Chapter 252 War breaks out
July 30, 1870.
The front line of legalization.
"Your Majesty, we should launch an attack on Prussia immediately! According to the information sent by our intelligence personnel, the number of Prussian troops has been increasing rapidly these days. The efficiency of the Prussian railway is almost four to five times that of ours. A large number of personnel and materials are being continuously flown. If we continue to wait, the strength of the Prussian frontline troops will become stronger day by day, and then we will be defeated by numbers alone." Napoleon III's staff officer Leboeuf analyzed.
"Why can't our railway achieve this effect?" Napoleon III asked angrily.
The era of Napoleon III was also an era of rapid industrialization in France, and many new railways were built, which were no worse than Prussia in terms of quantity.
LeBoeuf explained: "Your Majesty, although the railways in France developed earlier and attached great importance to the role of railways, those businessmen only considered economic interests when building railways. Prussia regarded railways as strategic resources long before the Austro-Prussian War. The Ministry of Railways was even established to specifically manage wartime railway dispatching. Its essence was to serve the Prussian army. We realized this after the Austro-Prussian War, but the government had financial problems..."
Leboeuf did not finish his words, but Nathan already understood. He sighed: "We are still too short-sighted. I remember that the first time we used railways to transport troops was when France and Austria were at war in Italy!"
"Yes, but the effect was not very good that time. Although we and Austria used railways to transport soldiers to the front line, they ignored logistical issues, resulting in food shortages for hundreds of thousands of people on the front line, so the plan was shelved. Who knows? The Prussians at that time noticed the railway's huge role in the war, and Prussia also actively invested in railway construction in these years."
“If we adjust rail policy now, will we be able to increase capacity?”
"I'm afraid not, Your Majesty. Now our country's railway lines have taken shape and cannot be easily changed. Even if we build a few new lines, we don't have time, and our mobilization capabilities cannot keep up with Prussia. We only have four strategic railways, while Prussia has five or six. Three such railways depart from Berlin and pass through northern and central Germany to the border. Another three depart from Hamburg, Dresden and Munich respectively. Prussia’s railways not only have an advantage in quantity, but also are incomparable to our country’s railways in quality. In comparison, most of Prussia's railways are double-track railways, so on average 50 trains can be operated to reach the border areas a day, while we can only operate 12 trains."
"So, if we delay further, France will fall into Prussian human wave tactics?"
"That's right, Your Majesty, we must interrupt Prussia's war mobilization. This can only be accomplished by taking the initiative to attack, and the sooner the better."
The Foreign Secretary, Duke Gramont, also reminded: "Taking the initiative now is the only way to attract Austria, Italy and Denmark to join the French camp."
Napoleon III thought carefully for a while and said: "Give all troops an order to launch an attack into Prussia."
…
Suburbs of Saarbrücken West.
At this time, the French army seemed to have entered uninhabited territory, advancing more than ten kilometers in half a day. These areas were ceded to Prussia after the failure of the Napoleonic War in 1815. However, most of the people here are attracted to France, and all the men have fled to avoid military service in Prussia. When the French army passed by, they only saw women and children.
"Bang...bang...bang..."
"Enemy attack, find a bunker nearby, don't panic!"
There was no need for Lieutenant Lerou to remind him that the experienced French soldiers had already thrown themselves to the ground and began to fight back towards the woods ahead.
The forwards of the Army of the Rhine collided with the forwards of the Prussian Second Army on the west bank of the Rhine. The sound of Xia Sebo rifles and Dreiser rifles exchanging fire broke the peace on the European continent.
Fifteen minutes ago, a platoon led by French Lieutenant Camille Leroux encountered a Prussian company hidden in the woods. Taking advantage of their numerical advantage, the Prussians rushed out of the woods and planned to surround and destroy the French army. Lerao immediately ordered his men to lie down, used the field ridges as cover, and opened fire on the Prussians who were rushing over. A hail of bullets blocked the Prussians. Then he ordered his men to advance 10 meters and shoot again in a kneeling position. The Prussians could not withstand it and began to flee in all directions.
The Prussian officer 200 meters away saw that his men were beaten by such a small French army, and he was so angry that he waved his flag and planned to regroup.
"Everyone, listen to my order, don't get entangled with the French, and retreat toward Saarbrücken. I will lead the first platoon to break up the rear."
With such a conspicuous target, the French commander, Lieutenant Leroy, would not let it go. He picked up his Chassepo rifle and aimed it at the Prussian commander waving the flag. The second shot knocked him to the ground.
Although the commander fell, the order he arranged had been issued, and the remaining Prussian troops began to flee toward the rear under the leadership of the deputy commander.
"Pursue victory! Don't let the Prussian barbarians escape." Seeing the Prussian army begin to flee backwards, the French commander shouted Lieutenant Lerou.
In this way, a French platoon defeated a Prussian company. In this small battle, the advantages of the French Chassebou rifles and the combat quality of their personnel were fully demonstrated.
…
"Your Majesty, the French have moved. The frontline troops of Saarbrücken have exchanged fire with the forward troops of the French Army of the Rhine. Our people are currently not sure how many French troops have been dispatched. The frontline troops are now waiting in the rear fortifications. The French attack.”
"Start the counterattack according to your deployment!" William I said.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Moltke said.
"Send me a report to the headquarters of the Second Army, inform Prince Frederick, and ask them to move closer to us. Napoleon III will definitely attack us in Saarbrücken. The First Army has a small number and is not enough to compete with the main force of the French army. If we fight head-on, there shouldn’t be many French soldiers, so we must concentrate our forces and use our superior force to fight the main French force."
"Send a report to the Third Army and ask Crown Prince William (Frederick III)'s Third Army to move south to the Vosges Mountains to isolate the French army south of the Vosges Mountains from the main force of the French army. They cannot be allowed to communicate with the main force of the French army. Reunion."
…
Palatinate.
The headquarters of the Third Army Corps.
"I have just received an order from the General Headquarters. The French have launched an attack in the Saarbrücken area. The General Staff requires us to immediately march to the Vosges Mountains to block the French army south of the Vosges Mountains from moving north. Everyone listen to me. Order, move towards the Vosges Mountains."
"The 2nd and 4th Cavalry Divisions immediately went south to clear out the French troops along the route to Wiesenberg. At the same time, they surveyed the situation of McMahon's troops and opened up the passage for the large troops to go south."
"Leopold, General Kirchbach, you lead the Hechingen Brigade and the Fifth Army respectively to march towards the Saverna area. Beware of the Northern French troops going south to support McMahon's Charon Army."
"Other troops are moving with me towards Strasbourg. We must pin McMahon south of the Vosges Mountains."
Frederick III arranged the tasks in an orderly manner. McMahon had only 40,000 troops, and the Third Army was more than three times that number.
In the advantageous situation, the generals of the Kingdom of Bavaria asked the two armies of Bavaria to take the lead and attack the Wiesenberg area first.
On the one hand, McMahon has a small force, with only four divisions scattered in four areas, while Wiesenberg has only one French division, and Bavaria has two corps. Looking at the strength of a single clump, the advantage lies with us. On the one hand, the Bavarian army needs residents along the way and Wiesenberg to replenish "supplies". If Prussian and other state troops are allowed to pass through first, they will not be able to get anything.
Although he knew the little intentions of the Bavarian army, Frederick III did not refuse and let them wade through the water first.