WesWorld

Okay, the October 25th, 1935: The 5th Bulgarian & 3rd Dutch Join the fight is finished - unless of course any reader commentary causes me to alter it, before I get on to the next bit! Enjoy!

October 25th, 1935:

Lieutenant-General Raoul Daufresne de le Chevalerie reviewed the stream of reports coming in from the headquarters of the 5th Bulgarian Infantry Division, 1st Atlantean Expeditionary Division and the 3rd Dutch Marine Brigade, with increasing satisfaction. The Wilno Army of the Northeast, was being systematically pinned in place, by sustained attacks. The Wilno Army's northern and southern fronts appeared ready to crack if further pressure was placed upon them. De le Chevalerie, ordered the 5th Bulgarian Infantry Division to resume it's attack upon the Wilno's western front.

The Wilno Army of the Northeast, flailed with increasing helplessness to fend off the attacks landing against it. The morning clouds and heavy rains were begining to clear, promissing another round of devastating air attacks to which the Wilno soldiers had little means left to respond effectively. The 105-mm and 149-mm weapons of the Bulgarian field artillery were systematically pulverizing their remaining artillery positions and field works, as the day wore on, and the light and visability improved. The Dutch 74-mm pack artillery while much lighter in caliber and shell weight was making up in it's contributions with the sheer volume and accuracy of fire. Both Fabius and Patreaus felt that their troops would break through the crumpling Wilno lines shortly.

With Lt.General Bartold Jasunski out of contact and seemingly out of the fight, Maj.General Jaroslaw Laskowska dead, and Maj.Generals Witold Haller, Peter Radowski, Sidor Malecka and Major Valerius Dobovsky all preforce engaged in their own fierce struggles to hold their men to their posts and maintain some semblence of an effective defense, the Wilno Army of the Northeast entered it's last battle without plan or overall leadership.

The Dutch marines, lead by their tankettes drove deeper into the 2nd Wilno Field Battalion's positions, gradually levering it from one bunker and slit trench after another. The sudden arrival of flights of Bulgarian Fw-44 and DAR-3s, as the skies finally cleared sufficient for flying purposes hearlded more trouble for the embattled Wilno soldiery. Fabius, found he had by 11:00 am breeched the main lines and entered the Wilno reserve positions that protected Lt.General Jasunski's headquarters.

Maj.General Patreaus had reclaimed lost ground and pushed hard once again into the reserve position, from the south. The 14th Armour Battalion leading the way, with it's supporting Corsair platoons closed up on their flanks and rear. This thrust caused the hard-pressed 3rd Wilno Field Battalion to disintigrate as an effective combat unit. A badly injuried Maj.General Peter Radowski was captured by Atlantean infantry following his being smashed aside by the fender of a charging Atlantean tank, while trying to rally his scattering troops.

Lt.Colonel Rufin Gradawski exposing himself recklessly to direct his surviving gunners, unexpected blunted this most successful of Atlantean attacks with his remaining five field pieces firing on open sights against the Atlantean tanks. The Atlanteans lost ten tanks in three minutes - three tanks were destroyed by direct hits, while seven were temporarily disabled by damaging hits, near misses or by supporting Wilno infantry with ATR fire and improvised AT grenades. However this check to the Atlantean advance while gallantly administered was only momentary, as the Atlantean Corsairs charged forward, weapons firing amidst the swerving, smoke spewing tanks.

Maj.General Daskalov's 13th and 14th Grenadiers, hammered the lines of the Wilno 1st and 4th Field Battalions, relentlessly supported by the 20th Bulgarian Artillery. The two Wilno battalions resisted these attacks fiercely but with rapidly diminishing strength. Maj.Generals Witold Haller and Sidor Malecka found themselves inoxerable pushed out of their entrenchments, and back towards the Army field headquarters. The Wilno Army is now in almost total disarry, communications between units and even within units have all but broken down, the burden of organized defense falls increasingly upon the Wilno field battalions individual companies and even platoons.

By 11:30 am, only Haller, Malecka and Dobovsky are still offering resistence from three increasingly isolated positions within the last defenses of the Wilno Army of the Northeast. Lt.Colonel Rufin Gradawski and his remaining artillerymen are overwhelmed by attacking Dutch and Atlantean marines. Gradawski himself is captured after he falls mortally wounded defending his last operational artillery piece. Although increasingly weak and scattered elements of the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Field Battalions, and the 9th/10 NSD Wing still fight on, the remains of the battered 2nd Field Battalion begin to surrender to their Dutch opponents.

