Chapter 343 New Situation
This is to extend the use time of the gas mask.
Activated carbon gas masks use the adsorption of poisonous gases by carbon particles to purify the air, thereby achieving the purpose of gas protection.
However, this does not mean that it can be used indefinitely or repeatedly.
When it reaches a certain saturation, its adsorption effect on poison gas particles is greatly weakened, and the gas filter canister needs to be replaced.
Of course it is impossible to call a pause during combat to give the French soldiers time to replace the gas filter canisters.
Charles's idea was to make use of the tunnel.
The air in the tunnels in front of the trenches from which the poison gas was blown was usable, although it was mixed with all sorts of unbearable smells: the stench of sweat, urine, and even feces.
The British and French armies failed in this regard.
The trenches of the British and French armies were often a mess. Not only were they disorganized and chaotic, but their living habits and personal hygiene were also very serious problems.
They often dig a hole on the spot to relieve themselves in an emergency. Over time, these so-called "emergency pits" spread to every corner of the tunnel.
Especially since the troops were rotated every two weeks, the later soldiers often did not know where the "urgent pits" dug by the people in front were, so "dangerous situations" occurred frequently.
In contrast, the German trenches were well organized and had special toilets. When the British and French troops occupied the German trenches, they often couldn't help but admire them.
However, even if the French Tunnel was unbearable, at least it was non-toxic, and the air inside could keep a person alive for a few hours under extreme conditions.
…
After the tunnel entrance was sealed, the whole world became quiet.
There was no sound of gunfire, no screaming or crying, and Charles felt as if he was isolated from the world.
He even wanted to push aside the sandbags and take a look outside, but reason made him suppress the impulse.
As you can imagine, there is yellow-green poisonous gas everywhere outside. It is heavier than air and will settle in the trenches for a long time and cannot dissipate, even if the sea breeze is howling.
Later, Charles learned that there was indeed a soldier who could not help but pull aside the wet cloth to peek outside. He did not realize the seriousness of the matter, and the poisonous gas that penetrated into his eyes immediately generated strong acid and burned him as soon as it touched his eyes.
Fortunately, other people blocked the gap in time to prevent the poisonous gas from further eroding the tunnel, thus preventing the tragedy from happening.
Compared to their depression, Charles's headquarters was much better. His telephone line was connected to the observers in the rear. They observed the battlefield from several angles with high-powered binoculars and reported intelligence to Charles in a timely manner:
"The poison gas has 'occupied' the position and is advancing deeper into the territory."
"Perhaps because the reserve is not large, the amount of poison gas released this time is obviously not as much as yesterday."
"No, it might be the wind speed. Today the wind speed was 9.7 meters per second. It made the poison gas spread faster and it looked thinner than yesterday."
"Judging from this, the gas may dissipate faster today than yesterday."
…
Charles sat quietly at a desk made of shell boxes, listening to the report and staring at the map in front of him under the light of a flashlight, thinking about what Captain Claude had said casually: "They only advanced 3.25 kilometers, and then stopped to dig pits and build fortifications."
Why 3.25 kilometers?
Why dig holes and build your own fortifications?
There is a French defense line about 2.5 kilometers away. The Germans can make full use of this defense line and turn it into a reverse trench with just a little modification.
After thinking for a while, Charles figured out that it was the poison gas.
"They'll get past our lines," said Charles. "There won't be any trench fighting!"
Charles's battle plan was: the Germans rushed into the trenches, and the 105th Infantry Regiment crawled out of the tunnels to kill the enemies who occupied the trenches.
Now it turns out this may not even exist.
"What?" Tijani didn't understand what Charles meant. He shone the flashlight at Charles, but soon realized that this would make Charles uncomfortable, so he quickly turned the light away.
Charles kept his flashlight on the map. He pointed to the German defense line and said, "Yesterday, the Germans did not occupy the defense line abandoned by the French, but rebuilt a new one."
"Isn't that a coincidence?" asked Tijani. Perhaps the Germans wanted to get closer to the French line of defense.
"It's not a coincidence." Charles replied calmly: "It's because of the poison gas."
“Poison gas?” Tijani couldn’t help but move closer, then he said “Oh” and understood: “You mean, the poison gas is heavier than air, so it will be deposited in the tunnel.”
"Yes." Charles replied: "The tunnel is 2.5 meters deep. Once the poison gas 'sinks' into the tunnel, it will be difficult for the wind to blow it away. It may take a whole day to slowly dissipate, and the Germans can't wait that long."
“Yes.” Tijani nodded. “If we waited a whole day, our army would have fought back long ago. But if we choose a new location to dig a new tunnel, this problem will not exist.”
This is what Charles wanted to say.
This was not a coincidence. In order to avoid being "accidentally injured" by poison gas, the German army had to cross the trenches and continue to advance.
Then Tijani exclaimed: "God, if this is the case, when we get out, we will be behind the enemy and we can attack them from the back!"
"You think so?" Charles asked.
"What's the problem?" Tijani's voice was full of confusion. "We can win easily, Colonel!"
Charles shook his head, and the flashlight slowly moved forward, pointing to the German defense line and even reaching behind it.
Tijani understood immediately: "You mean, we attack forward instead of attacking the Germans' rear?"
"The rear is just the German front-line troops, General." Charles explained: "It may be just a regiment, at most a brigade. Even if we surround or even defeat it, what can we do? We have even lost our own defense line and land!"
Tijani nodded in agreement.
The French defense line could not be defended because it was "stored" with poison gas. If they turned back to attack, even if they won, they would be doomed to lose the defense line because it still contained poison gas.
At this time, Charles added: "If we continue to attack, what do you think will happen?"
At Charles's reminder, Tijani's gaze moved deeper into the German defense line, and he shouted excitedly: "We may run into the enemy's headquarters and seize a lot of supplies. More importantly, we can occupy the German trenches..."
"No, it's our trench." Charles interrupted Tijani and pointed his finger about 2 kilometers ahead. That was the French trench that the Germans crossed yesterday.
"That's right, Colonel." Tijani reacted immediately: "The German defense line was built in one day. It is simpler and faces us. The French trench is what we need. It is more comprehensive and faces the right direction!"
Tijani did not hesitate and immediately informed the battalion commanders of the new situation and new combat plan by phone.
(End of this chapter)
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