I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 890: Selective Rescue

The situation for the US Army is not much better than for the British Army.

Patton faced the situation dumbfounded, completely unsure of how to fight. He continually recalled every tactic he learned from Shire in his mind, along with past instances of Shire using tanks, but none matched up.

"We should stop," Patton complained to his staff: "In this situation, it is impossible to occupy Saarbrücken—the Germans have a hundred ways to destroy us!"

Not to mention the minefield forming the blockade in front, even if the tank battalion breaks through it, they would face urban warfare.

And urban warfare requires the 75mm gun inside the "Shire B1" hull.

Neither the Anglo-American tanks—whether "Shire A1" or "Whippet," nor the British Army’s pride, the "Independent,"—have large caliber cannons.

They find it hard to effectively kill enemies hiding in buildings, let alone demolish the buildings.

"We cannot stop," replied the staff: "The orders from above are to attack."

With a grunt, Patton could only choose to obey, despite seeing no hope of victory.

There exists a possibility for battlefield command: the frontal tank units executing a seemingly impossible task while troops from the flanks or rear perform a surprise attack on Saarbrücken.

In case Patton disobeys orders and refuses to attack under such circumstances, the failure of the entire battle would be attributed to him, resulting in a military tribunal.

However.

"Shire A1" also struggles to withstand the blast from landmines; most are trapped in the minefield, while a portion were destroyed by anti-tank guns at close range.

The battlefield is strewn with smoking tank wreckage and the corpses of British and American soldiers.

Soldiers attempted charges using the tank wreckage as cover, time and again, but were repelled each time by the concentrated firepower of the German Army.

Occasionally, a line would be seized, only to be quickly recaptured by the German Army’s counterattack. The Germans seemed determined to pin them down in front of this mine-blanketed blockade.

Then Patton understood why this was.

Amidst the rumbling sound of engines, German tanks appeared on the flanks of the Anglo-American front.

"Damn it!" Patton cursed: "Where are the troops protecting our flanks?"

"They might have been routed by the Germans," replied the staff, pointing out the report in the distance.

Looking through his binoculars, Patton saw numerous British soldiers in round helmets fleeing in panic under the assault of enemy tanks.

The Germans familiar with the terrain had long planned their attack route, now encircling the Anglo-American rear.

Patton realized this battle was lost; no one, not even Shire, could save it.

"Retreat!" Without the slightest hesitation, Patton ordered.

"To where?" asked the staff.

"Back to where we came from, to Freeman!" Patton cursed.

Now, managing to retreat alive is good enough; damn those Brits—we knew better than to trust them!

...

The Anglo-American forces were routed, fleeing under relentless pursuit by the German armored units.

Luckily, the US Army, which was well-funded, was equipped with many armored vehicles. These vehicles outrun German tanks and are bulletproof; their light weight makes it easy for them to bypass roads and drive on frozen ground.

They also had 75mm truck-mounted artillery, which astonished soldiers who found them a godsend during retreat: firing randomly backwards as they retreated.

Its high firing rate made German tanks wary of closing in easily.

Thus the US main force successfully escaped the encirclement, suffering over 30,000 troop losses, while most of the new "Shire A1" tanks were left outside Saarbrücken city, with only a few of the 30-plus heading for reinforcements managing to retreat halfway.

The British Army faced a far more disastrous situation than the US Army.

Of the armored and mechanized forces totaling over 60,000 personnel, only 7,000-plus returned, while 170,000 infantrymen had died or gone missing.

(Note: Many entered forest combat where bodies cannot be retrieved, but death cannot be confirmed. In addition, captured personnel numbers are yet to be tallied.)

What pained the British Government most was that these soldiers were mostly native British units.

British media thus cried out:

"Although it did not break the single-day death record of the River Somme, it might be the largest casualty in history."

"In just a few days of attacks, upper losses reached 230,000—this pace far exceeds what we can bear. Continuing this way, soon we will have no young people left to take the battlefield."

"Germans consume bullets and shells; we consume humans!"

...

During the Anglo-American Army’s rout, Pershing once called Shire for help.

"Vice Admiral, you were right, this is a trap." Pershing’s voice was urgent and fast: "Now we’re encircled by the enemy, with exits blocked by German artillery fire."

"Please provide reinforcements immediately, or casualties will be unavoidable!"

"I know this is our fault, but for the overall situation, please..."

Shire countered: "How exactly should I help you, Brigadier General?"

Pershing replied: "I remember you previously had incendiary bullets. They have advantages against enemies in the forests."

Shire did not answer, asking instead: "Have you considered there are many British soldiers currently fighting inside the forests against Germans? And we cannot discern where the German Army or British Army is."

Pershing fell silent instantly.

It’s true; the flaw of air power is difficulty in distinguishing friend or foe covered by dense foliage.

Shire said, "What I can do is dispatch fighter jets to forcibly drive away those bombers targeting artillery placements, what do you think?"

"Of course, Vice Admiral," Pershing said with gratitude in his voice: "Thank you very much!"

Shire did more than that, ordering "Sandpiper" fighters to provide aerial cover for the retreating US soldiers whenever possible.

Frequent fighter dives strafed to suppress pursuing German forces, while bombers slowed the German tank units’ progression.

Rescued soldiers waved and cheered toward the sky in gratitude.

Certainly, the majority rescued were US soldiers.

Rescuing a portion of British troops was to showcase the French Army’s "Fraternity."

"Fraternity" means for all humanity, not distinguishing US or British troops.

Saving more US troops was due to being a monetary source, enabling more profit extraction.

But with Britain, these debt-laden paupers always seeking benefits from others, saving more offers little advantage.

...

In the Metz command center, Tijani raised the frontline reports before Shire: "Everything you predicted came true; now, is it our turn to act?"

Watching the Anglo-American Army’s failure, Tijani felt an impulse to engage.

Others’ losses while achieving personal victories, against such stark contrast, there’s greater accomplishment.

"Our turn to act?" replied Shire calmly: "What would be the purpose?"

"Not acting?" asked Tijani: "Then now..."

"Negotiate," answered Shire: "Now is the prime moment for negotiation."

The Anglo-American Army was decisively defeated, they surely wouldn’t agree to negotiations.

Hence, it’s France that exemplifies true "Greatness" and "Fraternity!"