The French Air Force suffered devastating losses, prompting Marshal Joffre to abandon any aspirations of contesting air superiority with the Germans. Given the staggering casualty ratio, even the complete commitment of the French air forces would unlikely suffice to challenge the Germans.
With the interference of the French Air Force eliminated, the German aviation units devoted themselves wholeheartedly to bombarding the French positions. By the evening of March 31, the lengthy French defensive line, stretching for one hundred kilometers, had been thoroughly plowed by German shells and bombs. The entire front was left in ruins, with scarcely a section remaining intact. Trenches lay collapsed, and barbed wire was strewn haphazardly. Many of the mines buried earlier had also been detonated by the bombardment, rendering them ineffective for the ensuing battle. The French strongpoints constructed along the line had been decimated, and even the most fortified gun emplacements had not escaped the onslaught. On this day alone, casualties among the Allied forces reached into the tens of thousands.
This was precisely why the Allied forces had withdrawn their main troops from the front lines at the onset of the battle. Otherwise, their losses would surely have multiplied.
"The results are satisfactory; the Allied defenses are in tatters. Even if they attempt to hastily repair them tonight, a solid defense will be unattainable. A further hour of bombardment tomorrow morning, and we shall be poised to launch our attack. Generals Bilo, Haussen, Your Grace, the outcome rests in your hands tomorrow!" QinTian declared.
"Yes, Your Highness," the three corps commanders replied in unison.
After an entire day of relentless bombardment, the Germans had nearly obliterated the Allied defenses. This significantly eased the pressure for the forthcoming assault. Without a doubt, troop casualties would be effectively controlled. Hence, Generals Bilo and others were highly satisfied.
Of course, the German artillerymen were utterly exhausted from the day's exertions. The pilots, too, were fatigued from continuous operations. Yet, after a night of rest, they would be required to resume fighting. They could not afford to relax until the Germans had successfully breached the Allied Marne River defenses.
"Your Highness, the positions of the Allied forces across the river are nearly destroyed. Tomorrow, we shall undoubtedly cross the Marne and breach their defenses," Duke of Württemberg remarked.
"Indeed, yet we must not grow complacent. After all, there are over a million Allied soldiers on the opposite bank," QinTian acknowledged with a nod.
Had he faced over a million Russian troops, QinTian would have felt little trepidation. However, the strength of the Allied forces was far greater than that of the Russians.
"Yes, Your Highness," Duke of Württemberg responded, though his expression indicated a lack of concern. Not only was he the commander of the German Fourth Corps, but he was also the Grand Duke of Württemberg, a position of significant power within the German Empire. Even Kaiser Wilhelm II treated him with utmost respect. In his eyes, QinTian, as the heir to the empire, was merely a junior figure, and the Duke harbored little respect for his appointment as commander on the Western Front. Nevertheless, given QinTian's current status, the Duke would refrain from offending him. Their close relationship with the Crown Prince Wilhelm was a well-known fact.
"Everyone, be prepared! Tomorrow's battle will be our true test," QinTian asserted.
"Yes, Your Highness."
April 1 marked April Fool's Day. However, amidst the war, the participants were preoccupied with more pressing concerns than this trivial holiday. Both sides eagerly anticipated the chance to vanquish their opponent.
At dawn, the Germans observed that the Allied positions across the river had been hastily repaired. However, compared to the previously robust fortifications, these makeshift defenses constructed overnight were decidedly inferior. Surely, the Allied soldiers had not even slept that night!
At 8 AM, the German artillery began to bombard once more. Over five thousand cannons unleashed a torrent of shells upon the Allied positions. Those defenses, which had been painstakingly rebuilt, were once again obliterated under the German onslaught. How many Allied soldiers would curse the Germans for this devastation?
Everyone knew that after the intense bombardment of the previous day, an attack from the Germans was imminent. The destruction of their fortifications left the Allied forces vulnerable to a German assault.
"Oh God! What do those damned Germans intend? Will they reduce our positions to rubble once again?" Even Marshal Joffre could not contain his ire, illustrating the tremendous losses inflicted by the Germans' relentless bombardment.
"Order all frontline units to prepare for battle. This time, the German artillery will surely not last long," Joffre commanded.
After all, a bombardment of such intensity as yesterday's would lead to a catastrophic expenditure of shells. Joffre did not believe the Germans could possibly stockpile that many munitions. Moreover, they could not afford to deplete their entire supply at the onset of battle. If they did, how could they sustain the subsequent engagements? Furthermore, the artillery could not maintain such a high rate of fire indefinitely.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
In reality, even without Marshal Joffre's orders, the frontline commanders of the Allies were already acutely aware that an attack from the Germans was likely today. Therefore, they had been preparing for battle since dawn.
Despite their fortifications being rendered useless and their soldiers thoroughly exhausted, they remained confident in their ability to withstand the German assault. After all, the presence of the Marne River meant that the Germans would have to cross it to engage them. The several dozen meters of river would require a significant amount of time to navigate. This interval would provide the Allies an opportunity to unleash their firepower and inflict severe casualties upon the Germans, possibly even turning the river's waters red with their blood.
The German bombardment continued, the artillerymen laboring to send shell after shell crashing down upon the Allied positions.
On the German frontline, infantry had already enjoyed breakfast and were resting. The quartermasters had distributed ammunition, and it would soon be time for them to launch their assault.
Meanwhile, the four air squadrons of the Germans were prepared for takeoff, ready to provide aerial support for the advancing infantry.