British retreat from Kuantan! Saratoga narrowly dodges Jap torpedoes!

ACTION SUMMARY: The noose continued to tighten around the Phillipines today as the Japanese swung their cruiser task force overnight over to a position SW of Luzon to threaten the Operation Redoubt buildup in Manila Bay. There, transports of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet are desperately ferrying supplies across Manile Bay to the fortress at Bataan and Corregidor for the inevitable siege. Additionally, Japanese transports were spotted off west Luzon, and a another major cruiser force was spotted in the S. China Sea also headed for Luzon. The enemy may force the bay, which could cost him. Coastal defenses around Bataan include powerful fortifications sporting 8 inch batteries.

Still, nothing can stop the enemy from the air where low-flying Betty's torpedoed another supply-laden transport and a destroyer off Manila. "Kate" torpedo bombers also sank a minesweeper north of Jolo. The threat from the Jolo airfields continues to annoy me. As such, I've ordered an overnight bombardment of the airfields from an ADBA squadron of two light cruisers and five destroyers. They will speed from Balikpapan at high speed and shell the airfields by night. This is risky, because not only am I exposing my ADBA defensive assets to air strikes, but they be kicking the Jap forces in the Phillipines right in the chin just as they are clenching their jaws on Luzon. Still, it is important that I keep some offensive initiative when I can. B-17 strikes are faring poorly against the Jolo airfields, so these measures must be taken.

A bullet was dodged today when the Saratoga narrowly missed a torpedo spread fired by a Japanese sub some 500 miles west of San Francisco. The sub was promptly depth charged and sunk. Elswhere, Operation Congo is ready for her first mission. The U.S.S. Enterprise will be making a high speed run towards the Maelop airfield in the Gilberts to deliver a 60 plane air strike. Then she will retire for replenishment. As for the Lexington, I am moving her towards Pago Pago for operations further south. The idea of Operation Congo is keep the enemy aware that I've got fight in me in both the central and south Pacific.

Ground losses were suffered today at Kuantan where the British garrison was driven back towards Singapore. Only Jahore across the Singapore Straits is left to defend the British fortress.



Fighting continued around Georgetown, and the Japanese launched a massive offensive in division strength against the Chinese salient at Changhsa. Chinese divisions are on the march from Chungking to meet the threat. Changsha could develop into a major battle if the Japanese follow through on their offensive gains made so far.



In other areas, Fullback convoys are reaching their primary destinations at both Andaman (where reinforcements are being delivered) and Victoria and Georgetown (where evacuations are planned). I've begun strategic bombing of Japanese refineries in Thailand, but they've produced little result in the past three days. Key Stone convoys are still moving along towards Australia. No trouble with them since a Jolo strike sank an AK two days ago. A Jap sub did manage to torpedo the Dutch destroyer van Ghent in the Java Sea. I've dispatched two ADBA destroyers to intercept the sub, but the van Ghent is so severely damaged, I'm considering sending her to Karachi altogether. Too bad, because I will need every destroyer I can get in the next two months.

Here's the war room: