Chapter 371 Forced to Be Equipped

In the French General Headquarters, Joffre was in his office, drawing on a map with several staff officers while discussing the upcoming offensive.

"We need artillery." Joffre pointed the pencil in the direction of the enemy: "105MM howitzer."

"But General." A staff officer raised his head in confusion: "We have discussed before that special artillery units cannot have long artillery preparations when attacking..."

"You fool!" Joffre interrupted the staff officer and said mercilessly: "This is because we are worried that the enemy will have time to organize artillery to cover our tanks. The 105MM howitzer is also for this. It can suppress the enemy artillery, but the 75 gun cannot do it."

"Yes, General." The staff officer responded quickly.

Joffre glanced at the staff officer with dissatisfaction. It was because the headquarters was full of such idiots that he had to take the risk of embarrassment from Charles's plan and tactics.

What Joffre didn't think about was that the reason why the staff became like this was also related to them: the French army had been under the guidance of offensive theory for a long time, and the troops only had 75 guns. The tactics were rigid and single, and there was basically no other demand. After a long time, the thinking was naturally solidified.

Then Joffre pointed to two points on his own defense line and said: "One 105 artillery regiment on the left and one on the right. Only in this way can we effectively provide fire cover for the offensive troops."

The staff hesitated and looked at Joffre: "General, we only have one 105MM howitzer regiment!"

"Then we will form another one immediately." Joffre ordered impatiently: "No matter what method you use."

"Yes." The staff responded and turned around to contact immediately.

The 105MM howitzer is the French M1913 howitzer, which was developed by Schneider in 1913, but because the 75 gun was too excellent, other artillery was abandoned, so there were only 3 guns in the entire army when the war started.

At the same time, Schneider had no machinery and personnel reserves. Since the emergency production, only 31 guns have been produced, which are barely enough to equip an artillery regiment.

(Note: A regiment usually has 36 guns)

(The picture above shows the French M1913 howitzer, with a range of 12,000 meters. It is not inferior to the German 105MM howitzer, but because of its small production, it has never been able to change the disadvantage of artillery battles)

After a while, the staff officer came back and told Joffre tremblingly: "General, Schneider's reply is that there is only one way, import from Italy."

Italy obtained the production rights from Schneider a year ago. She attaches great importance to this artillery and produces it in large quantities. At present, it may be the country with the most artillery.

Joffre gritted his teeth. The French army actually wanted to import French artillery from another country, and it was Italy, an ally!

Just as Joffre was considering whether to put down his face and let the diplomat contact Italy, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Kanais hurried into the office with a telegram. He glanced at the staff in the room and gave Joffre a wink.

Joffre understood and immediately ended the discussion and sent the signalman away.

What they were discussing was not confidential information, but that Joffre had secretly "asked for advice" from Charles, and that no one else should know about it.

Kanais closed the door cautiously, turned around and handed the information to Joffre, and said in a low voice: "Charles thinks we should not develop anti-tank rifles. Its biggest flaw is that the recoil is too large, which makes it difficult to use. Once the enemy strengthens the tank armor, it will be eliminated."

Joffre thought for a while, then said "hmm". He had to admit that this analysis made sense. The anti-tank rifles captured from the German army did have this flaw.

However...

If anti-tank rifles were not developed, how would the French army deal with the German army's new tanks?

The combination of the heavy "Saint-Samond" and the "Saint-Samond M21" was aimed at the German A7V tank.

But now the Germans suddenly came up with a new type of tank, and it was a light tank!

At this time, Kanais added: "Charles means that we can equip infantry with 37mm guns to fight tanks."

Joffre was stunned, and then nodded slightly, "Charles A1" uses this small-caliber gun, which can easily penetrate the armor of A7V, and it should not be difficult to penetrate the German light tank.

If this kind of gun is equipped to infantry in large quantities, the anti-tank capability of the infantry will have a qualitative leap.

However, thinking deeply, Joffre frowned in embarrassment.

"This gun is from Charles." Joffre said: "Buying this gun means sending business to him."

Due to Joffre, the French front-line troops are rarely equipped with 37mm guns, especially the Central Army Group and the Eastern Army Group directly commanded by Joffre.

Kanais suggested: "We only need to equip a small number of guns, General, one or two hundred guns are enough to equip the First Special Artillery Division..."

Joffre shook his head slightly: "The point is that we don't know where the enemy's tanks will appear, Kanais."

Kanais understood instantly.

He made a mistake, thinking that wherever the French attacked, the Germans would send tanks to block it.

This situation is rarely encountered in actual combat. The French attack will be carried out in strict secrecy, and the Germans do not know the French offensive intentions and positions.

Unless a few days after the attack, the Germans decided to use tanks to chase and intercept the French.

Joffre looked at the map on the table again and said thoughtfully: "If we use tanks to break through the German defense line, and the Germans also use tanks to break through our defense line, it is not a victory, understand?"

"I understand." Kanais responded.

The British wanted a "remarkable" victory, only in this way could they bring Italy into the Allied Powers.

Then Kanais understood Xiafei's dilemma: "If we want to defend against a possible German attack, we must fully equip ourselves with Charles's 37 guns?"

Xiafei nodded slightly: "Only in this way will it be an 'eye-catching' victory."

Kanais thought about it for a while and let out a long sigh. The millions of troops were all deployed, at least tens of thousands of troops. This was undoubtedly a big business.

More importantly, the previous large-scale installation of mortars has caused Schneider's dissatisfaction, and now there are 37 guns. How should Xiafei explain to James?

"We have no other choice, General." Kanais said carefully: "I believe Mr. James can understand."

Xiafei smiled softly. Capitalists only talk about interests. They never talk about reason. I hope James can understand that it is just nonsense.

What's more, mortars are out of necessity, and so are the 37-guns. What if Shire produces other artillery pieces in the future?

One last resort after another, can Schneider tolerate it?

If Schneider tolerates it, does that mean he has lost the competition?

Xiafei stood up slowly and walked to the window with his hands behind his back. His melancholy gaze jumped across the window to the forest in the distance, thinking about a possibility that made him very uncomfortable:

If this is just the beginning, will he be forced to side with Ciel in the future?