Messina, the headquarters of the Italian Army's 75th Division. Although this city is located in the northeast of Sicily, it is not suitable for the defense of the entire island from a geographical point of view. However, the commander of the 75th Infantry Division, Bernard will still be
The command center is placed here. Yuan Nan is very simple. He only needs to cross the Strait of Messina, which is less than three kilometers wide, and the Apennine Peninsula. Once Sicily is really attacked, he can quickly climb up and prepare.
Good speedboat, escape back to Italy without having to stay in Sicily waiting for death.
At 8:15 am, Bernard, who was hugging a plump Italian woman, would be awakened. Yesterday he was invited to a dinner party of a big businessman in Messina, but unexpectedly got drunk at the banquet.
.In order to establish a relationship with the highest commander of the garrison in Sicily, the merchants of Messina rushed to invite Bernard to the banquet and gave him a lot of gifts, in addition to gold, silver and treasures,
It's a woman. After receiving these gifts, Bernard turned a blind eye to the smuggling of merchants and even took the initiative to join in.
"General, something is wrong!" Lieutenant Cosimo, the adjutant of Bernard, knocked on the door anxiously and shouted loudly.
"Damn!" Bernard, who was awakened, cursed, then wrapped a blanket around his waist and opened the door.
"Cosimo, what happened?" Bernard shouted angrily.
Through the opened door, Lieutenant Cosimo saw the plump young woman sleeping on the bed. Her fair skin and plump body made him unable to help swallowing. However, seeing Bernard
He quickly withdrew his gaze as he glared at him.
"General, something is wrong! Catania is under attack!" said Ensign Cosimo.
"Catania? What's going on? Did Austro-Hungarian warships bombard Catania?" Bernard asked with a frown. Although the Italian navy had gathered in the Adriatic Sea to block the enemy.
If you live in the Austro-Hungarian Navy, you will inevitably have small battleships of the Austro-Hungarian Navy sneak out at night. If this is the case, there is no need to make a fuss.
"General, it's not the Austro-Hungarian navy, but the Chinese! The Chinese dispatched a huge fleet to shell Catania, and our shore defense fortifications could not resist it. Now the Chinese Marine Corps have landed. Catland is in the middle of the Catland
In order to reduce losses, the school has ordered the defenders to retreat northward. However, according to Lieutenant Colonel Catlan's report, there are a lot of Chinese people landing, at least 20,000 to 30,000!" Lieutenant Cosimo reported.
"God! Twenty or thirty thousand people? Are the Chinese trying to capture Sicily?" said Bernard. One of his infantry divisions was only more than 12,000, and they were scattered in various Sicily.
If there are not many Chinese troops landing, he can lead the army to resist and win a lot of military achievements for himself. However, if there are 20,000 or 30,000 Chinese troops landing, then if he leads the army to resist, he will die.
.As for Lieutenant Colonel Catlan fled in fear of the enemy, he did not point out. Now he was thinking about how to save his life. Italy was a member of the Allies before, and its relationship with China was not bad. For China
The combat power of his squad is also very clear. Bernard will know that his infantry division is no match for the Chinese at all.
"Cosimo, go to the command center immediately and send a telegram to Rome to tell them that we were attacked by the superior forces of the Chinese. Sicily could no longer be defended. I am ready to retreat to the east coast of the Strait of Messina. Go to the port as well.
Prepare the ship and we will set out in half an hour!" Bernard ordered.
"Yes, General!" After a salute, Lieutenant Cosimo quickly ran to the command center. He knew that Bernard was going to escape, but he did not think there was anything wrong with this.
The most important thing is to save your life under the pressure of the enemy.
Bernard will enter the house, quickly put on his clothes, the woman on the bed is still asleep, but Bernard will not wake her up. Although he is a little reluctant, Bernard will know that running away is the first priority now
After putting on the clothes, Bernard will rush directly to the port, preparing to take a boat to travel through the Strait of Messina and escape to the Apennine Peninsula. As for resisting the Chinese attack, it will be left to others for a headache.
Bar!
The 8th Marine Division of the Chinese Marine Corps landed in Catania very smoothly and encountered almost no resistance. The Italian army stationed in Catania retreated long after the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet began shelling, which made the Chinese Navy
The 8th Marine Division captured this important city on Sicily without any bloodshed.
