WesWorld

Quoted

On another positive note, Lt.General Daufresne de le Chevallerie recieves the encouraging news that Luftwaffe units have put down in Vilnius, and begun preparations to provide air support for his troop columns

Heh, a Belgian officer finding something positive about the Luftwaffe? Has the world ended in 1935?

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson

Quoted

On another positive note, Lt.General Daufresne de le Chevallerie recieves the encouraging news that Luftwaffe units have put down in Vilnius, and begun preparations to provide air support for his troop columns

Heh, a Belgian officer finding something positive about the Luftwaffe? Has the world ended in 1935?

The good General is not just a veteran of the Great War, but also an a educated man, an Olympian...he can find something positive about German warplanes being hundreds of miles from his homeland, where he will get firsthand knowledge of their capabilities and efficiency. Plus, unlike some troops, they will do what he says.


As for the Wilno forces, it looks grim, despite the field fortifications. I think Lt.General Waclaw is right in spirit, though his words could lead to further troubles.

The First Sortie: Part II

October 20th, 1935:

Lieutenant-Colonel Aleksandr Pozarnsky, commander of the WNSD Battalion Artillery Reserve commits the bulk of his available guns in a perliminary bombardment in support of the planned attack on LoN Vaskes West defensive pocket. LoN troops promptly dive for cover in their rain swept, fog enshrouded entrenchments and barricades, as explosion after explosion begins to erupt within their lines. Major-General Konarski, takes personal command of the planned attack with the 1st (Major Michal Bazala), 3rd (Major Roslan Szyborski), and 5th (Major Slawek Kosowski) NSD Wings. With some 2,700 riflemen, 500 cavalrymen and 24 guns at his disposal, Maj.General Konarski is confident that he will enjoy success in the coming battle. Unexpectedly Marshal Letowska, releases the 2nd (Major Wislaw Ladynski) NSD Wing from the reserve to assist in the assault. This swells, Konarski's attack force by a further thousand men.

Generalmajor Erik Hansen has laid out his defenses of the Vaskes West pocket like that of a triangle, anchored at three points by a heavily fortified strongpoint, each dubbed a festung or fortress by the LoN troops. The bitterly contested Festung Kessel, holds the eastern end of the pocket, while to the west, Festung Kazim holds that end of the line. The southern point of the triangle is anchored by Festung Boris. The fortified lines, improvised bunkers, entrenchements and barricades between these three points are held by German, Turkish and Bulgarian infantry, just to the left of the triangle's center rests, the fortified artillery position of Battery "Oehler", from here the guns can provide covering fire to any of the three LoN defensive pockets. Nearby in reserve is the Dutch Air Support Company "Verstappen", so placed to act as a ready response unit to any potential break throughs in the LoN front lines.

Leutnant Hans Oehler directs his artillery pieces via a system of field telephones and observers placed in key locations, this system is backed up by teams of runners. If this fails Leutnant Oehler himself runs from gun position to gun positions passing on such targets and firing data as he possesses. Leutnant Oehler has earned a reputation both amoung the LoN Garrison and the Wilno troops for handling his guns with the lightness of a pistol, and the lethal accuracy of a duelist.

Festung Kessel is subjected to a thirty minute bombardment by some twenty of Porzansky's guns, Feldwebel Pohl and his men, ready themselves knowing the Wilno infantry will begin their attack as soon as the shelling stops. They don't have to wait long, Major Kosowski, commander of the 5th NSD Wing sends his men in on the heels of the last shells. The German defenders of Festung Kessel, empty magazine after magazine into the on rushing Wilno Self-Defense men. Kosowski mercilessly drives his troops forward, clambering over their own dead and wounded, and struggling through the barbed wire, they are soon amoungst the Germans. Feldwebel Pohl and his detachment soon find themselves fighting a vicious struggle for every slit trench, building and room of Festung Kessel. Much of the fighting is a close quarters, fought with rifle, machinegun, entrenching spade and bayonet. Feldwebel Pohl, finds he and his men are badly outnumbered and threatened with being overwhelmed by the Wilno attackers at any moment. Pohl, orders his decimated unit to retreat before it is annihilated.

A party of Wilno troops quickly raise a Wilno battle flag above the shell and bullet shattered ruins of Festung Kessel, proclaiming its capture. Major Kosowski quickly moves his tactical headquarters forward into Festung Kessel and works feverishly to consolidate his position. General Hansen and Lt.Colonel Hans Jordan quickly move to retake Festung Kessel, Jordan leads three hundred of his men to retake the strongpoint, Feldwebel Pohl and his surviving men quickly join them. Unteroffizer Karl Trapp, the nearest artillery section commander, brings his three guns into action in support of Lt.Colonel Jordan's counter-attack at Leutnant Oehler's direction. One of Trapp's shells slams into Festung Kessel and blows apart the roof upon which the Wilno battle flag has been raised, sending the flag and the men holding it tumbling into flaming debris below as the roof collapses. Despite Trapp's sterling support, Jordan's attack fails, he and his men are thrown back by the Self-Defense men. For better or worse, Festung Kessel is firmly in Wilno National Self-Defense Battalion hands.

At the other end of the frontline, Festung Kazim is assaulted by the 1st NSD Wing. To General Hansen's shock and that many of his men, the strongpoint falls to Major Bazala's attack. It's Turkish defenders vowed not to leave their fortifications unless ordered out or thrown out. This stubborn resolution cost most of them their lives, as Wilno Self-Defense men manage to overrun them after much bitter fighting. Konarski has unlocked the LoN fortified northern line at both ends, the LoN pocket is suddenly in peril.

Leutnant Oehler already wounded in the arm and shoulder from the previous days fighting, is nearly killed or wounded several times as he dashes from gun pit to gun pit, giving orders and encouragement to his hardpressed gunners. Battery "Oehler's" guns have been firing almost continuously since the Wilno attack started, the men are exhausted but they keep firing as long as they have targets to aim at and ammunition to feed into the breeches of their guns. Leutnant Oehler's luck nearly runs out when while stopping to direct the firing of one of his more exposed gun position, Pozarnsky's gunners register a direct hit on the gun, obliterating it and its crew. Oehler is badly hit in the face, neck and hand as he is showered with sharpnal and debris - much of it formally human. Leutnant Oehler's fire control system is crippled by the loss of Festung Kessel and Festung Kazim, while his field telephone lines have been cut by the shelling and many of his runners killed or injured. Pausing only briefly to have his injuries dressed by a field corpsman, Leutnant Oehler stubbornly stays at his post, directing his remaining guns.

With the fall of both Festung Kazim and Festung Kessel, Konarski throws in the 3rd NSD Wing, and the Cavalry Reserve, some 1,400 men on a narrow front supported by artillery firing high explosives and smoke shells. Hansen's northern frontline between the two captured strongpoints, quickly buckles under this assault and the enflilading attacks of the 1st and 5th NSD Wings. General Hansen is faced with a potential disaster as his northern front line is in imminient danger of collapse. Hansen abruptly orders a withdrawal, and deploys his headquarters staff and escort to build a new defensive line to block the Wilno advance on Battery "Oehler", his field headquarters and the LoN Logistics Depot. Lt.Colonel Jordan seemingly everywhere at once, works furiously to make this new battle line a reality, using an ad hoc collection of Bulgarian, Turkish and German units.
Captain Jan Verstappen realizes what is happening from his position in reserve. On his own initative he readies his Air Support Company - some 200 men, and gathers 300 Turkish infantry and 60 Germans together. Captain Verstappen orders his assembled troops forward in a counter-attack. The Wilno Self-Defense men intent on running down the retreating German and Turkish troops before them are oblivious to what is happening. Vertappen orders his men to go in with the bayonet, no one is to fire until the order is given to do so, the smoke and fog blanket their advance, the Self-Defense men are stunned when without warning over five hundred LoN troops suddenly emerge from the smoke, fog and rain, in someplaces at a distance of less then twenty to thirty feet from their advancing line. Rifles suddenly blaze into the Wilno ranks, then with a great shout, the Dutchmen, Turks and Germans charge!

A chaotic swirling battle develops between the two sides, a battle of shadows and ghosts, gunshots, blades, and fists amid smoke and mist. Leutnant Oehler seeing Verstappen and his men's sudden movement personally directs three nearby guns to support, the counter-attack. Gunners prolong the guns forward from their gun pits by hand. Firing practically on open sights, the three guns hurl shell after shell into the milling Wilno ranks. Oehler and his gunners repel several Wilno attempts to capture their guns with carbines and grenades. For some minutes it is not clear who is winning, the LoN troops are outnumbered by they fight with desperate ferocity, slowly pushing the oncoming Wilno troops back. Abruptly both sides recoil from the fight. The Wilno Self-Defense men begin a unordered retreat, Major Szyborski to his dismay finds he cannot stop his men. They fall back in some disorder, towards the Vaskes West pocket's former front line. Only here does Szyborski with the aid of Majors Bazala and Kosowski and elements of their wings finally manage to halt his fleeing troops. A wounded Captain Verstappen orders his own men to begin falling back towards the newly forming defensive line, at the cost of some two-hundred and thirty of his force of five hundred and sixty, Verstappen has bought General Hansen the time he needed to stablize the ruptured LoN front.

