On the afternoon of 13 October, after three days of round-the-clock emergency repairs, the airfield in the southern suburbs of Alexandria finally resumed some of its functions, and reconnaissance planes of the Second Air Force appeared in the skies of Cairo. [ads:This site has a new URL,Shorthand method:strawberry,.cmxsw]

After his gaze lingered for a few seconds on the two reconnaissance planes that were circling and flying in the sky, Captain Mills stood in the doorway of the bunker and looked around cautiously.

Seeing that he was surrounded by his own team members, he turned to Captain Buck beside him and said, "See? It is a FI-156 reconnaissance aircraft of the Air Force. ”

"Their presence is a sign that the battle is about to start soon, and we need to get ready." Lieutenant Buck said.

"We have figured out the roads and communication trenches leading to the battalion headquarters, and when the battle begins, I will choose an opportune time to give the order to retreat, and then take out Major Turner's headquarters in one fell swoop. Remember to let the team members dress like they are in armor, so as not to arouse the suspicion of the battalion headquarters guards. Captain Mills whispered to Lieutenant Barker.

"I'll let the team know, but as your subordinate, I think it's my duty to warn you of something." Captain Buck said.

"Just as a subordinate? Not as a friend? Captain Mills asked.

"Of course, it's also about being friends." Captain Buck said.

"It was you who led us into the uniforms of the British, and I hope that under your leadership, we will put back on our own uniforms, and no matter what, you must survive the chaotic battle."

"No one will die, we will all survive, don't think about that anymore." Captain Mills said.

Ten minutes later, Captain Mills walked into Major Turner's battalion headquarters and sat in the corner of the battalion headquarters with Captain Hunter and Captain Carter, listening to Major Turner's explanation of the current situation.

"I believe you have already seen the planes of the Germans in the sky, and the enemy's army will soon appear before our eyes. The theme of today's meeting is about the strengthening of fortifications, and as you all know, we are under-manned, and each company has to defend one-and-a-half, or even two-fold, times as many positions as the tactical regulations prescribe. No reinforcements will arrive before October 20, and all we can rely on is the trenches under our feet and the weapons in our hands. We must do everything we can until October 20. Major Turner said.

Captain Mills' right ear twitched unnaturally a few times, and a look of surprise flashed across his face. Then he pretended to be surprised and asked, "How many reinforcements are there?" Is it the Army or the Air Force? How many tanks and planes are there? ”

Captain Carter also stared at Major Turner curiously and asked, "When will we be able to launch a counteroffensive, I've had enough days on the run." ”

"If we don't attack again, I may forget all the lessons I learned in the military academy about organizing an attack." Captain Hunt said eagerly.

"I have been informed that the New Zealand Division and the Australian Sixth Infantry Division are about to reach Egypt. With their support. We can't drive the Germans and Italians out of Egypt in one fell swoop, but at least we can guarantee the safety of Cairo. Major Turner said.

Captain Hunter and Captain Carter had disappointed looks on their faces.

"What is there for only two infantry divisions? Will they be able to hold off the tanks of the Germans? Captain Hunt swept away the excitement and said in frustration.

"Yes, what we need is an armored division, and more planes and artillery. Only infantry divisions did not have any role. Captain Carter said.

Captain Mills silently wrote down the names of the New Zealand Division and the Australian 6th Infantry Division, and then said: "It's better to have two infantry divisions than no reinforcements, with them, at least we don't need one more person to defend the position of two, and they should only be the first reinforcements, there must be more reinforcements on their way to Egypt, what do you think?" ”

Major Turner glanced approvingly at Captain Mills, then said, "Captain Mills is right, they're just the first reinforcements. In short, we have to hold our ground no matter what. Buy time for reinforcements to arrive. You go back immediately and continue to order the soldiers to build fortifications, and report to me as soon as possible if you lack any supplies, and I will coordinate with my superiors. ”

Five minutes after the meeting, Captain Mills returned to the forward position and immediately pulled Lieutenant Buck to hide in the bunker of the position to discuss countermeasures.

"We don't have a radio right now, and the news of the imminent arrival of enemy reinforcements simply can't be delivered. If our friendly forces had not taken Cairo before the arrival of British reinforcements, the battle would have dragged on longer, we would have been encircled by the enemy for longer and longer, the possibility of exposure would have increased, and the mood of our men would have suffered. Lieutenant Buck said.

