I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 888: This Is a Trap

British Expeditionary Force Headquarters.

Communication soldiers, guards, staff officers, each face brimmed with the joy and ease of victory. Some were busy with their tasks while sipping coffee, making it hard to tell this was a command center amid warfare.

"It seems the outcome is sealed; the Germans show no resistance, Saarbrücken is within reach."

"Not just Saarbrücken, but also the Hindenburg Line, the entire Hindenburg Line."

"You’re right, the fall of Saarbrücken will be fatal to the Germans, lacking ammunition, and we clearly won’t give them any respite."

Haig stood proudly at the sand table, holding coffee, confidently overlooking Saarbrücken, marked with the German flag.

He savored this process, step by step approaching the fruit of victory.

But Shire, till now, still didn’t support this plan. Yesterday, he published an article in the ’Merit Newspaper’:

"I don’t think this adventure is suitable. Although the Anglo-American forces advance rapidly, the risks are too great."

"This may very well be a trap by the Germans, such terrain might easily lead to being surrounded by the enemy."

"As an ally, I feel obliged to remind Admiral Haig: please proceed with caution!"

...

Haig laughed.

Trap?

Surrounding?

Proceeding with caution?

When did Shire attack without falling into enemy traps and encirclements?

Yet every time, he managed to annihilate large numbers of Germans and win.

What’s the difference between this attack and Shire’s infiltration?

Of course, Haig would only say the last sentence in his heart; he wouldn’t publicly admit learning Shire’s infiltration tactics.

...

Shire saw through it.

At least Haig’s operation this time superficially resembled "infiltration tactics":

High mobility, high combat effectiveness of armored and mechanized units breaking through at one point, infiltrating significant enemy areas despite encirclement.

Once Saarbrücken was taken by the Anglo-American forces, the German Army’s Hindenburg Line wouldn’t fare well.

Tijani quipped to Shire: "You have another disciple, a vice admiral, although I believe he wouldn’t admit it."

Shire was indifferent: "If he’s truly learned, that’s good; the problem is he learned only half."

"What’s the difference?" Tijani was a bit curious, unable to tell.

"The difference lies in whether the Germans are prepared," Shire replied. "If the Germans had already guessed Haig would do this, or even intentionally guided him... "

Tijani suddenly realized: "Then it’s not ’infiltration,’ but a genuine ’trap.’"

Shire nodded.

"Infiltration" is unexpected, with alternative routes for flexibility. If one path doesn’t work, choose another.

But Haig’s "post-snow offensive" has only one attack route, with an overly obvious strategic intent, fundamentally differing from "infiltration."

...

Haig wasn’t aware of this.

In his mind:

Shire’s infiltration had only one armored army, only an armored division before mechanized forces were formed.

However, his infiltration has a US Army armored division, a mechanized division of over 50,000 men, plus two British tank brigades, three mechanized divisions of over 60,000, additionally with substantial artillery, infantry follow-up, heavy defenses at supply lines—what could go wrong?

Yet.

The signal room suddenly erupted with a staff officer’s alarmed shout: "General, the 7th Aviation Squadron was intercepted by the German Army; only two aircraft returned."

(Note: In the WWI era, a British aviation squadron roughly consisted of 20 aircraft. Each country adjusted squadron numbers based on its conditions, like Shire being confident in his aircraft, utilizing one squadron with 6 planes to boost aircraft efficiency.)

The command center instantly fell silent; all eyes were on the warning staff officer.

Haig’s expression slightly changed: "The Germans’ triplanes?"

"Yes," the staff officer replied.

Haig uttered an "Um," pretending calm: "Ignore it, attack as planned."

"Yes, General."

Actually, Haig felt a bit anxious.

Not because German aircraft gained the upper hand; he always believed those airborne "toys" couldn’t alter the war’s outcome, and a few machine guns couldn’t halt tens of thousands of men, hundreds of tanks advancing.

Haig’s "cautious anxiety" stemmed from the Germans’ air force concealed until now before striking, which validated Shire’s "trap" theory, hinting the Germans were tightening their net at this moment.

After hesitating briefly, Haig somberly added two commands to the staff officer:

"Armored units advance at full speed, seize Saarbrücken in the shortest time."

"The 21st Army Group be battle-ready, Germans might counterattack, ensure to hold positions to safeguard supply lines!"

Staff officers promptly busied themselves, sending telegrams, researching materials, even the guards showed caution on their faces.

Haig’s first order aimed for swift victory, fearing delays could lead to changes.

The second order aimed to secure his retreat, in case it turned out to be a trap as Shire predicted, allowing the Anglo-American forces a safe withdrawal.

However, Haig didn’t realize he remained stuck in trench warfare’s one-dimensional tactics, thinking to sever supply lines the enemy must counterattack using infantry and fully occupy them.

Feedback soon arrived on Haig’s desk:

"General," the signal soldier reported, "Germans shelled our supply lines; the supply convoy suffered heavy losses."

"Shellfire?" Haig wondered: "Where’s the shellfire from?"

"They deployed artillery in the forest," the signal soldier answered. "Their artillery pre-calculated parameters, precisely sealing every highway."

Seated at the radio, the staff officer added: "Moreover, they might have achieved air-ground collaboration; German aircraft can timely observe our supply convoy’s position."

Haig was stunned, speechless for a long time.

This was Shire’s tactic, installing radios in bombers for real-time communication with artillery.

Thus, blocking supply lines needed no counterattack, only shells.

And to stop this, the Anglo-American forces must invade the forest to destroy their artillery positions.

Instantly, the attacker-defender role reversed!

God, attacking the forest?

The Germans constructed perfect fortifications there, even hidden bunkers, countless machine guns waiting for the Anglo-American forces to enter.

Before Haig could devise a solution, another staff officer reported: "General, the armored units’ advance is hindered!"

Haig looked dumbfounded at the staff officer—what could obstruct armored units?

The staff officer explained:

"The Germans have a hidden line of defense before Saarbrücken, without anti-tank trenches or barbed wire, hence hard to detect."

"But they’ve deployed numerous mines."

"Also, anti-tank guns and anti-tank rifles."

Haig’s wrinkled face instantly turned pale.

Shire was right; it’s a trap, a trap targeting the Anglo-American main armored forces!