CHAPTER 339: AFTER MODIFICATION: CHAPTER 339 NEW SITUATION

This is to extend the usage time of the gas masks.

Activated carbon gas masks purify the air by using carbon particles to adsorb the poisonous gas in order to achieve the goal of protection.

However, this does not mean it can be used indefinitely or repeatedly.

When it reaches a certain saturation point, its adsorption effect on the gas particles significantly weakens, at which point the filter canister needs to be replaced.

During combat, it’s certainly impossible to call for a pause to allow French Army soldiers time to replace the filter canister.

Shire thought of a way to utilize the trenches.

The air in the trenches before reaching the front line is usable, though it’s mixed with various unbearable smells: sweat, urine, and even excrement.

In this regard, England and the French Army have failed.

The trenches of the English and French Army are often in utter disarray, not only chaotic and disorganized, but hygiene and personal issues are also very serious.

They often dig a pit on the spot to relieve themselves in the trenches, but over time, these so-called "toilet pits" are scattered all over the trenches.

Especially since troops rotate every two weeks, the newcomers often don’t know where the previous soldiers dug their "toilet pits," causing frequent crises.

In contrast, the German Army trenches are orderly and equipped with designated toilets, making the English and French soldiers often exclaim in admiration when occupying German Army trenches.

However, despite the unbearable smell of the French trenches, at least they are non-toxic, and the internal air could allow someone to survive for a few hours under extreme circumstances.

...

After sealing the entrance of the trench, the whole world quieted down.

No sounds of gunfire, no screams or cries, Shire felt as if he was cut off from the world.

He even considered peeling away the sandbags to look outside, but his rational mind suppressed this urge.

Imagine that outside is filled with yellow-green toxic gas heavier than air, settling in the trenches and lingering, not even dispersed by roaring sea winds.

Later, Shire learned that during this time, indeed, some soldiers couldn’t resist and peeled away the wet cloth to peek outside, not realizing the severity of the situation; the permeated toxic gas immediately formed a strong acid upon contact with his eyes, causing burns.

Fortunately, others timely blocked the gap to prevent further gas infiltration, averting the tragedy.

Compared to their suppression, Shire’s command post was much better, his telephone line connected to observers at the rear, who observed the battlefield with high-powered telescopes from several angles and promptly reported to Shire:

"The gas has ’occupied’ the position and continues to advance deeply."

"Perhaps the reserve amount isn’t large; this time the released gas is clearly less than yesterday."

"No, it might be a matter of wind speed. Today the wind speed is 9.7 meters per second; it makes the gas spread faster, appearing thinner than yesterday."

"Thus, it can be judged that today the gas dispersion might also be faster than yesterday."

...

Shire sat quietly at the makeshift desk made from a shell box, listening to reports while staring at the map before him under flashlight illumination, contemplating a phrase Captain Claude mentioned unintentionally: "They advanced only 3.25 kilometers and then stopped to dig trenches and build fortifications."

Why 3.25 kilometers?

Why dig trenches and build fortifications themselves?

About 2.5 kilometers away, there is a line of defense belonging to France; the Germans could completely use this defense line, with slight modifications to turn it into a reverse trench.

After thinking for a while, Shire figured it out, it was due to the gas.

"They will bypass our defense line," Shire said, "there won’t be a trench war!"

Shire’s combat plan was: Germans storm into the trenches, the 105th Infantry Regiment emerges from the trench and kills these trench-occupying enemies.

Now, it seems this might not exist at all.

"What?" Tijani didn’t understand Shire’s meaning, pointing his flashlight at Shire, but quickly realized it would discomfort Shire and hurriedly shifted the light away.

Shire’s flashlight always shone on the map, he pointed at the German defense line and said: "Yesterday, the Germans didn’t occupy the abandoned French defense line, but instead built a new one."

"Couldn’t it be a coincidence?" Tijani asked, maybe the Germans just wanted to be closer to the French defense line.

"It’s not a coincidence," Shire replied calmly, "It’s because of the gas."

"The gas?" Tijani couldn’t help but lean in and then suddenly understood, saying "Oh": "You mean, the gas is heavier than air, so it settles in the trenches."

"Exactly," Shire answered, "The trench is 2.5 meters deep; once the gas ’settles’ in the trench, it’s hard to be blown away by the wind; it might take a whole day to gradually disperse, and the Germans can’t wait that long."

"Yes." Tijani agreed vigorously, "If waiting a whole day, our troops would have already fought back. But if they choose a new location to dig trenches, this problem doesn’t exist."

That’s what Shire wanted to convey.

This isn’t a coincidence; the German Army, to avoid being "accidentally injured" by the gas, must bypass the trenches and continue to advance.

Then, Tijani exclaimed, "God, if it’s like this, when we emerge, we’ll be behind enemy lines, we can launch an attack on them from behind!"

"Is that what you think?" Shire asked in return.

"What’s the problem?" Tijani’s voice filled with confusion, "We could easily win, Colonel!"

Shire shook his head, his flashlight slowly moving forward, pointing at the German defense line and even beyond.

Tijani instantly understood, "You mean, we advance forward instead of attacking the German rear?"

"The rear is just the German front line troops, General," Shire explained, "it might be just a regiment, at most a brigade. Even if we surround and annihilate them, what then? We even lose our own defense line and land!"

Tijani nodded in agreement.

The French defense line, because it "stores" gas and is impossible to garrison, advancing back to attack, even achieving victory, is destined to lose the defense line as it still contains gas.

At this moment, Shire added, "If we continue to advance forward, imagine what will happen?"

With Shire’s reminder, Tijani’s gaze moved to the deep German defense line, and then he excitedly exclaimed, "We might encounter their command post, capture numerous supplies, and most importantly, we can occupy the German trenches..."

"No, it’s our trenches." Shire interrupted Tijani, his fingers tapping about 2 kilometers ahead, where the Germans crossed the French trenches yesterday.

"You’re right, Colonel." Tijani quickly responded, "The German defense line was built in a day; it’s simpler and facing us. The French trenches are what we need, more comprehensive and oriented correctly!"

Tijani didn’t hesitate, immediately informing all battalion commanders of the new situation and new combat plan by phone.