I am pleased to report I have been a little more productive this past week. I am a little late posting this update due to yet another internet failure most of today. A broken fibre optic cable apparently that affected most of our town !!!!!
Anyway this week I have completed construction of the batch of 31 GS wagons and painting is well advanced. The Pioneer upgrade has been completed and I have made a start on the next infantry battalion upgrade.
I am now getting close to the end of my planned equipment and soldier build programmes. Only about another couple of thousand soldiers to paint. I guess I have another three months of work then I will have to either stop modelling or build another display unit and start a fourth army. The problem is where to put another display unit. Not much spare wall space left now !!!!!!
Sunday, 28 June 2020
Friday, 26 June 2020
BOOK REVIEW. USELESS MOUTHS.
The British Army's Battles In France After Dunkirk May-June 1940.
This book was kindly brought to my attention by Mark at ManofTin blog. Mark is aware of my interest in logistics and on reading the synopsis of the book it certainly seemed to cover the logistics of the British Expeditionary Force in the campaign in France in 1940.
However that is not quite the case. I was vaguely aware that some British troops were left in France after the Dunkirk evacuation. I had no idea there were so many, 150,000 in fact. This book covers the fighting these troops engaged in before they were either captured or evacuated.
The reason why the book seems to address logistics is that the troops left behind after Dunkirk were mostly line of communication soldiers. The British Army of 1940 used French ports much further south than in 1914-1918 because of the threat of air attack. Therefore British lines of communication lay far to the south of the actual battle positions occupied by the BEF. When the German attack took place the British combat units were forced back to the northern Channel ports as the Germans cut them off from their LOC to the south.
Additionally the introduction and first few chapters tell the story of the development of logistics in the British Army. This is very interesting in its own right, but I assume is actually intended to explain why so many soldiers were on the LOC and how they could be formed into combat units and equipped from LOC resources.
Anyway, despite the book seeming to be about logistics, in fact it is a very detailed and well researched history of BEF operations after the fall of Dunkirk through to the French surrender. There is a great deal of useful information and I for one have learned a lot. I suspect I am not alone in thinking that British involvement in the French campaign ended after Dunkirk. If you thought so too or you have an interest in this campaign generally this is most definitely the book for you.
Thanks Mark for bringing it to my attention. It is a good book.
Wednesday, 24 June 2020
IMAGI-NATIONS. PART 16.
THE APPROACH OF THE OPENING BATTLE OF THE INVASION OF CHINA.
On 4 July 1870 UNION and Chinese forces engaged in an encounter battle as Chinese troops attempted to delay the UNION invasion of their country. As both sides fed more troops into the battle it soon became clear to the Chinese they were massively outnumbered not only in manpower but particularly in artillery. As the UNION bombardment increased in power the Chinese commander decided to commence a slow withdrawal, his mission being to delay the UNION advance while awaiting reinforcements rather than to engage in a pitched battle.
By early afternoon the Chinese had retired north about 5 miles, fighting as they fell back. Unbeknownst to them UNION cavalry in large numbers had moved to their north east ready to strike. The UNION cavalry had orders to wait until the Chinese were level with their positions then to launch a horse artillery attack followed by dismounted assaults by the cavalry. As Chinese attention focused on these attacks the UNION forces to the south would then launch their attack thereby crushing the Chinese in a pincer movement.
In a flagrant disregard of orders, as soon as the Chinese forces came in view, one of the UNION horse artillery regiments thundered down the hillside towards the Chinese, unlimbered and started a bombardment. Although surprised, the Chinese realised they may be in danger of being outflanked. While the UNION cavalry commander frantically ordered the rest of his forces to launch their assaults early, the Chinese , in a rare display of tactical brilliance, made a rapid retirement out of the danger zone leaving the following UNION forces desperately trying to catch up while the UNION cavalry commander sought to avoid his troops accidentally engaging their comrades.
The UNION plan had failed spectacularly. Lieutenant Colonel Fetterman, commander of the horse artillery regiment which had jumped the gun was relieved of command and sent home immediately. He subsequently took early retirement rather than face a court martial. Over the next few days the UNION cavalry followed the withdrawing Chinese while the main body of the UNION army remained stationary waiting for the railway to reach their positions and link up to the Chinese railway, thereby gaining a clear line all the way to Harbin.
On 10th July the first of many trains arrived in Harbin bring Chinese reinforcements. Over the course of the next two weeks a Chinese army of 150,000 assembled around Harbin together with another 150,000 who de-trained at the camp of the rearguard about 30 miles north of the main UNION positions. The Chinese general knew his forces would soon be strong enough to attack the UNION army, who still remained camped at the old Chinese rail-head waiting for their railway construction crews to arrive. UNION cavalry had maintained their positions in the hills overlooking the Chinese rearguard positions and had reported on the Chinese build up. They were not however aware that another 150,000 Chinese troops were at Harbin.