Although Hansen's withdrawl means that the Vaskes Air Field has been abandoned, Verstappen's gallant counter-attack has resulted in the Wilno failing to capture it. The air field becomes a sort of no man's land lying between the LoN new northern front line in the Vaskes West pocket and the Wilno held former frontline between Festungs Kazim and Kessel. Maj.General Konarski calls off any further attacks for the day, while not totally satisfied with the results he has obtained, Konarski feels much progress has been made. Majors Bazala, Szyborski and Kosowski request time to consolidate their positions before hazarding another assault. They need time to sort out their casualties and bring up more ammunition. Lt.Colonel Pozarnsky, for his part begins withdrawing some of his artillery to support other operations.

Maj.General Ziven Konarski is furious to discover that the 2nd NSD Wing failed to attack as planned, although it's delayed arrival was expected given it's need to reposition itself to the west of the LoN lines, between Festung Kazim and Festung Boris. Only one company on the incentive of it's commander, Captain Maximilian Bryzska attacked. Bryzska's singular effort materially aided the 1st NSD Wing in it's capture of Festung Kazim. Konarski promptly relieves Major Wislaw Ladynski of command of the 2nd Wing, and orders a newly promoted Major Bryzska to take his place. An incendecent with rage Marshal Letowska goes one better then Konarski and has Major Ladynski shot for dereliction! This action has the desired result when word of it gets round - "Better to attack and fail, then to fail to attack" becomes many a Wilno Self-Defense officers watch word.

October 21st, 1935:

Major Josef Goclawski, commander of the 6th NSD Wing advances cautiously upon the League of Nations Field Hospital. Suported by four of Pozarnsky`s guns he is confident of achieving the success that had eluded Major Guttowa and his successor Major Tobias Ujejski in the 4th NSD Wing, in it`s attempt to beseige the Field Hospital. Major Goclawski intends a more measured approach then the half-cocked and spur of the moment assaults that helped maul the 4th Wing and get Major Guttowa killed.

Almost immediately however Colonel Todor Krstev and the Bulgarian, Belgian, Dutch and Civil Watch volunteers of his command begin to frustrate this plan. Teams of men from the 99th Royal Bulgarian Infantry Battalion infiltrate the surrounding streets and buildings and begin a vicious sniping war with the advancing Wilno Self-Defense men, precious time, men and above all ammunition is wasted clearing the area - house by house, street by street. Several sharp sorties by the armoured cars of the 4th Turkish Armoured Car Company further complicate things, resulting in only a partial encirclement of the Field Hospital. Goclawski finds his men are sent flying every time the Turkish armoured cars emerge spitting automatic cannon and machine gun shells from the lines of the Vaskes Central pocket to keep open the lines of communications between the two LoN Pockets.

Groclawski frustrated by these developments throws in a major attack against the Field Hospital using nearly half his Wing. The Bulgarian infantrymen contest this attack every step of the way as they fall back upon the Field Hospital. Fire directed by the Dutch and Belgians of the Engineering Company and the Combined Motor Transport Company lining the Field Hospital`s barricaded walls, towers and turrets, halts the Wilno attack dead in it`s tracks before it can even reach the gates. Major Groclawski is furious as he watches his assault reel back towards it`s starting lines. So far, the Second Siege of the Field Hospital is not - from a Wilno perspective - off to a promising start. Groclawski orders his men to picket the area around the Field Hospital and summons his staff and the artillery commander attached to his command by Lt.Colonel Porzansky, the 6th NSD Wing`s next assault will be a different affair.

October 22rd, 1935:

Kirszenstein reaches the Wilno Army of the South, still making its way northward towards Vaskes, while dodging LoN patrols. Kirszenstein appraises Major-General Jan Poltawska, the acting army commander (following the arrest of Lt.General Bogdan Kawecha, on Lt.General Tadeusz Waclaw's orders a day prior to Waclaw's coup attempt) of the unfortunate developments for the attempted anti-Letowska revolt. Maj.General Poltawska, shaken by the news although not totally surprised by it, immediately called a council of war to discuss the news and what options the Army of the South had in light of events. The Wilno Army of the South, organized as the Wilno Republican Army's 5th, 6th and 7th Field Battalions and 2nd Army Reserve Artillery Battalion, commanded by Maj.Generals Walery Koziol, Bartosz Koswicz, Patryk Jendroska and Lt.Colonel Amalrich Eliszewski respectively. Minus its detachment to safe-guard the Adomas Line - the 2nd Rifle Battalion (1,500 men) and a battery of artillery (6 guns) under Maj.General Ambrozy Lewandowska - fielded some 5,000 men and 24 pieces of artillery, all fairly reasonable equiped and supplied (at least by Wilno standards). Kirszenstein explained to the dismayed pro-Waclaw officers that while this would be a welcome addition to the 2,700 men Lt.General Tadeusz Waclaw still fielded, Marshal Letowska's forces enjoyed a considerable local advantage over the rebels in both in sheer numbers - at least 9,000 riflemen, 500 cavalrymen and an estimated 40 artillery pieces - and more importantly in available military logisitics. The immediate recall of Maj.General Lewandowska's detachment in the Adomas Line to join the Army of the South merely added perhaps in total another 1,500 men and 6 more artillery pieces. To further complicate matters, Kirszenstein informed the officers of the Army of the South, that the Army of the Northeast under Lt.General Bartold Jasunski had marched from it's encampments in the Amantas Line in support of Letowska's regime. Which meant that Letowska and Konarski could at the least count another 6,000 men and 24 artillery pieces into their order of battle, a bit more if Jasunski made no detachments to defend the Amantas Line.

Essentially Kirszenstein warned them, if the Army of the South marched on Vaskes, they would do so alone, as the troops immediately under Lt.General Waclaw were simply too beleaguered and battered by their failed attempt to topple Marshal Letowska's government to be counted on. This is sobering news for the assembled Generals of the Army of the South, having been largely out of contact with events for the last few days it comes as a shattering blow to their hopes and morale. They are even more shocked when Kirszenstein imforms them that Marshal Letowska's National Self-Defense Battalion has begun combat operations against the LoN troops stationed in Vaskes. Their reaction to this bombshell is one of stunned disbelief, they cannot believe that Marshal Letowska or Maj.General Konarski would do something so stupid.

Dispite the disheartening news of Lt.General Waclaw's defeat in Vaskes and General-Secretary Kirszenstein's similar defeat in the countryside, and of Letowska's virtual declaration of war against the soldiers of the League of Nations task force, there is some heated argument amoung the army officers for the Army of the South continuing on to Vaskes to launch a second attack upon the Letowska Regime, either on it's own or in conjunction with the Vaskes Attack Force survivors if one more effort can be called forth from them. Kirszenstein comments that Lt.General Waclaw, and himself view such an idea as a useless gesture, without hope of positive result - at least in the present circumstances. Vaskes is - except those parts in LoN hands - firmly in WNSD Battalion hands and thus so is what remains of the Wilno Republic.

Maj.General Koziol councils that the Army of the South disband and seek internment in Poland, as the prospects for the Wilno Republic (and their own) seem rather dim, Marshal Letowska would almost certainly have put out orders for all of the officers and men of the Army of the South's arrest and probably execution for treason. Nor would the League of Nations troops be particularly receptive to the idea of a large number of armed Wilno Republican Army troops just wandering about the country.Maj.General Jendroska argues that the men of the army should go to ground throughout the surrounding countryside and wage a guerilla war against the WNSD troops or the LoN troops (whichever emerges the winner in the fighting in Vaskes) over the winter with such equipment as they have. Maj.General Koswicz agrees that going to ground and keeping the Army of the South is the best course of action, but further argues that a guerilla war is a waste of time - at least for the present - far more important to hide in the forests and hills and wait for better days and at least keep an 'army in being' for the future of the Wilno Republic .

Maj.General Poltawska decided to put the matter to a vote of conscience as Waclaw had given no definite orders. Koziol for his part will take his men over the border and try their luck seeking asylum in Poland, wants no further part in any wild military schemes. Jendroska, Koswicz, and Eliszewski come to agreement on a plan to disburse their troops and go into hiding over the winter, they will see how things fair by spring time in the coming year. If things go wrong, they argue, Lt.General Waclaw and General-Secretary Kirszenstein can establish some sort of government-in-exile on foreign soil, and their troops could be used to form the nucleus of a Home Army, while the Attack Force survivors and Koziol's field battalion could be fashioned into a Wilno Army-in-exile. Kirszenstein agrees to relay these ideas and the generals decisions this to Lt.General Waclaw. Before taking his leave of the Army of the South, Kirszenstein, asks what Maj.General Poltawska himself intends to do - Poltawska remarks somewhat off handedly, he hadn't decided, yet. Poltawska informs the General-Secretary that he feels duty bound to inform the troops he left behind in Adomas of events and to give them a choice of fates before deciding upon his own course of action.

October 23rd, 1935:

Maj.General Walery Koziol, cautiously crosses the Wilno-Polish border just before dawn, with the 5th Field Battalion/Wilno Army of the South. Maj.General Koziol promptly surrenders himself and his command to the first Polish offical he can locate.

One very bemused Polish Border Guard, Sgt. Ignacy Kotowski, suddenly discovers himself taking one major-general, 1,500 armed Wilno Republican soldiers and two mascot cats named Kitsi and Pixie into custody. Maj.General Koziol instructs his weary troops to stack arms and furl their battle flags for the last time as they await the Polish Government's reaction to a request for political asylum.

Looks like the Turks and Germans were hit particularily hard, only to hit back harder, thanks to Vertappen's timely initiative.

Yep. Looks like Oehler and Pohl, and a number of their men, are in line for Iron Crosses. Who knows, Verstappen might be as well.

