"Damn, the Chinese have been chasing us. Pen, Fun, Pavilion www.biquge.info they are chasing after them, and we can't escape at all. If we continue like this, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we will be chased by them. Major General Coot, commander of the 22nd Infantry Division of the US Army, said.

"No way, during the day, the Chinese carrier-based aircraft strafed and bombed us. Our speed has been greatly affected. Major General Erwin, commander of the 23rd Infantry Division of the US Army, said.

"So what should we do? Do you just sit back and wait? Major General Richard, commander of the 12th Infantry Division of the Australian Army, said with some frustration. Despite their constant retreat, the Chinese seem to have better endurance than them. Now, it's not far from them.

"Otherwise, let's leave a little force to stop the Chinese and buy enough time for our main forces to reach Dalivotes." Major General Walter, commander of the 13th Infantry Division of the Australian Army, suggested.

The other division commanders were silent, knowing full well that if they wanted to retreat safely to Dali Waters, they would have to stop the Chinese* army and buy them time. However, the question is which division will stay to block it? Everyone knows that the troops who stay behind to block the attack are definitely dead, and it is very likely that they will be wiped out here. Therefore, no one wants to stay and stop it.

"In this way, we and you will each leave a regiment to stop the Chinese. Two regiments of troops can buy us at least two to three days. Major General Kute said.

"Okay, we agree." Maj. Gen. Richardson nodded. They all knew that it was the best thing to do.

After discussion, the 1st Regiment of the 22nd Infantry Division of the US Army and the 1st Regiment of the 13th Infantry Division of the Australian Army were retained. They began to build positions overnight, preparing to block the Chinese* army. The rest of the main forces were evacuated overnight. They need to get to Daliwaters and build a defensive line there to hold back the Chinese* army.

On 10 December, after a night's rest, the 76th Infantry Division of the Imperial Army continued to pursue the U.S. and Australian forces. The carrier-based planes that took off from the aircraft carriers of the Imperial Navy had already flown one step ahead to attack the US-Australian coalition forces, preparing to delay the US-Australian coalition forces.

However, in Catherine, south of Pine Creek, they found a large number of positions built by the US-Australian coalition Hiroyuki Sanada. As a result, these carrier-based aircraft gave up moving further south and instead launched an attack on these US-Australian coalition forces.

"Da Da Da!" Two 12.7mm aviation machine guns on the wing of a carrier-based F9 fighter were constantly strafing, and the bullets hit the dry ground, splashing a large amount of dust. This dust, forming two lines, stretched all the way to the trenches that had just been dug by the US-Australian coalition forces.

Soon, the two lines extended into the trenches of the American and Australian coalition forces, and many of the coalition soldiers hiding there were shot and killed.

"Oh God! Chinese planes, anti-aircraft machine guns ready, beat the Chinese planes down. An American officer ordered loudly.

But before he could finish his sentence, he was hit in the stomach by a 12.7mm bullet. The bullet pierced his stomach and broke his spine at the same time, directly breaking him in two, and blood and intestines flowed out, looking very bloody.

"Da Da Da!" An anti-aircraft machine gun of the US-Australian coalition continued to fire at the air, and tracer shells left a bright trajectory in the air, chasing the Chinese plane in the sky. However, these nimble aircraft easily evaded anti-aircraft fire from the ground and instead returned fire with cannons. Some dive bombers even attacked these air defense positions with heavy aerial bombs, causing many casualties to the US-Australian coalition forces.

When the planes finished their attack and swaggered away, they were left with nothing but devastated positions of the US-Australian coalition.

At the same time, the news that the US-Australian coalition was preparing to block the Imperial Army in Catherine was also relayed to the Imperial Army by naval aviation and sent to the 76th Infantry Division of the Imperial Army.

"It seems that these foreign devils want to abandon the car to protect the handsome. Well, you're welcome. Eat a few thousand of you first, and then eat them all step by step. I'd like to see how many people you can throw to stop us. Major General Shi Enshu said coldly.

"Send a telegram to the Fuso people and tell them to speed up, and there will be a battle in no time. When the battle is over, they will go and collect the spoils. Major General Shi Enshu ordered.

"Yes, General." A communications officer immediately went to send a telegram.

The marching speed of the Fuso Army was a little slower than that of the Imperial Army. Because, they basically travel on their legs. The Imperial Army, on the other hand, had a lot of cars for passenger transport. In addition, the Fuso Army had to plague the Australians and collect booty everywhere while hurrying, which naturally affected their marching speed. In order to catch up with the speed of the Imperial Army, the Fuso Army often had to march overnight.

