Chapter 17： Exercise

The time soon arrived in May, and the exercise troops were also determined, and the three divisions after the reorganization would fight against the five divisions before the reorganization. The exercise is divided into two parts, the first part is also the most important offensive and defensive exercise, and the second part is the maneuvering of the troops.

May 8 is the date set by the General Staff. Carol I and Edel came to the exercise headquarters. The Chief of Staff Preeshan and the Secretary of the Army, together with senior military officials and the German advisory group, greeted the king and his party at the door.

"I have seen your Majesty." The people said, Carol I also waved to the people who greeted him, and then a large group of people walked into the headquarters.

Puleshan, as the commander-in-chief of this exercise, explained the contents of the exercise to King Carol. "Your Majesty has prepared this exercise in order to test the real situation of the reorganization of the army. I hope that the king and you will have a clear understanding of the reorganized army."

"Tell me about the specific situation." Carol I said to the Chief of Staff. Preshan nodded to the king before speaking. "Today's exercise is an offensive and defensive battle. The offensive side is the Army's Fifth Division, and the commander is the division commander General Bram." Puleshan said, pointing to a 50-year-old general behind the king. Carol I turned around and spoke to General Bram. "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."

King Carol looked back and continued to listen to Puleshan’s explanation. "The defensive side is the reorganized third division, and the commander is the commander General Midlor." Puleshan pointed to another general behind the king and said. After King Carol encouraged General Midlor a few words, he continued to listen to Puleshan's explanation.

"The goal of this offense and defense is to control this hill." Pule Shan pointed to the hill on the map and explained to King Carol. Seeing that the explanation was almost done, Edel told the two offensive and defensive commanders. "The two generals can go down and prepare." General Midlow and General Bram nodded and walked out of the headquarters.

Puleshan asked Carol I after the explanation. "Your Majesty can start?" The old king nodded to indicate that it could start, and Puleshan's opponent's staff ordered it. The "exercise started" staff called on the battlefield to inform the headquarters of the two sides.

General Bram in his command gave the order. "First hit a base number of shells to give them a taste." The first-line position of the third division immediately dropped a shell, blasting the defensive positions of the third division to pieces. The commander of the Third Division, Midlor, observed the shelling, "test my defenses so that the artillery doesn't have to fight back." The king and his gang saw the shelling at the observation point of the exercise. "Bram is well trained, and the bombardment accuracy is still very high." The king put down the telescope in his hand and said, this was approved by a group of people who also watched with the telescope. After the bombardment was completed, the staff provided data based on the results of the bombardment. The third division and two regiments guarding the first-line position lost 5%.

A staff officer ran over to report to the king and his party, and General Bram ordered a regiment to tentatively attack. Everyone raised their binoculars and saw that there was a group of people scattered in front of the position as a line of skirmishers.

The two regiments of the third division entered the first line after leaving five percent of the personnel and equipment.

After the Fifth Division launched a tentative offensive, the first-line position was fully fired. To the soldiers of the Fifth Division who had not experienced the First World War, they were stunned to see the metal storm on the opposite side. Fortunately, this was an exercise. This made the king's scalp numb. "This firepower density is too high, the fifth division and this regiment will suffer heavy casualties." An observing general said. General Bram suffered a lot of headaches after seeing the loss. One regiment lost 40% in a tentative attack. It was the regimental commander who ended the offensive early and withdrew early depending on the situation.

"It seems that they can only use shelling first, their firepower is too strong. The roundabout attack is not very useful for their current position" The Chief of Staff said his own opinion. "Now I can only focus on the attack. One will leave two bases for the shells, and the remaining three bases will all be aimed at the position on the right side with relatively flat terrain and fire at high speed. The three regiments pressed on to open a breakthrough for me, and follow up. The troops waited to open the breach and expand the results." General Bram was also a decisive man, and found the only way by intuition.

The offensive artillery once again rang out with a rumble of artillery. This time, facing the powerful shelling, the front line on the right side was blown out. After seeing the defensive command, General Midloer ordered the artillery to counterattack, and then transferred a regiment to the right side of the first line to strengthen the defense.

Bram saw the reinforcements and ordered the two battalions of artillery to counterattack, and the rest intercepted the artillery and launched an offensive at the same time. When the commander of the right-wing troops was not good enough, he mobilized a battalion of troops for reinforcement. The commanders on both sides are making moves, so it's so lively when you come here.

"It's attacked." A staff officer yelled, and the three regiments rushed into the front line with the casualties. "Order the follow-up troops to keep up, and the artillery stopped the opposing reinforcements." General Bram ordered. General Midlor at the headquarters of the Third Division also gave orders to the artillery. "Intercept the opposing follow-up troops." The position on the right became the focus for a while, and finally the fifth division finally took the position by virtue of its numerical advantage.

"There are too many casualties, right." The chief of staff looked at the casualty figures given by the exercise staff and asked a little uncertainly. The first three regiments suffered half of the casualties, and the subsequent two regiments were intercepted by artillery with one third of the casualties, plus the probing regiment 40%. The artillery was also lost 40% by the opponent's counterattack, and the entire division was nearly 40% casualties.

"If you win the first-line position, you will lose 40%. How to fight the second-line position." The deputy commander said, General Bram was also having a headache. According to the rules of the exercise, more than 70% of the casualties were counted as an offensive failure. According to the current situation, the second line cannot be penetrated. "Now there is no other way, but the whole division will attack and gamble. The artillery will still open the way and concentrate on breaking the shell, but leave a regiment when we attack, and we will also rush forward." General Bram said with his eyes shining brightly. .

General Midlor at the headquarters of the Third Division was also watching the staff report casualties. "The left-wing positions suffered 60% casualties, the reinforcement regiment was 30% casualties, and the right-wing positions almost no casualties. Artillery lost one-third, and the entire division suffered 20% casualties." The general was very satisfied with the results, "Strengthen the withdrawn troops from the first line to the second line, and do not use the reserve team. It is estimated that General Bram will surprise us."

Bram’s deployment was quickly in place, and he was still the artillery leader. Midlor was not to be outdone, and the artillery counterattack was vigorous and colorful. Bram waved the whole division with a big hand, and the second line immediately felt the pressure. Midlor also lined up the reserve team, but left two battalions just in case. At this time, a dissatisfied regiment of General Bram attacked from the flank.

"I expected that you would not be so honest, the two battalions will immediately reinforce." General Midlor said with a sneer. In the end, the Fifth Division lost 70% of its casualties, and the Third Division also defended the victory with 30% of its casualties.

"Thank you both for bringing us a wonderful exercise." After the exercise, the old king said to the two commanders. "Thank your Majesty for coming to observe this exercise." The two commanders replied.

"I hope the drill tomorrow will be as exciting." King Carol said to Commander-in-Chief Preeshan, "Your Majesty will be more exciting tomorrow." Preeshan responded.