The Dutch marines haul exhausted, starving and in many cases badly wounded Wilno soldiers from their entrenchments and last improvised shelters. Dutch medics do what they can for the injured, while others rounding up weapons and field equipement. The northern front thus begins to fall suddenly silent, the Dutch Marine Artillery, repositions itself to support the Atlanteans still hitting the pocket of resistence centered on the Wilno field headquarters, lead by Major Dobovsky. 75-mm shells soon begin raining down amoungst the 9th/10th NSD Wing's fragile positions.

The the pockets of the 1st and 4th Field Battalions are subjected to a series of short, intense bombardments by the 1st and 20th Bulgarian Artillery regiments. The 13th, 14th and 15th Grenadiers, carefully manover under the cover of these artillery attacks to surround and engulf the pockets. At 12:00, Haller and Malecka send forward envoys under flags of truce, asking Maj.General Daskalov for terms. Both commanders are out of ammo, medical supplies, and their troops have reached their breaking point. Daskalov is not interested in a parley, and flatly informs both Wilno generals, that only their unconditional surrender is acceptable.

For Maj.Generals Witold Haller, and Sidor Malecka, the Bulgarian response is not unexpected although never-the-less, it is a painful one for them. Haller dispirited and exhausted, orders the men of his battalion to stack arms, and surrender. Some ten minutes later, the men of Malecka's battalion follow the example of their gallant comrades. Major Valerius Dobovsky continues to stubbornly hold out, until 12:30, by which point his ad hoc defensive position at the Wilno field headquarters is surrounded on all sides by Bulgarians, Dutch and Atlantean troops and artillery.

Heh I've been looking forward to having time to read this carefully. I was not disappointed.
Still odd to have Belgians ordering Bulgarians. Mainly because of the similarity of the names...
but also as an interesting “what if” the LON had been this strong?
The Bulgars have reps as excellent infantry and a full division would wreck havok on Wilno forces.

The little Dutch 75mm pieces also have the advantage of being mobile in this sort of weather and terrain, and will be able to follow the battle. The difference is they are far less capable of penetrating heavy bunkers as the 105 and 149mm would be. This would be more important if the Wilno forces had a layered defense and could let the 105&149s hit air , but I think they are too thin to manage that.

Nice to see communications issues for the Wilnos. Runners have their limits, wires get cut, and cohesion dissolves.
Tankettes are interesting in this period. Here, against a basically WWI equipped foe..they really do the role folks imagined for them in the early 1920s- mobile MG nest. The little Dutch tankettes, with their amphib capacity and 13mm MG in a copula should work fine until ATRs / light field art are encountered, but would fare much like the Atlanteans did against more modern defenses. I think moving forward they will be relegated to a supporting role, but a success here should keep them in the marine inventory.

The other issue I wonder about is air power. How would the armies of the day intepret the effects of tactical air support after this preview? How much would the lack of opposing fighters matter? Would folks just wave off the Wilno's as irregulars? Or would they take a hard look at the TO&E and decide some light mobile AA needed to be fitted in ? Right now the Dutch To&E has a mere 4x23mm at Regimental level, with only 24 at division level. Granted, the 13.2mm HMGs can be used in some cases, but I'm inclined to believe that shifting down that AA section to Battalion level, and placing some 40mm pieces at Regimental looks justified.

Quoted

Originally posted by Kaiser Kirk
The other issue I wonder about is air power. How would the armies of the day intepret the effects of tactical air support after this preview? How much would the lack of opposing fighters matter? Would folks just wave off the Wilno's as irregulars? Or would they take a hard look at the TO&E and decide some light mobile AA needed to be fitted in ? Right now the Dutch To&E has a mere 4x23mm at Regimental level, with only 24 at division level. Granted, the 13.2mm HMGs can be used in some cases, but I'm inclined to believe that shifting down that AA section to Battalion level, and placing some 40mm pieces at Regimental looks justified.