After receiving the order of Major General Shi Enshu, the 1st Infantry Division and the 2nd Infantry Division of the Fusang Army did not dare to slack off, and immediately accelerated the march, and did not care about the spoils anymore. They know very well that if they offend the Chinese, then they will be finished, maybe they will be sent back to Japan, and there will be no such opportunity to make a fortune.

On the morning of December 11, the 76th Infantry Division of the Imperial Army, the 1st Infantry Division and the 2nd Infantry Division of the Fuso Army, rushed to Catherine.

"General Furujo, General Nishio. We have already reconnoitred that in Catherine, there are only two regiments of the American and Australian forces. I think that with the combat effectiveness of the Fuso Army, there will be no problem at all in defeating Catherine and solving the US-Australian coalition forces inside. Major General Shi Enshu said.

"General, there will be absolutely no problem. Leave it to us. Major General Kojo immediately patted his chest and reassured.

"Okay, my artillery regiment will provide you with artillery support. Then, it's up to you. Major General Shi Enshu said.

Subsequently, two infantry divisions of the Fuso Army began to deploy. Each of the two infantry divisions had a regiment drawn to block Catherine's southeast, west, and west, while the rest of the troops were gathered north of Catherine, ready to attack.

The artillery regiment of the 76th Infantry Division of the Imperial Army, 36 155-mm heavy howitzers and 72 105-mm light howitzers were already pushed to the artillery positions. Less than four kilometers from Catherine, shells began to be poured on the positions of the US-Australian coalition.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! "One cannon after another began to roar, smashing shells into the positions of the American and Australian coalition forces.

Dense explosions rang out on the positions of the US-Australian coalition forces, and the shells exploded, leaving craters one after another. The shock wave carried sand, gravel and shrapnel, and spread in all directions, harvesting the lives of the soldiers of the United States and Australia.

Although it took a day to build positions. But the position of the US-Australian coalition is still very fragile. In the absence of building materials, the fortifications of such civil structures simply could not withstand heavy shelling.

The trenches were blown up during the shelling, and the machine-gun fire points were wounded. The mines that had been planted were also killed in the explosion.

The artillery of the Chinese army is clearing the fortifications of the US-Australian coalition little by little with heavy shelling.

The 75-mm field guns of two artillery battalions of the Fuso Army joined in and began to pour artillery fire on the positions of the US-Australian forces. Although the 75-mm field guns were not very powerful, the fortifications of the US-Australian coalition were already in tatters, and naturally they were completely unable to withstand these shelling.

"Oh God! Damn the Chinese, they are planning to blow us all up with shells! The colonel of the 22nd Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division of the US Army said.

"Who knows! Anyway, even if we abandon our sons and are abandoned here, we must stop the Chinese and buy time for the main forces. The commander of the 13th Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division of the Australian Army said.

Although they have some 75mm field guns in their hands, the number is too small, and the power is far from being comparable to the heavy artillery of the Chinese army. Once the artillery is fired, it will inevitably be suppressed by the Chinese artillery. Rather than that, it's better to keep it and use it at a critical moment.

Half an hour of artillery preparation ended, and the Fuso army immediately launched an attack. Two regiments, more than nine thousand men, attacked from Catherine's front and flanks. They carried rifles, machine guns, chanted slogans, and charged quickly with their legs.

"Quick, enter the position, the Chinese have attacked." The officers of the US-Australian coalition commanded loudly. At their urging, the soldiers took up arms and entered the position, ready to fight the ferocious enemy.

"Da Da Da!" Those on the positions who managed to escape the shelling, and the surviving machine guns opened fire. The dense bullets swept towards the Fuso Army, knocking the Fuso Army that rushed to the front to the ground.

More Fuso troops hurriedly lay on the ground and began to crawl forward, continuing to advance.

Although the armament of the Fuso Army is a little worse, they are also equipped with some machine guns. A platoon, too, with a light machine gun. One company had a heavy machine gun and a mortar. Compared to the Imperial Army, these equipment are much worse. However, the Fuso Army is already very content.

"Da Da Da!" The light machine guns and heavy machine guns of the Fuso Army began strafing to provide fire cover for the infantry. Taking advantage of the moment when the firepower of the US-Australian coalition was suppressed, the soldiers of the Fuso Army jumped up from the ground and took advantage of the situation to launch a charge. The distance from the trenches of the US-Australian coalition was shortened to about 200 meters.

At this distance, many Fuso Army soldiers fired directly at the US-Australian coalition with rifles. The marksmanship superiority of the soldiers of the Fuso Army was evident at this moment. At this distance, quite a few of them were able to hit the target. So much so that for a time, the losses of the US-Australian coalition rose sharply and were actually suppressed. (To be continued.) )