Chapter 251: Actions of Parties
As August approached, Napoleon III found himself in a difficult position due to insufficient pre-war preparations and logistical issues. He had initially planned to mobilize 400,000 French troops for the war against Prussia, but now had to make do with 230,000 troops in the Alsace and Lorraine regions.
On the other side of the Rhine River, the German coalition forces had more than 420,000 troops, partly due to troops transferred from the Austro-Prussian border. This exceeded the historical count by more than 40,000 troops.
Napoleon III had divided his forces into two offensive corps and a reserve corps. The Rhine Army, with 128,000 troops, was the main force under Napoleon III's personal command and was stationed near Metz. The Charon Legion, commanded by General McMahon, had less than 40,000 troops and was located near Strasbourg. The reserve corps remained in place.
The goal of the French army was to capture Frankfurt, which was more than 200 kilometers northeast of Metz. By taking Frankfurt, they aimed to separate North and South Germany, force the southern German states into neutrality, and weaken Prussia.
Marshal Bazin expressed concern about facing nearly twice as many enemy troops, but Napoleon III remained resolute, emphasizing the bravery and strength of French soldiers.
Meanwhile, in the Prussian camp, Field Marshal Moltke discussed the French offensive plan with Prussian generals. Moltke believed that France's goal was to cut off the connection between Prussia and the South German region by occupying Frankfurt. He advised avoiding direct combat with the French army and retreating to favorable positions to drain the morale of the French forces.
In East Africa, the war of conquest was progressing slowly due to logistical challenges. The newly occupied Zambia region lacked food production, so supplies had to be sent from the rear. Despite the slow progress, the campaign remained stable.
In Rome, the Austro-Hungarian envoy discussed the French withdrawal from Rome with local authorities. With the French troops evacuating, they planned to persuade the Pope to sign an agreement with Austria. The envoy believed that Italy would react anxiously to such a move, strengthening its troops in Venice. Austria aimed to use this situation to its advantage, eventually intervening in Italy as the defender of peace and order.
The envoy intended to meet with the Pope and then announce the agreement, knowing that Italy's response would likely escalate the situation. Austria planned to exploit this to its benefit when the time was right.
The complex web of military and diplomatic maneuvers continued as both sides prepared for the impending conflict.