By the beginning of August the UNION track builders were only 30 miles from the main UNION positions. As UNION commanders prepared to continue their advance into China, information arrived from the cavalry that Chinese forces had started to deploy from their camp and that a movement south was clearly imminent. There were also confused reports of dust clouds to the north perhaps indicating the arrival of another Chinese force. In fact the Chinese troops around Harbin had been trained south and were being unloaded less than ten miles north of the Chinese advanced camp. On 6th August UNION cavalry fell back to the main UNION position with news that a very large Chinese army was on the move. In fact the Chinese forces now numbered 350,000 with troop trains arriving daily bringing further reinforcements.
Over the next few days the two sides maneuvered for advantage while moving closer so that by 10th August the two sides were only five miles apart, 265,000 UNION troops and over 350,000 Chinese troops were about to clash in a titanic struggle.
On 4 July 1870 UNION and Chinese forces engaged in an encounter battle as Chinese troops attempted to delay the UNION invasion of their country. As both sides fed more troops into the battle it soon became clear to the Chinese they were massively outnumbered not only in manpower but particularly in artillery. As the UNION bombardment increased in power the Chinese commander decided to commence a slow withdrawal, his mission being to delay the UNION advance while awaiting reinforcements rather than to engage in a pitched battle.
By early afternoon the Chinese had retired north about 5 miles, fighting as they fell back. Unbeknownst to them UNION cavalry in large numbers had moved to their north east ready to strike. The UNION cavalry had orders to wait until the Chinese were level with their positions then to launch a horse artillery attack followed by dismounted assaults by the cavalry. As Chinese attention focused on these attacks the UNION forces to the south would then launch their attack thereby crushing the Chinese in a pincer movement.
In a flagrant disregard of orders, as soon as the Chinese forces came in view, one of the UNION horse artillery regiments thundered down the hillside towards the Chinese, unlimbered and started a bombardment. Although surprised, the Chinese realised they may be in danger of being outflanked. While the UNION cavalry commander frantically ordered the rest of his forces to launch their assaults early, the Chinese , in a rare display of tactical brilliance, made a rapid retirement out of the danger zone leaving the following UNION forces desperately trying to catch up while the UNION cavalry commander sought to avoid his troops accidentally engaging their comrades.
The UNION plan had failed spectacularly. Lieutenant Colonel Fetterman, commander of the horse artillery regiment which had jumped the gun was relieved of command and sent home immediately. He subsequently took early retirement rather than face a court martial. Over the next few days the UNION cavalry followed the withdrawing Chinese while the main body of the UNION army remained stationary waiting for the railway to reach their positions and link up to the Chinese railway, thereby gaining a clear line all the way to Harbin.
On 10th July the first of many trains arrived in Harbin bring Chinese reinforcements. Over the course of the next two weeks a Chinese army of 150,000 assembled around Harbin together with another 150,000 who de-trained at the camp of the rearguard about 30 miles north of the main UNION positions. The Chinese general knew his forces would soon be strong enough to attack the UNION army, who still remained camped at the old Chinese rail-head waiting for their railway construction crews to arrive. UNION cavalry had maintained their positions in the hills overlooking the Chinese rearguard positions and had reported on the Chinese build up. They were not however aware that another 150,000 Chinese troops were at Harbin.
By the beginning of August the UNION track builders were only 30 miles from the main UNION positions. As UNION commanders prepared to continue their advance into China, information arrived from the cavalry that Chinese forces had started to deploy from their camp and that a movement south was clearly imminent. There were also confused reports of dust clouds to the north perhaps indicating the arrival of another Chinese force. In fact the Chinese troops around Harbin had been trained south and were being unloaded less than ten miles north of the Chinese advanced camp. On 6th August UNION cavalry fell back to the main UNION position with news that a very large Chinese army was on the move. In fact the Chinese forces now numbered 350,000 with troop trains arriving daily bringing further reinforcements.
Over the next few days the two sides maneuvered for advantage while moving closer so that by 10th August the two sides were only five miles apart, 265,000 UNION troops and over 350,000 Chinese troops were about to clash in a titanic struggle.
Monday, 22 June 2020
BOOK REVIEW. THE EAST INDIA'S COMPANY'S ARSENALS AND MANUFACTORIES.
Yet another of the books I bought from Naval Military Press. This is a reprint of a work published in 1937 by The Director of Ordnance Factories In India 1917-1920 who wrote the book following his retirement.
The contents are an in depth analysis of the development of the many and varied factories run by the East India Company with a look at how the various locations continued after the Mutiny, if at all. The level of detail is amazing . The research was carried out on old company records going back to the 1600's. Although there are no descriptions of the actual manufacturing processes which I would have liked, there are vast amounts of information on the various products made in India for the Company together with details of the development and staffing of production facilities over the years.
