However, Zhang Chi knew that the battle on Makin Island was not as simple as MacArthur imagined, so Zhang Chi said to MacArthur: "General, as far as I know, Makin Island is still in the hands of the Japanese army, and it will never be too late to be happy when your army completely occupies Makin Island!" ”

MacArthur spread his hands and replied magnanimously: "That's right, then let's wait and see!" And I'm sure we won't have to wait long to find out! ”

"Here's the thing!" At this time, Halsey had no time to do any more verbal disputes, he pointed to the map of Tarawa and said: "The main problem is the depth of the water, our landing craft ran aground, which caused a large number of casualties and loss of equipment, and at this time, more than 3,000 soldiers of the 2nd Marine Regiment were trapped on the island......"

"I've got an idea of the situation!" Zhang Chi replied.

"Oh......" Halsey reacted at this point, "I forgot that you also have a force involved in this attack!" I suppose they've lost touch with you too! ”

"Yes!" Zhang Chi nodded.

Halsey smiled bitterly: "So, we don't know anything about the situation of the landing troops!" We can only guess that they are in a state of lack of equipment, especially drinking water. ”

After a pause, Halsey sighed and said: "The last information we got came from the 'Kingfisher' reconnaissance plane, and the pilot saw the scene of our troops jumping out of the landing craft and charging on the shore. With rifles on their heads, they slowly waded to the shore, and in front of them there were bullets and shells coming from the direction of the enemy, God, I wanted to cry! We should do something to get them out of this hell! ”

Zhang Chi couldn't help but be silent.

War is so cruel, and the mistakes of commanders in decision-making often require soldiers to make up for them with their lives.

At this time, a messenger hurriedly ran into the conference room and reported: "General, we have made contact with the landing force!" ”

"Turn the com!" Halsey immediately ordered.

It turned out to be Colonel Shope, the commander of the 2nd Marine Regiment, who sent his men everywhere to look for a radio station that could get in touch with the command, and after losing dozens of people, he was lucky to find a working radio on a destroyed landing vehicle.

The first thing Zhang Chi and the others heard was a noisy sound of gunfire, which also showed how fierce the battle on Bito Island was.

Then I heard Colonel Shoop's report: "General, the situation is very serious, we are short of water and ammunition...... Damn, there is a lack of everything, our casualty rate may exceed fifty percent and counting. I can't gather my own troops, and I even doubt that we will be able to withstand any of the Japanese attacks......"

Listening to Colonel Shope's report, Halsey and the others couldn't help but look at each other, the situation seemed to be much more serious than they thought.

"What do you think?" Halsey asked Zhang Chi.

"First of all, I think we should first figure out the law of 'avoiding' the tide!" Zhang Chi said: "For example, when does it go down and when does it rise!" ”

Halsey didn't think much of it and quickly sent the intelligence forces to investigate.

This was not difficult to do, all it was necessary to contact Major Haaland, and the tide was quickly obtained...... "avoidance" was to rise at dusk and low tide in the early morning.

That is, the US military launched its attack precisely at its low tide.

"That means ......," said Halsey, frowning, "if we attack at high tide, we will lose the cover of our fighters and naval guns!" ”

This may be the characteristic of the US military's operations, and if it were not for the cover of fighters and artillery, they would not have fought a war.

There is a unit that is even more serious.

Immediately afterwards, a communications soldier ran in and reported to MacArthur: "General, Colonel Hall has died!" ”

"What?" Hearing this, MacArthur couldn't help jumping up from his chair like a spring, and asked with a surprised face, "How did this happen?" ”

Colonel Hall, commander of the 165th Regiment of the 27th U.S. Division and the supreme commander in charge of the battle on Makin Island, was killed by the enemy shortly after the battle began.

"The troops' attack on Makin Island is blocked!" The signal man replied: "The tank units were reluctant to advance, and Colonel Hall was killed by Japanese snipers while ordering them!" ”

It turned out that the troops of the US 27th Division were accustomed to advancing under the cover of artillery fire, and stopped moving as soon as they encountered a Japanese blockade, sometimes even just a few Japanese snipers.

All they did was wait for the artillery fire to wipe out the Japanese troops before advancing.

The Japanese army built a large number of machine-gun fire points and permanent firing points on Makin Island, and the advance of the American army was met with stubborn resistance, because the accuracy of the naval artillery fire was not high, it could not effectively destroy the Japanese underground bunkers, and the only way was to use tanks.

But the tankmen were reluctant in this case...... It seems that the infantry just followed the tank and did nothing, just waiting for the tank artillery and machine guns to blow up the road in front of them, and then the infantry followed the tank up to receive the position, didn't this completely put the tank under the Japanese artillery?!

So the tank was willing to accept such command, and Colonel Hall had to go to consult with the tank crew in person, but was killed by Japanese snipers, who was also the highest-ranking officer killed in a ground battle in the United States.

In fact, the US 27th Division should be more precise, MacArthur should not be proud of the achievements of this battle, but should be ashamed.

The reason was that the Japanese defense on Makin Island was very weak, and after the war it was found that the defenders on this island totaled about 690 people, including 340 engineering troops, 110 aviation ground crews, and only 240 combat troops.

In addition to a large number of warships and escort aircraft carriers, the US military alone has two regiments of 6,400 ground troops engaged in battle.

This should have taken Makin Island in three or two strokes like a whirlwind and clouds, but the US 27th Division could not move an inch on Makin Island...... More than 6,000 people, and more than 6,000 people with a large number of tanks and artillery, were blocked by more than 600 Japanese troops, mainly non-combatants, on the flat terrain, which can be regarded as a strange news in the world.

MacArthur glanced at Zhang Chi with some embarrassment, and then lowered his voice and ordered: "Order the commander of the 105th Regiment to command the troops and take Makin Island in the shortest possible time!" ”

"Yes!" The communications corps responded.

Zhang Chi didn't bother to pay attention to MacArthur's question, he held the photo of Tarawa taken by the pilot in his hand, thought about it for a while, and said to Halsey: "General, I will lead my troops to attack Beato Island tonight, please inform Colonel Shoop and let them cooperate with our landing!" (To be continued.) )