The boundary river between the Durasno and Cerro Largo provinces in Uruguay is the connection between the Rio Grande hills and the Negro River, and is also the weakest point in the entire Uruguay defense line.
If this weak point is broken through, huge holes will appear in the entire mountain and river defense line. The Nebegro River defense line will collapse, and the hill defense line will fail. The Portuguese army will circle the hills and drink from the Mayin River.
The Yin River is the largest tributary of the Negro River. It can also be linked to the mountainous and hilly defense lines. However, the Yin River channel is not wide, the water is not deep, and it is not closely connected to the mountainous and hilly defense lines. It is very easy to be broken through. Surrounded by
The battle for the boundary river was the most intense battle between Portugal, Uruguay and South American volunteers.
Although Portugal launched the war to train its troops in preparation for the upcoming World War I, the border river defense line was too narrow, and a heavy price had to be paid each time to cross the river, and they were often repulsed.
Under the tug of war, the Portuguese sacrificed too much.
His Majesty the Emperor couldn't stand the meat-grinder-like fighting situation anymore, and demanded that the border river be broken through and the front be widened to better utilize the training effect.
On March 16, the Portuguese Ministry of National Defense ordered the forward command to launch a campaign to break through the Boundary River and push the war to the Yin River.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."
On the morning of March 16, the Portuguese army used up to 240 305mm, 240mm, 155mm, 150mm, 105mm, and 75mm heavy artillery to carry out saturation bombing on the boundary river and adjacent mountain defense lines.
The meeting point between the border river and the Rio Grande Mountains. The Cerro Chatto Highlands, as a rugged corner that supports the border river, has received special attention.
In Tunnel No. 1 in the Highlands, dust was shaken down from time to time, and the soldiers inside endured the torture of shelling.
"Cough! Cough! Cough! Jaylen, the artillery fire in Portugal is so fierce today!" Deputy Company Commander Bennett said to the company commander.
In order to better train troops, Portugal's artillery bombardment in normal times is mainly 105mm and 75mm artillery. Today, in order to break through the boundary river, all heavy artillery in Portugal's southern theater was put into use.
"Yes, today's artillery fire was fierce and lasted for a long time. Fortunately, we dug the tunnel well, otherwise we would have suffered heavy losses.
I am now very worried about the situation of the troops on the plains, which has always been the focus of Portugal's breakthrough. This shelling has put us all on the mountains under tremendous pressure. The pressure on the troops at the foot of the mountains is definitely greater than ours. I hope the losses will not be big, otherwise I'm afraid
…”
Bennett certainly knows what Jaylen Brown said, and he is also worried about the troops under the mountain.
"Jalen, there is a news that has spread widely in our army. The Portuguese are using us to train their troops. They rotate the troops from various theaters to the front line just to let them feel the war.
Although this news has always been said to be false, looking at today's bombardment, this news should not be false.
The normal artillery fire of the Portuguese army is not even 1/10 of what it is now. The concentration of such heavy firepower now should be because the Portuguese army has made some kind of decision to break through the boundary river.
Now we cannot support the boundary river defense line. If the defense line cannot hold up, the first line of our mountain and river defense line will be breached, and the next battle will be more difficult to fight."
"Bennett, don't be so negative. We in Uruguay have the support of the United Kingdom, Argentina and Chile.
Now our equipment has been replaced and is better. The large and heavy artillery says that it is on the way to support. As long as we persist, I believe that Portugal cannot destroy us with the same army and equipment."
"Jalen, although our weapons are very advanced now, I feel that those volunteers are unreliable. Several times the defense line fell because of them.
We in Uruguay only have that much population, and 1/4 of the population has already fallen. Our military strength has reached its limit, but Portugal has not.
Those Argentine and Chilean volunteers will not do anything to protect Uruguay. Many of them have returned to their countries. Although there are new volunteers coming, they are all naive and will eventually be forced by the cruel reality.
Retired."
Bennett is not unpatriotic, but when he faced Portugal, as a citizen of the small country of Uruguay, he felt hugely powerless.
"Jaylen, do you know the situation at the rear?
The territory that has not yet fallen is still in our hands, and many people have no determination to defend their country.
Through my channels, I learned that the president ordered all Italians in the rear to be imprisoned, isolated in a centralized manner, and allowed to produce supplies in factories. This caused huge condemnation in the international community and also caused riots in the rear."
"How can the president do this? There are many Italians in our country, and there are also many Italians in our company. This will disturb the morale of the military." Jaylen said in shock.
Jaylen did not doubt Bennett's words, because Uncle Bennett worked in the Uruguayan Transportation Bureau and now also provided logistical support for the army. It was not difficult for Bennett to obtain information from the rear from his uncle.
"The president has no choice but to do so. Many Italians in the country want to join Portugal, become citizens of a big country and enjoy better benefits.
The fact that the vice president rebelled with a group of government personnel proves the unreliability of Italians."
Bennett did not think the president's decision was a mistake. The decision to imprison Italians was entirely forced by the facts.
"Jalen, now the government is counting on the UK to end. Because only the UK, the world's hegemon, can save us, but the war has not stopped yet, and the UK's mediation has failed.
Since Brazil and Portugal merged to form the Portuguese Empire, which is stronger than before, our South American countries are getting more and more sad.
Now there are only four independent countries left in South America. We in Paraguay are still at war, and we don’t know what’s going on with the European countries? Is it just a matter of Portugal occupying the entire South America?”
Although Bennett is well-informed and has a higher vision, he is still not at the top and does not really understand the world situation.
He was just angry, what happened to European countries? Why did they ignore the situation in South America? There were not even substantive sanctions against Portugal.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."
On the west bank of the boundary river, the Uruguayan fortress was smashed to the point of collapse, with many loopholes appearing. The ground positions were also blown up with dust, and many trenches collapsed.
The Uruguayan soldiers and volunteers nesting in the potholes blocked their ears and endured the damage from the sound and vibration of the gunfire.
The land on the Uruguayan grasslands is not very solid. Under the continuous bombardment, many potholes collapsed. Some soldiers could not break free and died in the potholes.
While the Uruguayan soldiers were struggling to hold on and avoid the shelling, the Portuguese army launched an attack.
Nearly a hundred ships carrying military horses, cavalry, and soldiers set off from the east coast and galloped toward the west coast.
Different from the past, this time the Portuguese army mobilized a large number of cavalry. The reason for this was to allow the cavalry to sacrifice some more, break into the rear, and establish a simple defense line to block the Uruguayan reinforcements and make a large detour for the large army.
Prepare to outflank and siege the Lower Boundary River defense line.
This chapter has been completed!