CHAPTER 347: CHAPTER 347 BRIGADIER GENERAL

That afternoon, Shire was called to the City Defense Headquarters by a phone call.

At this moment, Shire was more involved as a staff officer of the 105th Infantry Regiment, his current task was to lead the entire army in training for gas masks, and even impart combat experience while wearing gas masks, so most of the time he was at the police training base overseeing the work.

The City Defense Headquarters sent for him almost every other day, mainly for matters of training the 105th Infantry Regiment. His original work at the City Defense Headquarters had been taken over by Major Fernan, allowing him to fully devote himself to the training work.

As Shire walked up the hallway, several familiar staff officers nodded in greeting or stepped up to say hello. Major Fernan affectionately patted Shire on the shoulder and lowered his voice to jest, "I know a few people, do you need me to introduce them to you?"

Then Fernan emphasized with a knowing look, "It’s them!"

Shire rolled his eyes, "Keep them for yourself, you bastard!"

Major Fernan and the staff officers burst into a series of chuckles, and someone said:

"Colonel, if you don’t fancy them, you might want to consider me."

"Count me in, I don’t mind."

"Though I don’t like it, for the Colonel, I wouldn’t mind going to jail!"

...

(Note: Homosexual tendencies during World War I were considered a crime, possibly resulting in imprisonment or chemical castration.)

Shire ignored them, walked straight to General Gallieni, and saluted.

"There are many things happening, but most of them are good news." Gallieni hastily put down the document he was signing, took a document out of the drawer, and handed it over: "Congratulations, you are now a Brigadier General."

A light exclamation echoed in the headquarters, the staff officers glanced in his direction and then several congratulatory callouts followed.

The commotion was much lesser compared to before, they seemed accustomed to Shire’s rapid promotions, and were no longer surprised.

"Also," Gallieni continued, "They have agreed to completely change the uniforms, the government is bidding for uniform designs. It is estimated that the Saint Etienne Armory is likely to win, as she was well-prepared, offering several satisfactory uniform proposals when others were still at a loss."

"Saint Etienne Armory?" Shire was a little surprised.

Then Shire understood, Steed had gotten "inside" information from Shire early on, predicting that the uniform change was imperative, thus taking the lead.

This Steed, the old man is still cunning.

He understood that although uniforms don’t seem as profitable as arms on the surface, the demand is enormous, with soldiers needing summer, autumn, and winter uniforms, making it a long-term business.

Saint Etienne Armory taking the lead meant getting a guaranteed piece of business, ensuring stable income for quite a long time ahead.

"The third thing." Gallieni took out a map and spread it before Shire; it was the Dardanelles Strait.

"The battle at the Dardanelles Strait is not going well." Gallieni pointed at the map: "Although we have occupied the Gallipoli Peninsula, the enemy has heavily fortified the junction between the peninsula and the mainland. They rely on trench layers for defense, while the Allied forces can hardly make any progress."

This was within Shire’s expectations.

The junction between the peninsula and the mainland is only three kilometers wide, a narrow passage.

The Ottoman Army could freely deploy forces and firepower to block this passage outside the exit, layering trenches and barbed wire, placing artillery in heaps, how could the Allied forces break through?

"On the other side," Gallieni pointed at the Dardanelles Strait again, "Our fleet still hasn’t managed to pass through the strait. The Ottomans, with the help of the Germans, have built a factory specifically to produce mines, and at the same time, they have sent three fully laden transport ships to sink themselves in the channel. The fleet is helpless against this."

Good strategy, Shire silently praised.

Sinking ships is much simpler and quicker than clearing the channel.

Especially since the Allies needed to clear the channel under the threat of mines and artillery, it might end up more blocked because there would constantly be more ships sinking there!

"What are your thoughts on this?" Gallieni looked at Shire.

Shire answered bluntly, "I have no thoughts, General."

The Dardanelles Strait could only be won with a rapid and decisive victory, but when the British fleet delayed for a month before launching a full assault, its failure was already sealed.

This is a strategic failure, no tactical local victory by Shire could turn the tides, the Ottoman Empire and the Germans had ample ways to block this narrow strait.

Gallieni seemed unconvinced, "This is crucial, Brigadier General, if we achieve victory there, this war might possibly end here."

"I know, General," Shire replied, "But the same applies to Ypres, Philipville, Verdun, etc!"

Gallieni suddenly understood.

This was not a matter of opening a front line somewhere, but rather a matter of trench warfare.

If the problem of trench warfare was not solved, then regardless of whether it’s the enemy or us, digging trenches, laying barbed wire, and setting up machine guns would stop the enemy from advancing.

Therefore, even extending the front to the Ottoman Empire is no exception, it was another "rush to the sea."

"Alright then." Gallieni’s tone carried a hint of resignation, "We’ll see who can last to the end."

Shire sighed inwardly, the answer was obvious, the Allies as the attackers had a long supply line, and a protracted war was evidently disadvantageous for them.

...

Shire changed into his new uniform in the City Defense Headquarters dormitory and then drove back to the police base.

Unexpectedly, Tijani had gotten the news early. As Shire stepped into the office building, the originally quiet interior suddenly erupted in cheers, flowers rained down from above, Tijani led a group of officers and soldiers loudly congratulating Shire.

"How does it feel?" Tijani asked.

"Better than last time," Shire replied, "At least I didn’t draw my gun."

The question and answer were not quite on the same wavelength.

"No, no," Tijani raised his head towards Shire’s new uniform, "I meant the feeling of being promoted to Brigadier General."

Shire glanced at Tijani’s Lieutenant General rank, retorted, "Are you mocking me?"

Tijani laughed, "My Lieutenant General rank is unworthy, your Brigadier General rank is well-earned, it’s different. If it were me, I would be proud of it."

It would be false to say there was no feeling at all.

After all, this had stepped him into the ranks of "General," a senior officer, it could be considered a form of acknowledgment.

However, Shire understood it was just a symbol.

In the open and covert struggle between him and the capitalists, the core was always interests. If misled by the rank into thinking it could change anything, that would be a grave mistake.