"It seems that the Italians are really indifferent! They just ran away as soon as they met. It seems that there should be nothing to capture the entire Sicily! Ask!" On the deck of the battleship of Emperor Ming of Han, the 8th Navy, the 8th Navy
Lieutenant General Tang Hongtao said with some regret.
"Haha! The Italians are no longer the powerful Roman Empire thousands of years ago. Otherwise, they would not have been beaten by a small African country at the beginning." Admiral Li Haitao, commander of the Indian Ocean Fleet, said with a smile. In soldiers like them
It seems that Italy is not worthy of becoming a world power at all. Although Italy's economic strength, scientific research strength and industry are good, the army is really too garbage.
"Commander Li, my people have already controlled Catania. I have to go ashore. Let's leave here. Please leave some warships to provide firepower support for us!" Lieutenant General Tang Hongtao said.
"Don't worry, Commander Tang. I will let the Oujiang River, the heavy cruiser and the Huaihe River, the heavy cruiser stay with several light cruisers and destroyers. On the one hand, it provides fire support for you, and on the other hand, it cuts off the Strait of Messina on the other hand.
, stop the Italians from reinforced troops to Sicily!" said General Li Haitao. The landing was completed so easily, which was beyond his expectations. However, the weaker the Italians' resistance, the easier it would be for the Chinese army to seize it.
Sicily.
The main force of the Indian Ocean Fleet also has time to go to the Adriatic Sea to find trouble for the Italian Navy. Those who capture Sicily can be handed over to the Marines to complete it, and to eliminate the Italian Navy, which must be completed by the Indian Ocean Fleet. And,
The Indian Ocean Fleet, which had not had a big battle for several years, was also eager for a big war.
"Thank you then!" Lieutenant General Tang Hongtao saluted and left on a traffic boat.
‘Emperor Han Ming, the battleship, headed to Catania to command the battle to capture Sicily.
The main force of the Indian Ocean Fleet then left the sea off Catania and headed northeast, preparing to fight the main force of the Italian Navy in the Ionian Sea. Admiral Li Haitao believed that when the Italian government learned that the Chinese army was in Sicily
After landing, the navy will definitely be sent to attack the Chinese navy and rescue Sicily. This gives the Indian Ocean Fleet a chance to destroy the Italian navy.
After the main force of the Indian Ocean Fleet left, a small fleet was left in Catania. In addition to providing fire support to the 8th Marine Division, the other task was to cut off the Strait of Messina. Therefore, in
After the main force of the fleet set out, the Oujiang heavy cruiser took two light cruisers and two destroyers to the Messina Strait in the north. Now the main forces of the Italian Navy are gathered in the Adriatic Sea, with these ships
The warships are enough to block the Strait of Messina.
Rome, the capital of Italy, has been eight days since Italy joined the Allies to declare war on the Allies and China. The Italian army launched an initial victory in the north and successfully invaded the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However,
Because the terrain of the northern mountainous areas restricted the deployment of large troops, and the arrival of reinforcements from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy's attack gradually stagnated.
However, being able to invade the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the old opponent, still made the Italians very excited. In these days, Rome has held victorious parades almost every day, even King Vittorio.
Emmanuele III made a public speech, claiming that Italy would avenge its former shame in this war, defeat the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and regain the territory of the northern region of Italy.
The king's speech made the Italians even more fanatic. Many Italians believed that they would win this battle, and regarded it as a wise move to leave Italy's allies and join the Allies.
However, when Italian Army Minister Geronimo received a telegram from Bernard and knew that Sicily was attacked by Chinese troops, he was shocked and immediately went to Prime Minister Giovanni.
Jolitti and King Vittorio.
Emmanuele III made a report.
"The Chinese landed in Sicily? What do they want to do? The great Kingdom of Italy did not take the initiative to attack them, and was particularly unhappy. He dared to provoke the Kingdom of Italy. He was simply ignorant of his life and death! Send a telegram to General Boshini to General Boshini
, asked him to throw the main force of the navy south and annihilate the Chinese navy to me, so that they can know the power of the Italian Kingdom!" Vittorio.
Emmanuele III immediately ordered that the Italian army's victory in the north had caused him to be arrogant. He even thought that under his rule, the Italian Kingdom would soon reappear in the Roman Empire's glory.
.Although the Italian Navy is not as powerful as the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet, Vittorio.
Emmanuele III seemed to regard the Italian Navy as invincible!