Boxer Campaign - Planning the Plan - Part 2 of 12

DAY0 - Planning to Plan


The commanders arrived on the Japanese flagship to discuss the operations. The fleet was anchored several miles off the coast, north of WIE LUNG HOO. The Russia, French, Italian, and German generals had their best dress uniforms on with medals and ribbons in prominent display. General Hood of the US Army arrived in campaign fatigues and just rolled his eyes at the peacocks on parade. The Japanese Admiral Kramaguchi was incapacitated with a severe case of gonorrhea and was unable to attend the meeting. Oddly he sent no replacement for himself.

The generals, colonels, and orderlies scurried about the Admiral’s planning room and eventually sat down with maps, drinks, and agendas. General “Mad Dog” Hood decried the need for speed to the Western Trading Station, while saving as many Westerners as possible. The French, under the guidance of Genereaux Eric du Cottrell, were concerned about the Western Trading Station, but urged the plan of a second operation to save the nuns at the Catholic Mission as soon as possible. Field Marshal Ludwig von Bolling the German commander, wanting total control as usual, asked to be named overall commander of the land forces, but was hushed into silence by the other generals. The Germans pressed the need to land without opposition and as little damage to property as possible. They had economic interests to protect. General Boris Konnellovski the Russian commander, voice slurred from too much excellent vodka, said his forces would only support an immediate advance to save the Western Trading Station. The Italians, led by Conte de Milan, Generale Adolfo Modladatii, where just happy to be there. The Italians were willing to guard the rear of the column if necessary; otherwise they were content to do what the others planned.

As plans were discussed around an advance down the Imperial Road and the East Asian Railway, it was observed during the meeting the General Konnellovski began to become increasingly concerned. He would look at his map, then look at the other generals, then back down at his map. He even had to put down his glass of vodka and grab the map with both hands. “Where is the railroad?”, he blurted out after several more minutes of staring at his map and hearing of a plan to take rail cars from WIE LUNG HOO to SI-LIAN. Everything became silent then laughter broke out among the group. Apparently the Russians had maps from the 1870s and theirs didn’t have any railroads on them!!! Russian lackeys quickly ran over to the other general’s maps and drew the railroad on the Russian map for future use.

After hours of discussion is was decided that the majority of forces would disembark at WIE LUNG HOO. The German and American forces would disembark and advance down the German East Asian Railway tracks towards SI-LIAN. The Russians, Italians, and most of the French would march down the Imperial Road to WENPO. [See Queng Lui map, top left corner of the map]

The French also garnered international support from Japanese, Russian and English ships to help them secure the Catholic Mission near FONGSUN in the KANSI WO INLET.