On the positions of the French army, numerous 75mm field guns and a few 105mm howitzers were hastily redeployed. The previous day's artillery duel and the bombardment by the German air force had inflicted severe losses on the French artillery.
Now, in an effort to bolster the front lines, they had no choice but to bring these guns back into action.
"Fire!"
At the command of the officer, the French artillery commenced their bombardment. Shell after shell rained down upon the Marne River and the German defenses along its northern bank.
"Boom! Boom!"
The shells exploded in the river, sending towering columns of water skyward. The rapid-fire advantage of the 75mm field guns became evident. Despite the heavy toll taken on the French artillery, their firepower remained formidable.
Shells continued to fall into the Marne, inevitably striking the German troops attempting to cross. Although the 75mm shells lacked overwhelming force, they were certainly more than enough to devastate wooden boats.
"Boom!"
One small vessel was struck, its hull shattering into fragments. The German soldiers aboard suffered heavy casualties as they tumbled into the river.
On the German positions, a heavy machine gun in action was hit, killing the gunner instantly and turning the weapon into scrap.
The ferocious bombardment from the French inflicted considerable losses on the Germans, while simultaneously alleviating the pressure on the Anglo-French front line, allowing the previously suppressed soldiers to raise their heads and unleash fire upon the crossing Germans, further increasing their casualties.
Observing this scene, QinTian's brow furrowed in concern.
"Order the artillery to suppress the Anglo-French forces. Where is the air support?" QinTian inquired.
"Your Highness, the air force should be arriving shortly," replied Major Manstein.
The German artillery resumed their assault on the Anglo-French forces, providing much-needed fire support for their infantry. However, it seemed that the Anglo-French gunners were also fighting for their lives, disregarding the incoming shells as they relentlessly returned fire, as if striving to unleash as many rounds as possible before succumbing to the German bombardment.
"Boom! Boom!"
Two successive 150mm shells struck the French artillery positions. The battery, equipped with six 75mm field guns, was decimated as if ravaged by a typhoon. Several guns were destroyed, and the casualties among the gunners were severe.
Meanwhile, the German air force finally arrived on the battlefield. A fleet of fighters and bombers swooped down upon the French artillery positions, with the destruction of enemy artillery always taking precedence in their targeting.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
The aircraft's machine guns raked the positions, leaving many French soldiers screaming as they fell to the ground.
The bombers descended, opening their bomb bays; ordnance cascaded like rain, instantly obliterating one of the Anglo-French artillery positions.
Despite the frantic fire from the Anglo-French anti-aircraft guns, which aimed to repel these aircraft, their efforts rarely resulted in success. The number of German planes downed by Anglo-French fire was minuscule.
Under the joint onslaught of the German artillery and air force, the Anglo-French artillery was thoroughly suppressed. Their earlier impact on the German infantry crossing the river had been minimal.
With the interference from Anglo-French artillery diminished, the German infantry crossed the river with increased speed.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
One wooden boat neared the northern bank of the Marne, but a hail of bullets turned the vessel into a sieve, causing severe casualties among the German soldiers aboard.
"Manstein, the wooden boats are woefully inadequate in defense. Next time we engage in similar operations, let us reinforce the boats with a layer of iron. We do not need them to withstand artillery fire, but if they could at least resist machine-gun fire, it would suffice." Seeing the rising toll among his troops, QinTian let out a sigh.
"Yes, Your Highness," Manstein nodded. Though complying with QinTian's suggestion would increase costs and time, it was worthwhile if it meant reducing troop casualties.
The fierce combat continued, with casualties mounting on both sides. However, the battlefield conditions indicated that the Anglo-French forces were suffering greater losses. With their firepower significantly inferior and their fortifications nearly destroyed, their ability to withstand the German assault was predictably challenging.
A German boat reached the northern bank of the Marne. As the soldiers disembarked, they were met with French gunfire. A Hotchkiss heavy machine gun unleashed a torrent of fire, turning the jumping soldiers into mere targets as they fell lifelessly onto the riverbank.
Yet, in the next moment, that very machine gun was silenced.
A German F2 fighter swooped low over the Anglo-French trenches, its machine guns blazing. In an instant, the soldiers within the trenches were shredded by the onslaught, many collapsing under the hail of bullets.
Despite the desperate efforts of the Anglo-French forces to halt the Germans' crossing of the Marne, the narrow river was not an insurmountable barrier. An increasing number of small boats surged toward the northern bank. German soldiers leapt from their vessels, taking cover on the riverbank to return fire at the Anglo-French.
However, outnumbered and at a disadvantage, they often found themselves under heavy suppression.
"Swish! Swish!"
Bullets whizzed overhead; a moment's distraction could mean a shattered skull. This was a profound test of resolve for any soldier.
Many German soldiers could only curl up, clutching their heads, praying to avoid being struck.
"Mortar team, take out that French machine gun," an officer commanded.
A mortar was swiftly set up, but before it could fire, it was met with a barrage of bullets from the French machine gun, instantly turning the mortar crew into casualties.
Nevertheless, a replacement mortar crew quickly opened fire, accurately hitting the machine gun and destroying it.
More small boats continued to reach the southern bank of the Marne, and with their own overwhelming fire support, German soldiers began to establish a foothold, engaging the Anglo-French forces in a fierce exchange of fire.
The battle raged on, a tumultuous back-and-forth, yet the horrific nature of the conflict remained unchanged. Blood flowed freely along the banks of the Marne, as both the Germans and the Anglo-French suffered devastating losses.