The other question is whether the various LoN columns marching across WIlno have reached their destinations or not. Berlin's 1st was supposed to reach Adomas on the 21st or 22nd, for instance, and tje two columns heading to Vaskes were expected to get there on the 22nd or 23rd......

On being made aware of the fact that their are Polish-Lithuanian soldiers upon Polish soil who wish asylum, General Sikorski sends the following orders to Field Marshal Rydz-Smigly, Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army:

Marshal, any Polish-Lithuanians crossing into Poland are to be treated as such:

If they appear to be non-hostile, and surrender when the order is given, they are to be housed in temporary housing to be built immediatley at various sights along the Polish/Lithuanian border. Ensure that they are well-fed, and generally well-cared for, and allow the Red Cross access to them to pass mail along, as well as ensure basic medical needs are taken care of. Also paste this notice at every temporay camp:

"Gentlemen, you have fought a good fight against Marshal Letowska. Any who wish to return are free to go, and will be escorted to the Polish/Lithuanian border. However, if any soldiers wish to seek political asylum from Lithuania, and begin a new life here in Poland, the Polish government welcomes you as Polish citizens. The Polish Government would at this time like to assure you that it will take whatever steps necessary to ensure you and your families remain safe from any future retribution, by Mad Marshal Letowska."

General Sikorski, Prime Minister of Poland.

If they are hostile, however, and fire upon our troops, treat them as an invading army. Any prisioner are to be treated as Prisioners of War, according to the Geneva Convention.

General Sikorski, Prime Minister of Poland.

The First Sortie: Part III

October 20th, 1935:

While Major-General Ziven Zonarski manages the assault on Vaskes West, Lieutnant-Colonel Benedak Koberba, his chief-of-staff attends to the direction of the attack on Vaskes Central. The 7th (Major Jerzy Liszcz) NSD Wing and the 8th (Major Danilo Michalak) NSD Wing, supported by sixteen guns of the Artillery Reserve, wait until they are sure that the 1st, 3rd and 5th NSD Wings attacks are in progress before starting their own. Lt.Colonel Koberba hopes that the LoN defenders of the Vaskes Central pocket will be distracted by what is happening to the west of them, and not be ready for the blow that is about to fall upon them. Koberba couldn't be more wrong.

General Kazim Orbay, woken from a exhausted sleep by the artillery barrage to the west, orders Lt.Colonel Gurdal to send his troops to full alert. Both Orbay and Gurdal suspect that the WNSD Battalion will launch at least spoiling attacks on the various League of Nations defensive positions, although Orbay and his staff are as yet unsure which of them will be the object of the Wilno Self-Defense men's main effort. The crews of the 4th Turkish Armoured Car Company quickly ready their mounts for action, check on fuel and ammo, and wait for orders to counter-attack. Likewise the men of the 6th and 8th Battalions of the Civil Watch Corps and the LoN Combined Staff Battalion read themselves in their trenches, fortified buildings and timber and rubble bunkers, hands on weapons, machinegun crews fiddle with magazines, drums and belts. General Orbay, moves amoung his troops offering a calm, dignified example to his anxious troops. Lt.Colonel Halil Gurdal, likewise prowls the Vaskes Central pocket's perimeter checking on men and scanning the surrounding streets and buildings, Gurdal is in a restless mood, he senses trouble.

Suddenly an artillery shell screams overhead. Lt.Colonel Gurdal orders troops nearby into cover, seconds later a second, then a third shell scream through the air, crashing down amid the fortified positions of Vaskes Central. Gurdal quickly estimates that somewhere between a dozen and two dozen guns are bombarding his perimeter. Gurdal doesn't think this is a mere probing or spoiling attack - this is a serious effort. Gurdal quickly runs back to LoN headquarters and warns General Orbay, who himself has just arrived of what he thinks is developing. Orbay agrees, although he points out Vaskes West has come under serious attack, so it possible that the Wilno are prepared to risk the problems of attacking two defensive pockets similtaneously.

Lt.Colonel Koberba, waits fourty-five minutes for the artillery bombardment to have some effect on the LoN troops, then orders Major Liszcz to commense his attack. Despite the risk to his own troops, Liszcz requests that the guns maintain their bombardment of Vaskes Central. Koberba although worried passes the request on to Lt.Colonel Porzansky, who agrees. Jerzy Liszcz, a frontline officer from the begining of the insurrection has no intention of taking a backseat while directing his men in action, puts himself at the head of his first assault parties. The 7th NSD Wing's assault hits the defensive front held by the LoN Combined Staff Battalion, which responds with a weak and sporadic fire, then buckles under the Wilno Self-Defense men's first charge. Captain Ivar Kiril Yakov, the Combined Staff Battalion's commander, a grizzled, bearded white-haired Royal Bulgarian Army veteran of the Great War with the physical build of a bear and a voice like a fog horn is having none of it, he bullies, cajoles and terrorizes his shaken collection of military secretaries, clerks and accountants into a counter-attack. Meeting Liszcz's mass of troops head on amid the defensive works, a furious fight breaks out as the Wilno troops try to force their way into the perimeter, and the LoN staffers try and throw them out.

Captain Yakov runs straight into Major Liszcz, whirling a sword around like some figure from another era. Self-Defense men scatter before Yakov,those who aren't fast enough wind up on the wrong end of Yakov's razor sharp blade. Liszcz angrily shouts for them to stand their ground, none pay him any attention - no one in their right mind wants to get anywhere near the mad Bulgarian. Next thing a startled Major Liszcz realises, that sword is whistling at his head, which he narrowly blocks with his bayoneted rifle. Yakov shouting a choice line of Bulgarian obscenities cannons into Liszcz sending him flying. Liszcz quickly scrambles up, only to find he has lost his rifle, and he's surrounded by the muzzles of a half-dozen of Yakov's men's rifles. Cursing Liszcz starts to raise his hands in surrender - while a brave soldier, he's not a stupid man and has no desire to be riddled with bullets just for the hell of it. Yakov suddenly yells for the men to dive for cover, several shells shriek through the buildings - who's side they belong too isn't quite clear or at this particularly moment relevent - and explode amoungst the LoN and Wilno troops. Two of Major Liszcz's would be captors fall dead, killed by shrapnal. Liszcz makes a frantic dash for his own men, bullets fly around him like angry bees! Luck is with Major Jerzey Liszcz this day, he makes it to cover amidst his own men.

This however is the only break Major Liszcz and the men of the 7th NSD Wing receive today. Their inital assault had allowed them to break into the LoN Combined Staff Battalion's lines but not ultimately and more importantly break out. The 7th Wing finds it cannot move forward, nor at this moment, pinned down and in place by an increasingly ferocious fire from Yakov's men, can they safely move back. Lt.Colonel Koberba is told of the developing situation at his headquarters, scanning the maps, he orders he advises, Major Michalak to commense his attack, Koberba hopes this will relieve pressure on Liszcz and hopefully allow him to push forward deeper into the Vaskes Central pocket. The 8th NSD Wing goes in, as ordered and strikes the positions of the 6th Battalion/Civil Watch Corps.

All hell breaks loose as these two forces begin fighting. Many of Captain Bayran Coskun's men, while nominally Wilno citizens bear the WNSD Battalion a marked, unreasoning and bitter hatred, many who joined the ranks of the LoN sponsered Wilno Civil Watch Corps had personally suffered or had their families and friends suffer at the hands of the Letowska or Civil Guards, who make up much of the ranks of the WNSD formations. The feeling on the other side is mutal, the Wilno Self-Defense men regard, the Civil Watch Corpsmen as traitors and deserters. No quarter is given or asked for by both sides as they struggle with increasing violence along the perimeter.

General Orbay, observing the heavy fighting and expecting another Wilno assault at any minute, asks Captain Coskun by runner if the 6th Battalion can hold without assistance. Coskun, leading his hard fighting men very much from the front, his left cheek shattered by a bullet, and his eye and ear on the same side badly lacerated by a bayonet thrust remarks in his response: "I am minus a cheek bone and one ear, but can still whip all hell yet - these devils are nothing compared to mine."

Oberleutnant Werner Insenhoffer, CO - 8th Battalion/Civil Watch Corps, without orders leads several platoons of his command forward with dispatch to reinforce both Captains Yakov and Coskun's struggling battalions. The extra men are welcomed by both and quickly used to help shore up the fractured perimeter. The arrival of these Civil Watch men in the frontline, quickly heralds even more fierce and extremely bloody fighting between LoN and Wilno troops. Majors Liszcz and Michalak report to Lt.Colonel Koberba, that their assaults have been stymied, particularly Liszcz's which is awkwardly lodged in the heart of the LoN Combined Staff Battalion's defensive area. Further Liszcz's own headquarters is pinned down at the moment by heavy small arms fire being directed at it from three directions. LoN manned light mortars and infantry guns are adding their quotient of mayhem as well.

General Orbay, decides that Insenhoffer is correct in his unspoken estimate of the situation. An counter-attack by the LoN forces in the Vaskes Central pocket is definitely in order. Orbay summons Oberleutnant Insenhoffer to his headquarters and they quickly work out a plan of attack. Their deliberations are interrupted by the report that the 8th NSD Wing has managed to advance some of it's attacking elements into the buildings that form the LoN Main Barracks, and thus threatens the whole position of the 6th Battalion. Orbay decides to take two hundred of Insenhoffer's men to contain this dangerous Wilno lodgement. Insenhoffer will lead another two hundred of his men to the assistance of Captain Yakov and smash, the stubborn pocket of 7th NSD Wing troops against the Combined Staff Battalion's efforts. The remaining men - minus the platoons already attached to Yakov and Coskun - in Insenhoffer's 8th Battalion will remain in reserve until needed, Orbay is still concerned that the WNSD Battalion has another attack on the cards, and he desired to have a force ready to meet it when it came.

