However, the next attack never started today because reinforcements from the Third Guards Regiment came up.
Facing the fact that the strength of Italian troops increased from 500 to nearly 3,000, Menelik II, who led the team, suspended the attack. He needed more heavy firepower, and the previous performance of the artillery was too poor and needed to be rectified. In addition, he
You also need to send troops to contain other directions, and the enemy will inevitably threaten you from the flanks.
In addition, he also has a task, which is to surround the enemies of Mara City, but Emperor Johannes IV can help with this task.
When Menelik II appeared with his troops in front of Mara's enemies, Emperor Johannes IV, with a main force of 110,000 men, was passing through 20 kilometers west of Mara.
This place is extremely barren and deserted, but there is a small stream here called Natamu. Although it cannot provide enough water for our army, with the existence of several underground rivers, we can barely provide the army with enough water.
Use water.
As the emperor, Johannes IV sat on a cart pulled by four horses and moved with the army. The messengers who came in and out from time to time allowed him to get the latest news.
"Your Majesty, General Wärtsilä, has captured Kaleta's sentry post."
"knew."
As soon as Johannes IV finished speaking, he drew a circle with charcoal on a parchment map. The location where the circle was drawn was exactly a sentry post called Caleta.
"Your Majesty, His Highness Menelik has led his army to surround Mara."
"knew."
"His Majesty……"
The constant news gave Johannes IV the latest control over the war situation.
None of this news caused His Majesty the Emperor to show any fluctuation in his expression, and he always had a serious expression on his face.
However, this situation continued until the evening. When the messenger came to report that the Mencale stronghold was also pulled out, his expression finally changed. Because on the parchment map, there was no Italian within fifty kilometers of Mara.
A human stronghold.
"The first phase has been completed. Next we need to see Menelik's performance and Italy's reaction."
The performance of the master of Shoa cannot be seen yet, but he will have a chance to see Italy's reaction.
Mendefera is located between Adi Kwara and Asmara. It does not take long to reach both places. It only takes two days to get there. Of course, it is possible to reach both places so quickly thanks to the previous
A road-building army. However, the army has stopped building roads now, and only the recruited indigenous people and engineers are still doing it.
This town, located between the two sides, is currently chosen by Simeone as his temporary headquarters. Because it allows him to be closer to the front line without giving up control of logistics, it is a good place to get the best of both worlds.
When the news came that the Abyssinians were attacking Mara, Simeone immediately cheered up. The opportunity he had been waiting for finally came.
"It seems that Johannes IV can't sit still."
After Simeone saw the news that Marat was besieged, he was still in the mood to joke with the chief of staff next to him.
Major General Bartlett took a look at the telegram and said, "The Sudanese offensive has put Johannes IV in a difficult situation. If they don't take the initiative, they are waiting for death, and they can only take advantage of it."
Facing the chief of staff's explanation, Simeone immediately said with a serious expression. "He brought it all on himself. If he hadn't acted arrogantly and ignorantly against the Eritrean garrison, there would have been no such result. He must have aroused our anger."
Live with the consequences.”
The two commanders of the expeditionary force were not worried at all about Major General Wagman in Mara City, and they still had the heart to tease the Abyssinian emperor.
What makes them so reassured is not only that Major General Wagman has 8,000 troops, but also that he has sufficient supplies. The ammunition is enough for him to fight for two months, and the food and grass are enough for him for three months. Since he doesn't
If you're short of ammunition and food, then there's nothing to worry about.
Since there is no need to worry about relieving Major General Wagman's advance team, Simeone and others are more concerned about another issue, how to capture the enemy's main force and prevent it from running away.
"Now we need to consider how to capture the main force of Abyssinia and prevent them from running away. I don't want to start a pursuit on the plateau."
"What are you going to do?"
Facing the chief of staff's inquiry, Simeone looked at the map in front of him and was struck by inspiration, so he said, "I have an idea."
"What do you think?"
Simeone pointed to the map in front of him and said, "Mara is surrounded. It is obvious that Johannes IV wants us to reinforce him. He must be watching our every move in a corner, considering that Abyssinia
People are more familiar with the environment there than we are, so we need to be more prepared.”
Chief of Staff Bartlett agreed very much with Simeone's words. Although they were not worried about the safety of Major General Wagman's advance team, their main task was to defeat Johannes IV and make the Abyssinians surrender. So what should they do?
, this requires careful consideration.
"Then what do we do?"
The chief of staff's question made Simeone curl up his lips. "This is what I think. If we all attack, although it will be safe and we can lift the siege of Mara, there is a possibility that Johannes IV will escape. So.
My idea is that there must be reinforcements, but the strength should not be too strong or too weak, and it is best to keep the number around 10,000."
Simone's words made Bartlett feel a little dangerous. "Ten thousand people, isn't that a little too little? The number of enemies has reached 160,000 to 70,000. Isn't it too dangerous to reinforce with ten thousand people? You have to know that this is a march.
, it’s not like Mara who has a strong defensive position.”
Chief of Staff Bartlett's words are very reasonable, because the troops are not in a combat state during the march, which is very dangerous if they encounter an enemy surprise attack. Although the soldiers each have rifles, the important support firepower of the army cannot be in a state of combat readiness.
.
Moreover, there are ravines along the road from Adiwara to Mara, which lengthened the queue of the troops and slowed down their reaction speed. It can be said that if Bartlett commanded the Abyssinian army to besiege Mara,
La, if he didn't attack this reinforcement force, he would be regretting what he had learned. That's why he expressed his worries.
"I have also considered what you said. To this end, I am planning to strengthen this reinforcement force with firepower so that it has enough firepower to block possible enemy raids."
Facing Simone's words, Bartlett was a little curious. "What equipment are you going to strengthen for them? Artillery cannot counterattack quickly. Rifles are enough. Machine guns require preparation time?"
Faced with Bartlett's words, Simone smiled and replied, "It's a Maxim machine gun, but it's a Maxim mounted on a carriage."
