Chapter 55: Like Two Gophers Locked In Mutual Throat-grabs
December 25th, 5 a.m., Ypres, British Expeditionary Force Headquarters.
Marshal French, who had only just quieted down for three days, was once again rudely awakened from his sleep by the piercing telephone ring.
Rubbing his bleary eyes as he finished the call, he couldn’t help but curse loudly, nearly bursting a blood vessel from high blood pressure.
“Despicable Germanian bastards! Blasphemers! Lowly beasts!”
“To launch such a large-scale new offensive on Christmas Eve, cutting off the railway between Stenford and the rear in just one night! Utterly shameless!”
“And they have the nerve to call themselves a civilized nation—those guys are nothing but uncivilized barbarians! Animals!”
In one night, although no cities were lost, the only railway supply lifeline connecting to the rear was severed. This bad news dealt a heavy blow to the expeditionary force.
Marshal French’s first reaction was to order those Lord Canna to immediately organize a counterattack and restore the railway line!
But half an hour later, he learned that Lord Canna had already counterattacked, but failed, and suffered over two thousand additional casualties from the counterattack attempt.
Major General Betting wailed miserably over the phone, leaving Marshal French completely out of temper.
What to do now?
This was a major matter, and Marshal French didn’t dare to decide alone. The 2nd Army’s generals weren’t nearby, and the 3rd Army’s corps commander had already been sent back for court-martial due to previous disastrous defeat and desertion.
With the battle at this stage, the old marshal had no choice but to summon a few of his trusted staff officers, plus Lieutenant General Douglas Haig, the 1st Army corps commander in the same defense zone, to discuss countermeasures together.
“What do you think we should do with the subsequent battles? Although no major cities were lost, the railway supply line has been cut by the enemy! We can’t retake it in the short term.” The old marshal’s brows were furrowed tightly, looking bitterly vengeful.
He subconsciously looked toward Lieutenant General Haig, his most trusted subordinate. But Haig was cautious by nature and unwilling to give rash opinions, so he pretended not to notice and continued pondering.
Instead, Expeditionary Force Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Archibald, sitting nearby, spoke without much hesitation—he was used to flattering the old marshal and started with some safe, generic remarks to set the stage:
“Your Excellency Commander, I believe there is one thing we must do right now—we should request further aid from the homeland or strongly demand reinforcements from friendly forces to have them take over defense of some positions between Stenford and Dunkirk. For example, village towns like Cassel, Arnèke, Wormhout, Bergues.
In Stenford’s Christmas Eve assault battle, the 1st Canadian Division and 2nd Canadian Division suffered cumulative losses of at least three thousand; the two divisions from the South Asia Lahore region suffered total losses of at least five thousand. Without other fresh forces to fill these manpower gaps, the subsequent defense line will inevitably be vulnerable.
The Empire’s army mobilization and expansion is too slow; at this time, we can only hope the Franks take on more share.”
Marshal French thought for a moment and nodded helplessly, first sending someone to make two calls: one to Army Minister Earl Kitchener in the rear, and one to friendly forces’ Marshal Joffre.
After some discussion, Marshal Joffre considered that the line from Stenford to Dunkirk was after all Frankish territory, and the British Army was there as allies to help defend the land. Now that the British Army had suffered losses and lost two battles, the French Army had no choice but to bear more responsibility, urgently dispatching at least one or two divisions to plug the gap.
However, the crucial Dunkirk Port would still be defended by the British Army. Because all of the British Army’s sea transport supplies had to be unloaded at Dunkirk; if the port was defended by the French Army, coordination efficiency would be lower, not conducive to transshipment and dispatch.
The French Army would only help defend Arnèke, Wormhout, and Bergues—these three village towns along the railway. That is, the head and tail of this severed railway line would still be handled by the British Army themselves, with the French Army supporting the three intermediate relay points.
After somewhat settling the reinforcements and gap-plugging issues, Marshal French finally relaxed a bit,
then they had to discuss whether to fight, defend, or withdraw next,
This was a matter of great right and wrong.