Oberleutnant Insenhoffer decides to attack the base of the Wilno lodgement into Yakov's line, rather then hit it head on. Captain Yakov, agrees, a straight frontal assault would simply push the Wilno Self-Defense men out of LoN lines, and allow them the option of retreating - both LoN officers want to destroy the lodgement and inflict significant losses on the 7th NSD Wing, both men are of the opinion that circumstances have presented just that opportunity. Liszcz realizes something is wrong when LoN fire into his men's dearly held positions suddenly intensifies, his experience warns him that a possible counter-attack is in the works. He's not wrong. Captain Yakov slams a company into the 7th Wing's right flank, while Insenhoffer leads his men in an attack on the left. Several enterprising teams of Captain Yakov's men armed an assortment of shotguns and submachine guns and loaded down with bags of grenades have infiltrated 7th Wing's position and have begun launching their own attacks against any of Liszcz's machinegun and troop positions.

Within half-an-hour, Major Liszcz's position rapidly become untendable even though his men are fighting with commenable spirit and professionalism. Under attack from multiple directions, rapidly becoming outnumbered by their attackers, running low on ammunition and with casualties piling up - Liszcz knows something has to give. Insenhoffer manages to nearly close the gap in the LoN lines, that represents the 7th Wing's entrance point and it's only line of retreat. Alarmed at this development, Major Liszcz personally leads a score of his remaining men in an effort to stop Insenhoffer's flank attack. This fails, disasterously with most of Liszcz's force mowed down by machinegun fire or killed by grenade blasts as they attempt to push the men of the 8th Battalion back. Liszcz himself is wounded, but stays in command of his wing. His surviving officers and non-coms warn him, that Yakov's attack on the other flank has made headway, and any minute they will be trapped inside LoN lines.

Major Liszcz, torn between saving his men and giving up what they have managed to win thus far. He sends runners to Lt.Colonel Koberba, requesting instructions. Koberba at his headquarters is astonished at the news, and requests that Lt.Colonel Porzansky's guns attached to the 7th and 8th NSD Wings, provide support fire immediately. Prozansky himself tells, Koberba that is not possible, as the sixteen weapons in question have reported that they are out of ammunition! Koberba is aghast, and enquires of his staff, how quickly they can be resupplied. The answer is not positive, adequate munitions are in store by have to be moved either by hand or push carts - sufficient horses and motor vehicles are just not available - it will take several hours to restock, the guns concerned - and that is assuming enough men can be made available to tranfer the shells from their storeage areas to the guns in their current battery positions.

Lt.Colonel Koberba reflects on this development, and finally with a great deal of exasperation authorizes, Major Liszcz to effect a withdrawl - if in his considered opinion - it is necessary. After the event, Koberba and Porzansky is to discover to his fury and artillery comander's acute embarrassement, that several of the guns, while in fact low on ammo, could still have offered some fire support to the hardpressed Liszcz, but that an inattentive staff officer had confused the messages they had sent in requesting additional ammo supplies. Major Liszcz is not aware of this development, decides there is nothing for it - he must retreat before his assault companies are wiped out. The men of the 7th NSD Wing are forced to withdraw under intense pressure, through a narrow gap in the LoN lines, only a few dozen yards wide. Insenhoffer and Yakov, have placed machinegun teams on either side of the gap, Liszcz and his men are forced to run a murderous hail of fire to reach the safety of their own lines. Many of the survivors of the heavy fighting to breech the LoN lines, do not make it back. A deeply anguished, angry and twice wounded, Major Jerzy Liszcz is however one of them.

Meanwhile, General Orbay and his men, with the assistance of Captain Coskun and his Civil Watchmen, eject an obstinate Major Michalak and his decimated attack companies from their positions within the Main Barracks complex. Step by step, the 8th NSD Wing is slowly pushed out of the Vaskes Central pocket. They manage to cling to a narrow section of the original defensive perimeter, but that is all they can manage. Major Michalak reports this defeat to Lt.Colonel Koberba, who gives Michalak the same latitude as he just gave to Liszcz. Major Michalak another tough, hard as nails fighting officer, reports that he will stay where he is - there will be no retreat in his attack sector.

Lt.Colonel Koberba reviews the situation, and decides that further attacks would be unwise in view of the present circumstances, this conviction is reinforced by the news of the results of Maj.General Konarski's assaults against the Vaskes West pocket. Koberba, requests Major Liszcz and Michalak report to his headquarters to discuss the situation, and make plans. Both Maj.General Konarski and Marshal Letowska arrive to inquire of the results of the 7th and 8th NSD Wings' attacks. Marshal Letowska is not at all pleased with the news, but commends both wing commanders and their men for their efforts. Letowska orders both Konarski and Koberba to consider fresh attacks in this pocket as soon as possible, pending results in the Vaskes East pocket.

Brilliant! As always, stellar writing. I'm awaiting the next installment with baited breath.

Captain Yakov: aha, another valiant officer who I see requires promotion and a medal!

Got to get some more ammunition in to Vaskes and SOON! If the airfield hadn't been lost, we could run some Ju-52s in with pallets of 7mm x 40, 7.92mm x 57, etc, but with it uncontrolled I doubt it's worth it (and nobody really has combat gliders yet that I know of). Gah.... Hmmmm, maybe paradrop it? Small parcels, so it doesn't overload the standard parachute?

The First Sortie: Part IV

October 22nd, 1935:

Lt.Colonel Wilhelm Berlin, finally has the extensive field works of the Wilno Adomas Line in sight. Berlin is fairly puzzled by the general lack of resistance to his approach. Wilno Army opposition has been largely confined to roadblocks and improvised obstructions, and half-hearted mounted pickets - who are more inclined to run at the first sign of combat, then fight. This is quite different from the considerable armed resistance that the 1st LoN Field Column was encountering in its advance on the Amantas Line. A careful examination of the Adomas Line from the boughs of a conviently tall tree on a nearby hill, show that Wilno Army troops are definitely in possession of the line and manning it's defensive positions with infantry, machineguns and some artillery.

Berlin consults his three battalion commanders Lieutenant Boris Aleksei Lalenkov, CO - 1st Battalion, Lieutenant Arnaud Dazincourt, CO - 3rd Battalion, and Oberleutnant Lothar von Marquardt, CO - 9th Battalion/Wilno Civil Watch Corps and his small ad hoc LoN staff. Lt.Colonel Berlin is primarily an artillery officer by training and wants the opinion of his battalion commanders who are all well trained infantrymen from the 97th Royal Bulgarian Infantry Battalion, the 5th Ardeense Jagers Regiment and the 39th German Infantry Regiment before he considers an attack on the Adomas Line - if that turns out to be necessary. While consulting with his subordinates, Berlin dispatchs a envoy to the Wilno commander in the Adomas defenses, with a demand for his surrender - Lt.Colonel Berlin is fairly confident that with some 2,400 men at his disposal, that he can take the defensive line and the army camps if it comes to a fight.

Wilno Maj.General Ambrozy Lewandowska, receives Leutnant Otto von Stein, Lt.Colonel Berlin's envoy warily at his headquarters bunker. He is aware that his force of 1,500 men is outnumbered by the LoN force, although Lewandowska has the advantage of a well prepared position and some artillery, which Berlin and his troops do not. However morale amoung the Wilno Army troops in the Adomas Line is low. The 2nd Rifle Battalion is composed of troops that are both fair less motivated and professional accomplished then those in the Army of the South's field battalions. Major Alexius Bochniak and the six guns of his Adomas Line Artillery Detachment are an exception to this, possessing rather more elan, then sense - given that his two 105-mm guns and four 76.2-mm guns are critically short of ammunition, although they are well sited in three small enclosed earth and timber forts - Fort Agata, Fort Angelika and Fort Dorota - along the Adomas Line.

Von Stein makes it clear that unconditional surrender of the Wilno Army post - and all arms and troops within it - is the only acceptable answer to the LoN Task Force. Lewandowska baulks at this demand, and asks for time to consider it, he stalls further by saying that he must discuss the matter with his superior officer Maj.General Jan Poltawska. Leutnant von Stein, observes that according to LoN knowledge Lt.General Bogdan Kawecha is the commander of the Army of the South. Lewandowska agrees that this was in fact true, up until a few days ago, when Poltawska replaced Kawecha, following the latters arrest by Poltawska. Von Stein not being put off by this trivia or by the Wilno major-general's attempt to stall for better terms, reiterates, Lt.Colonel Berlin's demand for the Wilno troops surrender, and comments that Lewandowska has ten minutes to decide. Lewandowska sends Leutnant von Stein, back to his own lines with the remark that he doesn't need the time - he will answer Lt.Colonel Berlin's demands with the mouths of his cannon.

On receiving this response, Lt.Colonel Wilhelm Berlin is not particularly surprised, he had been expected that it might come to a fight by this point. Lalenkov, Davincourt, and Von Marquardt suggest that a multi-pronged assault with their battalions is in order. Lalenkov will attack frontally with his 1st Battalion, while Davincourt takes the 3rd Battalion around the right flank, and Von Marquardt takes his 9th Battalion around the left flank. Berlin agrees to this idea, noting that in point of fact, that Lewandowska seems to have manned the Adomas entrenchments fairly lightly, his troops are stretched very thin to hold the length of the Line, and the artillery is concentrated in three spots. Berlin orders that all infantry mortars be concentrated on the three artillery positions and be used to blind them with smoke, if they cannot be knocked out.

