Chapter 252 The war broke out
July 30, 1870.
Frontline of French popularization.
"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 supplies are being sent to the front line in a steady stream. If we continue to wait, the strength of the Prussian frontline troops will become stronger day by day, and we will be defeated by numbers alone." Napoleon III's staff officer Leboeuf analyzed. road.
“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 had already done so before the Austro-Prussian War. Treating railways as a strategic resource, and even establishing a Ministry of Railways to specifically manage wartime railway dispatching, its essence is to serve the Prussian army. We realized this after the Austro-Prussian War, but the government had financial problems..."
Leboeuf did not finish speaking, but Nathan already understood, and 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 neglected logistical problems, resulting in food shortages for hundreds of thousands of people on the front line, so this The plan was shelved. Who knows that the Prussians at that time noticed the huge role of the railway in the war, and Prussia also actively invested in railway construction in recent years. "
"If we adjust our railway policy now, will it be improved? 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. The other three depart from Hamburg, Dresden and Munich. Prussia's railways not only have an advantage in quantity, but are also incomparable to our railways in quality. In comparison, most of Prussia's railways are double-track railways, so an average of 50 trains can be run to the border area a day, while we can only run 12 trains."
"So, if we continue to delay, France will. Will we fall into Prussia’s human wave tactics?”
“That’s it, 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 Duke of Gramont, the Foreign Minister, 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 Various troops ordered to launch attacks into Prussia."
…
The suburb of Saarbrücken West.
At this time, the French army seemed to be in 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..."
"The enemy is attacking, 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 calm 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 advancing Prussians. 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 towards Saarbrücken. I will lead the first platoon to cut off the rear.” With such a conspicuous target, the French commander strangled Naturally, the lieutenant would not let him go. He picked up his Xasepo rifle and aimed it at the Prussian commander waving the flag, knocking him to the ground with the second shot.
Although the commander fell, the order he arranged had been issued, and the remaining Prussian army began to flee toward the rear under the leadership of the deputy commander.
"Pursue victory! Don't let the Prussian barbarians run away." Seeing the Prussian army begin to flee backwards, the French commander Lieutenant Lerou shouted.
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 is small in number. It is not enough to fight the main force of the French army, and there should not be many French soldiers. We must concentrate our forces and use our superior force to fight the main force of France."
"Send a report to the Third Army and ask Crown Prince William (Frederick). The Third Army of King Martyr III moved south to the Vosges Mountains, isolating the French army south of the Vosges Mountains from the main French army and preventing them from joining the main French army. "
…
Palatinate.
The Third Army Corps Station.
“I have just received an order from the General Headquarters. The French have launched an offensive in the Saarbrücken area. The General Staff requires us to immediately advance to the Vosges Mountains to block the French army south of the Vosges Mountains. Go north, everyone listen to my orders, March toward the Vosges Mountains."
"The 2nd and 4th Cavalry Divisions immediately moved south to clear out the French troops along the route to Wiesenberg. Channel.”
"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 task in an orderly manner, and McMahon There are only 40,000 troops under the command, and the Third Army has 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 number of troops, with only four divisions scattered in four areas, while Wiesenberg has only one French division, and Bavaria has two armies. Looking at the strength of a single clump, The advantage is mine. 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 Bavarian army's intentions, Frederick III did not refuse and let them wade through the water first.
(End of this chapter)