"Commander, Kinabatangan is completely deserted. General Sōsaku Suzuki, commander of the 35th Army, reported that by the time they arrived, the Germans had already withdrawn!" reported Major General Lin Yixiu, chief of staff of the 14th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army.
"What? The Germans have already withdrawn?" Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma frowned.
To ensure they could defeat the Germans in battle, the Island Nation's Army had made every possible preparation this time. They had waited until all the units under the 14th Area Army, 7th Area Army, and 18th Area Army had arrived before launching the offensive. Yet they had never expected the Germans to withdraw of their own accord, leaving Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma at a loss.
"Could there be some conspiracy behind this?" Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma asked instinctively.
The previous crushing defeat of the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army had left him deeply uneasy.
"Commander, we still do not know. But we cannot rule out that possibility," Major General Lin Yixiu said.
Clearly, the German military's easy destruction of the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army with its main force had dealt a tremendous shock to the Island Nation's Army commanders.
"Have the Army Air Force send aircraft to conduct another reconnaissance. Confirm it before taking the next step!" Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma ordered.
"Yes, Commander!" Major General Lin Yixiu replied.
Soon afterward, the 7th Area Army and the 14th Area Army also reported that the German military had withdrawn. This outcome left the Island Nation's Army commanders at a complete loss. None of them knew why the German Army had retreated. It was as if they had clenched their fists, only to punch empty air.
With no other choice, the commanders of the various area armies could only report this news to Southern Army Headquarters