Lalenkov goes in first as planned, his men start to take artillery fire as they break cover from the woods that have screened their start off positions and advance towards the Adomas Line, Major Bochniak is intent on disrupting the 1st Battalion's attack as soon as possible, even at the price of using up much of his artillery's stock of munitions. Lalenkov, urges his men on despite the artillery fire, they break into a quick jog, as they move on. Mortars begin throwing rounds over their heads, puffs of smoke and bright blasts of flame begin to register on and around the Wilno forts. Davincourt, worried about the pounding the men in the 1st Battalion are taking, shifts several degrees off his intended course around the Wilno defense's right flank and hits the Adomas Line almost dead on, his men are raked by fire from the two 76.2-mm guns mounted in Fort Agata on their left and the two 105-mm guns in Fort Angelika on their right. Machinegun fire sweeps his men's ranks as they return fire. Meanwhile, Lalenkov takes advantage of the Wilno artillery's distraction by the attack of the 3rd Battalion, to rapidly close on Fort Angelika. Lalenkov leads his assault parties forward with grenades in hand and attacks the gunports of the fort.

Lieutenant Lalenkov is first through an embracesure after his men toss several grenades in, the resultant blast is deafening, and Lalenkov, a submachinegun in hand hardly waits for the blast and smoke to clear before diving in. Lalenkov is greeted by the surviving gunners, begrimed by gun smoke and blood - their own and that of their comrades. The gunners wielding handspikes, carbines, pistols or their fists try and force the entering Civil Watchmen back out the gun ports, A brutal, desperate struggle quickly ensues. Next to Fort Angelika, Davincourt and his men have worked their way through the wire entanglements fronting the Adomas Line, and are charging wildly into the Wilno entrenchments and machine gun bunkers. Grenades explode amidst the positions, thrown by bothsides. Smoke and flames are everywhere, as are men fighting hand to hand. To the far right of the LoN attack, Leutnant von Marquardt leads the 9th Battalion in it's planned attack on the Adomas Line's left flank. He detaches two companies of his command, to hit the Wilno defense line between Fort Angelika and Fort Dorota, which blazes away at the advancing companies with its two 76.2-mm guns. The Civil Watch mortar team fire like mad, showing the fort with mortar rounds. Von Marquardt leads the rest of his companies around the flank of Fort Dorota, and over run the thinly head slit trenches and bunkers guarding it's flank.

Lt.Colonel Berlin redirects some of his mortar fire into the rear lines of the Adomas Line, Lewandowska's headquarters is hit as are the collection of tents and makeshift cabins of the Wilno Army camps. Maj.General Lewandowska is wounded by this unexpected barrage, befuddled by concussion and bleeding profusely from his wounds, the 2nd Rifle Battalion suddenly finds itself without a leader. Panic grips the Wilno ranks, they are hardpressed by the LoN attacks, Fort Angelika falls when Major Bochniak is killed trying pugnaciously to defend the by then thoroughly surrounded fort. While Maj.General Ambrozy Lewandowska might have been the brain of the defense of the Adomas Line, the combative Major Alexius Bochniak was it's spiritual heart. As word spreads of his death, the men of the 2nd Rifle Battalion, move from panic to despire, here and there, men begin to abandon their positions, others throw down their weapons and attempt to surrender, still others continue fighting with diehard courage.

The 9th Battalion sweeps down the Adomas Line from it's left flank to it's right. Von Marquardt and his men take each position they encounter by storm if it offers resistance. The brittle morale of the Wilno 2nd Rifle Battalion finally breaks under this fresh assault. The bulk of the Wilno infantry are now in flight away from the Adomas Line, few of Bochniak's artillery join them - many of them having fought to the death in defense of their artillery positions, By late afternoon, Leutnant von Stein reports to Lt.Colonel Berlin, that the Adomas Line is firmly in LoN hands. All six of the Wilno guns have been captured, with four of them in sufficient condition - providing ammunition can be found for them, an errant mortar round detonated much of the remaining Wilno artillery stockpile - to be used by volunteer gunners from the Civil Watch battalions. Von Stein further reports that Wilno 2nd Rifles have suffered losses on the order of 675 dead, wounded or captured, the rest of the Wilno battalion being engaged in a complete route from the area. Almost as an afterthought Leutnant von Stein inform's his commander that they have also taken Maj.General Ambrozy Lewandowska and Lt.General Bogdan Kawecha prisoner. Lt.Colonel Berlin reports these developments to Lt.General Daufresne de le Chevalerie at Ladyga, he adds that he is still assessing his own losses, but neverless requests permission to continue towards Vaskes to the relief of the Vaskes LoN Garrison.

The First Sortie: Part V - A

October 22nd, 1935:

Colonel Herman Francisus Maria Baron van Voorst tot Voorst, commander of the 2nd Dutch Royal Guard Dragoons Regiment, and CO - 1st LoN Field Column was not a happy man as he surveyed the Amantas Line from the open turret hatch of one of his regiment's armoured cars, from the cover of a copice of trees. Tired, frustrated and well behind schedule, Colonel Herman von Voorst tot Voorst is a man caught between two potential fires: the enemy - the Wilno Army - in front of him and the expectations of his immediate superior - Lt.General Raoul Daufresne de le Chevalerie - behind him, neither gives Herman van Voorst tot Voorst much peace of mind.

Examining the Amantas Line in person for the first time is a sobering experience for Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst. This bastion of the Wilno Army of the Northeast is a formidble field work, stretching for several miles across the countryside, and behind it lies both the Army of the Northeast's camp and the former headquarters and capital of Marshal Letowska. Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst is unsure if the town of Amantas is itself garrisoned, although it is likely that some small detachment is stationed within the towns environs if only for security reasons. The Dutch colonel expects the local Wilno Army commander to have concentrated most of his men in the trenches and bunkers of the Line however. Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst summons his unit commanders, and outlines his plan of attack. Several of his officers promptly object, there has been no time to reconnoiter the Wilno positions properly, several protest. They don't know the exact enemy strength or tactical positions. Van Voorst tot Voorst, conscious that his military reputation is on the line, Lt.General Daufresne de le Chevalerie's past messages have indicated with increasing bluntness that the Belgian General and acting commander of the Wilno Task Force does not hold him in high regard, and further realising that if he doesn't produce some positive battle field results soon that his days as field column commander may be numbered. Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst brusquely brushes these objections aside. The first assault parties will attack the Amantas Line as soon as possible with the regimental armoured car company in support.

Several officers remind Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst, that if an attack is launched now it will be without the support of the 2nd and 4th Battalions of the Civil Watch Corps, toiling up the roads behind the regiment. Van Voorst tot Voorst points out that their absence is of no consequence, the two battalions are merely security troops - fit only for policing and light garrison duties. Van Voorst tot Voorst does not have a high opinion of the Wilno Civil Watch Corps, having never seen it's units in action, nor served with any of it's members in the field before. An attitude that many of his own officers, and indeed main LoN Task Force soldiers do not share. In point of fact, Van Voorst tot Voorst's attitude towards the Wilno Civil Watch Corp borders on outright contempt, he makes it clear to his officers that the Civil Watch Corps is, in his considered military opinion, of suspect reliablility and lacking in military professionalism. Lieutenant Jerome Westerbaen, an officer of the 5th Ardeense Jagers, and a LoN volunteer commanding officer of the 2nd Civil Watch Battalion since it's and the Civil Watch Corps formation, and thus a veteran of many of its difficult field operations and actions against local bandits, Wilno Army deserters and renegade Letowska and Civil Guards will later angrily denounce and challenge Colonel van Voorst to Voorst to a duel when these remarks about the military quality and personal intergrity of the Civil Watch Corps are relayed to him some days later.

Across the way, Maj.General Amadeusz Gorzynska, CO - 1st Wilno Rifle Battalion and his artillery commander, Major Alfred Dobovsky have been warned by their pickets and scouts that the 1st LoN Field Column is finally nearing the Amantas Line. Major Dobovsky is of the opinion that a major LoN attack will soon be under way to clear the line. Gorzynska, an experienced Wilno Army battalion commander, recently promoted to General grade as a reward for his services with the Armies of the North and Northeast is less sure. Gorzynska has a rough idea of Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst's strength and consider that while his own command is somewhat outnumbered, the LoN troops, they will not attack. Gorzynska feels that a reconnaissance in force is underway by the LoN Task Force command, the 1st LoN Field Column is after all only a cavalry regiment and two infantry battalions strong. Gorzynska and Dobovsky's ongoing disagreement is abruptly stopped, when a messanger enters the Amantas Line headquarters and informs both Wilno officers, that LoN units are approaching the perimeter. An attack in regimental strength seems to be under way.

Colonel Rafail Zhechev, had stopped in a nearby village for fuel and an overdue and much needed lunch. His driver, Cpl. Lazare de Vaux informed Zhechev, that their vehicle required some maintaince and would not be ready for further use for some minutes. Zhechev, along with his appointed aide-de-campe, Oberleutnant Hans Geering, was just sitting down to lunch at the village inn, and was not unduly bothered by this development, as Cpl. de Vaux was - Colonel Zhechev had found during his trip - a very capably mechanic and whatever trouble afflicting the hard driven car was likely soon to be spotted and mended.

