Chapter 678 Accelerationism
Most people would not have thought that such a bold and decisive action was planned by the German Chief of General Staff, who had experience as an aide-de-camp. However, the slave owners in America happened to know that Moltke the Younger might modify the Schlieffen Plan, but would not modify the combat plan he had formulated.
People are like this. They may not respect the fruits of others' labor, but when it comes to themselves, that's another matter. After all, he was a slave owner who traded in human beings. Sheffield was 100% sure that as long as Moltke the Younger fully understood Belgium's attitude, the German Chief of Staff would definitely not show mercy.
The reason is simply because the plan to capture the fortress of Liege really came from Moltke the Younger himself.
On the morning of August 5, the only organized airship unit in the world, the airship brigade affiliated with the German Imperial Army Aviation Service and the Navy Service, headed towards the Liege Fortress. In 1914, the airships, which were far more reliable and had a greater load-carrying capacity than airplanes, came in handy at the very beginning of the war because of the German Chief of General Staff's determination that the Liege Fortress must not be lost. Eighty-five Zeppelin airships, carrying hundreds of kilograms of heavy bombs and with terrifying bodies, appeared in the eyes of the Belgians.
At the same time, the German army also began to try to break through the defense of the Liege fortress on land. The heavy howitzers could not be transported until the next day, but this did not dampen the German army's offensive enthusiasm.
After three hours of fierce fighting, the attacking German army did not make much progress. With their existing offensive force, the Liege Fortress was too indestructible.
Before the smoke of gunpowder had dispersed, a large number of Zeppelins had already arrived at the battlefield in the eastern sky. The heavy bombs hanging beneath their terrifying bodies showed that the airship force that Germany had spent so much effort on for the war was not just used to scare people.
"The L24 Imperial Army Service Team has arrived above the Liege Fortress. The weather is good today!" Captain Schuler, the commander of the airship, looked down at the Liege Fortress through the observation window and said, "Below is the Liege Fortress, the first fortress in Europe. Here we come!"
"Drop bombs to open the road to victory for the Imperial Army. The Chief of General Staff is waiting for the news of our victory with excitement." On another airship, Commander Major Linnartz gave the order in unison.
The first air raid in World War I began over the Liege Fortress. The Belgian soldiers who withstood the attack from the German army looked at the ferocious behemoth in the sky in horror. Heavy bombs were dropped from the airships, and hundreds of kilograms of heavy bombs blasted the Liege Fortress into pieces.
The emergence of new weapons always brings some fear to soldiers! The shock in the hearts of Belgian soldiers is no better than the reaction of some countries when they first saw a train. The so-called advanced and backward are just a stereotype.
The cheering German soldiers on the ground burst into huge cheers as they saw the opposite side being bombed by the Zeppelin airships.
The German infantry and artillery worked together to reorganize the attack on the east fort of Liege and launched an attack on the three forts in the south. Due to the large number of troops, the city of Liege could fall at any time. General Lehmann was worried that the defenders on the east bank would be divided by the Germans, so he withdrew the 3rd Infantry Division to the west bank.
In major ports of the English Channel, the British Expeditionary Force was preparing to board ships. They would jointly deal with the challenge launched by Germany with their centuries-old rivals around the world. Compared with the confidence of the expeditionary soldiers, the top leaders of the British Empire were in a gloomy mood.
"What's the situation on the Franco-German border?" A somewhat heavy question was asked, seeming quite abrupt.
"I don't know. The results haven't come yet. I don't know what the result of this round of offensive will be, but news has come from St. Petersburg that the Russian army has fulfilled the alliance and headed to the front." Churchill said sullenly while smoking a cigar, "I hope our soldiers can come back as soon as possible, but I didn't expect that there is an anti-British trend in the United States now."
"This is indeed very strange. We need to communicate with Washington, at least to appease the emotions of these country bumpkins before we deal with the Allies."
There is nothing strange about this, because the United States has a prominent representation of British immigrants, and it is normal for this to happen.
In Paris, the capital of France, long queues formed at the conscription points. Young men from all over the country came to join the army. Slogans of "Defend France, Mother" could be seen everywhere. Many young men were sent here by women. The women had tears in their eyes, but they firmly expressed their support for their men's participation in the war.
"Men marching towards the French motherland, the glorious moment has come! Despotism and tyranny oppress us, and the motherland groans in pain! The motherland groans in pain! You can see the fierce soldiers, killing people everywhere, they take the lives of your wife and children from your arms!"
