Beiyang 1917

() "Report Commander-in-Chief, Your Excellency General, the 2nd Division said that according to the report of the security forces of the 2th Brigade of the 4nd Division of Volunteers East of Kharkov City, the crossing of the Kharkov River from the northeast of Kharkov A brigade, the vanguard of the Japanese Infantry Brigade, has quickly advanced along the Forest Avenue to a position about 5 kilometers northeast of the Chengdong Bridge. The Kharkov Bridge?" A Ukrainian staff officer reported nervously covering the microphone, and there was a sudden commotion in the headquarters, and a group of German and Ukrainian staff officers became nervous. . .

"The little devil came so fast! Your Excellency, I think the 2th Brigade of the 4nd Division should blow up the bridge as planned, and rely on the defensive position on the left bank of Kharkov to hold the position?!" Simon Petliura forced his composure He suggested that the commander-in-chief of the national army looked like the chief of staff of von Neuhaus.

"Is the 1rd Infantry Division of the 3st Army of the National Army still in its original position?" Von Neuhaus did not answer Petliura's question directly, but turned to ask the staff. Another Ukrainian staff stepped forward and walked to the map. In front of him, he pointed to the map and whispered, "Your Excellency, it seems...Major General George Jovovich Koval's 3rd Division is adjusting its position. The main force of the division is heading north from its position in the forest fifteen kilometers east of the city. The headquarters of the 3rd Division did not specify the specific situation, but only said that it is adjusting its position and preparing to resist the possible attack of the Japanese detour troops!"

"The position of the 4th Division is also being adjusted?" Von Neuhaus obviously found that the blue raised square on the map that originally marked the position of the 4th Division of the Ukrainian National Army Infantry has also been moved northward. Petliura rubbed his hands and said with a blushing face, "Before Koval called, saying that his divisional artillery regiment failed to return to the establishment, so he had to adjust the original position. He asked Andrei Andropo The 4th Infantry Division under the command of Vich Yarmolenko approached him three kilometers from the south and north, and I agreed... Is there anything wrong with that?". .

"I hope you will notify me of the changes in the positions of these troops as soon as possible in the future. You can't do everything yourself just because I walked away for a while and was not at the headquarters... Admiral von François appointed me as Harko Husband frontline commander, you personally nodded and agreed!"

Von Neuhaus frowned, obviously a little dissatisfied, although the position changes of the 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions seemed to have little impact on the battle situation from the combat map, and were even better than the original arrangement, after all the infantry The artillery regiment of the 4th Division will provide fire support for the positions of the two divisions at the same time, and this is a key factor in whether the 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions can block the attack of an enemy infantry brigade.

Simon Petliura's face was a bit impressive, but he could tell that von Neuhaus's evaluation of the adjustment of the positions of the 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions was still positive. The artillery regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division built lost two 2mm field artillery battalions in the artillery battle last night, and the only remaining 75mm field artillery battalion was also detained in the southern city of Kharkov as a defense force The grievance and panic in the hearts of the 75rd Infantry Division who lost the cannon is naturally understandable.

"When you came back just now, I was about to tell you about this, but unfortunately the enemy on the northern front launched an attack, which delayed my notification to you, General, I did not expect the Japanese troops to detour across the river to advance so fast. I think to be on the safe side, we still ordered the 4th Brigade to blow up the Kharkov Bridge in the east of the city?

Although the loss is not small, it is much less difficult for the 4th brigade to guard the east of the city. The artillery of an infantry brigade in Japan is limited. I think the opponent will forcefully cross the Kharkov River under the cover of our river bank firepower and come back. The possibility is very small! "

While Simon Petliura explained, he brought the topic back to the issue of quickly blasting the Kharkov Bridge in the east of the city. Otherwise, the Ukrainian Prime Minister was worried about dealing with enemy attacks from both the north and the east of the city at the same time. Baxia was a little uneasy.

Of course, Kharkov’s lifeline and final route of retreat are the train station position in the south of the city and the railway line withdrawn to the south. At this moment, the German Reserve Infantry under the command of General von Francois, the former enemy commander of the German-Ukrainian coalition forces, is standing in the south of the city. The 139th regiment, the left and right wings are the 2rd Brigade of the 3nd Volunteer Infantry Division and the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division, which can be regarded as the most reassuring area of ​​​​the entire Kharkov city defense.

"Blowing up the bridge in the east of the city? No, no, Your Excellency Petliura, blasting the bridge across the Kharkov River in the east of the city is our last trump card. How can we blow up the bridge before the enemy meets us? Once The bridge was really blown up, and the main road to the east of Kharkov City was cut off. Unless it is a last resort, the bridge is absolutely not allowed to be blown up. That is to say, without the order of me or Admiral von Francois, no one Do not give orders to blow up the bridge!"

Von Neuhaus was obviously taken aback by the roughness of Simon Petliura and his subordinates. If the defense line in the north of the city was the place he used to delay the coalition's attack and attract the opponent's troops, then the battlefield in the east of the city was the most important place. It is the main battlefield where he intends to show his skills to break the passive situation, and the East Bridge across the Kharkov River is the key. The Kharkov River winds and rushes from the northeast. It is an important place for water and land transportation connecting the two sides of the river. After crossing the bridge to the east, you will find the road leading to the forest in the east. On the side of the bridge is the river beach outside the eastern city of Kharkov.

Kalitintsev, commander of the Volunteer 2nd Division, personally commanded nearly 4 people from the 6000th Brigade as the main force guarding the east of the city. One kilometer above and below the bridgehead on the west section of the bridge, the German major general obviously did not expect that Kalitintsev was so flustered and restless. The enemy was still 8 kilometers away, and he was about to blow up the bridge. Coward.

Therefore, von Neuhaus almost waved his hands and yelled, refusing to agree to the bombing of the bridge in a series of stern words, and emphasized that unless Admiral von François or himself ordered it, no one was allowed to order the bombing of the bridge. If the bridge cuts off the connection between the city of Kharkov and the main force of the remaining two and a half divisions of the 1st Army of the Ukrainian National Army in the east, the battle behind Kharkov will be passive!

Simon Petliura knew that the German major general would use the Eastern Front as the main breakthrough for future counterattacks, but after all, the enemy is strong and we are weak now!