Chapter 739: The defensive line was lost
Three days later, at 6 a.m. on April 7, East African time, under the dawn light, the well-prepared British army began a full-line attack.
The British army forcibly crossed the Tugela River from five river sections at the same time, which instantly caused a huge hole in the defense line of the 9th Brigade.
This has long been expected by Aristotle. After all, the Ninth Brigade has limited troops, so it is impossible to rely on the Tugela River to effectively defend the British army.
The Tugela River defense line in East Africa is a "long snake formation", and the British army's multi-line attack is a "snake seven inches". The various units of the scarce 9th Brigade are unable to effectively coordinate and support.
Moreover, the British army was surprised to find that the firepower in East Africa seemed to be weaker than three days ago.
This discovery is not unusual, but there are two reasons for this. The East African Brigade has already given the answer.
Alidotus' adjutant said: "Our fifteen heavy artillery has withdrawn to the New Hamburg Port City one day in advance, and the light artillery has also withdrawn one-third, so the level of artillery support has weakened, allowing the British to retreat. It’s easier for the army to cross the river.”
Alidotus waved his hand and said: “Even if we keep these heavy weapons, it will be useless to us. It's not of much use. Just like now, the British army launches attacks from multiple places with a coverage line of more than 100 kilometers. Even the light artillery that is easy to move has no time to support.
So I have given it. The various units on the front line issued orders to be organized into companies and divided into parts to deal with the British troops within their respective jurisdictions. "
It is not easy to move artillery, especially the Tugela River defense line, which is more than 200 kilometers long and very tortuous.
When these artillery are concentrated where needed, the war may be over, so Aridotus began to organize the artillery to evacuate to the New Hamburg Port City as early as a day ago.
In the New Hamburg Port City, these artillery can be concentrated to deal with the enemy's attack, while on the Tugela River, I am afraid it will only make it easier for the British troops to cross the river.
“Our purpose is to destroy the British troops crossing the river as much as possible. The Tugela River defense line cannot take advantage of our firepower, so letting the lower-level troops carry light weapons is the best choice.”
……
While Aridotus was speaking, East Africa was already fighting with the British army at various river crossing points within the jurisdiction of the Ninth Brigade. Even when they were halfway across the river and attacked without fire support, the soldiers of the Ninth Brigade were able to achieve a good exchange ratio. But the British army was like a tide and could not be killed at all.
The position of the 2nd Company of the 7th Battalion.
"Company Commander, we are running out of ammunition, but there are too many British troops. I didn't expect that they would choose our area as a breakthrough point. We can't hold on for long!"
"Give The brigade headquarters sent a report to report our situation. Position 23 is about to be lost and we can retreat!" said Second Company Commander Hans.
Soon, with the loss of Position 23, the Tugela River defense line of the 9th East African Brigade was about to be abandoned.
The brigade headquarters ordered each unit to evacuate to the rear according to the plan through telegrams and messengers.
The Second Company also received the order, and then the Second Company began to destroy the defensive position built by itself. At the same time, important military supplies including weapons, ammunition, telegraph machines, etc. were also loaded onto the truck.
Except for the telegraph wires buried underground, the Ninth Brigade only left corpses on the river beach and a pile of ruins to the British army. The construction of the Tugela River defense line took as long as three months. But it was destroyed less than a week before the war broke out.
And this was also the helpless move of the Ninth Brigade. Even if the Ninth Brigade really tried its best to defend the Tugela River defense line, it would actually be of no help. After all, the British could still land and fight from the sea.
Currently, control of the Indian Ocean waters around the New Hamburg Port City is actually in the hands of the British, so the Tugela River Defense Line can only be used as a temporary position.
...
Ninth Brigade Headquarters.
"The Fifth Battalion of the Second Regiment is responsible for staying to block the enemy's advance, while the other troops evacuate to the rear. How is the mission I assigned you to you, Wilder?" Aridotus asked.
“Report to the brigade commander, we have gathered nearly half of the brigade and seventeen machine guns, and they have been deployed in the middle of the road in the village of Kronskop as you requested.”
Krons Kopp Village is the transfer station for the evacuation from the Tugela River defense line to the New Hamburg Port City. It is also the only place where the connecting road must pass. Aridotus planned to concentrate the machine guns and test their power in the village of Kronskop, which would have serious consequences for the British army who were good at forming formations.
"Very good, let the troops concentrate on the village of Kronskop first. If the machine gun can exert its due power, I think this is a good opportunity to attack the British army." Aridotus said.
......
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Commander Rost of the British Army also crossed the pontoon bridge. Looking at the ruins of the Tugela River defense line that had finally been captured, Rost felt happy.
"Where are the East Africans! Why are there so few bodies among them?"
"Reporting to the division commander, the East Africans are not interested in fighting. After they failed to prevent us from crossing the river, they took the initiative to evacuate to the north. Moreover, the number of East African troops is probably smaller than we imagined, so they will not be able to stop our attack at all. If We fought like this on the first day, and I'm afraid we have already reached New Hamburg Port City!"
"Approximately how many people are there in the East African Army?" Rost asked.
"Based on the position and our pursuit, East Africa should only have one brigade deployed on the Tugela River."
Rost: "Asshole, that means we are because A journey wasted for four days here?”
“Yes...”
Rost thought for a while and said: "Are you really sure it's a brigade? Have you seen it with your own eyes?"
"Well, it's just a guess based on the traces on the scene."
"Very good, since it's a guess. , that means the data is inaccurate. According to me, East Africa should at least have deployed a main division along the Tugela River. Otherwise, why could they have blocked us for so long, and they also had strong fire support! "Rost said decisively.
The subordinate also understood what Rost meant and hurriedly said: "I made a mistake in judgment. He is a main division in East Africa."
Rost looked at him with admiration. Said: "On April 7, 1888, our troops won a great victory on the Tugela River and successfully repulsed a division of troops defending the Tugela River in East Africa."
But as he went on, Rost could no longer compile it. He suddenly thought of the unclear military designation issue in East Africa.
"Bring the prisoners from East Africa over, I want to question them!" Rost ordered.
"Report to the division commander that we did not capture any East African prisoners. After our troops landed, the East African troops retreated voluntarily. Apart from the corpses that were too late to dispose of, the only thing we found was a group of Indian prisoners." The subordinate was very embarrassed. said.
"Indian prisoners?"
"They are the Indian soldiers who were captured in our cross-river battle four days ago. These bastards did not fight to the end, but surrendered directly to East Africa. However, the East African army withdrew We were in a hurry and didn’t have time to deal with them, so we discovered them.”
When Rost heard this, his face turned green with anger! These deserters should all be shot.
“Are there any British or Gurkha mercenaries among them?”
“No one, our soldiers and Gurkha mercenaries all died.”
"Huh!" Rost was really angry.
The surrender of Indian soldiers is not a big deal, but there are no Indian soldiers or Gurkha mercenaries alive, which is very revealing.
"Shoot them all as a warning to others!" Rost ordered viciously.
(End of this chapter)