“Haig, do you think we should defend Stenford to the death? What preparations should we make? Can we hold against the Germanian people?” French threw open the window and spoke plainly, naming Haig to answer.
Haig had thought cautiously for a long time; this man was resolute and decisive by nature, unwilling to speak of retreat lightly.
Otherwise, in Earth’s history, he wouldn’t have gritted his teeth and held on, making the British Army charge unyieldingly on the first day of the Somme campaign, dying six hundred thousand.
Pestered repeatedly by the old marshal, Haig finally made up his mind, let out a long breath, then forcefully slapped the map:
“I also know the enemy is elite; currently our army lacks the strength to counterattack, but we should at least defend tenaciously and endure the most difficult period. Don’t think the enemy’s current offensive is fierce—they have no stamina!
I hear they used an elite assault team as the attacking vanguard, but this assault team is small in number and can’t withstand attrition; after two bloody battles, they must be unable to charge anymore! If we give up now, the previous sacrifices will be in vain!
Moreover, please think carefully, Commander: why did the enemy suddenly launch a campaign at this time? Why, after being quiet for a full month and a half before, did they now attack so fiercely and resolutely right from the start?”
Lieutenant General Haig paused slightly here, phrasing it as a question to give the commander time to react.
Marshal French had fought battles his whole life with solid fundamentals and immediately responded: “Naturally because the previous Yser Canal was flooded and the areas around Ypres Highlands were muddy! So during the autumn rains they couldn’t attack, and only after enduring to the coldest season, when most groundwater froze, did they attack!
As long as we hold out for a little over a month, at most two months, until early spring warms and groundwater thaws, the ground gradually turns muddy again—the attackers in this region will suffer huge disadvantages, and no matter how strong their combat power, it will be useless!”
The reasoning Marshal French stated was known to all three high-ranking generals present.
The key to subsequent issues was whether their side could hold the areas around Ypres Highlands for a month and a half, or even two months, against the enemy’s fierce offensive? If they endured it, it would truly be a proud reversal of defeat for the Empire!
“We… can we hold until the flooding thaws?” Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Archibald muttered worriedly to himself.
Marshal French slammed the table: “We absolutely can hold! Even if we have to hold to the death! Have you forgotten the Marne River? If the Frankish army back then had lost confidence due to consecutive defeats and stopped fighting tenaciously, what terrible scene would we face now?
We endured such hardship then; what’s more, now our army has only lost Bailleul Town! We haven’t even formally lost Stenford City! What was lost last night was only the field defenses west of the city, the railway line! Would the Empire’s expeditionary force give up over such a setback!
As long as we hold this one or two months, it equals holding at least a year in the future! Because in this region, except for the freezing season, attackers are doomed to fail in all other seasons of the year! And as long as we can hold a year, we can hold on forever in the future!
In this one-year window, we can endlessly fortify the defenses. When next freezing season comes, if the enemy wants to attack here again, they’ll face the most impregnable iron wall in human history! We must convey the importance of this to all levels of officers and soldiers, let them know that as long as we hold these two months, we can hold forever!
Then the Belgians can forever declare they have not perished, their last 5% of territory can be held until the end of time! The evil war launched by the Germanian people will be powerless to destroy even a single nation! So persisting is not only militarily significant but also hugely important for political propaganda; we must hold on! Tell the entire free world that evil cannot triumph over justice! The Prime Minister and ministers are watching us; we absolutely cannot give up or withdraw!”
Marshal French grew more excited as he spoke, and by the end, he thoroughly believed it himself, appearing utterly resolute.
And indeed, French’s words had some truth. Because in Earth’s history, it really did come true—the Britannians on Earth held Ypres through the first winter, then held on continuously until the war’s end.
At such a time, this breath of resolve absolutely could not be let out.
Lieutenant General Archibald knew the marshal was right, so he politely and kindly reminded: “But our army’s railway supply line has been cut after all; this problem can’t be ignored and must have a corresponding solution.”
Marshal French only set the big direction and tone; upon hearing a specific issue, he could only furrow his brows again and look toward Haig.