Throughout the reign of the Company the normal method of securing locally made products or supply services was by means of giving contracts to either Company or military officers which they managed as an adjunct to their other duties. The method of payment was to allow a commission on the value of goods supplied. Such an arrangement seems unusual today but was quite normal in those times.
As is well known, it was common for both civil and military officers to go to India to earn their fortune. This practice, especially under the Company, was known as Shaking the Pagoda Tree. Everyone did it to some degree or other. That said, reading this book gives an entirely new meaning to the expression. Rather than just shake the tree most of the contract holders uprooted the tree and beat it with big sticks to get every last rupee out and when that was done they usually resorted to fraud to extract even more. The level of corruption was staggering. I recall mentioning in a previous review that 19th century America had an endemic fraud problem but that pales into insignificance compared to what went on in India under the Company.
Although an unusual subject which will not appeal to many, this book gives a wonderful insight into several generally obscure aspects of the Company's operations in India quite apart from the actual purpose of the book. For that reason alone this book is highly recommenced to historians of the Indian Empire.
Saturday, 20 June 2020
UPDATE.
This week I have managed a little more modelling time although I am still feeling lazy. That is to say time has gone by but I really have no idea what I have been doing other than some walking and even that has been between showers. Hopefully a little more activity will follow next week as the warmer weather comes back, assuming the forecasts are right !!!!
This week I have completed the batch of ammunition caissons , as shown below, and just need to issue them to units.
I have now started construction of a batch of 31 GS wagons. As can be seen below, the bodies have been made. Next steps are to add wheels, including the spare, poles and horse mounting blocks, and towing hooks
The Pioneer upgrade batch have advanced but still need two coats of varnish to complete. I have also started another infantry battalion upgrade.
I am trying to post every two days so the next book review will follow Monday with Imagi-Nations on Wednesday.
Thanks again to all readers of my blog in allowing me to reach the milestone of 4000 hits. If there are any particular topics that interest you please let me know so I can do more.
Wednesday, 17 June 2020
IMAGI-NATIONS. PART 15.
THE INVASION OF CHINA.
The UNION army was instructed to plan and prepare an invasion of China to start at dawn on 22 June 1870. All seven UNION armies would be involved with the exception of an Infantry brigade forming the garrison in Mexico and a Cavalry brigade on the border with Ukraine operating patrols in that country to enforce the peace agreement with Russia.
The UNION forces would be formed into two army groups . Army group A consisting of 1st, 5th and 6th armies would march north west close to the Atlas Mountains while army group B comprising 3rd, 4th and 7th armies would march parallel to but north of army group A. 2nd army would form a general reserve and march several days behind army group A. Cavalry patrols would cover the space between the army groups. The ultimate objective would be Harbin, one thousand miles from the border. The intention was to bring the Chinese army to battle within that thousand miles, hopefully surround it and destroy it totally. Upon reaching Harbin, having already destroyed the Chinese army, that city would also be destroyed and the UNION forces would then withdraw while carrying out a systematic program of scorched earth on as much of eastern China as UNION forces could reach. To facilitate the invasion, the railway from Denver was improved and supplies and material collected to extend the railway into China to support the advancing UNION forces. All the resources of the UNION railway companies were collected to deliver this critical requirement.
By early June preparations had been completed with troops assembled and huge quantities of supplies at rail head. At dawn on the appointed day UNION artillery launched a short but heavy bombardment on the Chinese border outposts while cavalry forces funneled between the outposts and then fanned out into China. The Chinese outposts were quickly overrun by the advancing infantry. By the end of the first five days UNION forces had moved about 100 miles with the leading cavalry units another 50 miles further ahead where they had found and secured the rail-head of the new Chinese railway. In fact UNION cavalry had seen the smoke of the last Chinese train departing the area carrying the construction workers.
Clearly alarm bells had rung in Peking and all Chinese armies were mobilised. The nearest major troop formations were at the new base near Harbin and they started south around day 3 of the invasion with instructions not to fully engage with the UNION armies but to fight rearguard actions and await reinforcements. In the meantime Chinese civilians, having little idea of the UNION, did not at first flee the advancing troops but merely watched them disinterestedly and continued to tend their fields and crops. The UNION saw no danger from these simple peasants and ignored them too.
Construction of the UNION railway followed the advancing armies urgently soon reaching an average of three miles per day. UNION forces were under instruction to halt the advance as soon as the distance from rail-head reached 100 miles. It was now decided however to continue the advance until the main armies had reached the captured Chinese rail-head some 150 miles from the border which they did on day 8. Meanwhile the cavalry continued to press forward until day 10, some 200 miles from the border, at which time they too halted. Chinese forces from Harbin , using their railway, had moved south but had decided to de-train around 200 miles north of the border to enable sufficient space for maneuvering. It so happened that the de-training took place under the eyes of the most advanced UNION cavalry units.
