Chapter 207 Riddle

Falkenhayn knew Shire well, but he didn't know Shire either.

Falkenhayn has seen every battle example of Shire and knows every piece of equipment invented by Shire, especially the "Mark I" tank.

He even boldly analyzed, estimated, and guessed what kind of tactics Charles would develop around tanks in the future.

But unfortunately, Falkenhayn once again walked behind and failed to keep up with Charles.

…

When Charles analyzed the combat plan on the train, he emphasized: "When breaking through the direction of Rhodes, you must use the 'Mark I' type, and the new tanks cannot be exposed!"

Brownie and Colonel Estini said "Hmm" in unison. They thought that Charles did this because he used the new tank as a secret weapon, so that the Germans could be caught off guard when Samok faced the German tanks in a straight line.

How could they have imagined that Charles had another hidden meaning in doing this: the "Mark I" tank needs to change its tracks after 30 kilometers, which is a fatal flaw.

But this flaw sometimes turns into a weapon.

…

Paris City Defense Headquarters, Gallieni has got rid of the disgusting MP and returned to the headquarters.

He was confused when he received the intelligence from the reconnaissance plane: "We are attacking Cape Town fiercely, and the two surrounded troops are also trying their best to break out in the direction of Cape Town. Why do the Germans still send troops in the direction of Cape Town?" To the wings? And in such a hurry!"

Charles kept his eyes fixed on the map hanging on the wall, and his tone was lazily like he was answering an irrelevant question: "Because of the 'Mark I' tank!"

"What does this have to do with the Mark I tank?" Gallieni looked at Charles in confusion.

"The 'Mark I' tank needs to replace its tracks every thirty kilometers!" Charles replied casually.

"Well, what then?" Gallieni asked.

He understood as soon as the words came out. The straight-line distance between Tram and Rhodes was 25 kilometers. This was the distance at which the "Mark I" could possibly drive back or break through. At least that's what the Germans thought.

(Note: In fact, the "Mark I" cannot drive back unless the "Mark I" always takes the road and there is no war on the way, but the Germans do not know this)

It can be concluded that the "Mark I" departing from Rhodes arrived at the central town of Lorca to rescue two trapped troops, and then either turned back to Rhodes or continued to advance to break out from Tram.

If you choose any other direction to break out, it will become "impossible" because the distance is longer and the "Mark I" needs to change tracks.

"So!" Gallieni laughed: "You set a trap for the Germans?"

"No, General!" Charles said in a relaxed and calm tone: "I just guessed a riddle for the Germans. If the German is smart enough, he will guess the riddle correctly, but he will get a wrong answer."

Gallieni continued: "If the Germans guess the riddle wrong, or don't discover the riddle at all..."

Charles replied: "Then I can only choose one of Tram and Rhodes to break through, and the result of this is that we may not be able to break through successfully. Because no matter which one we choose, our flanks will be exposed. In front of the 4th Reserve Army in Cape Town."

Gallieni nodded: "At that time, the 4th Reserve Army may gather four divisions to attack our breakout troops. Even if we can successfully break through in the end, we will still suffer heavy casualties!"

Ciel nodded calmly.

Gallieni burst into laughter: "We are lucky, the Germans are not stupid, but they are not that smart, just to the extent you hope!"

Then he stared at the map for a while and asked again: "I'm a little curious, Major, how do you plan to deal with the German tank troops? I heard that the enemy deployed tanks on the Samok Straight, and their The tank was designed for the 'Mark I'..."

"My tank also has a gun!" Charles replied calmly: "In addition, my tank is also designed for the Germans."

Gallieni said "Oh" and nodded slightly. The little guy thought of all the possibilities.

…

The Samoc Straight is named after it is located near the town of Samoc.

This road is as straight as a flagpole, with hills and highlands stretching for more than ten kilometers on both sides. Although the altitude is not high, it forms a canyon-like terrain with only a few exits.

The French Second Special Artillery Division was trapped among them.

The division commander, Major General Tijani, was desperate. He found that the Germans, with the cooperation of tanks, had built a line of defense in the rear.

The rear exit was only one and a half kilometers wide, and the Germans built an arc-shaped trench there, facing the depths of the straight road.

"Put up the artillery!" Major General Tijani ordered loudly: "Use artillery fire in conjunction with the infantry to break through!"

However……

The Germans are equipped with at least twenty 105MM howitzers.

As soon as the French army set up their guns, German shells roared towards them.

In an instant, artillery, artillery and shells were blasted into the sky in a burst of fire.

Major General Tijani looked at the highlands on both sides and understood that the Germans must have artillery observers there. They only needed a pair of binoculars to accurately calculate the position of the 75th gun, and then used a phone to tell the 105MM to carry out the bombing.

A sense of powerlessness arose in Major General Tijani's heart.

This is a desperate situation, a desperate situation where it is impossible to break out. Why did you easily step into this trap at that time?

Because of the road, "Saint-Chamont" and CA-1 must take the road.

In addition, General Joffre ordered, "Get to the town of Lorca as quickly as possible", and this straight road is the shortest path.

The Germans expected this, so they set up a trap here and waited.

"Where are the reinforcements? Where are our reinforcements?" Major General Tijani asked weakly.

"General!" The signalman replied: "They let Charles take over the command. Charles' troops have broken through Rhodes, and the reinforcements are behind us!"

Tijani's eyes lit up. Charles' troops?

But then he shook his head gently and whispered: "Charles' troops are useless. His tanks only have machine guns. They can't be the enemy's opponents!"

Tijani saw the German tanks in the telescope. It was simply a mobile fortress. Artillery and dense machine guns could penetrate Charles' "Mark I" from any direction.

At this time, a plane whizzed over Tijani's head and dropped a bottle.

That was the way the plane communicated with the ground infantry. The pilot would put the information in the bottle and throw it to the ground to communicate with the infantry.

The sky still belonged to France. This was the only thing that made Tijani feel lucky.

Soon, the signalman got the information and reported excitedly: "General, Charles' troops will arrive here in 20 minutes. Charles hopes that we can break out to the north!"

"North?" Tijani was puzzled. That was another exit blocked by German artillery fire, not the direction where the reinforcements were coming.

Is this information wrong?