Chapter 3337 Missing Lieutenant Colonel

Capturing a Japanese lieutenant general and top-secret documents was definitely a big deal for the Allies.

Because Fukuriya Shige was injured in the leg when the plane crashed, it took the Badru guerrillas seven full nights to break through the Japanese blockade and send him to the base in Cushing deep in the mountains.

The disappearance of Koga and Fukuru Shige also caused great shock within the Japanese army.

After confirming that Fukurumushige's plane crashed in the waters off Cebu, the Japanese army ordered the Cebu Island garrison to search for the traces of Lieutenant General Fukurumushige and his party as soon as possible.

Lieutenant Colonel Masato Onishi was ordered to lead hundreds of Japanese troops to conduct a comprehensive search on the island. Finally, it was discovered that Shigeru Fukuru and others had been captured by the guerrillas, and the guerrilla base was immediately surrounded.

In order to ensure the safety of Furu Shige, Lieutenant Commander Onishi sent people into the mountains to negotiate with Cushing, demanding that the guerrillas must return the prisoners in their hands, otherwise all villages would be burned and all civilians executed.

For the safety of the Filipino people, Cushing telegraphed to MacArthur that the briefcase could be delivered to Negros Island, but the captured Lieutenant General Fukurun Shige and others were not sure that it would be delivered at the same time.

At this time, MacArthur showed his self-centered and stubborn side, calling back and ordering Cushing that "prisoners must be detained at all costs!"

Cushing only had 25 men under his command, but Onishi commanded more than ten times the number of Japanese troops. They were shrinking the encirclement and pressing forward step by step. MacArthur's orders could not be carried out at all.

In order to avoid large-scale retaliation by the Japanese army and massacre of innocent Filipino civilians, Cushing telegraphed MacArthur that he decided to release the Japanese prisoners.

MacArthur was furious and immediately called back to remove Cushing from his position as commander of the Cebu guerrillas, and his military rank was directly reduced from lieutenant colonel to private.

Cushing, who was demoted to a private, ignored MacArthur's order and ordered the briefcase to be delivered to the designated location. At the same time, he asked Shigeru Fukurumi to write a letter to Lieutenant Colonel Onishi, asking Onishi to promise not to take retaliatory punitive actions as a condition for exchanging prisoners of war.

Daxi surrendered and agreed to Cushing's conditions, and the two parties finally reached an agreement.

Cushing sent people to send Furuushige and others down the mountain on stretchers.

The briefcase was successfully sent to Negros Island, and a US submarine took it back to Australia.

Although MacArthur could never let go of Cushing's failure to carry out his order to detain prisoners, the entire U.S. military agreed that the documents captured by Cushing's Cebu guerrillas were the most valuable Japanese top-secret information captured by the U.S. military during the war.

Not only did the Japanese army's "Z" operation abort, but it also enabled the US military to completely understand the Japanese army's telegram code, which was of extremely important significance to the US military's future march into the Philippines.

Although Cushing disobeyed MacArthur's orders and released Lieutenant General Shigeru Fukurun, his action in sabotaging the Japanese "Z" operation still achieved great military exploits for the Allies.

Afterwards, in view of the breakthrough of Operation "Z", Cushing was restored from private to lieutenant colonel again.

However, the arrogant MacArthur believed that Cushing was a guy who did not obey orders, especially his own orders. Such a person should never be used.

Ironically, MacArthur said he couldn't use it, but from the time he landed on Luzon Island to the full-scale war, Cushing always played a huge role.

Even MacArthur had to admit privately:

"I don't like to eat carrots, but they are included in many dishes because they are essential."

As U.S. forces landed on Luzon, restored Manila, and gradually established dominance in the Philippines, MacArthur thought again of Cushing.

If he had been able to bring Fu Liushi to him at all costs, then capturing a Japanese lieutenant general would have been a brilliant addition to his military career.

As for how many Filipinos the Japanese army would massacre in revenge?

Then it has nothing to do with MacArthur.

However, Cushing's actions shattered MacArthur's dream.

On the eve of the landing of the US military, the United States had already extended its claws against the Philippine guerrillas and was waiting for the landing operations. Almost most of the Philippine guerrillas were controlled by the Americans.

Except for the "Philippine People's Anti-Japanese Army", it has always insisted on fighting independently.

Although Cushing did not belong to the People's Anti-Japanese Army, he maintained close ties with this guerrilla force.

MacArthur came up with a "genius" idea.

He ordered Cushing to immediately contact the Overseas Chinese Detachment of the Philippine People's Anti-Japanese Army, and requested that additional US military advisers be sent to the Overseas Chinese Detachment and fully accept the command of the US military.

Chinese people know how to fight, and overseas Chinese also have this talent.

After Japan occupied the Philippines, the overseas Chinese detachment was heavily surrounded by Japanese troops and had almost no chance of survival.