The Chinese forces were estimated to have a strength of only 10,000 with ten guns as they were observed spreading out and slowly moving south, clearly looking for the UNION army. It was decided to move only one UNION army forward to meet the Chinese in order to avoid the Chinese learning the full strength of the UNION forces. It was assumed the Chinese would soon fall back after the two sides met in battle, at which time the bulk of the UNION cavalry force of about 6,000 with 72 guns would attack the Chinese from the flank. On day 13 of the invasion the Chinese advance guard ran into the leading elements of the UNION 1st army. The opening battle of the UNION invasion of China had started.
The UNION army was instructed to plan and prepare an invasion of China to start at dawn on 22 June 1870. All seven UNION armies would be involved with the exception of an Infantry brigade forming the garrison in Mexico and a Cavalry brigade on the border with Ukraine operating patrols in that country to enforce the peace agreement with Russia.
The UNION forces would be formed into two army groups . Army group A consisting of 1st, 5th and 6th armies would march north west close to the Atlas Mountains while army group B comprising 3rd, 4th and 7th armies would march parallel to but north of army group A. 2nd army would form a general reserve and march several days behind army group A. Cavalry patrols would cover the space between the army groups. The ultimate objective would be Harbin, one thousand miles from the border. The intention was to bring the Chinese army to battle within that thousand miles, hopefully surround it and destroy it totally. Upon reaching Harbin, having already destroyed the Chinese army, that city would also be destroyed and the UNION forces would then withdraw while carrying out a systematic program of scorched earth on as much of eastern China as UNION forces could reach. To facilitate the invasion, the railway from Denver was improved and supplies and material collected to extend the railway into China to support the advancing UNION forces. All the resources of the UNION railway companies were collected to deliver this critical requirement.
By early June preparations had been completed with troops assembled and huge quantities of supplies at rail head. At dawn on the appointed day UNION artillery launched a short but heavy bombardment on the Chinese border outposts while cavalry forces funneled between the outposts and then fanned out into China. The Chinese outposts were quickly overrun by the advancing infantry. By the end of the first five days UNION forces had moved about 100 miles with the leading cavalry units another 50 miles further ahead where they had found and secured the rail-head of the new Chinese railway. In fact UNION cavalry had seen the smoke of the last Chinese train departing the area carrying the construction workers.
Clearly alarm bells had rung in Peking and all Chinese armies were mobilised. The nearest major troop formations were at the new base near Harbin and they started south around day 3 of the invasion with instructions not to fully engage with the UNION armies but to fight rearguard actions and await reinforcements. In the meantime Chinese civilians, having little idea of the UNION, did not at first flee the advancing troops but merely watched them disinterestedly and continued to tend their fields and crops. The UNION saw no danger from these simple peasants and ignored them too.
Construction of the UNION railway followed the advancing armies urgently soon reaching an average of three miles per day. UNION forces were under instruction to halt the advance as soon as the distance from rail-head reached 100 miles. It was now decided however to continue the advance until the main armies had reached the captured Chinese rail-head some 150 miles from the border which they did on day 8. Meanwhile the cavalry continued to press forward until day 10, some 200 miles from the border, at which time they too halted. Chinese forces from Harbin , using their railway, had moved south but had decided to de-train around 200 miles north of the border to enable sufficient space for maneuvering. It so happened that the de-training took place under the eyes of the most advanced UNION cavalry units.
The Chinese forces were estimated to have a strength of only 10,000 with ten guns as they were observed spreading out and slowly moving south, clearly looking for the UNION army. It was decided to move only one UNION army forward to meet the Chinese in order to avoid the Chinese learning the full strength of the UNION forces. It was assumed the Chinese would soon fall back after the two sides met in battle, at which time the bulk of the UNION cavalry force of about 6,000 with 72 guns would attack the Chinese from the flank. On day 13 of the invasion the Chinese advance guard ran into the leading elements of the UNION 1st army. The opening battle of the UNION invasion of China had started.
Monday, 15 June 2020
UPDATE.
I thought I would let my few readers know that as of today my blog has just past 4000 hits. I think that is good considering the highly specialised nature of my ramblings which were never going to have a high level of general interest. That said, after two years of blogging with two followers and another three email followers I am very pleased that so many have found even a little interest in my writings. Thank you all.
Saturday, 13 June 2020
UPDATE.
Not much to report this week . Once again not much modelling time but I really am not sure what has taken up my time. I seem to be going through a period of laziness. Perhaps lockdown is getting to me at last. Anyway, I have started painting the batch of ammunition caissons and the next upgrade of Pioneers and the heavy weapons upgrade has been completed and just needs to be shelved. Two new books arrived this week. Reviews in due course. The next Imagi-Nations chapter will be published Monday.
