Chapter 783： Beirut (Part 2)

"Enemy plane, nine o'clock position."

With the shout of Sergeant Deca, the soldiers began to operate the anti-aircraft gun at an enemy plane that wanted to sneak up on it.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

The two chains of fire quickly approached the daring plane, only one chain of fire passed through the plane, causing a plume of smoke from one of its wings, scaring the plane to quickly make various maneuvers.

This naturally caused Sergeant Deka, the squad leader, to shout with his shooting baton. "Keep on attacking, don't let this plane run away."

It was just that the next result disappointed him a bit, the continuous shooting did not hit the plane but let it slip away. Such a result naturally cannot satisfy them, but this is also the norm. Their 20mm anti-aircraft artillery is easy to damage, and it takes luck to shoot down.

"Crack."

The sudden sound of the gun shot hanging out, attracted the attention of everyone on the gun position. The tense air-to-air combat had already emptied the ammunition on the ground, and at this time, Sergeant Deca who directed the shooting couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

"Salsai, bring the ammunition here quickly."

After urging Sarsay, who was moving profusely, he pointed to the other people on the gun position and said. "Don't look at it either. Hurry up and move some ammunition. When will it be moved by him alone."

And the gunners, loader and others on the parking gun position immediately went to help carry the ammunition. For the 20mm anti-aircraft gun they operate, the ammunition consumption is very large.

With the help of several people, the 20mm anti-aircraft gun began to roar again.

But the air strikes continued, and a lot of air defense firepower was lost in the air strikes. At present, Beirut is already facing insufficient air defense firepower, which has also caused huge losses to its military facilities, as well as losses in the construction of fortifications and weapons and equipment.

A squad like Salsay can still be fully loaded, which is relatively rare in air defense forces.

The air strikes these days not only caused the French army to lose a lot, but also caused the Beirut people to flee a lot with their children and women. The battle is about to reach the door of the house, so I am willing to stay here again.

It's just that the people can flee, and the army is naturally unable to leave, but is increasing.

As the chief of Beirut's defense, Lieutenant General Mendelek has been so busy these days.

"What did General Xinlai of Damascus say?"

In the underground headquarters, while looking at the city defense map, he asked the chief of staff next to him. In front of him, there are staff officers who are constantly updating this map based on the latest situation. Various flags have been used to indicate the latest situation of the defenders.

"General Xinlai sent a telegram. At present, he has only failed to draw up an air defense battalion to support us, and he can only rely on small-caliber anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns."

Hearing what the Chief of Staff said, Mendelek was a little dissatisfied. "Could it be that you didn't tell him our situation, this little force is not enough for a day's wear and tear."

"I have already said it, but General Xinlai called back the Damascus air defense force has been emptied, and he can no longer get it out."

At present, French air defense weapons and troops in the Middle East are basically transferred to Beirut and Latakia. Only Damascus is assigned to some because of its importance. Now the air defense forces in Damascus have been evacuated, and the French air defense forces in the Middle East are currently out of reach.

"Seek help from Paris and inform them of our current situation."

Mendelek stopped here. "Paris alone will not work. The North African army has just suffered a major defeat, and the focus of Paris support will also be on Tunisia. Now we can only think of other ways to send a report to Cairo and ask for their support, whether it is personnel or We all need weapons, supplies or whatever."

Mendelek needs everything now, but he also knows that speaking to Paris is not necessarily useful. Because the current defeat in North Africa makes France even if it wants reinforcements, it will give priority to Tunisia. Moreover, the sea dominance of the Eastern Mediterranean has been lost, and the material personnel need to travel around Africa to transport them, the distance is too long.

In addition, wanting to add reinforcements is a matter of one or two months later. He can't afford to wait, so he can only ask the British Middle East Command in Cairo.

However, although he pulled the face down, the chief of staff hesitated. "Speaking like this, can Admiral Wavell give us? After all, we belong to different countries, and it is very difficult to ask for help directly across Paris to Cairo like this."

The Chief of Staff's words made Mendelek think about it again and again. "Then send a report to Gan Malin and tell them that we need reinforcements. If the country cannot give us reinforcements, then allow us to ask for assistance from our friendly forces."

Mendelek, who fully listened to the Chief of Staff's suggestion, immediately added one.

"Okay, I'm going to get people to report."

With the departure of the Chief of Staff, Mendelek looked at the tragic image of the airstrike outside, and knew the location of Romania's landing in his heart. If it is not unexpected, then the Romanians will definitely land around Beirut, and now he has the strength to cope with the air attack, if it is difficult to land.

Faced with Mendelek’s request, Paris responded quickly. There was a call back in the afternoon, allowing him to ask for help from the British army. At the same time, Paris also raised the issue of the joint command between the two countries to London.

The joint command of the two countries, which Churchill was unable to obtain before, was also handed over by Paris without hesitation when the situation became critical.

It's just that this decision made Churchill angry enough, but considering the special relationship of the Anglo-French alliance, he could only pinch his nose to recognize it.

In the telegram sent to the commander of the Middle East Army, General Wavell, London requested that it provide support to Beirut as appropriate while guaranteeing Egypt.

Admiral Wavell faced London's orders and decided after repeated consideration that the 10th Army, which was formed by troops stationed in Iraq and Persia, would send part of its troops to support the French Middle East. The troops it sent were mainly composed of the 27th and 34th divisions established in India, as well as the 6th Sikh Brigade and the 3rd Highland Artillery Regiment.

Although Wavell gave reinforcements, these troops can be quickly supported in addition to the 27th Division currently stationed in the Sinai Peninsula. The 6th Sikh Brigade is still in Iraq, and the 34th Division and the 3rd Highland Artillery Regiment are still on ships in the Red Sea.

Because of the restraint of the East African Italian army, the current British forces are relatively scattered.

One more thing, as a nail in East Africa, the British and French Somali forces (Djibouti and Somaliland) are being attacked by the Italian forces in East Africa. Under the attack of 30,000 Italian troops, the four thousand Anglo-French defenders abandoned the colonies of the two countries in Somalia and withdrew.

Because Wavell is unwilling to consume too much of his own forces and materials, and the British navy is unwilling to use too much force and materials in this dead place when the British navy holds the control of the Red Sea and can guarantee the transportation line. That's why its 4000 defenders were evacuated, which was also a small victory for the East African Italian army.

It’s just that there is not much time left for them. In the port of Limassol on the island of Cyprus, a large number of troops are boarding the ship. They are the Romanian 9th Army that is about to launch a landing operation. The army is composed of the 8th, 27th, and 39th Infantry Divisions and the 2nd Marine Division (replenished by the 1st Marine Division). The commander is Lieutenant General Fergus.

And outside the port a large number of warships to protect them have been prepared outside the port, and several of the mighty battleships are particularly conspicuous.

"Lieutenant General Fergus, it's up to you to make the first landing this time."

As the commander of the group army, Hoffman took the chief of staff to see him off in person.

"Don't worry, the 9th Army will definitely complete the mission."

Lieutenant General Fergus, who had fought the first battle, responded.

The act of gathering military ships in Romania is naturally not hidden from the British and French intelligence agencies. The island has a population of more than 300,000, and the hidden spies cannot be cleaned up by the Romanian army not long after it was occupied.

In the evening of the same day, General Wavell in Cairo received the news. "Immediately order the coastlines to be vigilant, mobile reinforcements, and be ready to attack immediately."

Although England and France paid enough attention, a sudden riot caught them by surprise.

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