In the later stages of the Battle of Ejele, the all-out British army finally captured the city of Ejele shortly after receiving Australian reinforcements, opening up this gateway city to the oil fields in eastern Algeria.
For the British, they can already claim to be on the verge of controlling half of Algeria's oil fields.
After all, on the road leading to this rich land full of oil fields, the only defensive positions left by the French army were a few highlands and a small section of simple fortifications built at odd hours.
Twelve miles west of Ejele, on a hilltop marked as Highland 3 by the British Combat Research Department and its surrounding area, Major General Stephen, commander of the French Algerian 5th Colonial Division, was ordered to block the British troops here.
Stephen received a death order, and the British army must not be allowed to pass through this area. This was what Governor Berante told him personally on the phone.
And Major General Stephen, who had been in the rear a few days ago and had not been exposed to the fighting, now finally had his turn to consider his current situation.
Judging from the enemy's situation, it was obvious that he had to defend his position, because about 20 miles further back was the area where the eastern Algerian oil fields were located. Once the British troops were allowed to pass, the oil fields would change ownership.
After all, the oil field is dead and there is no question of belief. Whoever occupies it will own it.
Judging from the current situation, Stephen's efforts to build the position around Highland 3 were finally not in vain.
He believed that although the combat effectiveness of his 5th Colonial Division was far behind that of Berante's three French divisions, it could at least persist for a while relying on fortifications.
What really made him feel uneasy was Highland 4 opposite Highland 3. The defenses there were really worrying.
This highland and the two colonial regiments surrounding it made no effort to build fortifications at all.
After all, the quality difference between the troops recruited by the colonies is still very huge. Some troops, such as Stephen's troops, are slightly more reliable. And some troops can only make up for the number of people.
If the British army launched a fierce attack around Highland 4, they would probably be able to break through this high ground with just one charge.
And Highland No. 4 happens to be very close to Highland No. 3, where the French 5th Colonial Division is currently stationed. Once Highland No. 4 is lost, the British army can condescendingly suppress fire on Highland No. 3, which Stephen is currently responsible for.
By that time, due to the unprotected flanks, no matter how strong the fortifications were, they could not stop the British army from capturing Highland 3.
Thinking of this, Stephen felt that he needed to immediately make a request to the commander guarding Highland 4 to urgently strengthen the defenses.
This is just like the principle of wooden barrels. What often determines how much water a barrel can hold is not the longest wooden board, but the shortest wooden board.
The fortifications on Highland 4 are the "shortest plank of the barrel" for the French colonial troops' defense chain in this area.
Therefore, the chief of staff of the 5th Colonial Division immediately sent someone to relay Stephen's request to a white colonel named Jefferson on Hill 4, asking the other party to pay attention to strengthening fortifications.
Like Steve, Jefferson was also a white judicial officer. In fact, all officers of battalion and above in the colonial levy force were white officers appointed by Berlant himself. This way, it was possible to ensure that the colonial troops had the basics.
Tactical execution ability, capable of executing Berante's orders and command.
Since Colonel Jefferson was also a Frenchman, after Major General Stephen, who was also a fellow countryman, sent someone to pass the message, he also spoke nicely and asked a regiment of black soldiers to start reinforcing the defenses on Highland 4.
At this time, the French General Headquarters in Algeria received very bad news - the vanguard of the British offensive force starting from Ejele had arrived at the last batch of French colonial troops in the southern part of Algeria.
Outside the garrison location, less than 5 miles away.
"What the hell! How come the British are so fast?" Colonel Jefferson, the commander of the French army defending Hill 4, said to himself: "With the British army's advancing speed, we simply can't finish it in time.
It cannot be used as reinforcement of fortifications.”
With a sigh, Jefferson reluctantly gave instructions to his men: "Order the troops to prepare for battle, speed up the reinforcement of the fortifications, and strive to complete the work before the enemy arrives."
The speed of the British was really too fast, much faster than the expectations of Jefferson, Stephen and others.
After occupying Ejele, the British army continued to advance without even taking a break.
Of course, this was a decision made by the British commander, General Wavell, under heavy pressure from Churchill.
In this way, the British completely rushed to the last small French defense section in front of the oil fields in eastern Algeria. However, Berante's French army was unable to send reinforcements because they were also oppressed by the British army on other fronts.
Rush to help here.
It can be said that the French army fell into a very passive situation across the board, and the final result of all this seems to have become a foregone conclusion.
But in the southern tip of Algeria, a large-scale plan that could change the situation of the war is being brewed.
Yes, there are more than 100,000 Italian troops at the southern end!
Just as the Italian commander, General Garibaldi, was drafting various messages to inform the French side, an officer from the Roman High Command also handed over the belated joint combat order from the Roman High Command.
At this time, the war supervisors sent by Berante had been arranged by Garibaldi to join 70% of his troops.
As for the remaining 30% of his troops, they were left for Rommel to form the African Army.
The order issued by Italy's Supreme Commander Mussolini required General Garibaldi, the Italian Governor in North Africa, to immediately organize Italian troops to go to the border between Algeria and Libya to help the French army organize a counterattack.
In the message, Mussolini specifically stated that this was the opinion of him and the General Staff. Of course, when Mussolini issued the order, he thought that the French army could hold on for at least ten days and a half. Otherwise, he would have
The Italian troops had already been ordered to go to relieve the siege.
Therefore, Garibaldi personally went to the Ministry of Communications and reported the current severe situation directly to Italian Supreme Commander Mussolini using a telex machine.
The Chief of General Staff of the Italian Army in North Africa, after issuing the order just discussed, immediately organized the staff of the Operations Department to formulate a support operation plan for the French army.
Time is very urgent now. If the Italian army supports the French army earlier, it will have more hope of defeating the British.
When formulating the support plan along the border, Garibaldi also paid attention to the area of Highlands 3 and 4 where the French 5th Colonial Division was located.
Therefore, this competent Italian general who Mussolini said had defeated the war made a truly competent decision - to send troops to support the French 5th Colonial Division, and then cooperate with the French army to counterattack Ejele and regain the lost ground!
