Chapter 301: Flank of Defense
War is like the game of Go. In Go, the emphasis is on using the least number of pieces to surround the most points. Similarly, in war, the emphasis is on using the least number of troops to occupy the most space.
Especially in landing operations, space means almost everything.
Without space, subsequent troops and supplies cannot be transported ashore, and the troops and ammunition will only become fewer and fewer.
There was no room, and the artillerymen who were supposed to stay in the rear could only face the enemy's rifles on the front line because they had no rear.
There is no space. Even if you win ten times, if you lose once, you will be driven into the sea and wiped out, and you will have to land all over again.
Charles's battle plan was like occupying a corner in Go. He used a nearly straight line of defense to dig a triangular landing site of several square kilometers from the throat of Bolayer.
General Winter looked at the map while comparing it to the documents, with some worry on his face:
"It's not going to be easy to take this line, Colonel."
"This is the second line of defense, with perhaps a regiment of troops!"
"The enemy has deployed at least one regiment on the coastal defense line, which means we need to defeat two regiments, about 7,000 people, to occupy this defense line."
General Geprat said, "And you must act fast enough, otherwise the enemy will immediately use their superior force to launch a counterattack against you!"
General Hamilton reminded: "Don't forget that the enemy also has 105MM howitzers, they will blast a barrage of shells in front of the enemy's defense line!"
…
Several people were talking about the dangers and difficulties of this battle.
Charles looked confused:
"Defeat two enemy regiments?"
"Howitzer blasting barrage?"
"No, our enemy is only one regiment, and there won't be any barrage. Besides, I always think that we are the one with the advantage in manpower!"
General Winter couldn't help laughing: "You are so humorous, Colonel! We are a landing force, and the enemy has a division of more than 10,000 people waiting there. Where does our superior force come from?"
Geplat and Hamilton were not laughing.
Geprat thought that Charles had his reasons for saying that.
Hamilton seemed to have thought of something after being reminded by Charles, and nodded slightly to show his agreement!
Without waiting for Charles to explain, Hamilton analyzed: "Because our landing point is not corner 'A', right?"
Hamilton looked towards Ciel.
The landing beach north of Bolayel is a sharp angle with a horizontal line of defense in the middle, which is very similar to the letter "A", so it is called "A" angle or "A" beach.
General Winter asked doubtfully, "Isn't it Corner 'A' that we want to occupy? How can we occupy it if we don't land at Corner 'A'?"
Hamilton pointed his finger at one end of the enemy's second line of defense: "We land here. As soon as we get ashore, we will face the enemy's second line of defense, and the flank of the enemy's second line of defense!"
Geplat and General Winter were stunned for a moment, and then both looked at Charles with shocked eyes.
Charles nodded and replied:
"why not?"
"We are fighting along this enemy line from west to east. The enemy's entire regiment is scattered along this approximately six-kilometer-long line. The number of troops we face at any given moment may be less than 100!"
This is equivalent to the enemy forming a long snake formation in the shape of a "1" and continuously sending troops in front of Charles' landing force.
"In addition!" General Hamilton added: "Once this line of defense is taken down, the enemy's troops deployed on the coastal defense line will be surrounded. They have Charles' defense line in front of them and our naval guns behind them... What we have to consider is not how to defeat them, but how to deal with these prisoners!"
Hamilton is still quite capable, Charles thought. After all, he is an army general and has rich practical experience.
But what Charles didn't know was that Hamilton was filled with only frustration.
He had been in the army for decades and had experienced countless battles, big and small, but his strategy was far inferior to that of the young man who had never fought a war.
"Oh my God!" General Geprat, who had been staring at the map, finally understood. He looked up at Charles and exclaimed, "You are simply a genius, Colonel! A battle that was so difficult in our eyes, but you just changed the landing point and turned it into a nightmare for the enemy!"
…
This battle indeed became a nightmare for the Ottomans, and even for Sanders and Bahar.
The Ottoman 17th Division, which was stationed in Bolayer and was part of the Third Army, had just been transferred to the command of Colonel Bahar.
Bahar adjusted the troop deployment of other units, but did not move the 17th Division.
He believed that the 17th Division was safe and did not need to worry about enemy naval bombardment.
To the west of Bolayel is the Gulf of Saros, and if the enemy fleet enters here, it will be bombarded by naval guns in three directions.
To the east was the Sea of Marmara, and to reach this side the enemy fleet would need to pass through the Dardanelles, which was impossible, and they had already failed.
Bahar carefully looked over the 17th Division's deployment map:
One reinforced regiment plus a temporarily formed militia regiment were stationed on the coastline, one regiment guarded the defense line northwest of Bolayel, one regiment guarded the defense line southeast of Bolayel, and the remaining regiment was in the northeast of Bolayel as a reserve, ready to reinforce the three defense lines at any time.
(Note: The Ottoman Empire’s military organization was modeled after Europe, with one division, two brigades, and four regiments. The militia regiment was a temporary addition.)
Perfect!
If the enemy landed here and intended to cut off the supply line, they would face a wave-like attack from the 17th Division.
When the artillery fire sounded, Bahar, who had been busy all night, was so tired that he fell asleep on his desk. He was awakened by the artillery fire and immediately recognized that it was coming from the direction of Bolayel.
Bahar rubbed his eyes and yawned, smiling easily: "These idiots actually plan to attack Bolayel. They must think their lives are too long!"
Bahar said this, but he did not dare to neglect his hands. He stood up and stretched his aching back, and ordered the staff: "Order the 11th Division to prepare to reinforce the 17th Division!"
"Yes, Colonel." The staff officer responded and trotted off to convey the order.
The 11th Division was outside the peninsula. The narrow terrain of Bolayel meant that it could not deploy too many troops. If they were too densely packed, they would suffer heavy casualties once they were bombarded by enemy naval artillery.
However, before the order could be conveyed, another staff officer ran to Bahar in panic and reported: "Colonel, the 17th Division requests reinforcements. They can't withstand the enemy's attack!"
"What?" Bahar looked at the staff officer in surprise.
The 17th Division is the second line of defense. The battle has just begun. How could it not be able to withstand the enemy's attack?
"Colonel!" the staff officer explained, "The enemy landed on the beach in Annia village very quickly. They said there were tanks!"
"Tank? That's impossible!" Bahar was stunned.
(Note: The defenders mistook the armored landing craft for tanks)
The staff officer stepped forward quickly and pointed out the location of Annia Village on the map: "Here, on the flank of the second line of defense!"
The color instantly drained from Bahar's face. That was not just the flank of the second line of defense, but the flank of the entire Bolayel line of defense!
(End of this chapter)
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