"Major General, what basis do you have for thinking that the Germans were trying to seize the island of Malta?" Montgomery asked. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

Zhang Chi picked up the information in his hand and raised it, and replied: "One of the pieces of information you have obtained is that the Germans may have gathered about 700 planes of two air groups in Sicily, this news is correct, right?" ”

"That's right!" Montgomery replied.

After a pause, Montgomery asked, "But what does this mean?" ”

Zhang Chi replied: "There are only more than 200 planes on Malta Island, if it is only to protect the shipping lanes and supplies, do you need to use more than 700 planes of two air fleets?" And also at a time when Germany was in dire need of fighters! ”

At this time, Germany was in dire need of fighters, there is no doubt that they had to deal with the Soviet-German battlefield on the one hand, and bombing Britain on the other, as well as the North African theater...... At this time, 700 fighters was a large contingent for Germany.

"What's more!" Zhang Chi continued: "Protecting the waterway is long-term, if the Germans protect the waterway with 700 fighters......"

If the purpose of the Germans is to protect the shipping lane, it means that these 700 fighters will be stuck in a protracted quagmire and unable to be put into other battlefields. But if you're planning for the short term, it's a different story.

The British officers and men in the conference room fell silent for a long time before Montgomery said, "I think we'd better warn the navy ......."

"I'll go right away!" Ramsden got up and went to the communications room.

After a while, Ramsden came back with a telegram, he glanced at Zhang Chi with a sigh, and said to Montgomery: "General, what the Rear Admiral said is right, the navy also saw that the Germans were acting a little differently this time, they separated the two air groups, one air force was responsible for cutting off the external connection of the island of Malta, and the other air force bombed the island of Malta intensively!" ”

Ramsden's words were like dropping a bomb in a conference room, and everyone knows what that means...... It was not only a question of whether Rommel and his Afrika Korps would be restocked, but also whether the Suez Canal would be out of service and the British shipping lanes would be blocked.

Of course, the Eighth Army did not need to think about the problems of the British side, they still needed to think more about Rommel.

However, this was not entirely the case, as Churchill could not tolerate the blockade of the Suez Canal...... This would have caused British merchant ships to circumnavigate the Cape of Good Hope, which not only increased the range and time, but also increased the risk of being sunk by German submarines, which Britain, which was in a difficult situation due to the German blockade, could not bear it, and this was one of the reasons why Churchill had always made the African theater his main battlefield.

And if Britain wants to avoid this, it will undoubtedly put its hopes on the Eighth Army in Africa...... Only the defeat of Rommel by the Eighth Army and the invasion of Libya could solve the dilemma of Malta being attacked by the Luftwaffe on both sides.

"Can we wait?" Montgomery asked.

Montgomery meant that the supply of the Afrika Korps would predictably improve dramatically, so there was no doubt that the more time passed, the worse the situation would be for the British.

"We can wait a little longer!" One officer advised: "I don't think London will allow the German army to occupy the island of Malta, they may bring in a large number of fighters to fight the Germans for air supremacy!" ”

This might be a good idea, that is, to see how things play out first.

But soon a telegram made this option an option......

"Gentlemen!" Montgomery received a telegram from the messenger soldier, and then said helplessly: "Call from London, they really won't let the German army occupy the island of Malta, but ...... Instead of bringing in a large number of fighters, they ordered us to attack, that is, to defeat Rommel and relieve the pressure on the island of Malta! ”

There was a dead silence in the conference room, and now there was only attack.

After a while, the British officers made a point of comment:

"We weren't prepared!"

"We don't have enough fuel!"

"Our tanks mostly need repairs, and there are not enough parts!"

……

Zhang Chi couldn't help but feel a little funny when he heard these reasons, if the British army said that the fuel was not enough and the tanks were insufficient, then the German army should have surrendered a long time ago?!

"Gentlemen!" Montgomery couldn't help but interrupt the British officer and said, "We didn't have a choice, did we?" Regardless of whether the preparation is adequate or not, and whether the supplies are sufficient or not, it is necessary to attack! Otherwise, we will probably never be able to defeat Rommel and his Afrika Korps! ”

AFTER A PAUSE, MONTGOMERY CONTINUED: "SO, DON'T TALK ABOUT THOSE USELESS SUPPLY PROBLEMS, WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THE GERMANS' 88MM ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS!" ”

HOWEVER, WHO WILL HAVE A WAY TO DEAL WITH 88MM ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS? So the British army, you look at me, I look at you, all have nothing to say.

After thinking about it, Montgomery set his eyes on Zhang Chi and said, "Major General, your troops have concentrated the most advanced American tanks of the Eighth Army, I think...... Surely you have something in mind! ”

Zhang Chi couldn't help but sweat for a moment, the performance of the "Sherman" tank was indeed the best in the Eighth Army, but in terms of armor thickness, it was about the same as the "Matilda" tank, and it was not the same as the 88 anti-aircraft gun that could not deal with the Germans?

Montgomery had apparently dumped this hot potato on himself.

However, Zhang Chi has already thought about this problem.

He replied, "Yes, but ...... I just don't know if the general will agree! ”

"I'm listening!" Montgomery replied.

"My idea is simple!" Zhang Chi sat up straight, slowed down and said seven words: "Give up Alexandria!" ”

"What? You are crazy! ”

"Alexandria is an important port to support Malta, and it can also block the Suez Canal, how can it be abandoned?"

"It's also a very important supply base for us!"

……

British officers objected.

In this regard, Zhang Chi had long been mentally prepared, so he sat quietly without saying a word, and let the officers express their opinions one by one.

Montgomery raised his hand to signal the officers to stop, and then asked Zhang Chi: "Major General, tell me your reasons, why you want to abandon Alexandria!" ”

"Because the enemy has built a strong defensive line!" Zhang Chi replied: "There are a large number of mines and barricades in front of this line of defense, and 88 anti-aircraft guns in the back...... As you said, we do not have the right equipment to deal with the 88 anti-aircraft guns. Therefore, it is foreseeable that it will be very difficult to break through the defense line, and even if it does, it will pay a heavy price! ”