Chapter 814: Preferential Treatment for US Military
After the welcoming ceremony, Kitchener and Haig immediately returned to the British Expeditionary Force headquarters in a seaside villa.
They invited Pershing, but he insisted on staying with his own soldiers.
"I must enjoy the same living conditions as them, Marshal." Pershing replied: "This is my principle."
(Note: Pershing's military style was "strict with himself" and "strict with others". His requirements for military appearance and discipline were so strict that they were intolerable, so he was nicknamed "Terrible Jack" by his subordinates)
Kitchener graciously expressed his understanding and gave Pershing a compliment, but in fact he felt that Pershing was looking for an excuse to refuse.
Back at the headquarters, Kitchener could no longer hold back and completely exploded. He took off his general's cap and threw it hard on the sofa, cursing:
"How dare they!"
"Defying British authority in front of everyone, when we were as non-existent as air."
"In their eyes, we are superfluous! Do they think they can achieve victory alone without the contribution of Britain?"
…
Haig said nothing.
This was Kitchener's excuse to vent his anger.
Judging from the current situation, the French and the Americans may really be able to leave Britain behind and win the victory alone.
Prior to this, the Royal Navy's blockade of Germany was still important.
But now, even the naval blockade could be broken by the German army, and Britain really seemed "redundant".
Kitchener sat heavily on the sofa, lit a cigar anxiously, frowned and complained: "Pershing, this fool, he really wants to transfer the soldiers to Bizangxi for training, right?"
"Yes, Marshal," Haig replied, "The training base we provided for him is just a transit station. The American soldiers will rest there for one night and will take the train to Bizangsi in batches tomorrow."
Kitchener exhaled a long puff of smoke. Perhaps due to the stimulation of nicotine, he gradually relaxed and fell into silence.
It’s not that Kitchener didn’t know what was going on, but the current situation made him very embarrassed.
The situation of the colonial army is becoming increasingly unstable. It is not a good thing for the American army to fall into the arms of Charles at this time. This may lead to the call for "accepting Charles' command" to make a comeback.
After thinking for a moment, Kitchener said to Haig, "Talk to Pershing, Douglas, if we keep the American troops in the second line."
"What?" Haig didn't understand what Kitchener meant.
Kitchener explained: "They can avoid going to the battlefield and only transport supplies and wounded soldiers in the second line and protect the supply lines. This way they will be much safer and there will be no casualties."
Haig understood what Kitchener meant.
Pershing chose Shire because Shire's training would result in victory rather than casualties, while the British Army was the exact opposite.
Well, Kitchener gave the U.S. military a suggestion that it could hardly refuse: don’t go to the battlefield.
This will undoubtedly take back the U.S. military's training rights from Charles.
"But..." Haig hesitated.
This is a double-edged sword. Why can the US military avoid going to the battlefield while the British and other colonial troops have to die in large numbers on the battlefield?
Are they all inferior people?
Including the British Home Army?
"Go!" Kitchener ordered.
"Yes, Marshal," Haig responded.
As he turned around, Kitchener stopped him again: "Not just to Pershing, but also to the American soldiers, understand?"
"I understand." Haig nodded.
Pershing might refuse, for the sake of merit, combat effectiveness, or something else.
But the American soldiers had no reason to refuse, because for them it meant they didn't have to suffer on the front line, they didn't have to risk their lives, and they could go back alive to reunite with their families.
After Haig left, Kitchener thought about how to deal with the "aftermath" in the smoke.
The British and colonial troops would certainly protest against this, and it would even affect their morale, but Kitchener had already thought of an excuse for the US troops:
"You seem to have forgotten that the United States is not a member of the Entente, gentlemen."
"At the same time, the U.S. military lacks training and they need time to adapt."
"More importantly, the United States is an independent country and they have the right to decide what level of contribution they want to make on the battlefield."
Be thankful that you have the American Army behind you. They have the right to choose whether or not to engage in direct combat with the Germans.
Perfect!
Kitchener nodded in satisfaction.
…
Dunkirk, the No. 3 training base used by the US military.
When Haig arrived here, he played a trick. He did not rush to see Pershing, but convened a meeting of the instructors including Lieutenant General Ives to relay Kitchener's strategy.
Finally, he gave instructions: "Explain the situation to the Americans. It doesn't need to be too official, but tell them that following the British army means being in charge of logistics on the second line and not having to go to the battlefield. Following Charles is another matter. Do you understand?"
"clear."
"clear!"
…
The instructors answered one after another, but there was some reluctance in their eyes.
They themselves are officers going to the battlefield and are always prepared to lose their lives, but they give the Americans such god-like conditions that they have to stay on the second line!
Is this the army?
Is to join the war?
But they didn't say anything. After all, it was the marshal's order and they were powerless to resist.
…
Pershing was looking through the roster in his office.
This was the first American force, and he intended to form a division together with the 13,000 men who would arrive tomorrow.
This is an armored division and should also be a model division, a role model division for subsequent troops to learn from.
The first step is to find some outstanding soldiers with strong will and law-abiding character from these enlisted personnel as officers.
At this time, Haig walked into the office and saluted Pershing casually: "I have good news for you, General. You and your troops can choose not to go to the battlefield."
"What do you mean?" Pershing looked puzzled.
"That's it," Haig explained.
"Considering that we have sufficient manpower, the enemy we face is only west of the Meuse River."
"That is to say, we have the spare capacity to arrange for the US military to be responsible for logistics on the second line, that is, to ensure the safety of the transportation line."
"What do you think?"
Pershing was stunned for a moment, then he understood: "This is the treatment you get from British instructors, right?"
Haig neither denied nor admitted it.
He shrugged and said, "This is not a reward, but a combat mission we assign to the United States. As for Charles, what mission he will assign to you is not something we can decide!"
Pershing gritted his teeth.
These bastards, do they think the American military are cowards?
Just at this moment, cheers came from the military camp.
Haig raised his head proudly toward the window: "It seems that your soldiers are happy to accept this plan, General!"
(End of this chapter)
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