Colonel Zhechev was however jottled to alarmed attention, while dawdling over an after lunch cup of coffee, when the steady rumble of artillery fire reached the village. As the 1st LoN Field Column was the only unit that Zhechev knew was in the immediate area, it could only mean, that Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst had gone into action against the Amantas Line. Zhechev quickly scaled the steeple of the hill top village church to get a view of the surrounding area, and sort out what was happening. Zhechev from his vantage point, quickly realized, Colonel van Voorst's mistake. The Amantas Line was a more substancial work, then the Adomas Line, it consisted of two, not one lines of field works. For his original point of survey, Colonel van Voorst could only see the first line, the fort he thought was it's center point, was in fact behind the first line and was part of the second line which was composed of five forts joined and surrounded by yet another line of slit trenches, barricades and wire and field obstacles, which because of the lay of the land was invisible behind the first line. The Army of the Northeast's base camp lay further behind this second line, which was in and of it's self a well fortified enclosure.

Colonel Zhechev watches aghast as he sees parties of Dutch cavalrymen trying to make their way toward the first line of defenses, their path is blocked by barbed wire entanglements, sharpened wooden stakes, and other improvised obstacles. Here and there an armoured car trundles forward in support, firing back at the Wilno machinegun positions, trying desperately to suppress them so their fellow cavalrymen can advance unhindered. Wilno artillery is firing with cool, deliberate percision into the ranks of the 2nd Dutch Royal Guard Dragoons, Oberleutnant Geering estimates that at least a dozen Wilno guns are in action. The Dutchmen are floundering amidst the wire, raked by hammering machineguns. Here and there a gallant detachment - perhaps a squad or two, no more - under some enterprising officer or sargeant somehow manages to break through and enter the trench, bunker and rifle pit system. Wilno pickets, placed between the machinegun teams, stretched thin along the Line snipe at these Dutch lodgements, they can't stop them but they can pin them or slow them down.

Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst, has been fooled by his limited view of the local topography and played false by his own urgent desire to bring the Wilno troops to action, Maj.General Gorzynska had in fact only lightly manned the first defense line, mostly with a few well placed light and heavy machine gun teams and equally well ensconced artillery observers for the guns of the Amantas Line Artillery Detachment, which were mounted under heavy camofluage in the forts of the second line. The bulk of Gorzynska's 1st Rifle Battalion was in fact manning the field fortifications and forts of the second line from which they poured a fierce and effective fire into the advancing assault parties of the 2nd Dutch Royal Guard Dragoons, even as they tried to come to grips with the Wilno riflemen and machineguns picketting the first defense line.

Cursing, Zhechev and Geering decended the church tower. A grease and oil stained Cpl. de Vaux met them at the bottom. The car still wasn't ready, although it was refueled, de Vaux informed Colonel Zhechev, that some more necessary work remained to be done before the car was good to go. Colonel Zhechev, knowing minutes counted, was at a loss what to do against this delay. Oberleutnant Geering suddenly dashed off, calling back - when Zhechev inquired what he was doing - that an alternative form of transport might be arranged. Several minutes later, Geering came back with two saddled horses, and their owner. A delighted Colonel Zhechev commended Oberleutnant Geering for his quick thinking, made arrangements for the owner to be paid for the use of the two mounts, and ordered Cpt de Vaux to follow as soon as circumstances permitted. With that done, Colonel Zhechev and his aide-de-camp headed out of the village at a hard gallop in search of the 1st LoN Field Column.

Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst watches in astonishment as his cavalrymen begin to fall back under the withering Wilno fire. They do so grudgingly, firing back as they retire with much determination, their unit commanders have decided without orders from their colonel to begin a withdrawl, they will not see their men's lives squandered to no possible gain. The regimental armoured cars zigzag back and forth firing into the Wilno lines, drawing fire at considerable risk to themselves - several vehicles are damaged by near misses from Dobovsky's artillery fire but by some miracle of luck or skill none is knocked out - they also lay protective smoke via improvised oil burners attached to the backs of their vehicles and smoke grenades thrown by the vehicle commanders from their turret hatches.

Colonel Zhechev, arriving just as the last of Dutch dragoons disentangle themselves from the Amantas Line, coolly hands Lt.General Daufresne de le Chevalerie's letter to Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst, and requested that the officers of the 2nd Royal Guard Dragoons, and those of the 2nd and 4th Civil Watch Battalions be assembled. Without any further comment, Zhechev turned from the Dutch colonel and walked away to consult with Oberleutnant Geering, who had been examining the Amantas Line for some minutes with his field glasses, the two discuss situation and their possible options. Some minutes later, after briefly outlining General Daufresne de le Chevalerie's orders, and the change in command, Colonel Zhechev makes clear to his assembled subordinates of the 1st LoN Field Column, that the Amantas Line would be in League of Nations Task Force hands by the following day or he would want to know why. A chestfallen, and subdued Colonel Herman van Voorst tot Voorst was the subject of several hurriedly and surreptious glances at this point, by several of the officers present. None was in any doubt, that Colonel Rafail Knev Zhechev would deal ruthlessly with any officer or soldier he felt was failing to either preform to the best of their ability or to carry out his exact instructions.

October 23rd, 1935:

During the night, Colonel Zhechev decided that a flanking attack offered the best possibility for success for the 1st LoN Field Column. The 2nd and 4th Civil Watch Battalions would provide a distraction by attacking the Amantas Line in a series of feints, while the 2nd Dutch Guard Dragoon Regiment manovered around the Line and stuck it's fortifications from behind. On presenting this plan to his officers, Lieutenant Jerome Westerbaen, CO - 2nd Civil Watch Battalion, suggested that only one battalion was required for the frontal fients, and that the 4th Battalion should be used to launch a second flanking movement around the Amantas Line. Lieutenant Klaas Tallien agreed with this assesement. Oberleutnant Geering offered that the local ground, which generally favoured the passage of cavalry being deployed around the Amantas's line's Northeastern (right) flank, while the heavily wooded, tangled and broken ground of it's Southwestern (left) flank made it necessary to deploy infantry rather then mounted cavalry.

Zhechev who had spent much of the evening examining the area, either with scouting parties or on personal reconnaissances of his own with just a few escorts, agreed. Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst was flatly ordered to execute a silent night march around the Wilno troops right flank and be in a position to attack by dawn or failing that at least by mid-afternoon. Lieutenant Westerbaen would utilize his battalion to distract the Wilno defenders by begining a series of trench raids and limited assaults against Amantas Line starting just before dawn as to have the cover of darkness and the morning mists, thus giving Lieutenant Tallien and his men the chance to move around and engage the Line's left flank. The 4th Civil Watch Battalion, would during the night effect it's own night flanking march, so as to be in attack position by dawn.

Colonel Zhechev radioed, the advanced Luftwaffe HQ at Vilnius and requested whatever air support might be available. Zhechev felt that even limited tactical air support, would be critical to his coming operation. He was quickly informed that four Hs-123 dive-bombers, part of an advanced dive-bomber detachment under the command of Leutnant Adolf Galland, were ready for immediate use, at the Vilnius air field, and that further support from Luftwaffe jagd and kampf units - Bf-109s, Bf-110s, Fw-187s, Hs-123s and Ju-87s and if absolutely necessary Do-17s - based in East Prussia were also available. Zhechev, relieved at this news, decided that Amantas itself should be bombed, to flush out any Wilno Army units that might be occupying it, and that sorties would be needed against the defensive lines and forts themselves prior to the planned attacks by the 1st LoN Field Column. Oberst Stefan Froehlich, the recently appointed Luftwaffe Fliegerfuehrer Litauen (Flying Leader Lithuania) assured Colonel Zhechev that this could be done, and that the necessary arrangements would be in hand by dawn on the 23rd.

Satisfied that he had his air element in hand, Colonel Zhechev turned his attention to aquiring some additional fire-power to support his coming attack. Oberleutnant Geering had reported to him that at least two fire-bases were in the immediate area, equiped with confiscated Wilno artillery pieces, manned by LoN volunteers under the direction of German officers or non-commissioned officers from the 17th German Field Artillery Regiment. This amounted to between six to eight field pieces, either cannons or howitzers of 75-mm or 76.2-mm calibur, according to filed reports, light for the work they would be called to, but useful and welcome infantry support never-the-less. Zhechev ordered Geering to personally contact the fire-base commandants and have them assemble and tranport the guns as quickly as possible during the night.

Oberleutnant Hans Geering would be occupied with this tedious and time consuming duty during much of the remaining hours of darkness on the 22nd. Most of the artillery pieces were formally horse-drawn equipments, and sufficient animals had to be obtained and drivers selected before the guns could be moved from their static fire-base emplacements. In some cases the guns had their trails chained to the rear of trucks and were towed that way lacking proper towing hooks. Oberleutnant Geering also rounded up every wagon, cart and truck he, the fire-base commandants or the artillerymen could lay their hands on to transport the available stocks of ammunitions that would be very necessary to extended field operations. This exhausting work was not completed until just before dawn, on the 23rd, when the guns arrived at the 1st LoN Field Column's temporary field headquarters.

