CHAPTER 309: CHAPTER 309: THE MORALE ISSUE

Around one o’clock in the afternoon, the Allies Fleet launched an attack.

The fleet, consisting of ten battleships and over thirty destroyers for minesweeping, majestically sailed into Saros Bay under the terrified gazes of the Ottomans. They anchored amidst the water columns raised by enemy artillery to prepare for bombardment.

At first, the bombing was sparse, with only a few shots fired each minute, while a few seaplanes flew overhead to adjust the shots.

The warships were test-firing, as hitting a target on the swaying sea was exceedingly difficult; the test shots helped correct the aim so that the subsequent artillery of the same caliber and type could fire at the target with more accuracy.

After about ten minutes, the artillery roared continuously, turning point "A" west of the defensive line into a sea of flames.

However, Shire and the soldiers did not dare to peek out because their defensive line, like all others, was bound to get hit by artillery shells.

It was normal for naval guns to miss their target by a few miles, especially during a salvo when the ship and sea would violently affect each other. This was why "first-shot accuracy" was critical in naval warfare; if the first shot missed, hitting the target afterwards would be much more difficult.

Hiding in the trench, Shire felt the bombardment and ground tremors more intensely than before, but strangely, he felt a sense of security instead of fear.

...

Bolayir, Sanders’ Fifth Army Headquarters.

Here, the nearest distance to the frontline was only three miles. Sanders could climb the hill west of the command post with binoculars and see the Ottoman Army launching attacks on the enemy’s defensive line.

The attacks were repelled repeatedly, with heavy casualties.

The exact numbers had yet to come in, but it was estimated to be over four thousand people.

Sanders believed that the lack of grenades and mortars was one of the main reasons for the Ottoman Army’s failed attacks.

Feeling some guilt, he had always thought this was a naval and landing battle, so the Ottoman Army did not need grenades. Only now did he realize how foolish this idea was.

He immediately called Germany, requesting an emergency batch of grenades and mortars from Austria-Hungary.

However, the earliest these grenades and mortars could arrive was two days later.

When the bombardment began, Sanders was mentally prepared because the signalman had already informed him that the enemy fleet was within range for bombardment.

Staff officer Quinn repeatedly requested Sanders to move the command post to a safer location, but he was refused each time.

Sanders calmly said, "If I retreat from here, it means admitting defeat. The soldiers will no longer charge fearlessly at the enemy’s defensive line. Do you want to see that outcome?"

"No, General," Quinn replied firmly, "I do not want to see that outcome. But even if you retreat, they will still risk their lives. I guarantee it!"

Quinn added, "Because this is the Ottoman Empire’s land, we are not fighting for you!"

Sanders just smiled and said nothing.

As a German, he was not risking his life for the Ottoman Empire either; he was doing it for Germany!

But of course, there was no need to say this. Letting them maintain this misconception was not a bad thing.

When the bombardment began, Sanders was sitting at his desk, quietly staring at the map in front of him. The enemy fleet’s involvement made the hope of retaking the defensive line seem increasingly dim.

What kind of army was on the opposite side? They could stand unmoved under the attack of twenty thousand men!

Could it really be Shire’s troops, as they said?

Would someone like Shire participate in battle personally?

Sanders could not believe it. If Germany had a Shire, they would have protected him with an army group rather than sending him to the battlefield!

Just then, Bahar burst into the office, his face covered in gunpowder smoke, a blood-soaked bandage wrapped around his head from a wound incurred while retreating from Buchia Village. Despite this, he continued to fight on the front lines, even personally leading an assault.

This was a brave professional soldier, Sanders regarded Bahar highly in his heart, courageous and resourceful.

"General," Bahar said urgently in broken German, "the enemy is bombing the west, we should launch an attack!"

"At this moment?" Sanders questioned, "Do you think we can take the defensive line with a one-sided attack when we failed with pincer attacks and the west is under bombardment?"

"I know we can’t," Bahar replied, "but if we continue like this, the west will collapse, and we will forever lose the chance to retake the defensive line."

Sanders was silent for a moment, then calmly responded, "Colonel, I believe the crisis in the west is not due to the enemy’s bombardment but due to morale."

"Morale?" Bahar was puzzled.

Sanders nodded and asked instead, "Do you think the west lacks soldiers and manpower?"

Bahar shook his head uncertainly.

The western side had over seven thousand troops, including a regiment and a Civilian Corps, along with a logistical and engineering unit, totaling a force of over ten thousand.

Sanders continued, "Does the west lack ammunition?"

Bahar shook his head again.

The issue with attacking the enemy’s defensive line was not a matter of ammunition; they sacrificed after firing a few bullets. The crucial point was that they couldn’t break through the enemy’s defensive line.

Finally, Sanders said, "Of course, the west also does not lack food, right?"

Bahar had no objections.

To be precise, it was not about lacking food; they would have surrendered before they ran out of food.

"You are right, General," Bahar replied, "but the west is indeed surrounded by enemies; their supply lines are cut off. It’s only a matter of time before they run out of food and ammunition."

"What we need is time, Colonel," Sanders said, "If we can’t take it today, we will try tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then the day after. But it seems the west can’t hold out until then."

Bahar grunted, understanding Sanders’ point:

Whether the west could hold was crucial to retaking the defensive line.

If it remained in Ottoman hands, they could launch pincer attacks on the enemy’s defensive line. Otherwise, the enemy’s landing troops would continuously land and reinforce the defensive line, putting all of Gallipoli in danger!

However...

"What else can we do?" Bahar asked, puzzled, "Other than attack!"

Sanders looked at Bahar quietly and asked, "I’ve heard you have strong support within the Ottoman Army?"

"You could say that," Bahar nodded, "because I always fight alongside them."

Then Bahar looked at Sanders again with confusion in his eyes, "But what does this have to do with this battle?"

Sanders pointed lightly on the map’s west position, "If you, along with a squad of soldiers, appear here, can you ensure they hold on for another two days?"

Bahar understood that Sanders wanted to send him to the west to command or boost morale, within the enemy’s encirclement.

"No problem, General!" Bahar responded standing tall, "I will set out as soon as night falls, and I can sail around the enemy’s defensive line!"