The time soon came to May, and the exercise troops were determined. The three divisions after reorganization will fight against the five divisions before reorganization. The exercise is divided into two parts. The first part is also the most important offensive and defensive drill, and the second part is troop maneuver.
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May 8 was the day set by the General Staff. King Carol I and Edel arrived at the exercise headquarters. Chief of General Staff Pleshan and the Minister of War, along with senior military officials and a group of German advisers, greeted the king at the door.
One line.
"I have met His Majesty." Everyone said, and Carol I waved to the people who greeted him, and then a large group of people walked into the headquarters.
As the commander-in-chief of this exercise, Pleshan explained the content of the exercise to King Carol. "Your Majesty, in order to test the true situation of this army reorganization, we have prepared this exercise. We hope that the king and you can understand the reorganization of the army."
The military has a clear understanding."
"Tell me the specific situation." Carol I said to the Chief of General Staff. Plesan nodded to the king and then spoke.
"Today's exercise is an offensive and defensive battle. The offensive side is the Army's Fifth Division, and the commander is General Bram, the division commander." Plesan said, pointing to a general in his fifties behind the king.
King Carol I turned back to General Bram and said, "General Bram hopes to show us a wonderful offensive battle." General Bram nodded and said, "Your Majesty will see the wonderful performance of our fifth division.
Performance."
King Carol turned back and continued to listen to Plesan's explanation. "The defender is the reorganized third division, and the commander is the division commander, General Midlor." Pleshan pointed to another general behind the king and said
After King Carol gave a few words of encouragement to General Midlor, he continued to listen to Plesan's explanation.
"The goal of this attack and defense is to control this hilltop." Pulishan pointed to the hilltop on the map and explained to King Carol. Seeing that the explanation was almost complete, Edel said to the two offensive and defensive commanders
"The two generals can go down and get ready." General Medlor and General Bram nodded and walked out of the headquarters.
After Puleshan finished explaining, he asked King Carol I. "Your Majesty, can we start?" The old king nodded to indicate that it was okay to start. Puleshan gave the order to his staff. "The exercise has begun", the staff called the field phone to notify two people.
Fang Command.
General Bram, who was at his headquarters, ordered: "First fire a basic number of artillery shells to let them have a taste of the power." The third division's front line position immediately fell with a barrage of artillery shells, blowing the third division's defensive position to pieces. The third division
Division Commander Midlor observed the bombardment and said, "Test my defense capabilities so that the artillery fire does not have to be fired back." The King and his gang saw the bombardment at the exercise observation point.
"Bram has trained well, and the accuracy of shelling is still very high." The king put down the telescope in his hand and said, which was recognized by a group of people who also held telescopes for observation. After the bombardment was completed, the staff gave the data based on the results of the bombardment, and the guards
The three divisions and two regiments on the front line suffered 5% losses.
A staff officer ran over and reported to the king and his party that General Bram ordered a regiment to test the attack. Everyone raised their binoculars and saw a group of men and horses spread out in a skirmish line in front of the position.
The two regiments of the Third Division entered the first-line position after leaving 5% of their personnel and equipment behind.
After the Fifth Division launched a test attack, the front-line positions were fully fired. For the soldiers of the Fifth Division who had never experienced World War I, they were dumbfounded when they saw the metal storm on the opposite side. Fortunately, this was a drill. This made the king and his entourage stunned.
Everyone's scalp is numb.
"This firepower density is too high. The regiment of the Fifth Division will suffer heavy casualties." An observing general said. General Bram had a headache after seeing the losses. A regiment lost 40% in a trial attack. This was still in the opinion of the regiment commander.
If the situation is not good, end the attack early and withdraw early.
"It seems that we can only use artillery first. Their firepower is too strong. A roundabout attack is of little use to their current position," the chief of staff said in his opinion.
"Now I can only focus on attacking. I will leave two base shells for a while, and the remaining three base shells will all be aimed at the right position with relatively gentle terrain and fire at high speed. The three regiments will press forward to open a breakthrough for me. Follow up
The troops will wait for a breakthrough to expand the results." General Bram was also a decisive person and found the only way based on intuition.
The attacker's artillery roared again. This time, in the face of a strong bombardment, the position on the right side of the front line was blown to pieces. After seeing it, General Midloir, the defender's headquarters, ordered the artillery to counterattack, and then transferred a regiment.
Strengthen the defense to the right side of the front line.
When Bram saw the reinforcements, he ordered two battalions of artillery to counterattack, and the rest intercepted the artillery fire and launched an attack at the same time. The commander of the right-wing position troops saw that it was not good and mobilized a battalion for reinforcements. The commanders of both sides were taking action.
It's so lively when you come and go.
"Attack up." A staff officer shouted, and the three regiments rushed into the front line despite casualties. "Order the follow-up troops to follow, and the artillery to stop the reinforcements on the opposite side." General Bram ordered. On the third day,
General Midloe at the division headquarters was also giving orders to the artillery: "Intercept the follow-up troops on the opposite side." For a while, the position on the right became the focus, and finally the fifth division finally won the position with its numerical advantage.
"Are these too many casualties?" the chief of staff asked with some uncertainty as he looked at the casualty figures given by the exercise staff. The three regiments that attacked first suffered half casualties, and the subsequent two regiments were intercepted by artillery and suffered one-third casualties.
In addition to the 40% loss of one regiment that was tested and the 40% loss of artillery due to counterattack from the opposite side, the entire division almost suffered 40% casualties.
"If you capture the first-line position, you will lose 40%. How to attack the second-line position?" the deputy division commander said. General Bram also had a headache. According to the exercise regulations, if casualties exceed 70%, the attack will be considered a failure. According to the current situation
The situation looks like the second line cannot be attacked.
"There is no other way now. We can only take a gamble with the whole division. We still open the way with artillery and concentrate our efforts to smash open the shell, but leave one regiment to make a roundabout advance when we attack." General Bram said with eyes twinkling.
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At the headquarters of the Third Division, General Midlor was also watching the staff report on the casualty figures. "The left-wing position suffered 60% casualties, the reinforcing regiment suffered 30% casualties, and the right-wing position had almost no casualties. The artillery lost 30%.
One percent, and the casualties of the entire division are 20%." General Midlore was very satisfied with the results of the battle, "Strengthen the troops withdrawn from the first line to the second line, and do not use the reserve force. I think General Bram will surprise us."
Bram's deployment was quickly put in place, and the artillery was still the first. Midlore was not to be outdone, and the artillery counterattack was also effective. Bram waved his hand and the entire division pressed forward, and the second-line position immediately felt the pressure. Midloe
I also lined up my reserves in position, but left two battalions behind just in case. At this time, General Bram's under-manned regiment attacked from the flank.
"I had expected that you would not be so honest, so the two battalions immediately sent reinforcements." General Midlor said with a sneer. In the end, the fifth division failed with 70% casualties, and the third division also defended with 30% casualties.
this victory.
"Thank you both for bringing us a wonderful exercise." After the exercise, the old king said to the two commanders. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for coming to observe this exercise." The two commanders replied.
"I hope tomorrow's drill will be equally exciting." King Carol said to the commander-in-chief Pleshan, "Your Majesty, tomorrow will be even more exciting." Pleshan responded.