With all his pieces in place, Colonel Rafail Zhechev waited from the coming of morning. The 2nd Dutch Royal Guard Dragoons moved out as instructed and reached their intended jump off point as planned. Scouting parties managed to subdue and capture several Wilno pickets or outposts enroute, preventing Maj,General Gorzynska from realizing the danger his command was in. Similarly, the 4th Civil Watch Battalion, crept through the forested terrain on the other flank and laid low amidst the underbrush, and awaited the order to go forward. Both units movements were assisted by a heavy fog that thickened as the night wore on, giving them excellent cover along with the darkness of the night. The 2nd Civil Watch Battalion, moved up carefully to the first defense line, followed by the assembled field artillery. Lieutenant Westerbaen and his men spent the night clearing the Wilno entrenchments of the few 1st Rifle Battalion troops that still picketed them. Maj.General Gorzynska had withdrawn the bulk of the machine gun teams that had survived Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst's first attack, back to the second defensive line. Only a few artillery observers and a handfull of rifle teams hidden amid the trenches and bunkers remained.

Periodic artillery blasts erupted within the first defensive line, as these observers - before they were winkled out of their positions - called in support from Dobovsky's gun mounted in the forts of the second line. Colonel Zhechev ordered his artillery not to respond, to this harrassing fire but to dig in prepatory to the coming morning attack both to avoid wasting ammo firing blindly at the Wilno guns but also to preserve the secrecy of their arrival. Colonel Zhechev ensconsed in a sand bagged and timbered bunker built by his troops within sight of the Amantas Line, connected to his units by a series of newly laid down field telephone lines and radio links, frequently consulting his tactical maps and his watch waited with enforced calm for morning. Colonel Zhechev took a few moments to write a letter to his royal master, Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria.

October 22nd/23rd, 1935

Your Majesty,

You are no doubt more fully appraised of the sad and terrible events in the Wilno Region, then I am, that the people of the region and the Wilno Task Force have had to endure this October. I myself have managed to emerge unscathed so far from the desperate actions I have sometimes been called to - how long that will remain to be so, I don't know, God grant that it always be so. General Daufresne de le Chevalerie has seen fit to appoint me commander of the 1st LoN Field Column in the hope that I may ginger up it's previously lackluster performance. I intend to do what I can to merit this trust. I also hope to bring further honor to Bulgarian arms such as my fellows have been doing both in the field and in Vaskes.

Tomorrow will bring a new battle, one which I hope will help the Wilno Task Force begin the process of relieving the Vaskes Garrison and reuniting us, with our respected commander, General Orbay. I have been told, that Oberstleutnant Wilhelm Berlin and his 2nd LoN Field Column have marched on the Adomas Line with much success, I hope God and the bravery of my troops will grant me the same success.

Unterfeldwebel Detlef Ebenroth, my pilot in my escape from Vaskes has volunteered to take our plane back into Vaskes bearing news and a special radio, to allow reliable communications to be re-established between the LoN Headquarters at Ladyga, and the LoN Vaskes Field Headquarters. His success in what will no doubt be a dangerous venture is ernestly hoped for by many of us.

Your Loyal and Obedient Servant,

Rafail Knev Zhechev, Colonel Royal Bulgarian Army

At dawn, a heavy mist blankets the ground, and a light rain has begun to fall. This quickly stops, and the skies begin to clear, although the fog clings to the ground for some time. Colonel Zhechev and Oberleutnant Geering watch from the 1st LoN Field Column command post. Oberst Froehlich has ordered an air attack for just after dawn's first light. Leutnant Galland's four Hs-123 dive-bombers are the first to arrive from Vilnius, they circle the area twice, picking out the details of the Amantas Line before commensing their attack. Leutnant Galland selects Fortress Anna, the largest fortification - containing both Maj.General Gorzynska HQ and the majority of Major Dobovsky's twelve artillery pieces - of the Line as his flight's bombing run. Plumetting down from on high, engines screaming, the four German dive-bombers land 3 bombs out of 4 dropped upon the fort. Zhechev watches flames and debris leap up over Fort Anna. Not satisfied with this, Galland leads his flight on a quick strafing run along the second defensive line's entrenchments dropping his remaining ordance and raking any exposed Wilno infantry with machinegun shells.

Next to arrive is two squadrons of Junker Ju-87s and their escorting Bf-109s from East Prussia. These planes also angle in for an attack on Fort Anna and it's surrounding field works. Dropping 250 kg and 50 kg bombs, the Ju-87s deliver a greater weight of high explosives upon the Wilno defenders, the screaming, moaning dirge with which these aircraft deliver their attacks unnerves the Wilno troops. A scattered ground fire from the defenses peppers the German aircraft but fails to do any significant damage. Oberst Froehlich from his forward HQ at the Vilnius air field, evaluates the first radio reports from his attack aircraft. Froehlich decides another attack is in order, especially on the other forts of the Amantas Line, particularly Forts Ludwik, and Stanislaw, which guard the left and right flanks of the second defensive line.

In the meantime, Colonel Zhechev orders Field Batteries "Hadschieff" and "Stadloben" to commense firing upon the Wilno field fortifications. Oberfeldwebel Horst Hadschieff aligns and begins to open fire with his three 76.2-mm guns and one 76.2-mm howitzer on to the Wilno held entrenchments, while Oberfaehnrich Karl Hendryk Freiherr von Stadloben brings his four 75-mm guns into action a few moments later. The two battery commanders concentrate their opening barrage upon, Forts Witold and Ziven, the two fortified strong points closest to Fort Anna. Both Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst, and Lieutenant Tallien observe the airborne and artillery bombardments from their respective positions on the Amantas Line's flanks. Both wait for Lieutenant Westerbaen to start his frontal attack, which will signal them to begin their own attacks.

Maj.General Amadeusz Gorzynska is stunned by the weight of the assault directed at his command. This is no reconnaissance in force, it is a full scale attack. Major Alfred Dobovsky reports that Fort Anna has been heavily hit, several observation positions and machine gun posts have been badly hit. One of the four 105-mm guns within the earth and log fortress has been temporarily knocked out of action. Further one of the 250 kg bomb hits has smashed the radio office, knocking out long-range communications with the provisional capital in Vaskes, and thus the rest of the Army of the Northeast. Other hits have disrupted the field telephone links to the other forts and the entrenchment positions surrounding and flanking Fort Anna. Reports also reach Gorzynska relating the news that the bombing attack has induced panic in some of his troops, in some places men of the 1st Wilno Rifle Battalion have actually fled their positions.

Major Dobovsky orders his other artillery pieces, some eight guns and howitzers mounted in other forts to begin counter-battery fire against the two LoN batteries that had unexpectedly opened up. Fort Witold (two 75-mm guns) responds that it cannot comply with Dobovsky's order, hits from Battery "Hadschieff" have temporarily blocked the fort's gun ports with debris. Fort Ziven on the other hand does begin firing back with its two 77-mm guns. Dobovsky can get no reply at all from Fort Stanislaw (two 75-mm guns), the line is cut. His contact with Fort Ludwik (two 76.2-mm howitzers) on the other hand is reliant on runners at the moment, the field telephone line to it produces more static then useful communications.

At this awkward moment for the Wilno 1st Rifle Battalion, the Luftwaffe returns. Oberst Froehlich has directed another two squadrons of Ju-87s and a squadron of Bf-110s against the Amantas Line. A second squadron of Bf-110s attacks Amantas itself, bombing and strafing the town and the nearby Amantas army camp causing havoc amoungst the Wilno defenders. The twenty-four Ju-87s scatter bombs along the Amantas Line's second defensive lines. Bunkers and slit trenches and their occupants vanish is smoke, flame and flying debris. Fort Witold, already burning from hits by Oberfeldwebel Hadschieff's artillery pieces is struck by two 250 kg bombs falling nearly vertically, both bore deeply into the fort smashing through earth, wood and congrulated iron. One strikes the fort command post, while the other detonates inside the buried magazine for the 75-mm guns. The result is catastrophic, the first hit destroys the command post, killing the Fort commander and his immediate staff, totally disrupts the the Fort Witold command and communications system. The second hit lights off some two hundred and fifty high explosive shells and propellent cartridges stored in the magazine. Both Wilno and LoN onlookers watch in horrified fascination as Fort Witold literally seems to leap into the air. Debris rains down for hundreds of yards around the fort, one of the Fort Witold 75-mm cannons is blasted out of its emplacement and hurled into the LoN rear positions.

Lieutenant Jerome Westerbaen, one of those on lookers, decides to begin his assault. Westerbaen gives the word to his unit leaders, whistles soon shrill up and down the 2nd Civil Watch Battalion's jump off positions inside the first defensive line. Men laiden with grenades, scalling ladders and axes scramble up out of the slit trenches, running madly forward, bent on reaching the second defense line before the stunned Wilno defenders have time to realize what is going on. The 76.2-mm howitzers of Fort Ludwik begin to open fire, enfliading the Civil Watchmen as they advance. Fort Ziven caught in a blazing artillery duel with both LoN batteries is too preoccupied to notice. while Fort Stanislaw falls silent as it is about to have it's on problems as the Dutch Guard Dragoons suddenly commense their own assault. The fort's two 75-mm guns are swung round and emerge from new gun ports, firing into the advancing dismounted Dutch cavalrymen. The regiments armoured cars, move swiftly forward raining gunfire into the fortress's weapon ports.

