The Rise of the Empire

"Give me 3 of the most elite cavalry regiments, 1 independent artillery battalion with 12 75mm howitzers, give me 1,000 more, the most elite scouts and skirmishers among the Boers, and 2 transports with 100 ox carts Detachment, I will destroy more than 60% of the British cavalry deployed in South Africa in the triangle area of ​​Bloemfontein, Hannover, and East London, and completely paralyze the communication lines in this area!" After some arrangements and After the deduction, Caliput put forward his request. Pen%interest% Pavilion www.bi

"Three elite cavalry regiments? According to your country's standards, there are only two cavalry regiments in our Transvaal Republic that can meet your requirements. Are you trying to take away all our elite cavalry regiments? The British cavalry is stockpiling It is very likely that they will bypass the front line and launch an attack on our homeland!" Kruger said in shock.

"And the artillery you want, you plan to carry these artillery mobile? What are you thinking? An artillery company needs more than 100 horses for transportation alone, and this does not include the units that continuously provide supplies for this artillery company! If you want to carry If this artillery enters the hinterland of the British, then the consumption is absolutely shocking!"

"I will take my compatriots to carry out this mission in person. You have bet on the fate of the country for this war, and I will also bet on my life for this war! We are running out of time now, while we Now there is still a chance to launch a large-scale attack, and we can also severely injure our opponents. Once more and more British troops flood here, our failure will only be a matter of time." Caliput said calmly.

"The remaining manpower is insufficient and I can draw from the U.S. military. Mr. Caliput and his colleagues are trustworthy. He and his German officer corps have been running for the liberation movement of the Boers. I am willing to work with Caliput Sir to participate in this operation and provide two radio telegraphs for the entire army." Pershing's intervention broke the deadlock. If the Germans are the largest arms supplier to the Boers, then the Americans are the greatest support for the Boers or, whether personnel or equipment. … Up to now, 8,000 Americans have participated in the war in South Africa, and the interest-free loans provided by the Americans alone have reached 500,000 US dollars!

"In terms of military strength, we are one and a half." Kruger said after taking a deep breath. 3 cavalry regiments and 1 artillery battalion, plus scouts and skirmishers equal to the number of Boer commandos, about 5,000 people, but this is only a front-line combat force, and at least 2,000 humanitarian and 3,000 logistics units or militia are needed Provide logistics service! This almost drained Boer's mobile force! But fortunately, the Americans are willing to share 2,500 of them as combat troops, which makes Kruger feel better.

After the three parties finalized the cooperation plan, various preparatory work officially started, and a large number of elite combatants were drawn from the original units. The Americans are okay. Before coming to South Africa, the Americans had already considered the possibility of large-scale cavalry combat, so they brought a whole regiment of cavalry. These preciously trained troops quickly adapted to the new environment and opponents.

The situation of the Boers was a little worse, but under the coordination of the high-level, the number was quickly assembled, and most of them were employed as artillery and scouts. The former was a technical arm, and the latter was what the Boers were most willing to do. The unprecedented mobile corps of the Boers began to be formed, and Kruger also completed the artillery and supply troops needed by the troops. When the confrontation between the two sides in Bloemfontein entered the third week, the mobile unit known as the Caliput Commando among the Boers was finally ready!

"If the U.S. government chose this war for revenge, and the soldiers of your country participated in this war because of an irresistible military order, then you, as a commander who controls the entire U.S. military, why do you have to participate in this life and death battle with me? What about the unforeseen action? I have told you no less than three times that I am not more than 60% sure of this action!" Riding on his horse, Caliput whispered beside Perxing.

"Because I don't want to return to the United States in the name of the defeated. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that if there are no major changes, then the Boers will persist for at most half a year, and then the British will crush the frontal forces with a huge advantage. Boer regiments, and go straight to their capital! Then the war will be like ours against the Indians. The Boers will lose sooner or later."

"Of course, another important reason is that I have always felt that the current army tactics are too boring. The battle between the two sides turned out to be more rigid. A large number of troops solidified on the ground to conduct a war of attrition with no technology at all. This is an insult to the word tactic! And your thoughts give me hope, so I want to participate in this battle as a witness of a new tactic! Pershing said with a smile.

"I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. Thirty percent of our success in this operation is based on the opponent's lack of cavalry and lack of preparation. If we are facing an opponent of the same level, the chances of winning may be even lower. The cavalry is far away. The tactic of rushing to break through the opponent's layers of defense and finally complete the encirclement is outdated." Khaliput said.

"But this kind of thinking is correct. As more and more new things come into service in the future, I think a new cavalry will gradually replace these old-timers." Pershing said with a smile, pointing at the cavalry in the distance with his whip. "In addition, I want to say that your Bavarian car is really good. I bought one for 15,000 dollars. It is much easier to use than my old buddy." After speaking, Pershing pointed to his war horse.

"Cars are good things. I will buy one when I return to Germany, but I hope that our army can equip a large number of cars to partially replace horses." Caliput felt that something in his heart seemed to be touched. All of a sudden, a new idea sprouted in his mind. "Maybe in the future, mobile tactics may not necessarily become the core of tactical thinking again." Caliput said in his heart.

The entire group was divided into three parts during the operation. The reconnaissance force composed of 1,000 Boer cavalry was dispatched first. After entering the area ruled by the British, they were divided into 8 action teams, 6 of which fanned out to carry out the search. For the sabotage mission, the other two detachments were responsible for contacting the main force of the cavalry in the rear, and at the same time responsible for sniping and killing the British scouting cavalry.

And when the entire reconnaissance force and the main force opened a distance of about 80 kilometers, the main force composed of three elite cavalry regiments officially appeared on the stage, but they did not perform combat missions at the first time, but slowly Follow behind the main force. They are like hunters following the hounds in a hunt, collecting information, waiting for an opportunity, and when the hounds entangle their opponents, they are giving the prey a fatal blow.