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From:
Lieutenant-General Yamashita Tomoyuki
Officer Commanding, 25th Army
To: Lieutenant-Colonel
Tamayama Kazuo
Officer
Commanding, Hokusai Battalion, 9th Infantry Brigade
Tamayama-san,
Greetings
in the name of the Emperor!
As
commander of the battalion forming the point of the spearhead of our
forces driving south for
Singapore
, I bring you news of an opportunity to win great honour!
Intelligence
from our scouts and local tribesmen has told us that the British are
making a stand at prepared positions around the
village
of
Lardak
. The position sits astride the main north-south trunk road where it
cuts through the Bebola Udang ridge. It is a natural defensive site that
is supposed to have been strengthened by extensive works commissioned
over the last few months. If they can hold us here, then our whole
campaign will grind to a halt. Get through, and the way to
Kuala Lumpur
and beyond is open!
Your
orders are to take and hold both the Lardak position and Lardak village,
opening up the main north-south trunk road for our further advance. You
are advised to take advantage of the fact that we can transport
considerable numbers of troops down the
Yee
Meen
River
, hopefully surprising the enemy by attacking from the front and his
rear left flank.
Banzai!
Yamashita
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