Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Italian War (3)
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On June 25, 1950, the first day of the Italian War, the UN Security Council convened.
“I appeal to the distinguished representatives of all nations. The war that has broken out in Italy is an unprecedented crisis since the founding of the United Nations. If we tolerate the illegal regime’s attempt to overthrow the Kingdom of Italy—a UN member state—by force, the international order painstakingly established after World War II will be shaken to its roots. Before the principles won at the cost of tens of millions of lives are undermined, we must act decisively.”
US Ambassador to the UN Warren Robinson Austin condemned North Italy in a stern tone.
In response, Soviet Ambassador Yakov Malik replied with a sneer.
“We must remember that the so-called UN member state planned a preemptive strike against the de facto North Italian government, which has been recognized by the Eastern Bloc. North Italy has merely taken self-defensive measures after enduring endless provocations from imperialists and fascists.”
The other nations merely watched the verbal sparring between the two sides.
After the exchange of barbs, the United States proposed a resolution demanding the withdrawal of the North Italian People’s Republic.
“The evidence is clear that North Italy is disrupting peace on the Italian Peninsula. We therefore request a resolution calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities by North Italy and the withdrawal of their forces north of the military demarcation line.”
“The Soviet Union opposes the US resolution.”
The Soviet Union immediately exercised its veto.
With the permanent members at an impasse, the Security Council was effectively paralyzed.
“Those damn reds are coming out swinging.”
The United States had anticipated the possibility of the UN being rendered powerless.
On June 27, at a NATO meeting in Brussels, the United States requested the mobilization of NATO forces.
Unexpectedly, however, the NATO member states hesitated to intervene.
It was due to the terrifying Soviet military presence and nuclear arsenal deployed in Central Europe.
The fear that this war could spark World War III kept the members from acting decisively.
Compounding this were Britain and France’s domestic issues, which prevented them from fully stepping up.
The NATO nations offered formal assurances of cooperation, but none committed to providing substantial troops or materiel right away.
Britain and France asked Washington for time to reorganize their forces.
“In the end, we’re the only ones who can move immediately.”
The problem was that even the US military lacked sufficient strength.
Due to ongoing demobilization since 1945, the US Army did not have adequate forces.
The US forces in Europe were already stretched thin just securing Germany.
Even scraping together troops from the homeland and pulling from US Europe Command, the maximum deployable force at once was barely one division.
“Move the 2nd Armored Division to Italy for now.”
The 2nd Armored Division under the 7th Army in Germany was selected as the urgent reinforcement for Italy.
Even as the US rushed to intervene, the Italian front continued to collapse rapidly.
On June 28, 1950, King Umberto II of Italy fled to Taranto but, apparently embarrassed, returned to Naples and addressed the nation.
“My fellow citizens, rest assured. The Italian Army is holding the line without faltering. Trust your government and return to your daily lives.”
The people believed the king was still in Rome delivering the speech.
“His Majesty seems to be in Rome too, so it should be fine.”
Meanwhile, the Italian People’s Army was steadily advancing south toward Rome.
Their pace was far faster than the Italian Kingdom’s forces had anticipated.
The invading army was larger than the Kingdom had expected, leaving the Italian defenders unable to hold the line.
The front crumbled so quickly that the Italian command couldn’t make sound decisions.
In the chaos, irresponsible orders proliferated.
“Your Excellency. Are we really blowing the bridges?”
“If we don’t, the People’s Army will take the capital. Blow them.”
On June 30, 1950, the bridges spanning the Tiber River through central Rome were demolished.
“Oh no. How are we supposed to cross the river now?”
Citizens on the north bank who had belatedly tried to flee milled about in despair before the ruined bridges.
Some crowded into narrow gaps amid the wreckage, attempting to ford the river.
“Get out of the way! Move!”
In the hellish pandemonium, people shoved and trampled one another.
Desperate to cross even a moment sooner, they ignored the screams of others.
Hundreds drowned in this horrific crossing attempt.
The disaster didn’t end there.
Four of the Kingdom’s ten main divisions were north of the Tiber.
But with the bridges blown ahead of schedule, those units were stranded on the north bank.
Prime Minister Bonomi was aghast upon hearing the report.
“Th-then that means half our army has been neutralized?”
“No need to worry, Your Excellency. The Americans will intervene soon and resolve this.”
As the Italian military brass boasted, the US was indeed intervening swiftly.