However, in such a bad situation, the overseas Chinese detachment overcame many difficulties and marched on foot in the deep mountains and forests for 2 days, passing through places under the jurisdiction of 36 communes and towns in 3 provinces, covering a distance of 500 kilometers, and successfully escaped from the Japanese encirclement.

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When the Americans comprehensively suppressed and took over the Philippine guerrillas, in accordance with the requirements of the People's Anti-Japanese Army, the Overseas Chinese Detachment repeatedly rejected the leadership of the Americans and insisted on the policy of cooperating with the Allies but operating independently.

This made MacArthur regard the People's Anti-Japanese Army, including the Overseas Chinese Detachment, as a thorn in his side.

But the current fighting in the Philippines is still going on, and the cooperation of these guerrillas is still needed. The overseas Chinese detachment is familiar with the terrain, uses the support of the local Filipinos, and is good at shifting, leaving MacArthur completely helpless.

At this time, he issued such an order to Cushing, knowing full well that the overseas Chinese detachment would definitely refuse, so he had an excuse.

He even asked his men to prepare a set of private uniforms, and said proudly: "When that damn private comes back after failing the mission, let him put on the military uniforms he should wear, and send him to the forefront of the battle.

Let his commander charge him at gunpoint!"

Cushing was a lieutenant colonel, but in MacArthur's eyes, he was just a private!

However, MacArthur's plan failed.

Cushing, missing!

He disappeared after accepting the mission.

No one can be seen in life, no corpse in death.

Later, an American spy lurking in the overseas Chinese detachment brought the news.

Cushing successfully contacted the overseas Chinese detachment and met with the detachment leader Lin Fuping.

The next day, Cushing disappeared from the overseas Chinese detachment camp.

It took a lot of effort for American spies to get the news. Cushing decided not to work for the Americans anymore, quietly left the U.S. military, evacuated the Philippines, and stayed away from MacArthur's forces.

Moreover, if he wants to leave the Philippines, the only way out is through the Port of Manila.

After receiving the news, MacArthur was furious and ordered Cushing to be captured at all costs.

The person guarding the Manila Port is Lieutenant Colonel Charles:

Meng Shaoyuan!

Therefore, at MacArthur's signal, his close friend Tian Qi, head of the Southwest Pacific Theater of the Bureau of Strategic Intelligence, "issued" an order to Meng Shaoyuan:

Arrest Cushing!

In addition to this formal order, Tian Qi also sent a separate telegram to Meng Shaoyuan.

In the telegram, Tian Qi clearly told MacArthur why he hated MacArthur so much and why he was eager to catch Cushing.

In the case of Lieutenant General Fukurun Shige, MacArthur’s telegram ordered that “prisoners must be detained at all costs!”

Later, Cushing called back and reported his concerns that Filipino civilians would be massacred by the Japanese army.

MacArthur was furious. In addition to revoking Cushing's position as lieutenant colonel, he also appointed Cushing's successor and also sent a telegram to his successor.

The telegram clearly stated that Lieutenant General Fukudome Shige was of great significance to the Allied Forces and would not hesitate to sacrifice all surrounding civilians when necessary.

Unfortunately, Lieutenant General Shigeru Furumi was later released by Cushing.

Afterwards, MacArthur's designated successor stated that he had never received the telegram.

Now, things become important.

Cushing seized the telegram.

Cushing's earliest telegram to MacArthur clearly stated the bad situation at that time.

Japanese Lieutenant Commander Onishi threatened that if the guerrillas did not hand over their prisoners, they would burn down all the villages and execute all the civilians.

MacArthur's first reply was: "Prisoners must be detained at all costs!"

"At any cost" means that all Filipinos are expendable.

In the telegram to Cushing's successor, he once again said, "When necessary, we will not hesitate to sacrifice all the surrounding civilians!"

These telegrams should all be in Cushing's hands.

Cushing had been leading his own small-scale guerrilla forces in combat, and MacArthur never had the opportunity to summon Cushing in person.

When MacArthur sent Cushing to carry out the mission, he was well prepared.

First, Cushing's mission failed and he was immediately recalled for this reason.

Second, if Cushing refuses, MacArthur will have a reason to immediately send troops to destroy his small guerrilla army!

But Cushing didn't do that.

He is missing!

Once he releases MacArthur's telegram to the public, it will inevitably cause an uproar in the Philippines.

What is the difference between a general who regards civilian lives as trivial and a brutal Japanese army?

This will inevitably seriously affect MacArthur's future career!

At least, it will leave him with a stain that can never be erased!

This was intolerable to MacArthur, who thought highly of himself.

Keston is an absolutely smart man.

When he learned Cushing's identity and MacArthur personally ordered Cushing's arrest, he found an excuse and left.
To be continued...