"Regardless of what happens in Kosovo, continue to wait for Istanbul's rescue."

After saying this, Lieutenant General Emmanuel explained. "Although our army currently has nearly 200,000 people, it is currently in a dead position, and it is impossible to break through. We are at least 500 kilometers from Eastern Thrace, and there is no way back on this road. I don't think we need to modify this solution at all. ”

Lieutenant General Emmanuel, who knew Admiral Kadolna very well, persuaded bitterly, because he knew that what he had just said had shaken his determination to hold on.

In fact, Admiral Kadolna wanted to retreat not for a day or two, and he had this idea after the declaration of war on Bulgaria, but it was simply unacceptable to abandon the vast Balkan territories, and then Istanbul ordered him to hold on to it, and let him watch the situation gradually deteriorate.

From the blockade of the coastal passage by Bulgaria to the fact that the Italians broke through the interception of the Second Army and entered the Macedonian region, this trapped him here.

Before that, he could only collect all kinds of supplies to prevent himself from being denied ammunition and food. Of course, what happened next, everyone will be clear, originally thought that the war would end after the peace talks, but they did not expect a mutiny in the capital, which allowed the war to spread again. And he was surrounded by enemies, and he couldn't go.

Admiral Kadolna thought for a moment, then only replied. "It seems that this is the only way to go."

Since the Ottoman army chose to cower in Skopje, it must bear the consequences. With the seizure of Kosovo by Italy, the rest of Macedonia was also broken.

The Bulgarian Fifth Army, which had moved from home, crossed the Lower Bulgarian Mountains and entered Macedonia, first capturing Kranvapanika, near the Bulgarian border, and then continuing to press on Skopje from the east.

As for the north, after the capture of Kosovo, two divisions of Italian troops, after converging the Montenegrin army of more than 10,000 men, launched an attack on Kachanik at the Shar Pass.

If you add the Italian Balkan Army Group located on both sides southwest of Skopje, in just two or three days, Skopje can be regarded as surrounded on all sides.

For a while, the fire of war from all sides made the opposing Ottoman army entrenched in Skopje feel heavy pressure.

"Fire!"

In the Vardar Valley, on an artillery position outside the valley, an artillery commander was loudly ordering the artillery to fire.

With his order, the artillery on the artillery position behind him let out a roar.

This is not an ordinary divisional artillery, but a treasure in the army, the heavy artillery of an independent heavy artillery regiment. These long-range howitzers, with a caliber of up to 150 mm, are currently a powerful support weapon for the Italian Balkan Army.

This was all delivered by sea, mainly for the purpose of massing the enemy in response to heavy troops. At present, the Italian 150 mm howitzer is an improved version of the technology obtained from Krupp, combined with the Italian national conditions, its gun weighs 3.4 tons, 26 times the length of the tube, the effective range is 9800 meters, the bullet weight is 42.7 kg, and the muzzle velocity of the shell is 351 meters per second, which is currently the main suppression of heavy firepower by the Italian Army.

Of course, although the gun is a little heavier, it is excellent in all other aspects, so the military is still very satisfied with it at all. In three years, 78 guns were built, and two heavy artillery regiments were equipped.

And the attack on Skopje was the first appearance of the gun on the battlefield. (Previously fought in the mountains of Albania, because the gun was too heavy, so it did not participate)

"Boom~Boom~Boom!"

As the shells continued to explode on the defenders' positions, the power of the heavy artillery made the Ottomans suffer, and the Ottoman army, which had only simple trenches and other field fortifications as protection, suffered considerable losses in the shelling.

At this time, European countries have not had a deep study of trenches, and many of the current trenches are the same as the breastwork, exposing the body above the chest, although this can also make it have good protection against small and medium-caliber artillery, but in the face of heavy artillery, this is a bit insufficient.

As long as the shells fell near the fortifications, the Ottoman defenders hiding in them were doomed, and they were killed at the slightest injury, especially the Ottoman soldiers hiding behind the breastwork. The secondary damage caused by a large number of stones or broken wood made the Ottoman officers and soldiers avoid snakes and scorpions against such things as the breastwork.

If you want to say that since the Italian artillery is constantly harvesting the lives of the defenders, what about the artillery of the defenders, why not fight back?

It's also pitiful to say, at present, on the Ottoman defenders' positions, the artillery is small and medium-caliber light artillery, its maximum caliber is only 80 mm, and the longest firing range is only 7200 meters, how can this be enough for Italy's long-range heavy artillery. You must know that this Italian heavy artillery was originally prepared to counter the French army, which is something that the Ottomans, a technologically backward country, can withstand.

But if you want to say that Skopje does not have the existence of this artillery, you can't say anything. At present, the defenders of Skopje have an artillery that can compete with its existence, the Krupp 210 mm heavy cannon, which has a maximum range of 12,100 meters, which can completely suppress the Italian heavy artillery, but the gun is heavier, reaching 4.8 tons. (This is not an 1894 Krupp 210mm heavy rapid-fire cannon)

Moreover, at present, there are only 4 gates in the hands of the Macedonian army group, and it is impossible to use them to defend the mountains, otherwise they are disposable.

Therefore, in the face of the attack of Italian heavy artillery, the Ottoman officers and soldiers could only pray for Allah or God's blessing in addition to gritting their teeth and insisting (there were Christians in the Ottoman army).

However, spiritual prayer and ostrich methods alone will not work, after all, this thing is so powerful that it may be chosen by a cannonball.

So after enduring constant shelling, the morale of the defenders of the position became lower and lower. Just when they were about to lose their support, the Italian shelling finally stopped.

It's not that Allah or God hears their prayers, it's that the Italian heavy artillery needs a break, and in case the barrel hits red, it's not about scrapping a heavy gun.

However, the Ottoman defenders on the position should not be busy breathing a sigh of relief, because the Italian infantry is attacking.

Such scenes are not unique to the Vardar Valley, but also have been seen on other battlefields. Because this time the army sent two regiments of heavy artillery, and in conjunction with the original heavy artillery of the Balkan Army, this taught the Ottoman army a lesson in heavy artillery bombardment.

And after the Italian army re-launched its heavy artillery attack on this German magic weapon, the Ottoman position on the periphery was already shaky. In this respect, it is not an exaggeration that artillery is the god of war.

(End of chapter)