Marching Orders: The Untold Story of How the American Breaking of the Japanese Secret Codes Led to the Defeat of Nazi Germany and Japan

by Bruce Lee

The next day, Foreign Minister Shigemitsu comments on Japan’s production problems. Apparently Oshima has made some comment in a previous message that wasn’t intercepted, but it provoked this reply: “We realize how vitally important it is to increase our shipping. We are haunted by the number of ships we have lost.” He then reassures Oshima, saying: “… So far as ships and planes are concerned, we can wage successful war this year and next.”20 On December 10, the Magic specialists decode a nine-page section of Oshima’s report of November 10 in which he describes in considerable detail the organization of the German defenses in France and the Low Countries. The analysts in Washington point out that Oshima’s data on the disposition of troops, the responsibilities of commanders and the systems of fortifications is reliable. They say: “In general, the Ambassador’s information confirms intelligence obtained from other sources.”21 Nothing could be more welcome than having reports from the field confirmed at such a high level.