That's an interesting thought to bring up, and something which I "felt" I've moderately-well addressed up to the present moment... well, until you shared your numbers. I might have to reevaluate what I've got versus what I need, particularly where Bulgaria and Ireland are concerned. I've already got something else in mind for Chile, though.

Dutch Army fields weaker AA than Dutch Marines. The Marines field 18AAGs at Brigade level, but the Irish field 20 at Brigade, and have smaller Brigades.

At the base of my 1933 TO&E I list a comparison to the OTL 1939 German Infantry Divisions, the 24x 23mm the Dutch field is more AA than the Germans did, though no 88s. Substantially fewer MGs, but that is hardly a surprise.

Hmm time for a 1940 OOB

Well, the October 25th, 1935: segement is done and finished and with it the Battle of the Wilno Army of the Northeast vs the II LoN Field Corps is done. Hope everyone enjoyed it.

Now, On to what the I LoN Field Corps is doing!

Whooohoohoohoo, the Army of the Northeast has fallen!

It's incredible that the Wilno cause still has soldiers willing to resist, but that's all to the better - we're bagging them on the field instead of letting them disappear to play guerrilla warfare for two or three more years. Their stubbornness to quit the fight is, in a sense, Lithuania's immeasurable gain - once the Wilno rebels are safely in a prisoner of war camp, Wilno's only real bargaining chip - renewed resistance - has evaporated.

The so-called Republic of Wilno is dead - it's body is just still twitching.

The Chilean embassy will, as a gift, provide the Lithuanian army with a French translation of a book titled The Ejercito de Chile Field Manual for Doctrinal, Strategic, and Tactical Aspects of Anti-Partisan Operations, Second Edition, aka "The Chilean Red and Black Book". Despite its long title, the Red and Black Book has guided Chilean efforts in Bolivia and has largely resulted in an almost total lack of continuing resistance in Chilean Bolivia.

Nationalism is a strong glue, and fighting on your "home" turf powerful. In this case they are trying to carve out a homeland, and had done so. Standing and fighting to preserve it makes some sense.

However with the evaporation of foreign support and the actual commitment of LON forces (ala Korea?) their cause is hopeless.

The question is do they know that yet, and what bargining chips their commanders hope to gain by staying as an army.

As for Partisans..the Dutch have some experience there as well. Partisans *may* spring up to plague the Lithuanian govt, but it's not automatic. The inhospitable conditions of a Lithuanian winter would argue against it..though the Forest people held out against the Russians, then Nazis, then Russians until the late 1940s....in part because the various armies went around.

October 25th, 1935: The attack of the I LoN Field Corps - Part 1

Lt.General Jurian van Loon, was forced by the morning darkness, heavy rain and clinging mud to delay his planned dawn attack by an hour. Resulting in the II LoN Field Corps' attack against the Wilno Army of the Northeast developing before the planned attack upon the Wilno National Self-Defense Battalion Cavalry Reserve. This result agitated van Loon's already strained nerves, but his subordinates made use of the enforced delay to adjust the final set-up of their units, and haul forward additional stores of ammunition, fuel and medical supplies. The dutch luitenant-generaal spent much of this time prowled his battle lines, visiting the troops, checking with unit commanders and staffs and surveying the Wilno lines.

Van Loon's plan to attack the Wilno NSD Cavalry Reserve, still under the command of Lt.Colonel Patryk von Kloskowska was relatively straightforward, and offered every chance of success if adequately executed by the units of the I LoN Field Corps. Lt. General van Loon entertained some doubts about his chief tactical commanders, particularly Generals Yvanne Louis Gerard and Jacob Snellensoon's relative inability to work harmoniusly together. Van Loon had more confidence in Colonel Rafail Knev Zhechev by comparison. Zhechev had proven a competent field commander in his own right, and only regretable communications difficulties has stymied van Loon's attempts to co-ordinate, the 1st LoN Field Column's actions alongside the LoN Mobile and the Legion Oranje Brigades.

Van Loon's tactical plans had the 4th and 5th German Reconnaissance Battalions set to hit the Wilno Cavalry's right flank attack, while the 2/1st Belgian Lancers Regiment and 1st Atlantean Reconnaissance Battalion stood poised to attack the Wilno Cavalry's left flank. The 2nd Jagers te Paard Regiment, backed up by the LoN field batteries "Eisler", "Bolkart" and "Leucht" stood read to play it's part against the Wilno Cavalry Reserve's center. Behind the 2nd Jagers, stood the Legion Oranje ready to exploit any tactical advantages won by the attacking units.

