CHAPTER 335: CHAPTER 335: THAT’S NOT A PROMISE

The 43rd Division defensive line of the 20th Army of France, with Captain Claude arguing with Tijani over the map under a kerosene lamp in the bunker used as the command post.

Captain Claude was fortunate, when the Germans launched the gas warfare, he and his troops had just spent two weeks on the second line of defense.

At this time, the French front had adopted a rotation system. They divided the troops into several batches, first stationed and trained at the rear. After two weeks, they rotated forward along the trenches layer by layer until they stayed in the frontline for two weeks before returning to the rear for rest, and so on repeatedly.

Today happened to be the day for rotation. If the Germans had delayed their attack by just one day, it would have been Captain Claude’s troops that would have suffered massive gas casualties in the frontline.

However, Captain Claude was also unfortunate.

As one of the main initiators of the "Christmas Truce," despite his numerous military achievements, he had never been able to get promoted.

Not only that, but the most dangerous tasks were always left to Claude’s Second Infantry Company.

Like this time, worried that the 105th Infantry Regiment might be unaware of the frontline situation, they sent Claude to station with the 105th Regiment at the very front.

"We can’t make a plan to hold our ground, General!" Captain Claude argued with reason: "I know you are Shire’s troops, and I know you achieved victory at Gelibolu, but this is different, this is gas, it’s unlike any battle we’re familiar with."

"I understand, Captain." Tijani looked at Claude mockingly: "We are here to solve the problem."

Claude explained while pointing at the map:

"I have an idea, General!"

"The Germans probably do not have their own anti-gas measures. They won’t attack immediately after releasing the gas."

"So, why don’t we hide our forces on the flanks and in the rear, making the enemy think we have retreated?"

"When the Germans enter our positions and the gas has dispersed, I believe it will be an excellent opportunity for a counterattack!"

...

Tijani looked at the captain in front of him with interest. Though his rank was not high, he had great ideas, far better than those generals who only emphasized attacking.

At this moment, a dark shadow entered the bunker before the person arrived: "Why do you think the Germans have no anti-gas measures?"

"Because their attack was very cautious," Captain Claude answered, "they could have followed us closely and pursued the victory, but they didn’t. After advancing only 3.25 kilometers, they stopped to dig in and build defensive works!"

That day, the French Army retreated in panic for five or six kilometers. The Germans could have advanced at least another two kilometers or more, but they did not.

The only explanation is that they themselves also maintained a high degree of skepticism about this new weapon, gas. They were unsure how long the gas would last, how much damage it would cause, or even if it might poison their own troops.

Shire grunted in agreement with the middle-aged captain’s assessment.

At this moment, the kerosene lamp gradually illuminated Shire’s face, and Captain Claude’s eyes widened in shock: "Sha, Shire... is it really you!"

Shire looked at the middle-aged captain in confusion: "You recognize me?"

"Of course, Colonel." Claude straightened up to respond, his voice a bit strange due to excitement: "Do you remember Christmas?"

Shire let out an "Oh," and with a slight lift of his finger, recalled: "You were the captain who negotiated with me?"

"Yes, my name is Claude, Colonel." Claude reintroduced himself with understanding.

"Sorry, I forgot your name." Shire admitted candidly. Deep down, he was a Huaxian and had almost no memory capacity for French names.

"No, it’s okay, Colonel." Claude looked full of admiration.

"But I remember something you said," Shire looked at Claude with a smile and asked, "Does it still hold?"

"Of course, Colonel, of course it holds." Claude nodded heavily.

After the last negotiation, before Shire left, Claude had said: "My subordinates and I eagerly hope that one day we can fight under your command!"

After hesitating for a moment, Claude corrected: "But that was not a promise, Colonel, that was a wish. Now the wish has come true. I feel very fortunate!"

"No, Captain." Shire shook his head meaningfully: "You should not feel lucky to go to the battlefield."

Claude didn’t speak. He did not agree; he believed it was luck to fight under Shire’s command, and his subordinates thought the same.

Tijani, standing beside and not speaking, exchanged a glance with Claude.

Tijani felt the same way, especially after experiencing Shire’s "Art of War". He felt he couldn’t fight without Shire.

"Now." Shire turned his gaze to the map and asked: "What’s the situation at the front?"

"Very bad, Colonel." Claude pointed at the map and explained: "Our left flank is the sea, the right flank is the 45th Division of France, but we cannot expect much from it."

Shire asked: "Were they scared by the gas?"

"You could say that." Claude nodded and added: "They are the Algeria Division."

Shire immediately understood, French colonial troops.

From the perspective of the Algeria Division, it was natural that they would not fight desperately for the French Army at this time. France usually discriminated against and exploited them in all kinds of ways. At this critical moment, sending them up to be gas fodder—it would be surprising if they held their ground.

(Above: The 45th Division of France, French Algeria Division in WWI)

Captain Claude seemed to see through Shire’s thoughts, his face showing slight embarrassment because the French Army and the British Army were not much better off. They had no right to criticize the Algeria Division in this regard.

But Captain Claude did not reveal this. He continued to analyze the map: "Once our line is breached, the right-wing defensive line of 50,000 troops of the Canadian Corps and the British Army will be surrounded by the Germans, and our defensive gap will become larger, causing a domino-like chain reaction."

"So we have nowhere to retreat?" Shire asked.

Captain Claude nodded: "Nowhere to retreat!"

In fact, they could retreat another two kilometers, but those two kilometers would cost tens of thousands of lives to regain.

(Note: Historically, to fill this gap, the second army of the British Army carried out a counterattack, resulting in 70,000 casualties.)

"There is one problem with your plan, Captain." Shire said: "You hope to counterattack when the Germans are not yet firmly established in our positions. It’s a good idea. But..."

Shire pointed at the defensive line and continued: "If the wind direction is just right, and the Germans use gas for defense, what do you plan to do?"

Captain Claude’s face instantly changed.

At that time, the French Army would have no choice but to charge into the gas, otherwise the 50,000 friendly troops on the right wing would be surrounded!