"General Allenby, do you truly believe the Germans will abandon their assault on Paris because of this?" General Despeyre expressed skepticism. After all, the so-called pressure of international opinion was a nebulous concept, trivial compared to the outcome of a war. The notion of compelling the Germans to forsake their strategic objectives through international sentiment seemed utterly absurd.
"General Despeyre, such a possibility should not be dismissed. The Germans have long aspired to supplant the empires and assert themselves as world leaders. If we tarnish their reputation, how can they hope to lead the globe? In order to protect their standing, the Germans will undoubtedly deliberate carefully. Of course, if they truly care nothing for such hollow accolades, that cannot be helped. However, I believe the likelihood of their falling for this ruse is considerable. After all, their minds function like precision instruments—capable in scientific endeavors, yet perhaps ill-equipped for matters of perception," General Allenby confidently remarked.
General Gallieni nodded in agreement. "If the Germans truly exercise caution in their assault on Paris, it would be fortuitous indeed. This would allow us to inflict substantial losses upon them in the city. We shall emerge victorious in this war, and the Germans will forfeit their chance to defeat the French Republic."
The commanders of the British and French forces began to drift into daydreams of glory.
Yet, they would soon realize the depth of their miscalculations. As the German Crown Prince, Qin Tian was wholly indifferent to the so-called international opinion. His primary concern was whether the German forces could achieve victory with minimal cost, and that alone mattered to him. Everything else was inconsequential.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
When the explosions echoed, the three men in the office froze, their expressions turning to stone. Particularly, General Allenby, once so confident in asserting that the Germans would never attack Paris, now stood stunned, as if a slap had rendered him a statue.
"My God! How can this be? How could the Germans possibly open fire? Do they wish to be reviled by the entire world?" General Allenby murmured, clearly unable to grasp that the Germans dared to bombard the city. This was Paris—a world cultural capital! Did the Germans not fear the ruin of its beauty and the consequent international condemnation?
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The relentless explosions continued, confirming the dreadful reality. General Allenby's face paled, realizing he had brought disgrace upon himself.
General Gallieni and General Despeyre shared equally grim expressions. They recognized that should the Germans launch a full-scale assault on Paris, their mere 500,000 troops would be utterly insufficient. This was precisely why they had rallied to support Allenby's plan, coordinating with headquarters and the government, and creating a show of force with the British.
However, they had not anticipated that their efforts would be in vain. The Germans disregarded any notion of pressure and continued their offensive, employing heavy artillery without hesitation.
"What shall we do now?" Despeyre's eyes flickered with fear.
Clearly, Despeyre believed that the Germans, having launched their assault without restraint, would overwhelm them. The notion of relying solely on their strength to resist the Germans was utterly impossible.
"We must rely on ourselves now. Order all troops to prepare for battle," General Gallieni said, his face resolute.
Suddenly, an even more intense barrage erupted, as if the very earth trembled beneath the onslaught.
"Damn it! The Germans are not only using heavy artillery but also aircraft. Do they truly intend to reduce Paris to rubble?" General Gallieni's expression shifted drastically.
"Barbarians! The German Crown Prince is nothing but a savage. Does he not comprehend the significance of Paris? Employing heavy artillery and aircraft against it is utterly despicable!" General Allenby cursed vehemently.
Yet, it was too late for such words. The Germans had made their intentions abundantly clear through their actions: they were unyielding, intent on seizing Paris by any means necessary.
The sight of their capital being ravaged by German artillery and bombardments left both General Gallieni and General Despeyre with a profound sense of unease. However, they had no alternative. With the Germans already advancing, their only course was to resist with all their might. There were no other options.
The German bombardment of Paris left both the French and British governments reeling. They had hoped to leverage Paris's cultural standing to undermine the Germans, but had not anticipated such a blatant assault. The once-glorious city was rapidly transforming into ruins under the relentless German assault.
"The actions of the Germans are nothing short of barbaric. They are desecrating a world-renowned cultural jewel and destroying humanity's artistic treasures! The world must condemn the Germans. Even if they achieve victory in this war, their ruthless behavior is unacceptable to all. The French Republic will never yield to the Germans; we will continue to fight. One day, we will repay the Germans for their atrocities in Paris tenfold."
French President Poincaré delivered a radio address condemning the German bombardment of Paris and urging his fellow citizens to persist in the fight.
Simultaneously, the British government issued a similar statement, vehemently denouncing the Germans for their destruction of cultural heritage.
The neutral United States also commented on the matter, deeming the German actions inappropriate. However, as a neutral entity, they were careful not to offend Germany with overly harsh rhetoric.