Haig thought for a moment and cautiously proposed: “This, I think, isn’t actually a big problem—although the enemy cut our railway supply line, Ypres Highlands, as the Empire’s expeditionary force headquarters selected since the war began, has already stockpiled massive combat supplies over the past months.
The Empire’s transport ship fleets, when idle, shipped munitions from Dover, Plymouth, Southampton to Dunkirk Port, then by railway via Stenford and Poperinge to Ypres.
Currently, just the ammunition depots in Ypres City hold 450,000 rounds of heavy cannon shells over 3 inches; including those in support points around Ypres Highlands, total stock of 3-inch-plus shells exceeds 1.5 million! Total bullets should be several hundred million rounds, enough for hundreds of thousands of troops to fire thousands each!
Other military rations, cured meat, and essentials—even without rear aid, could hold for a year and a half! So the enemy hoping to annihilate our army by cutting supplies is absolutely impossible! Finally, although the railway is cut and surrounding roads destroyed by flooding, we can actually consider developing water transport!
Those muddy swamps to the north have chest-deep water in shallow areas, about four or five feet, and deeper areas can submerge completely; if we procure small boats with draft under five feet for ferrying, we can fully transport supplies from Dunkirk, De Panne, Nieuwpoort by water to the northern edge of Ypres Highlands, then short-distance distribution by manpower and mules and horses—it’s not difficult at all…”
Lieutenant General Haig analyzed the situation, boosting everyone’s confidence and making them realize the problem wasn’t as severe as initially imagined.
After hearing this, Marshal French’s gaze grew even more resolute, fully firming his determination to hold to the end.
Chief of Staff Archibald was more pessimistic and couldn’t help asking: “But just passively taking hits isn’t a solution…”
Haig: “We are not completely passively taking hits! I was just arguing earlier that the railway cut hasn’t seriously affected us! Or rather, this effect won’t show within two months! But at the same time, do you think the enemy hasn’t been affected by us?
Although they occupied Bailleul and cut Stenford’s railway, Stenford City is still in our hands! Moreover, Bailleul City abuts Ypres Highlands, right at the edge of Kemmel Hill; our artillery deployed on the mountain top can blockade nearby railways!
So from south of Bailleul to west of Stenford, this final 40 kilometers of railway, the enemy can’t use either! They’re charging in now on momentary courage, supported by supplies carried with the troops, but this state absolutely can’t last ten days to half a month!
Once their carried supplies are exhausted, and the Germanian people’s logistics motorization level is even far below the Empire and Franks! Because they lack petroleum, all these years they haven’t dared motorize logistics, with hardly any trucks; army logistics is still completely mules and horses.
As long as the railway is blockaded by our highland artillery, with their mules-and-horses logistics enduring the final 40 kilometers of muddy quagmire, within a month, the enemy’s logistics disaster will be several times more miserable than ours! The Empire isn’t afraid to attrition like this!”
With these words from Lieutenant General Haig, Marshal French and Chief of Staff Archibald’s eyes finally lit up.
Right! The enemy cutting the railway doesn’t mean they can use it themselves!
In the current state, neither side can use this railway in the intertwined control zones; even if the German Army somehow breaks Stenford City in the future and superficially connects the railway, they still couldn’t use it!
Because this railway is too close to the edge of Ypres Highlands.
The British Army heavy cannon positions deployed on Kemmel Hill mountain top can blockade the railway! One train comes, one gets destroyed!
So, after thoroughly clarifying the battlefield situation, the British Army general officers finally breathed a sigh of relief—this wasn’t the enemy unilaterally choking them, but both sides mutually choking each other’s necks!
Like two groundhogs locked in a throat-strangling brawl!
Since that was the case, they had the courage to thoroughly attrition war with the enemy.
Calculating carefully, the German Army’s infiltration so far had been swift, but they truly hadn’t achieved any assault battle results.
As long as the British Army defended the city tenaciously, yielding not an inch, even if supplies were cut it didn’t matter—then the German Army would soon have no way to bite this hedgehog ball! Forcing it would only break their own fangs.
