Chapter 488: Revised: Chapter 488 The True Commander
The booming sound of artillery fire at the Verdun front.
Although it was a scorching afternoon, the smoke and dust from the artillery fire covered half of the sky, making it impossible to see any sunlight in Verdun. Inside the fortress, it was as dark as night.
Inside the fortress, a large map hung on the north wall of the command post. In the dim smoke, Petain was puffing on his pipe occasionally, his eyes moving across the map as if maneuvering troops in his mind.
(The above picture is of Henri Philippe Petain, aged 60. He was recently promoted to Major General and was known as the "Doctor of the Army" for opposing the French Army’s blind offensive strategy and advocating for a defensive strategy.)
Petain established his command post at Saint Michel Castle, the closest to Verdun City, just like Shire did.
The reason was that Petain believed the Battle of Verdun was not just an issue of defense but also a logistics problem:
There was only one secondary road capable of reinforcing Verdun, which was frequently blocked by German artillery fire, making it extremely difficult to transport supplies, troops, and equipment.
To change the situation of the battle, this condition had to be altered.
However, this was not the primary concern of Petain.
Petain’s gaze fixed on Suville Fortress, the place where Shire first used "counter-slope tactics." He had been there several times and was well-versed in the combat procedures.
I cannot use the same tactics, absolutely not.
If I do, then this battle will not be mine but Shire’s.
Even if I modify it a bit, no matter how small, it would be acceptable!
But unfortunately, Petain found he could not change it at all; it seemed like he could only fight this way.
Because only this could turn the dominating German artillery into scrap iron, only this could hold back the enemy’s attack with absolutely inferior forces, and only this could alleviate the logistical pressure!
Petain sighed softly, tapped his pipe lightly at the corner of the wall, stomped out the fallen ash with his foot, and then put the pipe back in its box carefully.
"Maybe we should divide the troops into several sections," Petain turned to Major General Lacos and said, "Let each section take turns defending the front line. This way, we can preserve their structure and maintain morale."
"Uh," Major General Lacos hesitated for a moment, "I don’t think it’s necessary, General. With the counter-slope tactics, the daily casualties are only one or two hundred. If the Germans don’t attack, it would be even less."
Previously, daily casualties were in the thousands, even tens of thousands.
Now, suddenly lowered to one or two hundred, it was like paradise for the front-line soldiers, so the troops maintained high morale.
Seeing a change in Petain’s expression, Major General Lacos added, "Of course, letting them rotate out to rest is feasible, I have no objection, General."
Petain responded with a grunt, then pointed at the map and said, "We should immediately widen the road to ensure the supplies to Verdun. This is crucial; it determines the outcome of Verdun."
"Yes, General," Major General Lacos responded promptly.
However, Petain saw the dismissiveness in Lacos’ eyes.
Sure enough, Major General Lacos hesitated and said, "General, I believe the most urgent need is the Directional Mine. It might be even more important than widening the road."
The troops could be without bullets or shells, and might not need reinforcements, as long as Directional Mines invented by Shire continued to be delivered. They could stop any enemy who charged forward.
Directional Mines did not depend on the road but on how many orders the government placed and how fast Shire could deliver them.
Petain nodded noncommittally. Does this guy want me to beg Shire?
That’s impossible!
His tactical concepts are completely different from mine; we should be adversaries.
"General," at this moment, a courier stepped forward and reported, "Major Jules requests to see you. He said he brought suggestions from Shire and a more complete counter-slope tactic."
This immediately caught everyone’s attention, including Major General Lacos, who all stared at the courier, eyes gleaming with excitement and joy.
God, a more complete counter-slope tactic!
Does this mean the previous counter-slope tactic was only part of it?
Just a part could defeat the Germans; what about the complete one?!
Petain furrowed his brows. What is Shire up to?
But he couldn’t refuse.
Because refusal would mean disregarding national security, ignoring soldiers’ lives, and being labeled as jealous, paranoid, and arrogant.
"Hmm." Petain nodded reluctantly and ordered, "Let him in."
Major Jules, carrying a briefcase, entered and saluted Petain and Lacos respectively, then took out documents from his briefcase and handed them over, "Brigadier General provided a diagram. He instructed me to explain the counter-slope tactics thoroughly."
Major General Lacos’ eyes lit up, "Thank you, Major, we really need this."
Without waiting for orders, the staff officers gathered around; they saw it as a great opportunity to learn and improve.
"Of course," Petain nodded, though somewhat displeased, he still wanted to know what the complete counter-slope tactic was.
Just moments ago, he thought the counter-slope tactic could not be modified or improved, but now an improved version had arrived.
Major Jules opened the documents and pointed at the diagram, "The counter-slope tactic should not be just a single trench, gentlemen. It consists of multiple layered defenses."
Sounds of realization arose from the crowd.
"Directional Mines are not always necessary," Major Jules continued, "When the enemy attacks, we can abandon the first trench, or the second, or the third. All our trenches are built with a high front and low rear, making it impossible for the enemy to hide."
Major General Lacos agreed, "Makes sense, the enemy is always a target from higher ground."
Major Jules nodded,
"But we must pay attention to the distance between trenches. Thirty meters is within grenade-throwing range but makes it easy for enemies to charge into the trench for close combat."
"So, it’s best to widen the distance downhill."
"And mark the coordinates for the 75mm artillery on the forward trenches..."
The staff officers exclaimed in excitement,
"Amazing, the 75mm will blow advancing enemies sky-high."
"The shells will cut attacking enemies in half."
"Thus, in this localized area, we would have the upper hand in both manpower and firepower, even though overall, our forces are much smaller."
...
Major General Lacos expressed some concern, asking nervously, "Major, does this mean we can’t get more Directional Mines?"
"No," Major Jules confidently replied,
"Brigadier General will do everything possible to ensure the supply of Directional Mines to Verdun."
"Moreover, new types of mines invented by the Brigadier General will be supplied to Verdun."
"You will be the first users, for Verdun, for France!"
Cheers erupted around, with everyone following Major Jules’ chant,
"For Verdun!"
"For France!"
...
Petain felt a sense of powerlessness; he suddenly thought that the one truly commanding this army and the Verdun battle was not him but Shire!