In the headquarters of the Algerian capital, Admiral Alphonse Ryan, who had arrived from Morocco, was standing respectfully behind Berande.

The middle-aged general in front of him, although he was five or six years younger than himself, as long as it was time to command the battle situation, Belante gave people the feeling that he was a natural general, a decisive commander, so that everyone around him couldn't help but be in awe of him.

Admiral Alphonse was actually on par with Beronte, one was the governor of French Morocco and the other was the governor of French Algeria, and Alphonse was a head older in terms of age.

In terms of military age, Alphonse was already a member of the French military delegation to the United States during the First World War, and at that time Béronte was just a little-known staff officer under Petain.

Alphonse is not afraid of Berente, a colleague who was temporarily promoted to general only a few months ago, but they are all grasshoppers on the same rope, and the Algerian legion under Berente is countless times stronger than Alphonse's Moroccan legion, which is a big help for him to protect himself, and it is better to be as respectful as possible.

"Governor Birent, since you are sure that the British will definitely make a move, why don't you mention the layout and deploy the gathered group of cannon fodder of the Italian army on the front line to gain buffer time?" Alphonse knew the reason, but he couldn't help but want to ask, because he wanted to find out.

The British would send troops to Algeria, a speculation that Berente had when he first arrived as governor of Algeria.

If these were speculations before, then after the British attacked Port Oran and blatantly betrayed the French Navy, everything has become an indisputable fact!

If the British can betray France once for the sake of profit, they can betray a second and a third time. A French fleet, which had not yet been exploited by the Germans, was not yet tolerated by the British. How could a French oil field, which had already been transfused with the German war machine, be ignored by the British.

"The combat effectiveness of the Italian army, I know better than you. When they fought for themselves, they couldn't beat the British, and they couldn't fight better when they fought for us. "Because he had seen the sluggish combat strength of the Italian army in the Alps in the south of France, Berente was unusually calm at the moment.

"But, wouldn't it be more beneficial for us to use them to buy a little time and wear down the attacking forces of the British army?" Admiral Alphonse asked, puzzled.

This is his inner thought, if he is in command, he will never let go of the Italian cannon fodder that is not used in vain, even if he does not need the Italian army to delay the British army on the front line, he will not use a part of the expensive French troops to garrison the border like Birente is now.

Although the troops arranged by Belante in the border area were all colonial troops recruited from Algeria on the spot, after all, they also belonged to the French armed forces and were their own people. How can there be a reason to let outsiders not use it and let others die?

Belonte looked at Alphonse and sighed silently. His colleague still can't get rid of the narrow-minded French self-preservationism. This is a weakness that most French people have, but it is so deeply hidden that it seems to have some truth that few can find it.

As early as 17 years ago, when the French army invaded the Ruhr area of Germany, de Gaulle, who was still a colonel at the time, made this kind of mistake, leading the way with the Belgian army with inferior combat effectiveness, resulting in the defeat of the first battle and a great loss of morale.

Now, Alphonse, who has become a general, has made the same choice as de Gaulle.

Béronte tried to put what Petain had said to himself about De Gaulle's cleverness in the current situation, and relayed it to Alphonse: "Although we have about tens of thousands more troops than the British army, these are all colonial forces, and they are not as good as the British troops in terms of training or armament." The only ones who really serve as our core force are the three French divisions in my hands and one French infantry regiment in your hands. As for my newly expanded 120,000 Algerian colonial troops, and your 30,000 Moroccan colonial troops, perhaps combined, they will not be able to defeat a single division of the British. ”

"Strength is not the point, and we don't need Italians to help us save that strength." Belonte said lightly: "The key to this war is whether we can use the only main force to eliminate the core armament of the British army and destroy their offensive strength!" ”

"Yes, I know what you said. However, no matter how strong the British army is, no matter how weak the Italian army's combat power is. As long as they are arranged to exchange fire at the border, they will surely inflict losses on both sides. After all, when the guns go off, where are the immortals? As long as we can wear down the strength of the British for us, even if it is less, it will be more beneficial for us to fight in the future, isn't it? Alphonse was still reluctant to let go of the Italian army.

In his opinion, the reason why Petain ordered them to take in the Italian routs was probably to make them a round of cannon fodder for the benefit of France. Make the most of it, there's no reason to let it go!

Béronte just raised the corners of his mouth and smiled slightly: "Governor Alphonse, can I ask you two questions?" ”

Nodding, Alphonse said politely, "Please speak." ”

Birant beckoned his staff officer to pour twice as much coffee, and then motioned for Alphonse to sit down, and said unhurriedly: "Don't be too nervous, we are still at the same level after all, just exchange any opinions with each other." I just want to take this opportunity to ask you, how do you think the situation in our country compares to the situation in the British army? ”

Alphonse was stunned, he didn't expect Bronte to bring up this issue that had nothing to do with the military, he thought for a while, and replied decisively: "Not good!" ”

According to his inner opinion, Alphonse said truthfully: "Although Britain faced heavy losses in the face of successive bombardments by the German army, they still had the English Channel to protect themselves, and every time they were bombed, they still had time to rebuild for disaster relief." But at home, we have spent too much support on the Maginot Line over the years, but we have not been rewarded accordingly. With the defeat of the previous war with Germany, the economy and politics reached their limits. ”

Alphonston paused, raised his head and looked into Birant's eyes, and said: "The colonies in Africa, especially the Algerian oil fields in our hands, can be said to be the hope of France's revival, and the most important money bag for our country in the next 30 years. As long as we have it, the production of oil fields will ease the economic pressure at home, and Germany will use the oil it buys from us to offset the heavy war reparations. If this place is also destroyed by the British, France, maybe there is really no way out! ”