I Became a Tycoon During World War I: Saving France from the Start

Chapter 289: That's Charles's Army

Over the past few days, Charles's troops hadn't engaged in any actual combat. Instead, his convoy would occasionally venture out for short trips, sometimes approaching the Dardanelles to observe the distant smoke and gunfire on the battlefield before returning.

In truth, the fleet was in training. Soldiers continued practicing deployment with the landing craft, sometimes venturing to isolated areas to practice boarding via ropes. Meanwhile, the destroyers simulated submarine patrols, occasionally dropping "bombs" over suspected locations.

The British, however, couldn't quite understand what Charles and his men were up to, dismissing their actions as mere showmanship.

But Vice Admiral Robeck was starting to grow restless.

The situation in the Dardanelles was becoming increasingly dire, with the tide of the battle gradually turning against the British. The failure of the British 29th Division to secure V Beach had turned out to be a critical error, leaving Cape Helles divided into two disconnected strongholds. To the west, Y, X, and W Beaches were held by Allied forces, while S Beach stood alone to the east—separated from the others by an Ottoman defensive line.

V Beach was the linchpin in the overall landing plan. A main road ran along this stretch, flanked by hills on either side. The Ottomans could use this road to rapidly transport troops and supplies to defend the high ground. This was precisely why the British had assigned their "elite" 29th Division to V Beach: it had to be taken at all costs. But no one could have predicted that this "elite" unit would perform so disastrously.

Without the heavy firepower provided by the Allies' naval guns, the landing forces might have already been forced back into the sea.

…

Vice Admiral Robeck stood by the window of the Queen Elizabeth's command center, looking out toward the Dardanelles. The sounds of gunfire and artillery echoed from the distance, while an Ottoman reconnaissance plane occasionally swept across the sky, a constant reminder of the tenuous situation.

"Admiral." His aide, Lieutenant O'Connell, handed Robeck a telegram. "We've confirmed that the Ottomans have a strategy in place. They aim to eliminate our forces at S Beach first and then encircle and crush the landing forces in other areas. We still don't know how many troops they've committed."

Robeck let out a disgruntled huff. He had to admit the Ottoman plan was sound. S Beach was the weakest of the Allied positions and would struggle to hold out under a concentrated attack. If the Ottoman forces wiped out the British troops there, they would no longer need to fight on two fronts. Instead, they could concentrate their forces on crushing the remaining landing sites.

"Damned Germans," Robeck muttered. "This has their fingerprints all over it."

After a moment's consideration, he issued an order. "Send more troops. We need to expand our position before the Ottomans react."

"Admiral," O'Connell objected, "the island offers limited space. The Ottomans hold the high ground and have substantial artillery. If we send more troops, they'll just be clumped together and picked off by enemy fire."

This was the frustrating reality of an amphibious assault: securing a foothold on shore didn't mean the forces were safe. Quite the opposite—they were now in the most vulnerable position, with no retreat, limited artillery support, and under relentless enemy fire.

O'Connell cautiously suggested, "Unless we concentrate forces on V Beach. Success there would alleviate pressure on the other fronts and unite our positions on both sides of the cape."

Robeck immediately thought of Charles's unit—likely O'Connell's intent with his suggestion. "The French haven't made any moves?"

O'Connell hesitated, then, sensing Robeck's irritation, answered cautiously, "Admiral, I suspect this might have something to do with what you said to Charles a few days ago."

Robeck froze momentarily, and then it dawned on him. A few days ago, he'd hinted that the French forces were merely there to serve as cannon fodder. Now…

Robeck let out a bitter chuckle. That sly Charles was paying him back in kind. By sitting back and doing nothing, he was sending a clear message: if the British wanted to march to their deaths, why should he interfere?

"We don't need them," Robeck retorted. "We can win this fight on our own."

O'Connell remained silent, standing still, his expression unreadable.

But Robeck picked up on the doubt in his eyes, turning on him angrily. "You don't actually think the French could pull off a landing at V Beach, do you? They've already failed once!"

If the British 29th Division couldn't do it, there was no way the French could either. To suggest otherwise would be an insult to the Empire.

But O'Connell quietly replied, "Admiral, with all due respect, this is Charles's unit."

"What's so special about Charles's unit?" Robeck snapped.

O'Connell hesitated before answering, "I know a few things, sir. Charles's 105th Regiment is equipped with numerous mortars—portable artillery pieces that can be deployed alongside the infantry. These mortars are ideal for targeting entrenched enemies, even those on hillsides or behind obstacles."

Robeck fell silent.

The landing troops desperately needed artillery support, but it was almost impossible to get it to them. The difficulty wasn't just in transporting heavy artillery to the shore; it was also in deploying it effectively. The British forces had artillery with relatively flat trajectories, which couldn't reach enemies entrenched on the high ground or positioned on the far side of hills. Even if they managed to fire a few rounds, the Ottomans' elevated position would allow them to pinpoint and destroy the cannons.

But mortars were different. They could hit any target within range, no matter how well-protected. Furthermore, they could be quickly moved after each shot, making them highly resilient against counterattacks.

Though Robeck was a naval commander, he grasped the significance of this. Mortars would give the French a significant tactical advantage.

His expression shifted as he grappled with this realization, clearly torn between his pride and the reality of the situation. After a tense silence, he finally relented, instructing O'Connell, "Prepare the boat."

Robeck had resolved to visit Charles in person, an unspoken apology for his earlier behavior.

"Apologies, Admiral," O'Connell said, relief evident in his tone. "Charles's fleet has already set sail. However, I believe you could start by speaking with Admiral Guepratte."

Robeck let out a defeated sigh. He had no choice but to start with Guepratte and hope to salvage the situation.

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