Thursday, 11 June 2020
BOOK REVIEW. GUN FODDER.
The diary of four years of war.
This is the next in the batch of books I purchased from Navy Military Press. The original book was written in 1920. The author joined up as a cavalry trooper in 1914 and finished the war as a Major commanding an 18 pounder gun battery. Quite a record of achievement.
He was a writer before and after the war so there are a number of literary bits such as often appear in these autobiographies. I tend to skip them. He also became, due clearly to the stresses he was under over those hard years, very anti war and anti establishment. The end of the book includes quite a rant on that matter.
However the bulk of the contents give a very interesting description of life both as a cavalry trooper and as an artillery officer. As a university graduate, his descriptions of his early service in the ranks are very eye opening, he had little knowledge of the common man that is for sure.
The highlight of the book to me is the detailed report of his batteries activities during the March 1918 German offensive. Overall a good book well worth reading.
This is the next in the batch of books I purchased from Navy Military Press. The original book was written in 1920. The author joined up as a cavalry trooper in 1914 and finished the war as a Major commanding an 18 pounder gun battery. Quite a record of achievement.
He was a writer before and after the war so there are a number of literary bits such as often appear in these autobiographies. I tend to skip them. He also became, due clearly to the stresses he was under over those hard years, very anti war and anti establishment. The end of the book includes quite a rant on that matter.
However the bulk of the contents give a very interesting description of life both as a cavalry trooper and as an artillery officer. As a university graduate, his descriptions of his early service in the ranks are very eye opening, he had little knowledge of the common man that is for sure.
The highlight of the book to me is the detailed report of his batteries activities during the March 1918 German offensive. Overall a good book well worth reading.
Tuesday, 9 June 2020
UPDATE.
This past week I have done some modelling but not much. I am not sure now exactly what I have been doing but I seem to have been busy with other things. Anyway I have almost completed the heavy weapons companies upgrade previously mentioned and the batch of light GS trailers have been finished and these have been issued to units. I have also have built a batch of ammunition caissons that now await painting. An early start has also been made on the next set of Pioneer upgrades. Other than that not much else to report. A new book review and another thrilling !!!!!! installment of Imagi-Nations will follow later in the week.
Saturday, 6 June 2020
IMAGI-NATIONS. PART 14.
THE AFTERMATH OF THE CHINESE INVASION.
Following the return of their defeated soldiers in June 1869 the Chinese government and military command sought explanations for the spectacular defeat of the army. Responsibility was quickly allocated to the commanding general who soon disappeared. Having thus addressed public opinion they now sought the real reasons.
Clearly UNION fire power had been overwhelming but the Chinese decided that the main error had been that they had launched the invasion with insufficient troops. However that was due to the simple fact that the number of soldiers involved had been the maximum that could be supported and transported by the limited railway network in that part of China. The bulk of the Chinese population lived in the west of the country and that area had most of the railways. Clearly the Chinese would need to bring the full weight of their army against the UNION to secure a victory therefore a major program of railway construction was instigated in the east including the provision of substantial railhead facilities south east of Harbin. In fact a major new military base was started just east of that town in preparation for another invasion perhaps in 1871. In the meantime the Chinese reinforced the line of outposts already in existence along the border.
In the UNION the scale of the victory had surprised both the government and army. They realised the policy of providing the army with massive firepower had been a correct strategy. UNION artillery was far in advance of anything available in the other countries of TIAN. Nations like Britain, Germany and France , although using breech loaders , still had guns that needed resetting after each shot. Only the UNION had perfected the buffer mechanism that enabled rapid firing and some nations, like China and Russia, still used muzzle loading cannon. Additionally no other country possessed heavy artillery at all and no nation had the sheer quantity of artillery pro-rata to troop numbers as the UNION.
However it was very clear that the UNION army would need to be significantly increased in size to meet the now evident threat posed by China. Therefore authority was given to make changes in the structure of various battalions which would have the effect of increasing the size of a UNION army to just over 40,000 and also to create two brand new UNION armies. The 6th army would be based at the new Fort Laramie north of Dallas and 7th army would be located at the new Fort Apache north of Lincoln. New rail lines would be constructed to enable all armies to move to the border with China, this was in addition to the railway that was already under construction from Denver to the Chinese border to supply the large number of UNION forces still located along the eastern end of that border. There was no shortage of volunteers for the new armies following the Chinese invasion and by seeking voluntary transfers from experienced personnel in the existing armies, especially by promotion, the new armies were soon manned and on course to be fully operational. Providing the huge quantities of new vehicles and equipment actually proved some what more challenging. As part of the ramping up of military production, sufficient material was also ordered to fully equip another whole army but this would be held in a special store at Rock Island Arsenal over and above the standard replacement stocks already held.