Fort Anna's remaining three 105-mm guns begin to fire into the oncoming 2nd Battalion, which now finds itself the target of a deadly fire from two directions. The fast advancing Civil Watchmen begin to slow down, diving for cover as shells suddenly explode amoungst them. Lieutenant Tallien orders his own battalion forward at this critical moment, some eight hundred civil watchmen break cover from the nearby woods and begin charging into the trenches and machine gun pits surrounding Fort Ludwik. Fort Ludwik's two guns far silent as they suddenly have to be realigned to assist in the fort's own defense. Dutch Guard Dragoons grenade their way through the outer defenses of Fort Stanislaw, fighting hard to overrun the fiercely fighting Wilno troops. Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst throws in all his men, trying to swamp the defenders in their slit trenches, slowly step by step the Dutch cavalrymen advance into the fort proper. A wild, brutal fight goes on inside Fort Stanislaw, the Wilno gunners refusing to surrender, most of the fort's defenders are killed to a man in the next thirty minutes. Dutch mortars moved up during the fight for the fort begin to fire into the rest of the Amantas Line.

Zhechev seeing a dutch flag suddenly float over Fort Stanislaw is pleased by this development and sends word to 2nd Dutch Royal Guard Dragoons commending them for their success and asking them to keep pressing the enemy. Colonel Zhechev is convinced that the battle for the Amantas Line is reaching it's critcal point. The two LoN field batteries shift their fire from Fort Ziven, which has stranglely fallen silent, and turned their attentions to Fort Anna. Pounding it with both high explosive and smoke shells, the LoN gunners frantically endevour to take some of the fire off the hard hit, 2nd Civil Watch Battalion. Westerbaen leading his men from the front, asks them for on last effort. They rise up from the ground and charge forward over the last fifty yards to assault the entrenchment line surrounding Fort Anna. Lashed by machinegun and rifle fire, they make it through the wire and field obstructions and jump down into the rifle pits and slit trenches, firing wildly back and hurling grenades at the Wilno defenders.

Fort Ludwik falls after a bitter but mercifully short struggle, the defenders badly shaken by Luftwaffe bombing and then the sudden infantry attack begin surrendering at first in ones and twos, then in small groups. The Wilno gunners predictable refuse to give in, and their positions have to be cleared with grenades and massed rifle fire. Lieutenant Tallien reports the capture of Fort Ludwik to Colonel Zhechev as soon as he is positive the whole position has been secured. Maj.General Gorzynska is nearly in despair, the reports flooding into his command post in Fort Anna are not good. Amantas and the camp are on fire, the survivors of the original three hundred troops stationed to defend both areas are in panic stricken flight into the countryside. Fort Stanislaw and Fort Ludwik have been captured and their defenders largely wiped out. Only Fort Anna and Fort Ziven remain, communications between the two positions are however nonexistant. Major Dobovsky has made his way to Fort Ziven to try and reestablish some measure of contact, but no word has come back from him yet. Further Fort Anna is under heavy fire from the LoN field batteries and Dutch cavalry mortars. While in the surrouding entrenchments, Wilno riflemen and Civil Watchmen of the 2nd and 4th Battalions are waging a extremely vicious struggle. It is expected that the Dutch Guard Dragoons will soon be joining them.

Some of Maj.General Amadeusz Gorzynska staff, council that now is the time to consider either retreat or surrender. Gorzynska refuses to countrance either idea, he orders his troops to continue the fight as best they can. Gorzynska is deluding himself however, his position is for all practical purposes over-run and many of his troops are now dead, wounded or missing, if they are not prisoners in the hands of the LoN forces. When informed that Fort Anna is effectively surrounded, an hour later and that much of it is battered into a flame scorched, unrecognizable wreck of churned earth and splintered timber, the two remaining 105-mm guns are down to a few remaining rounds each. Maj.General Gorzynska is again asked by his staff to consider surrending what is left of his command or authorizing a retreat. Gorzynska enquires as to the status of his infantrymen in the Fort's bunkers and tunnels, hopeful that they can still over resistance. He is informed that they are nearly out of ammo, some men only having a few clips to a handful of rounds left to them and if it comes to a fight within the fort it will be with bayonets and knifes, and the few grenades that the men have to hand. Again he is pressed for instructions, a weary Maj.General Amadeusz Gorzynska asks his officers for a moment to consider, then quietly leaves them to go into his office. A moment later a unexpectedly and abruptly a single shot rings out. The Fort Anna officers and Gorzynska's staff officers on entering the general's office, find the major-general sprawled awkwardly in a chair, a bullet through his head.

If only someone would get word to the Luftwaffe to pound a double line of entrenchments near the town of Amantas......

The First Sortie: Part V - B

October 23rd, 1935:

A white flag soon appears over Fort Anna. Lieutenant Jerome Westerbaen is the first LoN officer into the Wilno fort, and accepts the surviving Wilno garrison's surrender. Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst hurrying into Fort Anna, to his great frustration discovers that he has arrived a minute too late, that the Civil Watch Corps has beaten him to this moment of glory is almost too much for him to bear. Van Voorst tot Voorst however discovers that Fort Ziven, is still however in the hands of it's Wilno garrison and still seems set to offer resistance, all calls for it's surrender being rebuffed. Seeing a chance for some prestige to won at least, Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst leads several troops of his dragoons to seize the last remaining position held by the 1st Wilno Rifle Battalion.

Major Alfred Dobovsky however has no more intention of surrendering the late Maj.General Gorzynska. Dobovsky has galvinized the battle rattled defenders of Fort Ziven. Although the fort now only possesses a single operational 77-mm gun, the other having suffered a disasterous misfire. The Wilno artillerist is determined to give a good account of himself, and bleed the LoN troops if they try and take Fort Ziven by storm. Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst attempts exactly that with three troops of cavalry and two armoured cars upon the Fort's main entrance. He is bloodily repulsed by machinegun fire from the defenders and one of the Dutch armoured cars is destroyed spectacularly by a 77-mm round through it's frontal armour. Colonel Zhechev is furious when this grand standing attack by Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst is brought to his attention. Oberleutnant Geering is sent forward to sort out the mess, bringing the guns of Oberfaehrich von Stadloben with him, and two companies of the 2nd Civil Watch Battalion. Geering organizes a new attack, with assault parties from both the 2nd Battalion and the 2nd Dutch Royal Guards Dragoons. Oberleutnant Geering requests an additional air attack, having witnessed firsthand the effectiveness of the Ju-87s on Fort Witold, while Stadloben's 75-mm cannon shell the fort. The 4th Civil Watch Battalion and Hadschieff's battery work methodically to smash an other pockets of Wilno resistance still within the Amantas Line and the village of Amantas.

Oberst Stefan Froehlich when appraised of the request, quickly complies and organizes a new air strike. The Hs-123s from Vilnius return, having been refueled and rearmed. The four aircraft hit the smoldering, shell torn fort repeatedly with their bombs. Several gun ports and bunkers are destroyed or damaged and casualties inflicted on the stubborn garrison. The air vibrates with the drone of engines as the Fliegerfuehrer Litauen deploys its heaviest attack to date, four squadrons of Junker Ju-87 dive-bombers arrive over Amantas along with two squadrons of Bf-110s, escorted by several flights of Bf-109s. The German dive-bombers quickly hammer down out of the sky, launching their bombs with deadly accuracy, against the battered Wilno fort, the larger, heavier Bf-110 twin engined planes deliver their attack from higher up and more level flight after the Ju-87s have made their runs. Thoroughly shattered by cannon shells, bombs, and lashed by 7.92-mm and 15-mm machinegun shells from the air, Oberleutnant Geering requests Major Dobovsky surrender. Dobovsky's response is one of rude defiance. His single 77-mm gun booms to life, only to be smothered by hits on it's gun port by Battery "Stadloben". Oberleutnant Geering gives the order for the assault parties to go in. A weak defensive fire from the concussioned and dazed Wilno riflemen greets the LoN troops.

Fifteen minutes later, after a violent confused struggle, it is over: Fort Ziven is in the 1st LoN Field Column's hands at last. Major Alfred Dobovsky defiant to the end is killed by a submachinegun burst from Colonel Herman van Voorst tot Voorst, while trying to detonate, the Fort Ziven magazine. Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst has the pleasure of taking the surrender of the fort and it's dispirited and shellshocked surviving garrison, reduced from over one hundred men at the start of the battle to some twenty-six riflemen and artillerists. Colonel Zhechev observing the last moments of the fight from his command post, and seeing LoN unit flags flying from each of the forts, estimates that the battle of the Amantas Line is over.This is soon confirmed by the reports of his unit commanders. Colonel Zhechev soon sends word of the events to LoN Headquarters at Ladyga via the following message.

Lt.General Raoul Daufresne de le Chevalerie

By the Grace of God, we have been granted victory here today at Amantas on the 23rd of October, 1935. The Wilno Republican Army here is destroyed or in flight. Request permission to advance upon Vaskes from the north, immediately. Our work here is done, the fresh task: the relief of the LoN Garrison awaits us with all dispatch.

Colonel Rafail Zhechev, 1st LoN Field Column

The Bulgarian nation gives its highest praise to the valiant League troops serving in Lithuania, and extends its sorrows for the sons of those fallen in battle.

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BRAVO! And now onward to Vaskes! Superb writing as always - I'm following it quite closely.

250 kg bombs make such satisfying sounds when they hit bunkers designed to protect against 76mm shells.....

<yawn>

Howard, how often were bomb-proofs used in the Civil War? At Vicksburg and Petersburg, certainly, perhaps a very few other places where a siege was in progress and there were any large indirect fire weapons. How often have the Wilno forces been confronted with 12"-14" weapons of any sort? How often have they faced dive bombers, or really bombing of any sort? Does the word never ring a bell? Why on earth would they dig defenses against weapons that haven't been used in the region since the Great War, weapons that no one except the Russians in the region has?