CHAPTER 262: CHAPTER 251: OUTBREAK OF WAR

July 30, 1870.

Franco-Prussian front line.

"Your Majesty, we should immediately launch an offensive against Prussia! According to intelligence reports, the number of Prussian troops has been rapidly increasing these days. The efficiency of Prussian railways is almost four to five times ours, and a large number of personnel and materials are being continuously sent to the front. If we continue to wait, the strength of the Prussian front-line troops will grow stronger day by day, and by then, sheer numbers will be enough to defeat us," analyzed Napoleon III’s advisor, Leboeuf.

"Why can’t our railways achieve this effect?" Napoleon III asked angrily.

During Napoleon III’s era, France was also rapidly industrializing, and many new railroads were built, not inferior in number to Prussia.

Leboeuf explained: "Your Majesty, although France’s railway development started earlier and we have always valued the role of railways, those merchants only considered economic benefits when building railways. Prussia had already identified railways as a strategic resource before the Austro-Prussian War and even set up a Ministry of Railways to manage railway scheduling during wartime, serving the Prussian military. We realized this only after the Austro-Prussian War, but the government was constrained by financial issues..."

Leboeuf didn’t finish speaking, but Napoleon III understood and sighed, "We were too shortsighted. I recall the first time we used railways to transport troops was during our war with Austria in Italy!"

"Yes, but that time wasn’t very effective. Although both we and Austria used railways to transport soldiers to the front lines, we overlooked logistical issues, leading to food shortages for tens of thousands on the front line. So, the plan was shelved, and the Prussians of the time noted the immense role railways could play in war and invested heavily in railway construction over the years."

"If we adjust our railway policies now, can we increase transport capacity?"

"I’m afraid not, Your Majesty. Our railway lines are already established and cannot be easily changed. Even if a few new lines are built, there’s no time. Moreover, our mobilization capability can’t match Prussia’s. We only have four strategic railways, whereas Prussia has five or six, with three lines starting from Berlin and passing through northern and central Germany to reach the border. There are also three others starting respectively from Hamburg, Dresden, and Munich. Prussia not only has an advantage in the number of railways but also in their quality, unmatched by ours. Most of Prussia’s railways are double-track, allowing an average of 50 trains per day to reach the border, whereas we can only manage 12."

"So, if we continue to delay, France will fall into Prussia’s numerical strategy?"

"That’s right, Your Majesty. We must disrupt Prussia’s war mobilization. Only an offensive attack can achieve that, and the sooner, the better."

The Duke of Gramont, Minister of Foreign Affairs, also reminded from the side: "Initiating an attack now is the only way to draw Austria, Italy, and Denmark into the French camp."

Napoleon III pondered for a while and said, "Order all units to launch an attack into Prussian territory."

...

The outskirts west of Saarbrücken.

At this moment, the French Army advanced tens of kilometers as if in uncharted territory within half a day. These areas were ceded to Prussia after Napoleon’s defeat in 1815. However, the people here mostly favored France, and the men had all fled from Prussian military service; only women and children were seen as the French passed.

"Bang... Bang... Bang..."

"Enemy attack, find cover nearby, don’t panic!"

No need for Lieutenant Le Roy’s reminder, the experienced French soldiers had already dropped to the ground, starting to return fire towards the tree line ahead.

The vanguard of the Rhine Corps collided with the vanguard of the Prussian Second Corps on the west bank of the Rhine River. The sound of Chassepot Rifles and Dreyse Rifles firing broke the calm over the European continent.

Fifteen minutes earlier, a platoon led by French Lieutenant Guillaume Le Roy encountered a Prussian company hiding in the woods. The Prussians, relying on their numerical advantage, charged out from the woods intending to surround and annihilate this group of French troops. Le Roy immediately ordered his men to lie down, using the ridges as cover to fire at the advancing Prussians. A barrage of bullets halted the Prussians. Le Roy then ordered his men to advance ten meters and shoot from a kneeling position, causing the Prussians to scatter and retreat in disarray.

Two hundred meters away, a Prussian officer, seeing his men being so badly beaten by so few French troops, angrily waved a flag to regroup his forces.

"Everyone, listen to my orders, do not engage with the French, retreat towards Saarbrücken, I will lead the first platoon to cover the retreat."

Such an obvious target, the French commander Lieutenant Le Roy, of course, would not let go. He grabbed his Chassepot Rifle and aimed at the flag-waving Prussian officer, taking him down with the second shot.

Although the commander was down, his orders had been issued, and the remaining Prussian remnants fled towards the rear under the leadership of the deputy commander.

"Pursue the victory! Don’t let those Prussian brutes escape," shouted French Commander Lieutenant Le Roy as he watched the Prussian troops begin to retreat.

Thus, a French platoon defeated a Prussian company. In this small skirmish, the superiority of the French Chassepot Rifle and the combat quality of the personnel were fully demonstrated.

...

"Your Majesty, the French have moved; the frontline units at Saarbrücken have already engaged with the French Rhine Corps’s vanguard. Our troops currently do not know how many French have mobilized; the frontline forces are already in fortifications in the rear, awaiting the French attack."

"Begin counterattacking according to your plan," said William I.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" said Mochi.

"Send a telegram to the Second Corps command, informing Prince Frederick to draw closer to us. Napoleon III will surely attack us from Saarbrücken. The first corps has fewer numbers, not enough to engage the main French forces head-on. French troops are likely also not numerous; concentrate our forces to decisively engage with the main French forces."

"Send a telegram to the Third Corps, instructing Crown Prince William (Frederick III)’s Third Corps to move south to the Vosges Mountains, and isolate the French forces south of the Vosges Mountains from the main French forces, preventing them from joining with the French main army."

...

Palatinate.

Third Corps Station.

"Just received orders from the general command, the French have already launched an attack in the Saarbrücken area. The General Staff requires us to immediately head to the Vosges Mountains to block the French forces south of the Vosges Mountains from moving north. Everyone, follow my command and move towards the Vosges Mountains."

"Second and Fourth Cavalry Divisions, head south immediately to clear the French along the route to Wissemburg and survey McMahon’s troops, opening the way for larger forces to move south."

"Leopold, General Kirchbach, you lead the Hei Xinggen Brigade and the Fifth Army respectively to move towards the Saverna region, guarding against northern French forces moving south to support McMahon’s Chalon Corps."

"Other units, advance with me towards Strasbourg, we must pin McMahon south of the Vosges Mountains."

Frederick III methodically arranged the tasks. McMahon’s troops numbered only forty thousand, while the Third Corps was more than three times that.

With the advantage, commanders of the Kingdom of Bavaria demanded the two Bavarian armies take the lead, advancing into the Wissemburg region first.

On one hand, McMahon had few troops, only four divisions scattered across four areas, and Wissemburg had only one French division, while Bavaria had the strength of two armies. From a purely numerical standpoint, the advantage was ours. Additionally, the Bavarian army needed to replenish "supplies" from local residents and Wissemburg, and if Prussia and other state forces passed first, there would be nothing left for them.

Although Frederick III understood the Bavarian army’s little scheme, he did not refuse, letting them test the waters first.