UNION thinking now moved to consideration of how to deal with the Chinese threat in the longer term. Some suggested fortification of the border in case of another invasion while others suggested negotiations may be possible especially after the defeat China had suffered. Another group proposed to invade China, deal a shattering blow to the Chinese army and destroy all infrastructure in the east of that country so making another invasion impossible without huge construction and investment, in other words making another invasion of the UNION just too expensive for the Chinese to contemplate. UNION strategists recognised that with the exception of an infantry brigade in Mexico and a cavalry brigade on the border with Ukraine, all other UNION forces, including the new armies, could be deployed in such an operation.
In January 1870 a new factor appeared in the strategic situation. Although the UNION had returned over 90,000 Chinese prisoners and buried another 30,000, they still held almost 5,000 badly wounded Chinese soldiers who had been too seriously injured to return back in June the previous year. These men had been treated in two large field hospitals set up near Denver and some had even been treated in the base hospital in Fort Reno. It was now time for them to return to China. Through Mexico and via France, who had links with China, word was sent that these men could now be returned. The Chinese were not aware that the UNION had retained these soldiers for treatment and were not pleased at the prospect of their return and the impact on public opinion of finding that the UNION had been so considerate of Chinese wounded. The initial Chinese response, as conveyed to the UNION, was that the Chinese would take their soldiers back next time they invaded the UNION. In the event China eventually agreed to return of the wounded soldiers which took place in March. However the mention of another invasion had not gone unnoticed and this together with intelligence on Chinese railway construction activities finally enabled the UNION to decide how to resolve the China problem. Instructions were issued to the UNION army to prepare for an invasion of China during the summer of 1870.
Clearly UNION fire power had been overwhelming but the Chinese decided that the main error had been that they had launched the invasion with insufficient troops. However that was due to the simple fact that the number of soldiers involved had been the maximum that could be supported and transported by the limited railway network in that part of China. The bulk of the Chinese population lived in the west of the country and that area had most of the railways. Clearly the Chinese would need to bring the full weight of their army against the UNION to secure a victory therefore a major program of railway construction was instigated in the east including the provision of substantial railhead facilities south east of Harbin. In fact a major new military base was started just east of that town in preparation for another invasion perhaps in 1871. In the meantime the Chinese reinforced the line of outposts already in existence along the border.
In the UNION the scale of the victory had surprised both the government and army. They realised the policy of providing the army with massive firepower had been a correct strategy. UNION artillery was far in advance of anything available in the other countries of TIAN. Nations like Britain, Germany and France , although using breech loaders , still had guns that needed resetting after each shot. Only the UNION had perfected the buffer mechanism that enabled rapid firing and some nations, like China and Russia, still used muzzle loading cannon. Additionally no other country possessed heavy artillery at all and no nation had the sheer quantity of artillery pro-rata to troop numbers as the UNION.
However it was very clear that the UNION army would need to be significantly increased in size to meet the now evident threat posed by China. Therefore authority was given to make changes in the structure of various battalions which would have the effect of increasing the size of a UNION army to just over 40,000 and also to create two brand new UNION armies. The 6th army would be based at the new Fort Laramie north of Dallas and 7th army would be located at the new Fort Apache north of Lincoln. New rail lines would be constructed to enable all armies to move to the border with China, this was in addition to the railway that was already under construction from Denver to the Chinese border to supply the large number of UNION forces still located along the eastern end of that border. There was no shortage of volunteers for the new armies following the Chinese invasion and by seeking voluntary transfers from experienced personnel in the existing armies, especially by promotion, the new armies were soon manned and on course to be fully operational. Providing the huge quantities of new vehicles and equipment actually proved some what more challenging. As part of the ramping up of military production, sufficient material was also ordered to fully equip another whole army but this would be held in a special store at Rock Island Arsenal over and above the standard replacement stocks already held.
UNION thinking now moved to consideration of how to deal with the Chinese threat in the longer term. Some suggested fortification of the border in case of another invasion while others suggested negotiations may be possible especially after the defeat China had suffered. Another group proposed to invade China, deal a shattering blow to the Chinese army and destroy all infrastructure in the east of that country so making another invasion impossible without huge construction and investment, in other words making another invasion of the UNION just too expensive for the Chinese to contemplate. UNION strategists recognised that with the exception of an infantry brigade in Mexico and a cavalry brigade on the border with Ukraine, all other UNION forces, including the new armies, could be deployed in such an operation.
