi said: "I don't think we should defend, but attack!" We Chinese have a saying that is called chasing after victory...... And I've got information from Japanese prisoners. The Japanese at this time had no more than three thousand troops on this island. ”

"You should know this, ......," replied Clifton, "this is an island 150 kilometers long and 48 kilometers wide, and it is impossible for us to occupy every point or chase the Japanese all over the island in such a large area." Now the focus is on airports. Aerodrome! The rest of the island is nothing important to us at all! All we need to do is hold the airport! ”

Zhang Chi had to admit that Clifton was right, the area of this island was too large, and the strength of the Sino-US coalition forces so far was only a division plus a marine regiment, and it was impossible for these forces to hold Cape Lunga and the airport while pursuing and killing the Japanese army...... Not to mention that this is still an island. Japanese reinforcements could land at any point on the island.

But......

"At least we've got to take the mountain!" Zhang Chi said.

"Austin Hill?!"

"Austin Hill!" Zhang Chi explained: "Otherwise, the Japanese would be able to see our situation clearly from that mountain, even the airport!" That would cause us a lot of trouble! ”

"You're right!" After thinking about it, Clifton nodded and said, "I have to report this situation to the general!" ”

Soon Clifton returned. He shook his head and said, "The general thinks that we don't need to think about it so much, our task is to hold the airport, and the rest of the problems will be left to the navy!" ”

Hearing this, Zhang Chi couldn't help frowning, this time, he couldn't do it even if he wanted to disobey the order and act without permission, because Austin was so big that it would take at least two battalions to garrison it, and if Zhang Chi acted without permission, it would mean that there would be a gap in the Lunga defense circle...... Through this gap, the Japanese would break through the Lunga defensive ring, breaking through the airfield and even encircling the rest of the army without much effort.

Zhang Chi couldn't figure it out, why would Brigadier William give up such an important strategic place to the Japanese army, what William said "the navy will solve it", what can the navy do to solve it?!

Perhaps this is the difference in the way the Navy and the Army think.

The army is always particularly sensitive to strategic points, and if it does not occupy these key points first, it will feel uncomfortable and have a sense of insecurity.

And the Navy ...... Brigadier General William and his staff members thought: according to the latest intelligence, there are not many Japanese troops on Kuah Island, and most of them are engineers, and the equipment is relatively rudimentary, and there is basically no artillery and other heavy equipment, so even if the Japanese army occupies Mount Austin, it will not be enough to pose a threat to the airport.

On the other hand, thanks to the efforts of US engineers and Japanese engineer prisoners of war, the main runway of the airport can be completed in only one day, and the completion of the extended runway will only take one week......

In other words, the Japanese warships could not get close to Kuah Island at all, so naturally they could not transport artillery, shells and reinforcements to Kuah Island, so it did not make much sense to seize Austin Hill.

But what Brigadier General William didn't expect was that he imagined the war too simply. (To be continued.) )