"Division Commander!" The voice of Adjutant Baptiste came from behind Stephen: "The British troops on the attack position suddenly launched a counterattack against our attacking troops. Now, our leading troops have been repulsed."
As soon as Baptiste finished speaking, the voice of another staff officer responsible for combat coordination also rang out: "Report, the Second Battalion showed up in front of them with British troops several times their size. Due to the situation, the Second Battalion has temporarily stopped attacking.
The second battalion commander sent a request for instructions whether to continue executing the attack order."
"The British army has made a move!" Baptiste suddenly became nervous: "Did they see through it?"
"See through?" Stephen sneered: "I broke out in a cold sweat when I saw the plan sent by the German army. Just with the two moves of the British officer, can they see through it?"
With that said, Stephen waved his hand and said: "Order, the second and third battalions defend on the spot and stop attacking."
Looking back, Stephen continued to say to Baptiste: "You have also seen the battle plan. Isn't the current situation what we are most looking forward to?"
"Indeed." Batista nodded. He took a breath and said, "If we can hold on for about 2 hours, no, it only takes 1 hour. We will win this battle!"
…
"Sir..." an Australian staff officer suddenly shouted in the headquarters: "The French army on the southern flank has completely stopped attacking and is now launching defense on the spot!"
"What!" The Australian Major General stood up suddenly. After a moment of confusion, he turned back to look at Johnson and said: "General Johnson, the French army has indeed stopped attacking. It seems that their purpose is to contain us."
"Has my transferred battalion joined the Australian troops on the southern flank?" Johnson asked a staff officer beside him with a serious look.
"Already arrived!" the staff officer quickly replied: "They have launched a joint counterattack with the two battalions of the 26th Division. It is expected that within an hour, the French army on the southern flank will be pushed back to the periphery of my main attack position.
.”
"Has Highland 4 begun to be attacked by German troops?" Johnson looked at the time on his watch.
"Not yet, but they have detached two platoons and transferred them to strengthen the eastern defense line as recommended by the headquarters."
"Okay! It seems we should move faster!" Johnson ordered: "Order the southern wing troops to increase their offensive intensity. The French colonial troops cannot stop us. In addition, order the garrison on Highland 4 to attack from the top.
At the core, carry out a circular defense. Let the reserve team move in a cross circle, cooperate with the remaining tanks, and block the attack of the German and French troops from the circular defense formation until we eliminate the French army on the southern flank and draw out the troops.
....."
After listening to Johnson issue a series of orders, the Australian major general's heart finally calmed down.
He knows that what Johnson is doing now is to compete for time with the German army that may attack Highland 4 at any time, and also with the approaching Italian army. Whoever concentrates the troops first and disrupts the opponent's deployment will win.
Whoever can usher in victory!
With Highland 3 and Highland 4 respectively controlled by both sides as the axis, the three parties attacked tens of thousands of troops and fought continuously on this last barrier to the oil fields in eastern Algeria.
It is difficult for those who have not witnessed it with their own eyes to imagine how tragic the scene was in this small area. A large number of black soldiers from the French army, white soldiers from the British army, and the Australian army were all dyed with the same bright red blood.
color.
Under the offensive missions requested by both Rommel and Johnson, the originally relatively stable battlefield was thrown into chaos.
First, the defenders on Highland 3 turned to attack. Then the French army, which was attacking the British army's main position, turned to defense again.
Back and forth, offense and defense exchanged, what changed was the pattern, but what remained unchanged were the casualties.
Whether it is attack or defense, there are countless sacrifices and injuries. Especially the black French colonial soldiers who launched the attack, because their training level was not in place, they left the defense fortifications and took the initiative to launch the attack, which made their losses even more severe.
The proportion rose straight up. However, their sacrifices were enough to make the British army crazy and unable to concentrate their energy and troops, and unable to use their fists.
On the southern flank of the British attack position, the French army, led by Stephen himself, had been defeated steadily by the counterattacking British army. Without the expected defenses, these colonial levies, even if they wanted to defend on the spot, could not
It's hard to do that.
Led by a British infantry battalion, two other Australian battalions followed closely behind. The formation of the three battalions was like a triangular pyramid, and the stinging French troops retreated continuously. Facing a group of poorly trained and poorly equipped soldiers,
There were no fortifications to rely on as defenders, so it was actually not too difficult for the British army to counterattack.
"The French troops on the southern flank retreated to the outside of the preset cordon!"
"The pursuing troops continue to suppress the opponent and are expected to completely defeat the enemy in 30 minutes."
"The French offensive attacking Highland No. 4 has weakened and is gradually turning into a semi-defensive state. Only three attack points are still being exchanged."
Just as the god of luck favored Johnson and the others, the originally menacing French army was finally unable to sustain their seemingly ferocious attack. Whether it was on the southern flank of the British army's main attack position or on the periphery of No. 4 Heights, the originally menacing French army was unable to sustain their seemingly fierce attack.
The weak French army could no longer continue their bluff offensive.
Every commander of the 24th Division and the 26th Division understands that the battle situation has reached the most critical moment. The British and Australian troops have now completed the comprehensive suppression of the French army. As long as the French army will soon
Pay the final price for their self-defeating martial arts-like death-defying offensive!
Not to mention the lively fighting the French army had not long ago, these are all the rewards they gained at the cost of huge losses. From Johnson's point of view, this move was very beautiful, but it was totally not worth it!
When Johnson gets rid of the annoying fly-like diversionary force on the southern flank, both the German army that successfully launched a surprise attack on Hill 4 and the Italian reinforcements that are far away will only end in destruction.
Fortunately, he saw through the calculations of the German commander!
If a British commander with a slower response had conservatively adopted a defensive strategy when the southern flank was attacked and could not retreat, then maybe the German general's strategy would have really succeeded.
It's a pity that there is no if!
"Let the three battalions fighting on the southern flank end the battle as soon as possible." Seeing the French army's fatigue on various battlefields becoming more and more obvious, Johnson sneered and ordered: "After the battle is over, you are not allowed to stop and rest. Immediately
Rush to Highland 4 and join forces with the garrison there to destroy the enemy!"