Chapter 518: Escape from Paris (Asking for a Monthly Pass)
"Your Excellency, I hope to be able to form the 13th, 14th and 15th armies." Marshal Xia Fei said.
"Three more armies?" President Poincaré frowned.
If three more army groups were formed, the French Army would have formed a total of 15 army groups, with a total strength of more than three million. Moreover, this almost wiped out all the young adults in France. Sending the people there to the battlefield to die would be a heavy blow to French society and the entire French nation.
"Your Excellency, we need to prepare for the ensuing battle. If we are to continue to resist the German attack, we must have more strength. With heavy losses in all the divisions of the front, the formation of three new army groups will allow us to have more forces to fight the Germans. In this way, you will be able to persevere until the end. Otherwise, they may not be able to hold out until the day when the Navy wins. Marshal Xia Fei continued.
"Your Excellency, the war has left the government in high debt. If three more army groups were to be formed, it would undoubtedly require a lot of money. And the government, I'm afraid, can't come up with so much money anymore. "Finance Minister Alexander? Ribert said.
"Even if there are great difficulties, the problem of funding must be solved. If we lose the war, we will pay much more than if we were to form three new armies. Marshal Xia Fei said.
Alexander? Libert said no more, but looked at President Poincaré, as if waiting for his decision. If President Poincaré decides to form more troops, he will not object.
"Marshal Xia Fei, I agree with you and form three more group armies. However, these are the last three armies. Next, we have no more money to spare, and no more soldiers to form new troops. President Poincaré reminded. When he said this, he was a wake-up call to Marshal Xia Fei, lest after this time, Marshal Xia Fei would have to form more troops. In that case, it's endless.
"Yes, Your Excellency." Marshal Xia Fei nodded. Of course, he knew that the mobilization of the country was almost at its limit, and he was satisfied to be able to form three more army groups.
"Your Excellency, the French Republic has decided to continue the war. So, is the British Empire willing to continue fighting? I think that the British Empire should continue to support the French Republic at this time. President Poincaré said.
"Your Excellency, I will report France's attitude to the country. Personally, I am naturally willing to continue to support France in fighting the war. Sir French said.
Like France, the British Empire did not want to surrender to Germany. Then they have to continue the war. Not to mention, they were deliberately preparing for the Royal Navy to regain its strength before it would take a decisive battle with the German Navy. It's just that the Royal Navy wants to re-prepare, and it will take time. In order to win, the British Army naturally needed to buy enough time for the Navy to prepare.
Now that the French are willing to continue the war, it is of course the best. What's more, the longer the French and the Germans fought harder, which was also of great benefit to the British Empire. At the very least, Germany can pay greater losses on the battlefield in France, thereby weakening Germany's power.
President Poincaré nodded, and it was best if the British were willing to continue fighting. In this way, they would have greater strength to fight the Germans.
"So, gentlemen, what shall we do next? The next target of the Germans must be Paris. President Poincaré said.
There is no doubt that Paris has become a very dangerous place now. When the Germans approached Paris, it would become a battlefield. For President Poincaré, he naturally does not want to be in the middle of the battlefield.
"Your Excellency, Paris is the capital of the French Republic, and if war breaks out here, Paris will be in ruins. This is undoubtedly a sad thing. Perhaps we should try to avoid Paris getting caught up in war. "René? Prime Minister Viviani said.
"Oh, is there any way to do it?" President Poinkale asked.
"Perhaps, we can evacuate Paris. Then, Paris was declared an undefended city. "René? Prime Minister Viviani suggested.
"What? Let Paris be undefended? How can this be? Marshal Xia Fei exclaimed.
"Your Excellency, this is absolutely not possible. Isn't this the surrender of Paris to the Germans? I'd rather go to war with the Germans in Paris, even if Paris is in ruins, and I will never be able to hand over Paris to the Germans like this! "Marshal Xia Fei's attitude is very resolute.
René? Prime Minister Viviani's face suddenly became a little unpleasant.
"Your Excellency the Marshal, Your Excellency the Prime Minister has no other meaning, he just doesn't want the beautiful city of Paris to be destroyed in the flames of war." President Poincaré said.
"I know, Your Excellency. However, I still think that we need to fight the Germans in Paris. Paris is a big city, and if we were to fight the Germans here, the Germans would have to pay a terrible price to take Paris. If you give up Paris, this is undoubtedly cheaper for the Germans. If Paris is destroyed by war, we can easily rebuild it. But if France loses the war, then everything is finished! Marshal Xia Fei said.
"Your Excellency, I recommend that government agencies evacuate Paris immediately, as well as civilians. I will let the troops who have retreated from the front line be stationed in Paris. We will fight the Germans to the death here. Marshal Xia Fei said.
President Poincaré opened his mouth, but in the end he said nothing.
The next day, French President Poincaré, Prime Minister René? Viviani, along with all the members of the government, evacuated Paris and fled to the south of France. At the same time, millions of residents of Paris fled in panic. These Parisians, dragging their families and mouths, took salutes, or drove cars, or horse-drawn carriages, or even walked, and fled Paris. They all knew that soon Paris would become a battlefield. These civilians don't want to be killed in the fighting. So, escaping Paris became the only option.
On the contrary to these people is the French Army, which is rushing to Paris from everywhere, preparing for a big battle with the German army here.