In January 1870 a new factor appeared in the strategic situation. Although the UNION had returned over 90,000 Chinese prisoners and buried another 30,000, they still held almost 5,000 badly wounded Chinese soldiers who had been too seriously injured to return back in June the previous year. These men had been treated in two large field hospitals set up near Denver and some had even been treated in the base hospital in Fort Reno. It was now time for them to return to China. Through Mexico and via France, who had links with China, word was sent that these men could now be returned. The Chinese were not aware that the UNION had retained these soldiers for treatment and were not pleased at the prospect of their return and the impact on public opinion of finding that the UNION had been so considerate of Chinese wounded. The initial Chinese response, as conveyed to the UNION, was that the Chinese would take their soldiers back next time they invaded the UNION. In the event China eventually agreed to return of the wounded soldiers which took place in March. However the mention of another invasion had not gone unnoticed and this together with intelligence on Chinese railway construction activities finally enabled the UNION to decide how to resolve the China problem. Instructions were issued to the UNION army to prepare for an invasion of China during the summer of 1870.
Thursday, 4 June 2020
BOOK REVIEW. WORK OF R.E. IN THE EUROPEAN WAR 1914-1919
THE SIGNAL SERVICE (FRANCE).
This is the third of the batch of books I recently purchased from Naval Military Press. This book covers the Signals Service in France and is a reprint of the original written in 1920.
The book is a very comprehensive and highly detailed work, in fact the detail makes the book a primary reference work rather than a general history. The in depth analysis is amazing and is presented on a year by year basis using the lessons learned from each campaign and includes not only the development of signalling equipment but also the techniques used to maintain communications. Examples include the use of various types of cable, exchanges, protection of cables, organisation of signals units and the merits of the various types of signalling like buzzers, telephones, telegraph, lamps, flags, dispatch riders, runners and wireless.
I have long sought information on the early use of wireless in the First World War and find now that the British cavalry actually went to France in 1914 with wireless equipped wagons as their primary signalling method. That said the widespread use of wireless did not come about until the final year of the war due mainly to resistance in the top brass who much preferred the telephone. Perhaps even more interesting was to find out that the British army engaged in the experimental use of wireless in the Boer War.
Overall an excellent reference book which otherwise is a bit of a chore to read due to the extraordinary level of detail and analysis, recommended only for the really committed enthusiast of British army signalling in the First World War.
Tuesday, 2 June 2020
IMAGI-NATIONS. PART 13.
THE BATTLE WITH THE CHINESE.
During the late morning of 6th May 1869 the Chinese forces stopped their advance for the day and made camp. UNION cavalry noted their exact positions and reported to command. The Chinese were about five miles from the dug in UNION armies. Just after dark 12 battalions of UNION heavy artillery opened a long range heavy fire on the Chinese positions. This bombardment continued all night causing heavy casualties and much disruption to the Chinese army. Dawn on 7th May found the Chinese still under fire as they broke camp and advanced expecting to meet the UNION army within a couple of miles having assumed they were under field artillery fire. After advancing 4 miles they came under intense UNION field artillery fire and the Chinese realised they had at last reached the UNION army. As they tried to bring forward their artillery the UNION bombardment increased to such an intensity that the Chinese commander recognised he had to get his forces out of the hurricane of fire. He immediately ordered a full scale charge on the UNION positions.
A tidal wave of Chinese troops flooded across the prairie towards UNION positions about a mile away. As they came closer the heavy machine guns of 12 UNION Heavy Weapons battalions opened fire along with a tornado of repeating rifle fire from the entrenched infantry. Chinese casualties were immense as they struggled to move forward. The advance soon petered out as Chinese soldiers sought shelter from the blizzards of fire behind rocks or sage brush or in folds in the ground. The Chinese commander saw that his troops could neither advance nor retreat yet to remain where they were would see them wiped out fairly quickly. He ordered his artillery forward to provide covering fire to enable the infantry to fall back. The Chinese artillery batteries bravely moved up to within half a mile of the UNION lines. Casualties among gun teams and gunners were huge but some guns did come into action sending their solid cannon balls hurling at the UNION forces. Immediately the Chinese infantry started to fall back leaving the prairie strewn with dead and wounded.
UNION field artillery and heavy machine guns took the Chinese artillery under fire and soon reduced them to only a few scattered remnants who now tried to escape too. The UNION fire proved too much however as gun teams were shot down and were unable to recover any of the Chinese guns. However the sacrifice of the Chinese artillery did enable their infantry to fall back out at least out of rifle range. The whole Chinese force now started a straggling retreat while still remaining under UNION artillery fire although this was now diminishing as ammunition supplies were used up. UNION forces had yet to perfect the resupply of ammunition during combat, a learning point noted by the UNION commander.
UNION field artillery and heavy machine guns took the Chinese artillery under fire and soon reduced them to only a few scattered remnants who now tried to escape too. The UNION fire proved too much however as gun teams were shot down and were unable to recover any of the Chinese guns. However the sacrifice of the Chinese artillery did enable their infantry to fall back out at least out of rifle range. The whole Chinese force now started a straggling retreat while still remaining under UNION artillery fire although this was now diminishing as ammunition supplies were used up. UNION forces had yet to perfect the resupply of ammunition during combat, a learning point noted by the UNION commander.
