Chapter 943: Charles is feinting
Charles did not rush to attack. He let his troops wait in front of the "Centipede Passage" for two days.
The fire burned day and night in the forest. Batch of bombers flew to the relevant airspace. The pilots looked down from the air and dropped a batch of incendiary bombs wherever the fire was not strong enough.
The next day, they even used the "zoning and contracting tactics". They divided the forest area into "well"-shaped areas and assigned them to each bomber squadron. If any area was not burned completely, the squadron would be held accountable.
(Note: This was a tactic used by our army on the battlefield against Vietnam. We searched and burned in sections and blocks to wipe out the remaining Vietnamese troops hiding in tunnels and secret passages.)
…
The "League of Nations" meeting room at the Hôtel Crillon in Paris.
The delegates cheered after receiving the battle report:
"This is the power of the Shire. The Germans will completely lose control of the Centipede Passage."
"This is what the Germans deserve. This is the price of going against the international community."
"The Germans are trying to use the same tactics against Charles. How foolish! Victory belongs to us!"
…
The representatives have naturally regarded themselves as the "international community".
The reason was simple. At that time, there were 17 countries joining the "League of Nations", including Britain, France, the Netherlands, Italy and other countries with many colonies.
If we include the colonies of these countries, the "League of Nations" would have at least dozens of countries.
The "majority" can certainly represent the "international community" and even "human justice."
The Romanian and Italian representatives were overjoyed when they heard the news of victory. They kept shaking hands with Clemenceau:
"Please tell Charles that we are grateful that the German offensive in Romania seems to have slowed down."
"The same is true for Italy. The Germans seem to be hesitant. They are worried that Saarbrücken will fall."
If Saarbrücken fell, Germany's offensive in other directions would not mean much even if it was successful.
Especially in the direction of Italy, the German troops attacking Italy would immediately expose their backs to the French army.
(The red line in the above picture is where the French army broke through the German border. If they went down along the southeast, they would attack Italy from the rear)
…
The media gave major coverage to Charles's attack:
"It's hard to imagine that Ciel actually adopted the same attack route as the British and American coalition forces last time. He didn't even change his position. There was no change at all."
"Yes, but the situation is very different from the last time the British and American coalition forces came. Charles burned the forest so that he would have no worries."
"Is this a satire on the British and American coalition forces? Or is it teaching the British and American coalition forces how to fight?"
…
Military experts subsequently made various analyses in the newspapers:
"We admit that Charles made a good start. He prepared a large number of incendiary bombs and achieved a staged victory in the simplest and most brutal way."
"This is something the Germans didn't expect. Although they suffered a loss once before, they obviously didn't expect Charles to attack the entire forest. The German artillery hidden in the forest was destroyed, and even if some survived, it would be difficult for them to play a role."
"Will Charles be able to gain the upper hand? I don't think so. The German defense focus is Saarbrücken, which is a line of defense composed of armored units, anti-tank guns, countless mines and trenches. It was Hindenburg's special defense against Charles' First Armored Army!"
…
General Staff, Berlin.
When Hindenburg received the telegram about the forest burning, he was not panicked at all. Instead, he smiled confidently.
"You are right." Hindenburg handed the telegram to Ludendorff: "I believe Charles' ultimate goal will be to cross the Rhine and attack Offenburg."
Ludendorff took the telegram with a puzzled look on his face. He didn't understand what this "forest fire" had to do with Charles' strategic intentions.
Hindenburg explained:
"If Charles' real target was Saarbrücken, he would not have let the newspapers report it extensively, which would have been equivalent to making his battle plan public."
"If his strategic goals and operational plans can be seen in the newspapers, it can't be true."
"What's more, Ciel's characteristic is to reach the target as quickly as possible and win. This time, he actually stayed in front of the Centipede Tunnel for two days."
Ludendorff said, "Oh!" "Charles wants to wait because he hopes we have time to transfer the main force to Saarbrücken."
Hindenburg nodded slightly, with a hint of a smile on his face:
"The more Charles does this, the more it proves that his attack in the direction of Saarbrücken is a feint."
"He thinks I know nothing about him?"
"I might be disappointing him!"
…
Freman front, forests on both sides of the Centipede Pass.
The trees had been burned black, leaving only bare trunks. The air was filled with a suffocating smell of smoke. A breeze blew, and visible grass dust flew between the tree trunks. Some of the tree trunks were still slowly emitting green smoke.
This is a living magical version of the Black Forest.
The British and American troops gathered in front of the "Black Forest", with the American troops on the left and the British troops on the right. They were holding rifles with bayonets and carrying enough dry food for several days in their backpacks, and they lined up in a long line waiting.
"Forward!" the commander shouted, waving his saber towards the forest.
The soldiers stepped forward cautiously, searching as they moved forward. Their figures became increasingly blurred until they finally disappeared into the depths. All that could be heard outside were a few sporadic gunshots.
Haig had objected to the search.
"It seems unnecessary for us to search the forest," Haig said. "No one can survive such a fire, and even if there is, it cannot pose a threat to us."
"General." Charles replied calmly:
"'Centipede Passage' is our most important supply route. Ammunition, supplies, artillery and fuel all pass through this passage."
"They are very vulnerable. Once attacked, they will suffer heavy losses, which may even affect the outcome of the war."
"We must ensure the safety of this passage, absolutely safe."
Haig was still unconvinced: "But this is just a feint, Lieutenant General, have you forgotten? So in reality, there won't be so much supplies, artillery and fuel passing through here, and there is no need."
Pershing interrupted Haig:
"I don't think so, General Haig."
"Although it's a feint, we have to make it look like a real attack."
"Only in this way can we fool the Germans. Otherwise, we will fail!"
Haig was choked for a moment. He glared at Pershing fiercely, as if to say:
Why don't you understand my intention? Why should the British and American soldiers do these rough and crude jobs?
The British and American troops were traumatized by the Germans last time because they fought deep in the forest. Now they have to fight in the forest again?
Pershing seemed to understand Haig's thoughts and comforted him:
"Don't worry, General Haig."
"This time it was different, it had been burned, not many Germans would survive."
"We are going to seek revenge, what do you think?"
Haig had no choice but to agree to Charles' order.
(End of this chapter)
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