When Admiral Cadore and Simeone were the defenders of Skopje and were planning to make a surprise move. A flotilla appeared off the coast of Izmir.

Along with the appearance of this fleet, the Italian fleet, which was invincible in this war, also appeared in front of the eyes of the local population. The local residents of the city where Homer was said to have been born did not stay and witness it for themselves like the legendary poet, and they all flocked to the city with their families.

Faced with the wave of fleeing in the city of Izmir, Vice Admiral Yagil, the commander of the fleet who led the escort and fire support, put down the telescope in his hand and spoke. "Order the fleet to launch an artillery bombardment in half an hour, and tell Lord Grewe the news, so let's give those innocent civilians a little time to escape."

"The kindness of the lieutenant general, the inhabitants of the place should be rejoicing."

Rear Admiral Hilma, the chief of staff of the fleet, who stood beside him, praised the mercy of the commander. And Lieutenant Commander Leyfer, who was standing beside the two of them and was the captain of the flagship, looked at the two people in front of him speechlessly.

Half an hour was the time for the fleet to prepare for the bombardment, and how many people could get out of the city in half an hour. If it is really benevolent, then it should be given two hours to start to show results. But he can only keep this in his heart, the Ottomans in the city have nothing to do with him, and he can't afford to contradict his boss for this.

The two fleet commanders did not know what was going on behind Leffel.

However, the heralds were running fast, after all, there was no radio in this era, and if you want to send a message, you still need flags, signal lights, etc.

While the Italian fleet was still preparing, the officers and men of the Ottoman 79th Division, which was the garrison of Izmir City, were also in a panic. The division was formed less than two months ago, but it was not well equipped, and even basic training had not been completed, otherwise it would not have been their turn to garrison the place, and they would have been pulled to the front line in Adrianople.

In the face of the sudden arrival of the Italian fleet, Rear Admiral Hartmut, who was the commander of the division and the supreme commander of the defenders, felt heavy pressure.

Standing on the best position of the watchtower, he looked at the tall and mighty Italian warship outside the harbor, and anxiously asked the chief of staff beside him. "Is the coastal defense fort ready?"

"Not yet."

Hearing this answer, Hartmut, who put down the telescope in his hand, asked in surprise. "Why aren't you ready, what the hell is going on?"

Faced with Hartmut's questioning, the chief of staff replied. "The soldiers of the shore defense battery have not been able to receive the ammunition because its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Hartmut, has taken the key to the ammunition depot."

Hearing the Chief of Staff's answer, Hartmut had a surprised expression on his face, could there be anything more absurd than this. "Then why don't you go find this damn lieutenant colonel."

Due to its particularity, the arms and ammunition depot is unusually strong, and if you don't have a key, you can't even think about opening it for half a day. As for the use of other tools or methods, if you want flammable and explosive ammunition behind the door, the pressure can be imagined.

"Someone has been sent to look for it, and some officers and soldiers saw Lieutenant Colonel Hartmut leave with two girls last night."

Hearing this, Hartmut was furious, and if the Lieutenant Colonel Hartmut appeared in front of him now, he would have drawn his pistol and killed him instantly. I really regret that I couldn't let this guy go because of his uncle relationship as the mayor of the city, and now I'm going to get revenge on myself.

While it is difficult to say how useful the coastal defense batteries in Izmir will be, it would be disastrous to let the Italians know that they lack the deterrence of coastal defense.

While the local defenders were searching for the lieutenant colonel, the Italian fleet outside the harbor finally made a new move, led by three Turin-class battleships, and the other four Doo-class and their improved class rushed into the harbor, and they immediately set their sights on the coastal defense batteries that posed the greatest threat to them.

"8,000 ......"

"6,000 ......"

"5,000 ......"

As the observers continued to report the distance between the two, and when they entered the distance of five thousand meters, Vice Admiral Yagill, who was the commander of the fleet, felt strange, in fact, not only he was strange, but the other officers and men of the fleet also felt strange, why the enemy did not open fire, although according to the intelligence, the city's shore defense guns were not enough to cause fatal damage to several battleships, but this was within its effective range, and it should not be without reaction.

Although some did not understand why the enemy battery did not open fire, Lieutenant General Yagill saw this as an opportunity. "Open fire, and if the enemy does not fight back, get close to a distance of three thousand meters and shell it."

With his order, the artillery fleet, consisting entirely of battleships of more than 10,000 tons, carried out artillery shelling of the batteries in turn.

"Boom Boom Boom~"

The power of the large-caliber naval guns was vividly displayed in the shelling, and one shell after another blew huge craters around the coastal defense battery, not to mention being hit, even if it was not affected, it was either killed or wounded.

However, even if the fleet shelled it like this, the enemy battery still did not react. At this time, although the officers and men of the fleet did not know what was happening, it was obvious that they still understood the truth of taking advantage of people's illness to kill people. So the fleet then approached the battery while shelling.

By the time it reached a distance of three thousand meters, the accuracy of the fleet's artillery bombardment had improved dramatically, and several shells fell on the position of the battery and exploded.

"Keep shelling, don't stop."

Seeing such a scene, Lieutenant General Yagill will not let go of the opportunity. He was going to completely destroy the enemy battery. As long as the enemy did not have the cover of shore defense batteries, it would be easy to capture the city of Izmir.

"There is an enemy approaching the battery, azimuth 54.12."

While the shelling continued, the sharp-eyed lookout observed a group of enemies rushing towards the battery, and what else they were pushing.

But no matter what they're pushing, now that they've been discovered, there's only one result.

Soon the two battleships turned their guns and launched artillery fire on the enemy who dared to rush to the battery now.

Boom, boom, after several shells exploding, an even louder rumble sounded, and now everyone knew what they were doing, but the result was very fatal to the time.

And after watching from a distance as the death squad he sent out was wiped out, Major General Hartmut angrily waved his hand and slammed it against the wall.

At this time, it is no longer possible to send death squads, and the next thing to consider is not just to defend the city. This is all the consequence of that Lieutenant Colonel Hartmut, thinking of this, Major General Hartmut said hatefully. "Reinforce the battery with that Lieutenant Colonel Hartmut, and he will either live and die with the battery or be shot for desertion, the choice is his own."

It is obvious that at this time, Major General Hartmut has not taken care of anything else, and if he loses the responsibility of Izmir, the little Lieutenant Colonel Hartmut will not be able to carry it at all.