May 8 was a day marked with anticipation, as it was the date set by the General Staff for a significant military exercise. King Carol I, accompanied by Edel, arrived at the exercise headquarters where they were warmly received. Chief of Staff Preeshan, the Secretary of the Army, senior military officials, and members of the German advisory group were all present to greet the king and his entourage at the entrance.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," said the assembly, to which King Carol I responded with a gracious wave before the group proceeded into the headquarters.
Chief of Staff Preeshan, serving as the commander-in-chief for this exercise, began by outlining the day's activities to King Carol. "Your Majesty, this exercise has been organized to test the effectiveness of the recent army reorganization. We aim to provide you with a clear insight into the capabilities of the restructured forces."
"Please, elaborate on the specifics," requested King Carol I.
Preeshan nodded respectfully before continuing, "Today's scenario involves an offensive and defensive battle. The offensive is led by the Army's Fifth Division, under the command of General Bram," he said, gesturing towards a stern-looking general in his fifties who stood behind the king.
Turning to address General Bram, King Carol I remarked, "General Bram, we are eager to witness a compelling offensive display from your division today."
"Your Majesty, the Fifth Division will surely deliver an impressive performance," General Bram assured with a firm nod.
As King Carol I turned back to Preeshan, the explanation continued. "The defensive task has been assigned to the reorganized Third Division, commanded by General Midlor," Preeshan introduced another general, who also stood behind the king.
After a few words of encouragement to General Midlor, King Carol I listened attentively as Preeshan added, "The objective for today's operation is to take control of this hill," pointing at a marked hill on the map.
Once the briefing was nearly concluded, Edel addressed both commanding generals, "Generals, you may proceed to make your preparations."
Acknowledging the directive, Generals Midlor and Bram nodded and exited the headquarters to ready their troops.
Preeshan then turned to King Carol I, "Your Majesty, shall we commence the exercise?"
With a nod from the king, Preeshan signaled to his staff, and soon, the command 'exercise started' echoed across the field, promptly relayed to both divisions' headquarters.
In his command post, General Bram issued his first order, "Begin with a baseline bombardment to soften their defenses."
The frontline of the Third Division's position was soon engulfed in explosions as shells rained down, demonstrating the Fifth Division's artillery prowess. From his observation point, General Midlor watched calmly, "Let them test our defenses; hold our artillery fire for now."
King Carol I and his companions, observing from a designated point, were impressed by the accuracy of the bombardment. "General Bram's forces are well-trained; their precision is commendable," the king noted, lowering his binoculars, a sentiment echoed by his entourage.
After the initial bombardment, the staff provided casualty data: the Third Division's frontline had sustained a 5% loss in manpower and equipment.
A staff officer hurried over to relay the next phase to the king and his group, while General Bram ordered a regiment to initiate a cautious advance. Through their binoculars, the observers saw troops advancing in skirmish lines towards the enemy positions.
Despite the losses, the Third Division's remaining forces held the frontline as the Fifth Division began their tentative attack. The defenders unleashed a ferocious barrage of fire, stunning the advancing troops who had never experienced such intensity, even in simulations.
"This density of firepower is overwhelming; the Fifth Division is likely to suffer significant casualties," remarked one of the observing generals.
Indeed, the attacking regiment faced heavy losses, with 40% casualties reported before the commander wisely chose to withdraw early to minimize further damage.
"It appears we must rely primarily on artillery; their positions are too fortified for a direct assault," the Chief of Staff observed. "Focus the attack: reserve two bases of shells, target the right flank where the terrain is more favorable, and push three regiments to breach their lines."
General Bram, decisive as ever, adjusted his tactics accordingly. The artillery barrage resumed with renewed vigor, targeting the identified weak point. Observing the incoming fire, General Midlor ordered a counter-barrage and reinforced the threatened sector with additional troops.
The battle escalated as both sides maneuvered and counter-maneuvered. General Bram directed two battalions to suppress enemy artillery and support the infantry assault. When the right-wing commander sensed the escalating threat, he too called for reinforcements.
"The assault has begun!" shouted a staff officer as the three regiments surged forward amidst heavy casualties. "Order the reserves to push through; cease artillery fire on their reinforcements," commanded General Bram.
Back at the Third Division's headquarters, General Midlor was also issuing commands, "Intercept their reserves with our artillery."
The right flank became a fierce battleground, but eventually, the Fifth Division, leveraging their numerical superiority, managed to capture the position.
Reviewing the casualty reports post-assault, the Chief of Staff expressed concern, "The losses are substantial, aren't they?" The initial attacking regiments had suffered 50% casualties, the reserves faced a third losses from counter-artillery, and the probing regiment had lost 40%, with similar losses among their artillery units. In total, the division faced nearly 40% casualties.
"If securing the first line costs us 40%, how will we manage the second?" pondered the deputy commander. Under the exercise rules, exceeding 70% casualties would deem the offensive a failure. With heavy hearts, General Bram resolved, "We have no choice but to commit the entire division. Continue with the artillery, but let's also join the assault directly."
Meanwhile, General Midlor reviewed his own forces' status. "Left-wing positions have taken 60% casualties, the reinforcement regiment 30%, and the right-wing positions are largely intact. Artillery losses stand at a third, with total divisional casualties at 20%," he noted with satisfaction, directing the first-line troops to reinforce the second line, anticipating another aggressive move by General Bram.
