Chapter 228 Plan

After December 29, for three consecutive days, under the orders of Constantine, the Fourth Division launched an all-out attack after shelling every day, under the command of Major General Papademos, the commander of the Fourth Division.

In fact, if a person who does not know the truth sees the fierce attack of the Greeks on the Salonika front in front of the Bazani Fortress, he will never doubt the determination of the Greeks to attack here and gain a breakthrough from the defense line.

Macedonian Legion Headquarters

The commander of the Fourth Division, Papademos, had a tired face and said in a pleading tone: "Your Excellency, Commander, our Fourth Division has been attacking the defense line of Bazani Fortress for three consecutive days and has suffered heavy casualties. We have already suffered 1,200 casualties. With multiple people, I think this action is enough as a feint.”

Constantine, who was sitting on the table and chair, looked up and saw this general again, and couldn't help but feel a headache.

For three days since the attack began, Papademos would come here every day. Even the things he did were the same. First he would cry out that the attacking troops suffered too many casualties, and then he would think it was enough, or he would ask for permission to rest the troops. license.

Constantine hesitated and said: "Do you think it's really possible? Are there any enemies who still have doubts?"

"If I were the enemy commander Esat Pasha, I would definitely think that the Bazhani Fortress was the target of the Greek army's attack. This has been a continuous attack for three days, and such a high price has been paid. Does it explain the determination of our Greek army?" Papademos said helplessly.

"The morale of the soldiers is very low. After all, it has been three days in a row. Every time they attack, they retreat in disgrace. My officers have been admonishing me since yesterday that the enemy's defense in Bazani Fortress is tight. Even if they can break through, You will also pay a huge price, and the gains outweigh the losses.”

The Macedonian Legion's plan to attack Salonika is a highly confidential military secret. In fact, except for senior officers with no more than a dozen people, others do not know the entire plan at all.

Constantine kept tapping his fingers on the table, and after much hesitation, Constantine said: "In this way, Commander Papademos, tomorrow you will continue to attack after the bombardment as you did in the previous three days."

Hearing this, Papademos's face was full of embarrassment and resistance, and he opened his mouth to argue with Constantine, but then he thought that this was a fierce moment of war, and the commander issued an order. There was no room for bargaining, so he pressed the button again. thought.

"However, your fourth division's feint attack at Bazani Fortress will end tomorrow. It is enough." Constantine did not embarrass the division commander.

After sending Papademos away, Constantine thought about it and still felt that this tactic of attacking in the east and west had certain risks and could not be guaranteed to be foolproof.

"Colonel Hammett" Constantine shouted to Colonel Hammett at the small desk beside him.

"Go and get ready immediately, get the security squad together, and let's go to the airport and have a look."

·········

A group of more than a dozen people, led by Constantine, rode towards the west of the headquarters.

In an open space about five or six hundred meters away from the headquarters, the artificially constructed flat earth-yellow road is clearly visible, surrounded by large areas of withered yellow grass.

Beside the runway, there were several gray biplanes parked under a large tent built with canvas, wood and ropes.

A few people under the tent seemed to be maintaining the aircraft. Seeing the movements of Constantine and his group, the leading captain stepped forward and respectfully saluted the military salute: "Commander, Captain of the Special Flying Team, Edmund Captain salutes you”

Constantine waved his hand to signal him to relax, then pointed at the aircraft and said: "Captain, I need your flying team to carry out an important mission tomorrow."

These six biplanes are Falman FM7 biplanes purchased from France.

When the Italian-Turkish war was going on last year, the Italians took the lead in using a new weapon called aircraft in Libya.

This attracted the attention of the Greek Army.

In the past few months, the Greek government selected six pilots to go to France for training and received six biplanes.

After completing their training, they just caught up with the war. Although Constantine did not think much of the role of these primitive aircraft in the war, considering the advantages of these aircraft in reconnaissance, it was indeed possible to send them If they are needed, place them behind the front lines.

"But your Excellency, Commander, our flying team has been on missions these days, and the artillerymen need us to provide calibration data," Captain Edmund said honestly.

"The mission I'm talking about is much more important than serving the artillery. I need your flying team to conduct detailed reconnaissance when the Macedonian Army attacks the Ottoman positions tomorrow. You must pay attention to the general distribution of the Ottoman troops on the defense line." Constantine said seriously.

Although he had some doubts, Captain Edmund nodded in agreement.

After Constantine made arrangements for the flying squad, he immediately asked the communications room to send a telegram to the Second Division, which was responsible for the flanking roundabout operations, and asked them to wait for the news and be on alert for the next two days. The command headquarters might send the Second Division to them at any time. Implement the real offensive plan of the Macedonian legions.

········

To the northwest of the Ottoman defense line, the Second Division is on standby.

"When you are fighting, you should rush out immediately when you see the signal, and then disperse immediately, with a distance of 6-8 steps. Don't gather together to become a conspicuous target." Behind the bushes, the Greeks were also mobilizing in the trenches: "Keep your heads down, follow your sergeants, move quickly, and the faster you rush into the enemy's trenches, the safer you will be." The officers of the Second Division walked back and forth, and in the last moments before the attack, they repeatedly explained the precautions on the battlefield to their soldiers, hoping that more people would survive after this battle.

"Boys, you should be thankful." Sergeant Herbert said to a squad of soldiers around him: "The big guys above didn't let us capture that Ba fortress. It was bombarded for more than 9 hours yesterday, and I heard that the fortress was fine. The Ottoman position opposite us is a temporary construction. After being bombarded for several hours, it is estimated that there will not be many survivors. Our attack will be an easy job."

"This is a real war, not an exercise, sergeant." The private on the side muttered.

"It might be easier than the drill." Herbert curled his lips: "The company commander said that the Ottoman positions have few artillery and machine guns, and we have not seen any counterattack from them after being bombarded for so long. Even if the Ottomans hid them and prepared to surprise us when we attacked, the planes would find them as soon as they opened fire, and then someone would immediately teach them a lesson."

"So you don't have to worry at all. The firepower of the Ottomans on the opposite side is far less than what you encountered in the drill. The people we encountered in the drill were even more ruthless than the Ottomans, so don't worry, as long as you do what you should do in the drill, as long as your luck is not too bad, you can survive."

Herbert looked at the nervous and young faces around him and comforted everyone.