CHAPTER 694: CHAPTER 694 ARE THEY READY TO SURRENDER?

According to protocol, the German artillery should be positioned 3 to 5 kilometers behind the front lines to avoid being suppressed by French howitzers.

More importantly, it is to prevent the artillery from being directly threatened if the enemy infantry breaks through the front lines.

(Note: Being 3 to 5 kilometers away allows more reaction time and, in extreme cases, enables the artillery to fire and retreat simultaneously in the face of an enemy infantry breakthrough.)

But on the west bank of the Meuse River, the German artillery positions were only 1 kilometer from the front lines.

They had no concerns about enemy counter-battery fire or an infantry breakthrough; the Meuse River acted as an insurmountable barrier, providing the artillery with a sense of security.

Colonel Cyril, commander of the 97th Artillery Regiment, was convinced of this, and thus he spent the entire night directing fire into the town without bothering to move the artillery positions.

"Relax, they can’t hit us," Colonel Cyril glanced around and told his staff officer, "Our artillery is spread out every hundred meters or so, whereas once their artillery fires, they expose their positions."

This was an unequal artillery duel between those outside the city and those within.

Those outside had plenty of open space to position their artillery, whereas those inside had to find gaps among the buildings.

The downside was that dispersed artillery positions had poor accuracy, resulting in indiscriminate bombing of Mezieres.

But this situation quickly improved.

Over 40 howitzers were gradually withdrawn from the front lines and reassigned to Colonel Cyril’s command, with shells continuously being brought down from the front. The artillerymen seemed eager to fire off all their shells to expedite their march.

This was Colonel Cyril’s finest hour; he was now commanding over 70 howitzers, almost equivalent to an artillery division.

With newfound confidence, Colonel Cyril began planning the bombardment of the Mezieres train station.

Pointing at the map, Colonel Cyril analyzed:

"The train station is the most important part of Mezieres. There are over a dozen warehouses that store supplies."

"Even if they have dispersed most of their supplies, it remains a transportation hub."

"As long as we turn it into rubble, it will disrupt French maneuvers, especially their armored and mechanized units!"

The staff officer had no objections but did express doubts about the bombing itself: "But it’s night-time, Colonel, we can’t aim accurately."

To bomb precisely, one must first know the target’s location and then gradually adjust the fire with test shots.

In the pitch-black night, with Mezieres under complete blackout, even with artillery and shells, the German army could do nothing.

"So we need to get ready," Colonel Cyril said. "Set up positions and have everyone ready to fight. Once it’s dawn, we’ll cover the train station with fire."

"Yes, Colonel."

...

As the first light broke in the east, the thick fog dismayed Colonel Cyril, which would affect the artillery’s ability to locate and aim at targets.

However, Colonel Cyril thought it wasn’t a big problem because it was a clear day.

"Once the sun is up, it will be their doom!" Colonel Cyril ordered the staff to release the reconnaissance aircraft, three in total.

This was risky because the sky belonged to the French, and their "Camel" fighters could eliminate everything the Germans flew.

Still, Colonel Cyril thought it was worth it.

However, he soon realized he was wrong.

"Colonel." The communication soldier stationed by the phone reported, "Our reconnaissance aircraft have been shot down."

"Which one?" asked Colonel Cyril.

"All of them!"

The communication soldier’s reply startled Colonel Cyril.

All of them?

He had intended to use the dawn’s first light to deploy the aircraft, but they hadn’t even managed to ascend before being shot down.

Colonel Cyril frowned, could this mean the French fighters were also ready for takeoff, thus gaining air dominance as soon as dawn broke?

This didn’t look good. The French were actively preparing for battle, and their artillery might launch a counterattack any moment!

As expected, Colonel Cyril heard the rumbling of engines in the sky, along with the wind whipped up by low-flying planes.

He looked up anxiously toward the direction of the sounds.

But in the thick fog, he could see nothing, only bat-like shadows swiftly passing back and forth.

Suddenly, a few bombs were dropped from the planes, exploding amidst the dense artillery positions, sending up bursts of fire and smoke.

Colonel Cyril immediately realized the danger: their artillery positions had been discovered, and the planes were using bombs to mark targets for French artillery.

"Move the positions!" Colonel Cyril loudly ordered while jumping into a car with his men.

Artillerymen often did such things. Whenever the enemy discovered them, they had to relocate in the shortest time possible, which was why Colonel Cyril’s command post was on a vehicle.

But what confused Colonel Cyril was that the expected French artillery bombardment didn’t come. There were no whistling shells or explosions nearby, only the roar of engines in the sky.

Wait, the engines didn’t just roar in the sky but also from the ground.

Colonel Cyril looked back toward the sound, confused. What was that?

"Rumble, rumble, rumble."

The sound was low and powerful, and it kept rumbling from the rear, not like airplanes.

Colonel Cyril listened carefully, and he finally heard the "creak creak" sound of tracks.

"It’s a tank." Colonel Cyril sighed in relief, his heart settling down.

A tank meant it was their own side since no Shire tanks could have crossed the Meuse River silently.

"We have reinforcements!" Colonel Cyril excitedly announced.

The German artillerymen cheered, slowing their movements in dismantling the artillery.

Without French artillery fire, they planned to greet this "tank reinforcement."

However, out of the thick fog suddenly emerged a tank.

The German soldiers were stunned.

It wasn’t the familiar "Oberschlesien" or the "LK" series, but the "Char A1," the French "Char A1"!

Captured tank? Colonel Cyril thought. It should be!

These bastards shouldn’t be driving spoils of war at the front; it’s too easy to misunderstand!

However, more and more tanks appeared.

One, two, three... soon the whole place was filled with them, all "Char A1," followed by squads of French soldiers with rifles.

At that moment, the French soldiers were also bewildered. They stared at the German artillerymen before them, forgetting to shoot.

Why weren’t these Germans running or hiding?

It seemed like they were welcoming the arrival of the French.

Were they preparing to surrender?!