As Bram ordered a full-scale assault, Midlor responded with vigorous artillery fire. The battle intensified as Bram's remaining forces, including a flank attack by a depleted regiment, pressed on.
"I knew you wouldn't play it straight; reinforce immediately," Midlor commanded with a smirk as he deployed his reserves.
Ultimately, the exercise concluded with the Fifth Division incurring 70% casualties, while the Third Division successfully defended with 30% losses.
"Thank you both for a remarkable demonstration," King Carol I commended the commanders post-exercise.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for observing our maneuvers," the generals responded.
Looking forward to the next day, King Carol I expressed his hopes for another thrilling exercise, to which Commander-in-Chief Preeshan assured, "Tomorrow will indeed be more exhilarating, Your Majesty."
As the two armies swapped roles for a new round of offensive and defensive exercises, the atmosphere at the offensive headquarters buzzed with strategic planning. General Midrol, the commander of the Third Division, was at the helm of the operations. "Deploy 75 artillery units for a covering barrage on the front-line positions, focusing on the right flank," he instructed. "Have the 105 artillery on standby for any counterattack. The first regiment will move in once we have fire coverage."
As the orders were carried out, artillery shells arced through the sky, landing on the designated defensive positions. The exercise staff meticulously observed the impacts, calculating the simulated losses at the front line.
"Our artillery caliber is smaller compared to the Third Division's; we can't match their firepower in a counter-barrage," General Bram noted to his staff at the defensive headquarters after reviewing the front-line situation. The exercise command, closely monitoring the shelling, commented, "This performance is on par with yesterday's Fifth Division. Midrol is proving quite capable."
When the shelling subsided, the exercise staff reported the calculated damages. "The front-line position has lost 7 percent of its combat effectiveness," they announced. A general inquired, "Why is it more than the Fifth Division's losses yesterday?" The staff explained, "The Third Division has more artillery units than the Fifth, and the Fifth had a larger number of troops on the front line, totaling three regiments."
Observing the end of the artillery barrage, General Midrol ordered a probing attack. As the troops spread out before the defensive lines, gunfire erupted. The Third Division, reorganized and robust, demonstrated superior firepower, employing Madsen light machine guns and Maxim heavy machine guns effectively. The firepower advantage was clear, impressing everyone at the exercise headquarters. "Let them retreat," Midrol commanded after a brief engagement, and the probing regiment withdrew.
The exercise staff reported the simulated losses: the defenders had a hundred losses, and the attackers suffered a 15% loss. This was surprising to the observers, given the disparity in numbers between the defending and attacking forces. "It appears that the reorganization has significantly enhanced our army's offensive capabilities," remarked the old king, echoing the sentiments of those present.
Continuing their observation, someone noted, "The first line is manned by three regiments, so should we have at least one regiment in the second line? Does General Bram have one or two regiments ready?" General Midrol, confident in his lower officers' improved combat skills, ordered an intensified artillery barrage on the right flank and directed three regiments to mount a swift assault.
As the bombardment resumed, General Bram responded by redirecting artillery fire against the attacking units and bolstered the front line with two additional regiments. His chief of staff expressed concern that this might not suffice to repel a deep assault, but Bram was resolute. "Without these reinforcements, we'll definitely lose our defensive position. Their firepower is overwhelming, and if we retreat to the second line under such pressure, it too will collapse."
The battle intensified as the Third Division's regiments neared their objectives, with artillery from both sides contributing to the chaos. Seeing the reinforcements arriving for the defense, General Midrol pushed his final regiment forward, instructing his artillery to intercept the reinforcements. It was clear that Midrol was aiming for a decisive breakthrough.
The frontline combat was fierce, with both sides exchanging heavy blows. Eventually, the Third Division's regiments, bolstered by the last-minute reinforcements, breached the defensive lines. The defenders, outnumbered and outgunned, began to fall back steadily.
Seizing the moment, General Midrol ordered his regiments to press on without pause, advancing toward the second line. The defenders at the second line faced a dire situation as the attackers followed closely behind the retreating forces, eventually leading to the Fifth Division's failure to hold their ground against the Third Division's relentless assault.
In the subsequent maneuvers, the Third Division continued to excel, reaching the designated points swiftly and completing the exercise with commendable logistical support. This performance left the king and the military leadership highly satisfied, though they noted the high cost of the operations.
At the post-exercise debriefing, the Chief of Staff, Preeshan, addressed the gathered military officials. "While we are generally pleased with the exercise outcomes, we must acknowledge certain shortcomings. Our division-level firepower in attacking fortified positions proved insufficient," he noted, hinting at potential enhancements to artillery capabilities. Preeshan also emphasized the need for improved coordination and logistics training, pointing out the significantly higher ammunition consumption by the reorganized divisions compared to their unreorganized counterparts.
After the meeting, Edel, concerned about the practical aspects of enhancing firepower, sought out the Chief of Staff. "We are at our limit with current financial and procurement capabilities. Any significant increase in firepower is unfeasible for at least the next decade," he explained. Preeshan reassured him, emphasizing the importance of realistic outlooks and the challenges in wartime logistics, prompting Edel to consider innovative solutions for logistical support, drawing from future-generation ideas.