Chapter 559: Charles begins to counterattack

Haig was awakened by the sound of artillery fire in his sleep. He turned over and got up, opened the door quickly, ran to the observation window and raised the telescope.

The French positions on the south bank were already bursting into flames, as if they were engulfed in a sea of ​​fire, while the British positions were almost empty.

It was obvious that the Germans were concentrating their artillery fire on the southern bank of the Somme and attacking the French defenses.

A smug smile appeared on Haig's face. The battle situation was developing just as he had hoped. He would soon hear the cries for help from the Charles and the Parliament.

After thinking for a while, Haig ordered his staff: "Notify the French Army Department that the German army has suddenly launched an attack, and the offensive is concentrated on the French defense line on the south bank of the Somme!"

"Yes, General!"

Haig smiled slightly, he was happy to inform Paris of this "good news".

…

The Bourbon Palace in Paris, in addition to the parliament hall, also has a series of ancillary buildings, totaling more than a hundred buildings, including residences that provide food and lodging for parliamentarians from afar.

Therefore, even though the parliament is under martial law and almost isolated from the outside world, the members of parliament can still maintain their elegance, live in single rooms and enjoy delicious food.

Gallieni also lived there. In order to better keep the congressmen from wandering around, he specifically chose the first floor.

Unlike the members of parliament, he, who was in charge of martial law, kept in touch with the outside world at all times and conveyed information to parliament in real time.

At 5:10 in the morning, Gallieni had not yet risen, but he was already awake.

He argued with the congressmen for a long time last night. He believed that the top priority was to elect a commander-in-chief as soon as possible to take charge of the situation.

The threat of mutiny at the front was not limited to the Somme.

Although the Somme River is the source, it has spread to other areas and is still expanding.

Charles could only stabilize the situation on the Somme River, but he was out of reach in other directions.

Once the German army launched a full-scale counterattack, the blow to the French army would still be fatal.

However, the characteristic of parliament is "slowness", and it took several days to preliminarily decide on the candidates: Pétain, Foch, and Charles.

Shire was merely nominated, put forward by Steed, Wells and others.

But Gallieni knew that Charles would not be chosen.

It's not because Charles is not good enough, but because he is too good, so good that the parliament regards him as a "dictator" who may not need the parliament.

Whoever it is, choose him as soon as possible, Gallieni thought.

In the current situation, even electing a fool like Joffre or Nivelle is better than having no commander-in-chief.

At this time, there was a knock on the door.

Before Gallieni could respond, Lieutenant Colonel Fernand’s anxious voice came: “General, the Germans have launched an attack. In the Somme, they are only attacking the French lines!”

Gallieni's face turned pale and he sat up in bed as if he had been pricked by a needle.

Only attack the French line?

The Germans must have known something!

Who revealed the news?

Gallieni stood up and quickly put on his military uniform, and ordered: "Wake up everyone, immediately! Call an emergency meeting!"

"Yes, General," replied Lieutenant Colonel Fernan.

…

In the conference hall of the Bourbon Palace, the parliamentarians came in twos and threes and sat in their seats, looking calm and composed.

They had no concept of "emergency meetings". Any topic would be delayed for several days, and being able to get up at around five o'clock was already considered a great respect.

If Lieutenant Colonel Fernando had not ordered the guards to spread out over a large area, with each person responsible for urging a member of parliament, it would probably take at least an hour for them to gather.

Because after they get up, they need to wash, have breakfast, chat while eating, and they may need to try on a few sets of clothes...

"Gentlemen." Gallieni couldn't wait any longer. He announced loudly before everyone was seated: "I just received news that the Germans have launched an attack on the Somme River!"

There was an instant commotion in the meeting hall. The expressions of the congressmen changed one after another. Those who were still looking for seats stood there in a daze, staring blankly at Gallieni.

"It's obvious," Gallieni added, "that the Germans knew something. They only attacked the south bank of the Somme, which is the French line."

The members of parliament became increasingly uneasy and discussed:

"Someone must have leaked the news. The Germans knew that the French army was in the chaos of a mass mutiny."

"Now it's up to Charles. I hope he can stop the German attack."

"We should send reinforcements and not put all our hopes on Ciel!"

…

But some people immediately objected to this idea:

"Send reinforcements? Don't you know that the mutiny is spreading like a plague?"

"If we send reinforcements to the front, they might get 'infected' and mutiny!"

"We can only deploy them in the rear, so that at least we can provide an additional layer of protection for Paris!"

…

The false idea was to add an extra layer of protection to Paris, but the true idea was to protect the parliamentarians and give them time to retreat.

Everyone knew that if the main forces of the three army groups on the front line were destroyed, the remaining reserve army group with the weakest combat effectiveness in Gallieni's hands would be unable to support itself, and France would be on the verge of destruction.

At this time, Lieutenant General Avis, who had to stay here because of martial law, could no longer hold back.

As a British commander, Lieutenant General Avis originally did not have much say in Parliament.

But in this extraordinary period, they who have control over materials naturally have certain "privileges", or they think they have "privileges".

"Gentlemen!" Lieutenant General Ives walked up to the podium in high spirits. Although he tried his best to conceal it, there was still a hint of pride in his tone: "I think now is the time to unite. We will not sit idly by and watch our allies fall into danger. I also believe that only through deeper cooperation can we resolve the current crisis!"

Applause broke out in the conference room, and the members nodded in praise:

“That’s our steadfast ally.”

"The only country that can save France now is Britain."

"He's right. We can't defend our respective lines like before. Otherwise, we will be defeated one by one by the Germans!"

…

Steed, Wells, and a group of centrist MPs had no expression on their faces.

They knew that what Lieutenant General Elvis said sounded nice, but the other meaning was: Kneel down, we will protect you!

The so-called "deeper cooperation" means allowing the British to infiltrate various French command organizations and fully control the direction of the war.

Gallieni also understood this, but he could do nothing about it.

Compared to the Germans reaching Paris and forcing France to surrender, the plan proposed by Ives might be more acceptable.

Just when Gallieni was in trouble, Lieutenant Colonel Fernand hurried in: "General, Charles has started a counterattack!"

"What? Counterattack?" Gallieni was stunned.

The congressmen also looked at Lieutenant Colonel Fernando in disbelief.

It's not even daybreak yet, and the German artillery preparation hasn't been completed, which means the German attack hasn't started yet, but Charles has actually started a counterattack?

Relying on those troops who were in a state of mutiny not long ago and whose morale has not yet fully recovered... counterattack?!

(End of this chapter)