The Indochina Deception*
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DATE: September 24, 1940:*
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BATTLE TYPE: Japanese Advance vs Vichy French Delay*
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The September 1940 accords signed by Japan and the colonial Vichy French government in French Indochina granted various basing and transit rights to the Japanese.  It also limited the number of Japanese troops which could be stationed in Indochina to 6000, and set an overall cap of 25,000 on the total number of troops (including those in transit) that could be in the colony at any given time. In addition, the final article of the agreement barred all Japanese land, air, and naval forces from Indochinese territory except as explicitly authorized in the preceding articles. Exceptions to these agreements would require Vichy approval.*
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But the Japanese Doctrine of "Asia for Asians" evidently trumped any agreement with the French colonialists because within hours of the accords being signed, the Japanese 5th Infantry Division of the Army of Canton crossed the Indochinese border from China at three points in Lang Son province. This movement blatently contravened the new accords so that Vichy authorities in Ha Noi faced an immediate crisis.*
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Several counterattacks are undertaken on the 23rd and 24th of September in a vain attempt to halt the Japanese movements. Unfortunately, these maneuvers in difficult terrain also caused some forces to lose all contact with the division commmand and their own battalion command as well.  There were also critical morale problems in some units with regards to native soldiers who saw the Japanese as liberators, and the French as imperialists whose days were numbered.  Some units ceased to exist as the native soldiers melted away leaving the French officers to find their own way out.*
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This left the French flanks exposed. The 11th Company and a Motorized Detachment of the III/9th Regiment of Colonial lnfantry was sent to take up positions in the village of Mai Pha in the afternoon of the 24th in order to strengthen the southeast flank.  Before all the units could arrive they were met by advancing elements of the Japanese 5th Division, Army of Canton.*
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*Design by:  Ed Mortimer (based on an Advanced Squad Leader scenario by Laurent Closier)  