Starting on the third day of the war, US Navy air wings and the Air Force began bombing North Italy, and by the fifth day, elements of the 2nd Armored Division were flying into Naples.
Yet it wasn’t enough to halt the momentum of the North Italian Army and its allies.
On July 2, 1950, the North Italian People’s Army commandeered civilian vessels to cross the Tiber.
“Y-Your Excellency. You should evacuate to Naples for now.”
Italian Army Chief of Staff General Claudio Trezzani urged flight.
“Is there truly no other way?”
Military advisor General Bergonzoli, present at the meeting, nodded gravely.
With the situation this dire, even the prime minister had no choice but to abandon Rome for Naples.
In just one week since the war began, the Kingdom of Italy lost its capital Rome, along with 40% of its forces and heavy equipment.
The Kingdom’s collapse now seemed only a matter of time.
*
While the world focused on Italy, the Central Intelligence Agency was secretly wielding a blade against the US via McCarthy.
“This man, this man is a red! Qian Xuesen! A red bastard like this infiltrated our university and stole our technology! How terrifying is that? I trembled at the thought of our nation’s rocket technology leaking straight to the reds. Don’t you all feel the same?”
“No, I’m truly innocent!”
“Shut up. You’re guilty. I have proof in my briefcase!”
McCarthy had a tongue that could destroy people without evidence.
Defy McCarthy, and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)—the body investigating and impeaching un-American subversive activities—would summon victims to hearings and grind them to dust.
“You requested leave to return home to Caltech in May—wasn’t that a ploy to pass info to the Chicoms?”
“No. It was to visit my ailing father.”
“Then what about that red Waynebaum you recommended for admission? The evidence is crystal clear—stop denying it!”
Victims dragged to these hearings were left shell-shocked by HUAC’s relentless scrutiny, down to the last speck of dust.
Any slip-up meant a communist label, followed by social burial.
“We can’t keep you anymore. Pack your bags and leave our university.”
In this way, numerous Chinese-American scientists were expelled from US academia.
Those ousted scientists were then kidnapped by the Central Intelligence Agency without a trace.
“Mmph!”
One gagged Chinese man thrashed about, trying desperately to speak.
His plea was obvious.
‘I haven’t done anything to deserve this. Please, spare me.’
Words not worth hearing.
Did they think the Agency grabbed targets at random?
“Pour.”
Fresh concrete poured into the drum barrel containing the man.
The agents watched impassively.
The struggling Chinese man was a brilliant scientist destined for great achievements.
He writhed in agony, but as the concrete filled up, his movements slowed.
‘Qian Xuesen, was it? What a shame.’
Central Intelligence Agency External Operations Chief Han Yun-su took in the dying man.
The reason for Qian Xuesen’s death was simple.
He was too brilliant for a Chinese.
If he’d been European, they might have considered recruitment—but Han Chinese couldn’t be trusted.
Han Chinese, with their innate Sinocentrism, could never assimilate.
The great genius Qian Xuesen met a gruesome end inside the drum barrel.
Once the concrete set, Han Yun-su gave a signal.
“Dump it.”
Splash.
One man vanished into the Mississippi River just like that.
In this manner, the Agency eliminated over ten Chinese who posed threats to the Republic of Korea.
Sometimes they wrapped them in barbed wire instead of barrels before dumping.
That left no trace, not even a shred of flesh.
‘If they threaten the Republic of Korea, even infants must be removed.’
That was the mindset the Agency was trained to embrace.
National interest trumped any ethics.
Upon returning to the safe house, Han Yun-su sent a classified dispatch home.
“Operation 003 complete.”
Ten targets remained to eliminate.
Talents who, if returned to China, could elevate either the Republic of China or Communist China dramatically.
Among them was Deng Jiaxian, a key figure in Communist China’s nuclear program.
“Chief. The next list and evidence for McCarthy are ready.”
“Good work.”
Han Yun-su meticulously reviewed the evidence for McCarthy.
It was all fabricated circumstantial evidence from surveilling the targets’ circles.
But McCarthy was the kind of monster who could weaponize even absurd lies.
With such a beast gripping US public opinion, the Agency’s work was a breeze.
‘We’ll have to hustle for the next month.’
Drag it out too long, and the FBI might catch the scent.
They had to neutralize the key targets first.
‘We’ll surely end up in hell when we die.’
Han Yun-su figured every Agency man would.
But someone had to do it.
All for the great homeland, the Republic of Korea.
Han saluted the portrait of His Excellency hanging in the safe house corner.