"Now there is total martial law here, and there are sentry patrols day and night. It's dangerous to send someone out to deliver a letter, and if you don't get it right, it will reveal our identity. Captain Mills leaned back and scratched his head as he pondered his course of action.

"It is impossible to use radio to transmit information, and sending people to deliver messages is the only way. I'm familiar with my surroundings, why don't I try it myself tonight? Lieutenant Buck said.

"No, I can't. It's too dangerous for you to do that. We have minefields ahead of us, and large barbed wire fences in the way. Less than a hundred meters from our left and right flanks are British, and as long as you leave the position, you will definitely be discovered, and there is not even a 1 in 10,000 chance of success. Captain Mills did not hesitate to reject Lieutenant Barker's suggestion.

"We can't just sit here and do nothing, we have to do something?" Lieutenant Buck said.

I discussed it with Lieutenant Buck for more than ten minutes, but I couldn't come up with a better plan. Captain Mills had no choice but to agree to Lieutenant Barker's request, but did not agree to Lieutenant Buck personally going out to deliver the letter.

"You go find two nimble men and use the rest of the day to familiarize them with the British around them. We'll let them try tomorrow night to see if they can sneak out and report the news, and it's better to get volunteers to do the job. Captain Mills said.

"Don't worry, I'll let the most reliable people do this."

Before Lieutenant Buck could finish speaking, the phone in the bunker suddenly rang.

The caller was Major Turner, and after a few minutes of talking on the phone, Mills hung up the phone and said to Lieutenant Barker, "Tell the whole company to assemble, and I want to give a lecture." ”

"What's so stressful?" Lieutenant Buck asked.

"Major Turner said that Lieutenant General Wilson would come tomorrow morning to inspect our battalion's positions, and he told us to hurry up and repair the fortifications, and also to sort out our personal appearance, so as to make a good impression on General Wilson."

Lieutenant Buck nodded in understanding, and left the bunker to gather his troops.

After Lieutenant Buck left. Captain Mills stared at the phone on the table for a moment, then his eyes lit up

At a pier in Alexandria, Marshal Graziani looked at the M-13 tanks and M11-39 medium tanks that had been lifted off the transport ship by a crane, and he couldn't help but be full of ambition for a while.

The Arreette Panzer Division has finally arrived. Although it was only a tank battalion in the vanguard, it meant that he no longer had to look at the faces of the Germans.

The Germans had armored divisions, and we Italians also had them. Although the number of tanks is a little less, the size of the tanks is a little smaller, and the barrels of the tank guns are a little thinner. But it's better than nothing.

To come up with the record, it was necessary to rely on the strength of the Italian army itself. He sent a telegram on October 11, and in only two days the vanguard of the Arreette Panzer Division arrived, thanks to the attention of His Excellency the Leader.

Since the launch of the attack on Egypt, the Italian army has always been half a beat behind the Germans, and each time it was the Germans who occupied Egyptian towns and were the first to raise the German flag, and then the Italian army was late.

This is true in the port of Mesha Matru, in Sidi Barani, in El Alamein. It's the same in Alexandria.

But this ridiculous mistake must not be allowed to continue in Cairo, and the warriors of the Italian army will certainly be able to plant the Italian flag in Cairo before the Germans, to prove to the British, the Germans, the Egyptians, and even the whole world, the fighting power of the Italian army, and to add a little leverage to the future negotiations with the Germans.

With the arrival of the Arreite Panzer Division, the strength of the Italian Tenth Army near Alexandria reached five infantry divisions and one pantry division, which should be enough to launch an attack on the British in Cairo and annihilate them in one fell swoop.

At eight o'clock in the evening of the same day, Marshal Graziani urgently convened a military meeting and officially issued an operational order to march to Cairo.

Chen Dao sat on the side and wondered secretly. I haven't seen it for a day, how can Marshal Graziani be as high-spirited as if he had eaten a pound of viagra.

Wondering and summarizing, Chen Dao still did not hesitate to convey the order of Marshal Graziani.

At nine o'clock in the morning of October 14, the Italian 62nd and 63rd Infantry Divisions were formed. The main force of the 10th Army, consisting of the 1st and 2nd Blackshirts and the Araite Panzer Division, marched south to Cairo in preparation for the eradication of the last British stronghold in Egypt.