As the Chinese forces retreated in grave disorder, UNION cavalry were set in pursuit. In addition the UNION armies to the south west were ordered to advance north and inflict further punishment on the Chinese. With UNION cavalry shooting down stragglers and dust clouds being seen to the south the Chinese commander saw that his forces would soon come under attack from that direction. He urged his soldiers to fall back as quickly as possible. The retreat became a rout with soldiers throwing away anything that impeded their escape, even their weapons. Such vehicles as they had were left behind as well as the few artillery guns still remaining. Over the next four days the Chinese retreat continued with growing desperation. UNION cavalry hovered on all sides of the Chinese columns picking off stragglers. The Chinese general realised that his troops had no chance of regaining Chinese territory. He therefore order his troops to stand fast and surrender. White flags appeared throughout the Chinese columns. The Chinese general and his staff moved out from the mass of desperate soldiers and he formally surrendered to a UNION cavalry Lt. Colonel.
On the battle field and along the path taken by the retreating Chinese, UNION medical teams worked around the clock treating vast numbers of Chinese wounded. UNION Pioneers dug many mass graves and filled them. UNION supply trains caught up with the huge mass of surrendered Chinese soldiers and started issuing food and water to the now desperate masses. A great victory had been won by the UNION which suffered only 59 casualties in total. However they now held some 90,000 captured Chinese soldiers and had no plan of what to do with them.
In the meantime UNION cavalry had moved west towards the Chinese border and had started intercepting Chinese supply columns heading east. The wagon drivers offered little or no resistance. Under orders not to take any more prisoners the cavalry released the drivers and told them to return home while the wagons were burned. Word of a catastrophic defeat soon reached the Chinese high command who immediately mobilised thousands of soldiers and started them moving towards the border. Before long more information came to hand as to the extent of the disaster . The Chinese could scarcely believe that their whole invasion force had been either destroyed or captured. Clearly the UNION army had vastly greater strength than the Chinese had ever imagined. It was decided not to send reinforcements over the border but to await developments.
Meantime the UNION armies had continued their advance to the border bringing with them the surrendered Chinese soldiers. The Chinese general was released and was sent ahead with some staff to open negotiations with the Chinese government for the return of the prisoners. The UNION had determined that returning 90,000 heavily defeated soldiers would do more to persuade the Chinese government that further fighting was pointless than the UNION retaining the prisoners at great expense in supplies and secure accommodation. Although the Chinese government had little appetite for having thousands of badly beaten soldiers returning it had no choice but to agree to accept them On the morning of 9th June the Chinese prisoners started marching back over the border into China.
Following such a spectacular victory and defeat both sides now had to consider their next moves.
Monday, 1 June 2020
UPDATE.
After yet another warm, sunny week I can report that again I have enjoyed a reasonable amount of play time. I have now decided, and more importantly, secured agreement from my wife, that decorating can be put on hold. This is because we are still awaiting an indication when re-modelling of our kitchen and bathrooms may start. We have decided decorating can wait till the re-modelling has a start date which I am sure will then enthuse me enough to get on with that task. In the meantime I will just model, blog, sunbathe and do the necessary chores. That said with the hot dry weather the grass has stopped growing !!!!!!!! what a shame !!!!!!!
On the modelling front I can report that the batch of limbers has been completed and I have now started to build a batch of light GS trailers. The infantry battalion has been completed too and I am now painting the heavy weapons companies upgrades. I have also carried out a photo shoot of an artillery battalion in action. This took some time to set up, and put away, but gave some interesting photos of what one of these units may look like on the battlefield. I am happy to do more such shoots if readers are interested. However I am also looking into securing some background diorama pictures to add more life and context to the next shoot, its just a matter of getting the right background.
The next installment of Imagi-Nations will be published Tuesday. I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I like writing them .They are all based on wargames I have fought in my head over the years and reflect the parallel development of my armies during those years.
On the modelling front I can report that the batch of limbers has been completed and I have now started to build a batch of light GS trailers. The infantry battalion has been completed too and I am now painting the heavy weapons companies upgrades. I have also carried out a photo shoot of an artillery battalion in action. This took some time to set up, and put away, but gave some interesting photos of what one of these units may look like on the battlefield. I am happy to do more such shoots if readers are interested. However I am also looking into securing some background diorama pictures to add more life and context to the next shoot, its just a matter of getting the right background.
The next installment of Imagi-Nations will be published Tuesday. I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I like writing them .They are all based on wargames I have fought in my head over the years and reflect the parallel development of my armies during those years.
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