The high-pitched Marseillaise resounded in the streets of Paris. The French youths in front of the recruitment points were all excited and waved their arms, "Defend Mother France!"
"Send people to negotiate with these German companies in Canada and Australia immediately. Let's be reasonable. The war hasn't lasted too long yet, but as the list of casualties is sent to thousands of households, the industries of these German companies are in great danger. We are offering money to acquire them." Sheffield scanned the hundreds of German companies on the list and nodded to Blair, "If we don't acquire these companies, they will all be taken advantage of by the British."
"Boss, will the war last for a long time?" Blair put the list back into his arms and asked back.
"In theory, no one wants the war to last too long, but both sides are fighting for this purpose. Hedging will only have the opposite effect." Sheffield thought for a moment and said, "It's similar to stock market trading. That's about it."
Before the war, none of the major belligerents had a defensive plan. France, Germany, and Russia all wanted to keep the war on the other side's land to reduce their own losses. So in the first month of World War I, the Central Powers and the Allied Powers were on the offensive.
But there is no doubt that this kind of attack is more suitable for the more violent Germany. During the period of slapping each other's faces, it is obvious that the Germans have the advantage.
"There is no doubt that the outcome of the war on the European continent depends on the progress of the German army. When the time comes, all countries must admit that in terms of military strength, the strength shown by Germany is overwhelming!"
On August 10, the New York Times analyzed the direction of the European war with the headline "The Fall of Liege Fortress, the First Fortress in Europe". It was very normal for the public opinion of the League of Nations system to have such a boss who was the world's number one German-praising boss to have a tendency.
"Sir, I'm just a businessman." Sheffield put down the newspaper, looked up at the uninvited guest, and said with a smile, "As the military attaché of the ambassador to Washington, Mr. Sheikh, aren't you a little too idle? Aren't you going to return home to join the war? It's not too late to go back now."
"I don't know if Mr. William has any misunderstandings about the British. The public opinion under your banner is very unfriendly to Britain. This is very confusing." Colonel Sheikh glanced at the newspaper that Sheffield put down and frowned. "I really can't understand why you want to direct American public opinion towards the Germans. Their ambitions are so great and they are a threat to world peace..."
"I don't see the ambition of the Germans, but the ambition of the British can be proved by their vast colonies. The Germans may be a threat to world peace, but the British are always threatening world peace." Sheffield spread his hands and asked a question with a smile, "You also burned down the White House, you haven't forgotten it, right? Of course, you British have fought all over the world, so it's normal to forget such a small thing. I don't have any paranoia, it's just that one of the countries I fought was the United States, so I can't say I hate it."
"Britain and the United States have a special relationship!" Colonel Sheikh frowned and reminded in a stiff tone, "You are a descendant of the British, why are you so hostile to the British?"
"The descendants of the British are the most anti-British, at least a certain part of them are." Sheffield waved his hand and retorted, "May I ask what I did? I just told the citizens about the British deceiving the German ambassador. If there is anything wrong, it may be that I repeated what you British said. If Mr. Colonel is causing trouble for this matter, I personally apologize to you, but for profit reasons, the report you asked me to report tomorrow will also appear in the newspaper. Please don't be angry, it's all for making money!"
Sheffield admitted his mistake with a poker face. As for where he made a mistake, it was that he repeated the British words. The slave owner readily admitted his mistake and said he would not change it.
"Boss, a telegram from the Brussels branch says that the Belgian royal family has evacuated." Jesla pushed the door open, nodded at the man in front of him, and handed the telegram to Sheffield.
"The German army is indeed powerful. It took only five days to occupy the entire Belgium." Sheffield was such an honest man that he certainly wouldn't hide anything just because there was a British military attaché in front of him. He muttered in a moderately loud voice, "After four days of bombardment, the Liege Fortress was destroyed by German airships and heavy howitzers. Belgium has actually been occupied."
"Airships can actually be used like this? I have an airship company under my umbrella. If we attach bombs to them, can we also drop bombs on Toronto?" Sheffield was full of imagination. "I have more airships than the Germans!"
"Mr. William!" Colonel Sheikh reminded angrily. He felt that the man in front of him was deliberately humiliating him.
"Colonel Sheikh, you forgot that you are on the other side of the war." Sheffield said apologetically, "Don't get me wrong, I have no ambitions towards Canada. It was just a joke!"
(End of this chapter)
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