Part 14 (2/2)
The artillery barrage began at four-fifty in the morning, a cascade of sh.e.l.ls into the American position that was met at first by return fire from the American s.h.i.+ps. But the j.a.panese guns did not do as they had done every day before. They did not fire a quick burst and then slide back into their holes. The guns stayed put, kept up their fire in a torrent of steel that caught the Americans by complete surprise. After more than an hour, the fire subsided, many of the guns exhausting their ammunition. But many more were silenced by the very act of keeping up their a.s.saults. With the big guns staying outside the protection of their hiding places, their muzzle blasts offered the naval s.h.i.+ps clear targets, and so frustrated American gunners suddenly had an opportunity they had never expected. For Us.h.i.+jima's artillery, the results were a disaster. Guided first by the flashes of fire, and then by the awakening daylight, the Americans pinpointed their targets so effectively that a majority of the largest artillery pieces were completely destroyed. All across the rugged hillsides, so much of the j.a.panese firepower that had devastated the American ground forces was now obliterated.
The same was true for the j.a.panese armor. The j.a.panese tanks were primitive compared to the Shermans, but any tank can be a deadly threat to ground troops. As the Americans hunkered low in their foxholes, enduring the sh.e.l.ling from j.a.panese artillery, the j.a.panese tanks rolled forward to do their damage as well. But outside their cleverly designed cover, crossing open ground, they were no match for American anti-tank weapons, aided by more of the navy's accurate fire. In a matter of hours, the bulk of j.a.panese armor charged with leading the counterattack had been destroyed.
As the Americans scrambled to react to the surprising change in j.a.panese tactics, the j.a.panese ground troops began their a.s.sault. At first daylight waves of men emerged from their perfect camouflage and swarmed headlong into the American positions. A few of the advances by individual regiments were effective, punching holes in the American lines, driving past stunned and panicked troops, pus.h.i.+ng into supply depots and rear echelon positions. But those successes were few. As the j.a.panese troops rushed headlong into the guns of the Americans, most of them met the same fate as their armor. Entire units were virtually wiped out. Despite the enormous losses, the j.a.panese pushed forward for a full day and into the night. The next morning what was left of the j.a.panese offensive forces obeyed their officers, who obeyed the plan given them by General Cho. They attacked again. Though the tenacity of the j.a.panese impressed the Americans who faced them, the outcome was never in doubt.
BENEATH SHURI CASTLE,.
THIRTY-SECOND ARMY HEADQUARTERS, OKINAWA.
MAY 5, 1945.
He read the latest report, Yahara standing close, impatient.
”It is a disaster, sir! Here, look! Captain Oka reports his troops are completely surrounded. He does not expect to survive. It is the same in every part of the field. You must stop this!”
Us.h.i.+jima looked at Yahara, a stern glare.
”You do not tell me what I must do.”
Yahara lowered his head.
”No, certainly not, General. Please forgive me.”
Us.h.i.+jima looked at the others, the men standing alongside the map, no one speaking. The gloom was in all of them, the men who knew the reports, whose job it was to record the progress of the attack on the great map. But the men had been silent for some time now, nothing on the maps for them to change.
”Where is Cho?”
One of the aides close to the doorway said, ”I will summon him, sir.”
”Yes, summon him.” He did not look at Yahara, said, ”Return to your office. I will call for you shortly.”
Yahara made a quick short bow, was gone without a word. Us.h.i.+jima saw the expectant looks on the faces of the aides, said, ”I shall be in my room. When General Cho arrives, send him to me.”
”Yes, sir.”
He moved out into the corridor, slipped quickly into his room, hesitated, leaned his back against the wood that lined his earthen walls. A hard knot rose in his throat, choking away the air, and he fought it, straightened, stretched, forced air into his lungs. He felt dizziness, pulled himself away from the wall, reached down, settled on the mat on the floor, his usual place. I need water, he thought. He knew the servants would hear him, but the words did not come, and he scolded himself, no, do not bother them. You should be made to suffer for this. Do not bother anyone. They all know what this day means.
”Sir! You sent for me?”
Cho stood stiffly in the doorway, and Us.h.i.+jima said, ”You were not in your office.”
”No. I was at the mouth of the great cave. The radio there continues to send in reports, though most of the reporting stations have been lost. So, General, is it time for us all to die?”
There was a strange levity in Cho's voice, and Us.h.i.+jima looked at him, saw the hint of a smile, said, ”You are aware that we have not been successful?”
”I know our situation, General. If this is to be the end, then it is ordained for us to die together. I welcome my place at the great shrine. I have done my best for the emperor.”
Us.h.i.+jima understood now, thought, so, he is abdicating any responsibility for our failures. This was all part of his glorious plan.
”General Cho, despite your eagerness to join your ancestors, I am not yet ready to die. There is still a fight to be had here, a duty to perform.”
”If you insist, sir.”
”I do insist. Return to your office. Remain there until I summon you again. I want you close, in the event our situation requires some immediate action.”
”Of course, sir.”
Us.h.i.+jima heard the sarcasm in Cho's show of obedience. He was gone now, and Us.h.i.+jima felt the anger, Cho's smugness digging into him. He tried to relax, stared at the bare floor, took several long breaths. The lump in his throat was growing, a pain in his chest, and he clenched his fists, no! I will not be a victim of this disaster! He continued to breathe heavily, the pain subsiding. Outside there were voices, and he waited, knew someone would appear. It was Yahara.
”Sir, we have received a report from Colonel Kujima. He has been forced to withdraw from his forward position. He claims he has no choice but to return to his original position.”
Us.h.i.+jima thought of Kujima, another of the academy graduates.
”He is a good man. If he has withdrawn it is because it was the right thing to do. I will find no fault with him. With any of them. But this must end.” He paused, thought of Cho, the man's eagerness to throw himself into the glorious abyss. No, I will not make it so easy for him. His plan did not work, but, still, he cannot be embarra.s.sed. He would lose his effectiveness as a commander.
”Colonel Yahara, as you predicted, this offensive has been a total failure. Your judgment was correct. I am determined to stop this. You will see that my order to every field commander is communicated in the most effective way possible. I am ordering a ... temporary halt to the offensive.” He paused, saw the undisguised anger on Yahara's face. ”You have been frustrated because you believe I have not used your talents wisely. In that you are correct. Sometimes a man in my position must do the unwise, in the hopes of a positive outcome. But I do not wish this army to commit meaningless suicide.”
Nothing in his words calmed the anger in Yahara's eyes. He knew how valuable Yahara was, felt suddenly like the father who has disappointed the son. He avoided Yahara's stare, said in a low voice, ”What else would you have me do?”
Yahara did not respond, and Us.h.i.+jima felt a sudden wave of emotion, tears in his eyes, the hard sh.e.l.l cracking for just a brief moment. He lowered his head, tried to hide it, said nothing for a long minute. Yahara waited patiently, and Us.h.i.+jima felt the control returning.
”Our main force is largely spent. But our fighting strength remains. This army is loyal and dedicated to our cause. If we must, we will withdraw to the southernmost hills and make our final stand there. I will require your a.s.sistance, Colonel. Your logistical skills will be crucial. Do you understand?”
”I do, sir.”
There was cold in Yahara's words, and Us.h.i.+jima still avoided his stare.
”I want you to see to our position as it stands now, and draw in our lines to the best possible defense. The Americans will come again, and this time they know we are wounded. Make the best use of those a.s.sets we have, most especially this ground.”
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