For some ulterior motive, Herman. The Goering Motorized Rifle Division, which was retained as the general reserve for the Cairo campaign, was to accompany Marshal Graziani on 15 October

The British position in the northwest corner of Cairo was still a quiet and peaceful scene, and General Wilson, the commander-in-chief of the British army in Egypt, came here to inspect the defense according to the itinerary.

After turning for more than half an hour. General Wilson and his staff finally moved to Major Turner's defense area.

Major Turner did not dare to slack off on the arrival of such a big man as General Wilson, and he personally accompanied General Wilson to inspect the positions of the three infantry companies at the front.

After inspecting the positions of Captain Carter and Captain Hunt from west to east, and giving many commanding directions, General Wilson, accompanied by Major Turner, went to Captain Mills' position.

When the group walked to Captain Mills' position, Captain Mills was already standing behind the position with four of his men waiting.

After the meeting, Major Turner glanced at Captain Mills' clean uniform and shiny leather shoes, nodded approvingly, and then gave an introduction to the two sides.

After exchanging a few words of greeting with Captain Mills, Lieutenant General Wilson stood on the edge of the trench with his hands in his hands and looked around.

After asking Captain Mills a few questions, Lieutenant General Wilson frowned and said, "There is no problem with the arrangement of the barbed wire and minefields in this position, but the machine gun bunkers in the trenches seem to be less, and the number of pillboxes is only two-thirds that of the other companies." And why is there one more traffic trench here than the others? What's going on? Major Turner, you know what? ”

Major Turner also saw the problem at this time, and a fire suddenly rose in his heart, he had just held a meeting yesterday to inform the construction of the fortifications, who knew that Captain Mills had not done anything that day, and the position was still the same as yesterday.

Glaring at Captain Mills in disgust, Major Turner said, "Captain Mills, you come to General Wilson to explain, I'm sure you must have your reasons." ”

"The reason is simple, the traffic trenches are used to escape. If the battle is unfavorable, more trenches will allow me and my men to quickly escape to the safety of the rear.

The existing machine-gun bunkers and pillboxes on the position are enough for us to take out the enemy, and we don't need to waste the soldiers' physical strength to dig up, which will only be useless. "Captain Mills explained the reason neatly.

Seeing Captain Mills' straight face, Major Turner fainted out of breath.

What's wrong with Captain Mills today? Where did so many strong arguments come from? He's not usually like that?

Major Turner was about to open his mouth to explain to Captain Mills, but was preempted by Lieutenant General Wilson.

Lieutenant General Wilson looked at the unruly Captain Mills with a straight face, and said in a deep voice: "Captain Mills, tell me, how can we take out our enemies with these substandard and even inferior positions?"

Now that the battle has not started, you are thinking about how to lead your subordinates to escape, should I say that you cherish your subordinates? Or should you say you're a coward? Major Turner, he's your subordinate, you say, what should be done with a coward like him? ”

"This is between me and you, don't embarrass Major Turner." Captain Mills said-for-tat.

"How do I take out our enemies, you ask? The method is simple, when the enemy stands in front of me, I will pull out my gun, point it at his nose and say, raise my hand, if he doesn't raise my hand, I will pull the trigger and kill him, it's as simple as that. Captain Mills said.

He's hopeless!

Major Turner had just lowered his head in regret at the thunderous fury that Captain Mills was about to suffer, when Lieutenant General Wilson's sneering voice rang in his ears: "Do you hear me, Major Turner, this is the answer your subordinates gave me, it's really a joke that is not funny at all. Pass my orders and demote Captain Mills to private, and you can find someone else to take his place? ”

"General, listen to me, what are you doing? Put the gun down. Major Turner jerked his head up to intercede on Captain Mills' behalf, but saw something unbelievable.

Captain Mills held a Scott revolver in his right hand and put it on Lieutenant General Wilson's nose and said coldly, "General, raise your hands." If you don't raise your hand, I'll pull the trigger and finish you off, I'm not kidding you. ”

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I had a gastrointestinal cold yesterday, and I had to be injected for three days in a row, and there will be a little less update in these three days, please forgive me. (To be continued.) )xh118