Chapter 497 Counterattack

"Your Highness, the pontoon bridge of the 2nd Legion has already started to be built. In an hour, the first pontoon bridge will be built successfully. By then, our main force will be able to cross the Marne River and participate in the attack on the British and French coalition forces. " General Bilo, commander of the 2nd Corps, looked excited.

Originally, they expected that this time the Battle of the Marne would cause heavy losses to the troops again. But unexpectedly, the Marne River defense line of the British and French allied forces did not cause them much trouble. Under the onslaught of the German army, it can now be regarded as a successful crossing of the river. Next, it is only necessary to build a pontoon bridge and send more troops to the south bank of the Marne River, and then the British and French allied forces can be defeated according to the predetermined plan.

"Your Highness, the pontoon bridge of the 3rd Army has also begun to be built. Soon, our main force will be able to cross the river." Major General Howson, the commander of the 3rd Army, said.

Immediately afterwards, the Duke of Württemberg, commander of the 4th Army, also stated that their main force would be able to cross the river at most at night.

Qin Tian was also very happy. Judging from the current situation, the development of the war situation is very beneficial to the German army. Although, the official attack has only just begun the first day. However, the German army has achieved great results in today's offensive. The Marne River defense line painstakingly built by the British and French allied forces seemed vulnerable to the German attack.

Of course, all of this is based on the fact that the German army used powerful fire support when they attacked. Not only assembled a large number of heavy artillery, but also received the support of a large number of aircraft. Directly in terms of firepower, the British and French allied forces were severely damaged, and their fortifications were blown to pieces. And relying on strong firepower to support the infantry to cross the river, thus breaking through the first line of defense of the British and French allied forces.

None of this would have been possible without the German army's half-year preparations and the greatly enhanced firepower of the troops. In addition, the consumption of logistics supplies is also an astronomical figure.

Although the German army paid a high price for this, in Qin Tian's view, it was all worth it. As long as the British and French allied forces can be defeated and the war won, then all efforts will be rewarded.

"Well, generals. Next, we need to prevent the counterattack of the British and French allied forces. They will not be willing to let us break through the defense line like this. Once our main force crosses the Marne River, they will not be able to resist it at all." Qin Tian reminded road.

"Yes, Your Highness." The commanders of the three legions all replied.

With the efforts of German engineers, pontoon bridges appeared on the Marne River. The German soldiers of the brigade passed the pontoon bridge smoothly and arrived at the south bank of the Marne River. They immediately invested in the attack on the defense line of the British and French allied forces, which made the British and French allied forces feel more pressure.

The situation on the battlefield became more and more unfavorable to the British and French allied forces. Admiral Decasy Turnau, Commander of the 2nd French Army, Robert George Nevel, Commander of the 4th Army, General Charles Dazed, Commander of the 6th Army, 2nd Army of the British Expeditionary Force The commander, Admiral Roy, rushed to the headquarters to report the unfavorable situation on the front line to Marshal Joffre.

"Marshal, our first-line position has been lost. The second-line position has begun to be attacked by the Germans. Now, the Germans are crossing the river in a big way. Once they successfully cross the river, our pressure will be even greater. At that time, our The defense line is very likely to be completely broken by the Germans." Admiral Roy said with a dark face.

Marshal Xiafei's face was also very ugly. The four armies on the front line, more than 800,000 people, can't even last a day? If so, how can this battle go on?

"Gentlemen, this is only the first day of the German offensive. Could it be that we can't resist it? If that's the case, we should just withdraw from the Marne River defense line." Marshal Joffre said angrily.

"Your Excellency Marshal, although the Germans only started their offensive today, their firepower preparations started yesterday. Under the powerful German artillery fire and aircraft bombing, our defense line has been destroyed. The soldiers had to fight fiercely with the Germans within the dilapidated defense line, and it was the result of their desperation to be able to persist until this point." Admiral Roy was a little dissatisfied. He obviously couldn't accept Marshal Xia Fei's accusation.

Several other French generals were also somewhat dissatisfied, but they were not easy to argue with their immediate superiors. Admiral Roy is the army commander of the British Expeditionary Force, so there is no need to worry about this.

"Yes! Marshal. When our soldiers were fighting, the German planes were still hovering over their heads. I don't know how many soldiers were killed or killed by the German planes. Under such circumstances , it is naturally difficult for us to resist the German attack." Admiral Decasy Turno also said.

"Okay, what do you want to do? Evacuate the Marne River defense line? The Marne River defense line is already our best line of defense. If you abandon this place, then from here to Paris, there will be no danger to defend." Xia Xia Marshal Fei said.

"Marshal, of course we will not ask to evacuate the Marne. What is the difference between that and surrendering to the Germans? Given the fierce German offensive, we hope to get more reinforcements to launch a counterattack against the Germans and drive them off. Go to the river and rush back to the north bank of the Marne. Otherwise, we won't last long at all." Admiral Roy said.

"Is it necessary to put the 8th and 9th armies into battle now? Everyone should think about it. These two armies are the last reserves in our hands." Marshal Xia Fei's face was livid.

"Marshal, if the German attack can be repelled, then the 8th Army and the 9th Army can immediately withdraw to rest and continue to serve as the reserve team. If the German attack cannot be repelled, then it seems that it is necessary to keep a strong reserve force. It's useless." Admiral Roy said.

Marshal Xiafei thought about it, and finally accepted the suggestion. Indeed, the strength of the German army is so strong, if it can't even hold on to the front line of defense, it is meaningless to keep a strong reserve team.

After some deliberation, the French army decided to invest in the reserves of the two armies tomorrow morning to launch an attack on the German army crossing the Marne River, driving the German army back to the north of the Marne River in one fell swoop. The four group armies on the front line will also invest in the main force in this counterattack, and fight the German army to the death!