Fox of France

The plan of the first division received more support from Chairman Russell and the military committee, so the second division was officially reduced to a feint and blocking force.

In order to make a concentrated effort to besiege Athlone, the United Irish Federation basically mobilized all the forces in the base area. Both the county brigade and the district squad were mobilized. These fighters will be responsible for posing as the main force with part of the Second Division and encircling Athlone.

Just like in the fortified battle of Pingan Grad in the later generations, counting the number of the concentrated county brigade and district squad, the second division commander O'Hara almost really moved the idea of ​​attacking Athlone, because... because I really didn't expect that the county brigade and district squad could have so many people!

Yes, the county brigades and district squads of the two major bases in Ireland are now concentrated, adding another division of 50,000 to 60,000 people. Coupled with the more than 40,000 horsemen of the second division, it seems that Athlone can be attacked by force.

But O'Hara resisted the impulse, first of all because of discipline, since the United Irish Federation Military Committee had already made the decision to feint, he would not arbitrarily change it. Unless the Brits stationed at Athlone have a problem of their own.

Secondly, it was also because O'Hara knew that although the county brigade and district squad had a large number of people, their training level and equipment level were significantly different from the main force. Their equipment level is only just close to the recognized "security forces" without combat effectiveness, and their training level is not even as good as the "security forces". Of course, with their fearless courage and determination to fight to the end, they may be able to beat those "security forces", but if they want to attack those solid fortifications, even if they don't have the courage not to be afraid of sacrifice and the determination to fight to the end, they will definitely not be able to do so. . But only these are not enough.

Now that the plan had been determined, the Irish Independence Army immediately went into action.

Swamp warfare specialist Edward Stamford, now a colonel commander for his exploits against the Irish, had his regiment deployed at Athlone. Now, the United Kingdom has completely turned its face with the rebels, and they have been told to prepare for defense immediately, and the rebels will soon attack Athlone.

Colonel Edward Stamford knew that the Duke of Norfolk was working hard to send as many troops as possible from the country, but before the arrival of domestic reinforcements, the British army was now at a disadvantage in Ireland. The Irish will definitely take advantage of this opportunity, try to seize this time difference, and besiege Athlone in an attempt to destroy this most important stronghold, thereby completely destroying this crucial railway.

It took some effort to lure the Irish to lay siege to Athlone. First of all, there should not be too many troops stationed at this stronghold. If there are too many, the Irish will not attack it if they feel that there is no possibility of conquering it before the British large-scale deployment of troops. Then the Duke of Norfolk's idea of ​​using this stronghold to attract the Irish, and then quickly transfer the main force over by rail, to conduct a decisive main battle, and destroy the main force of the Irish Independence Army in such a big battle is impossible. Realized that even if more troops were brought in, it would just repeat the old story. The army of the United Kingdom continued to lose blood in small-scale and high-density small battles again and again, and the war seemed to never have an end.

But if the number of troops stationed is too small, if they really can't hold it and are eaten by the Irish, it will be a big loss, and the subsequent war will be even more difficult to fight.

In the end, after serious discussions, the British felt that relying on the defense of the "Bonaparte adorned with a golden shield" model, plus about 6,000 real British troops, should still be able to defend and persist until the large forces Arrived. And the number of 6,000 people will not really scare the Irish from attacking.

Colonel Edward Stamford awoke early this morning. He got up from the bed, opened the curtains, and looked out the window.

It was still early at this time, the sun had not yet risen, and the earth was covered with a layer of dark blue mist. This is also a common thing in this season. Sometimes, after the fog rises, it will not dissipate until noon. This kind of weather is obviously not good for defense. Relying on the cover of fog, the attacking party is likely to touch it quietly, and then use explosives and blasting tubes to send a bunker into the sky at once.

So, Colonel Edward Stamford immediately became nervous. He immediately put on his military uniform, went out, took a few guards with him, and went to the front.

By the time Colonel Edward Stamford arrived at the frontier fortifications, the sun had already risen according to the time, but the fog was getting thicker, and it was a vast expanse of whiteness, and the visibility even dropped to less than 30 meters.

"Is there any movement?" Colonel Edward Stamford asked Battalion Commander Richard who was on duty at this time.

"I don't know, I can't see anything. Someone heard a little movement on the other side of the minefield. But I don't know what it is? Maybe it's a person, but it could be something else, like a rabbit or something. We're blindly heading that way A few shots were fired, but we don't know what effect it had."

"Are our dogs responding?" Colonel Edward Stamford asked again.

"There are some reactions, but if it's rabbits, they also react. Last time, a dog followed a rabbit into the minefield, and then..." Richard shook his head.

"Damn it," said Colonel Edward Stamford, "it's very foggy today, and it's not likely to clear up in a while. You have to be more careful and vigilant, and don't let the Irish sneak the explosives under your noses. "

"It's such a big minefield outside, how can it be so easy for them to come in?" Commander Richard shook his head, but he looked at Colonel Edward Stamford's face, and added, "Of course, we Will be more vigilant.”

"Tom, I estimate that within two days, they will take action, you can't take it seriously." Colonel Edward Stamford said.

"Yes, yes, leader, don't worry, I sleep with one eye open."

While they were talking, a group of fighters from the Irish Independence Army took advantage of the fog and came to the minefield at the front of the British defense line.

Unlike the British engineers' low-efficiency probe demining, the Irish engineers have the most advanced French mine detectors in their hands. This kind of thing that uses the principle of electromagnetic induction can clearly sense metal objects buried in the ground. Compared with the stupid metal probes of the British engineers who poke around everywhere, I don't know how clever it is.

Whenever a landmine is detected in the ground, the Irish engineers will stop, and then take out a long metal probe to further accurately determine the location of the mine, and then carefully dig them out. Relying on the cover of thick fog, these engineers quickly opened up a safe passage in the minefield.

Immediately afterwards, soldiers with explosive packs and blasting tubes crossed the minefield and began to approach the British fortress group.