1st LoN Field Column meanwhile readied itself to bring the weight of it's own attack upon the Wilno Governmental Defensive Pocket as soon as the Wilno NSD Cavalry Reserve had been swept out of it's way by the Mobile Brigade and the Legion Oranje.

Lt. Colonel Patryk von Kloskowska, wounded and both physically and emotionally exhausted from previous fighting, was not in physically or mentally a fit state to conduct yet another battle, nor for that matter were his thinly spread and equally weary and bedraggled horsemen. Critically short of food, medical supplies, ammunition and above all heavy weapons, the Wilno Cavalry Reserve was not in a position logistically or tactically to offer a sustained resistence to a serious attack. Still, Lt.Colonel von Klowskowska and his squadron and troop commanders worked to offer what resistance they could if attacked.

The 4th and 5th German Recon Battalions approached the Wilno cavalry lines cautiously, both Lt.Colonels Krebs and Luck directed their men in making maximum use both the forested terrain and of the morning darkness and heavy rains to screen their attack until the last minute. the 75-mm cannon equiped LoN Field Battery "Bolkart", under the command of Oberfaehnrich Wieland Bolkart stood ready to offer supporting fire upon request.

The 2/1st Belgian Lancers Regiment and 1st Atlantean Reconnaissance Battalion with a similar combination of stealth and caution made their own approach upon, the Wilno cavalry's thin screen of outposts. Or rather, Major jean Piron's Belgian Lancers did, the same could not be said for the Atlanteans under the impetuous Lt.Colonel Tauren Thule. Ever keen to come to grips with the enemy, Thule had fired up his reconnaissance troops with a violently patriotic pre-battle speech and directed his troop commanders to act aggressively, the moment they gained contact with the Wilno troops. Luitenant-Generaal Jurian van Loon, waiting for the battle to start under the direction of Lt.Colonels Krebs and Luck, was stunned to hear the unexpected sound of small-arms fire breaking out, to his far right - von Kloskowska's left flank.

The 1st Atlantean Recon Battalion's vanguard platoon had run smack into von Kloskowska's defensive perimeter. The Atlantean vanguards had easily over-run, the first line of pickets and four man outposts they came into contact with, but then crashed headlong into a well dug in dismounted squadron of Wilno Ulans, with carbines and rifles at the ready. A blazing fire-fight immediately erupted between the Wilno cavalry and the Atlanteans. Men found themselves fighting furiously over scattered clumps of trees, fenced crop fields, rustic cottages and farm houses, criss-crossed with shallow rifle pits and small log and earth field works. As the fighting intensified, the vanguard platoon found itself pushed back upon it's supports. Thule, baffled by the unexpectedly spirited resistance, threw more men and vehicles into the fight, aiming to bust through the Wilno lines. Von Kloskowska likewise feed more troops from his own tactical reserves into the developing battle, strengthening his left flank. The 1st Atlanteans found their advance blocked, three follow-up attacks failed to pierce the Wilno Ulans position.

Major Piron, just as surprised as van Loon on hearing the intense firing, realized that the Atlanteans in their over rapid advance had instead of striking the Wilno position directly as planned on the flank, had in fact slammed straight into it. Piron promptly ordered his leading troops of lancers to dismount and make immediate contact with the Ulans on foot. Further Piron ordered one of his squadrons to remain mounted and try and find a way around the Wilno Cavalry Reserves's flank. The rest of his troops he momentarily held in check, until he could develop a reasonable view of the tactical situation that was emerging before him.

A forward observer sent along with the reconnaissance battalion by Faehnrich Franz Leucht, immediately and on his own initative called down 75-mm fire from his parent battery in support, of the snarled up Atlanteans

For those interested, and who still may require their Wilno Crisis fix, the newest installment of that saga continues, with a revision & completion to October 25th, 1935: The attack of the I LoN Field Corps - Part 1. Stay tooned, I hope to have the Part II up, sometime on Tuesday or Wednesday circumstances permitting.

October 25th, 1935: The Attack of the I LoN Field Corps - Part II

Lt. Colonel Patryk von Kloskowska, tried to make sense of the reports now flooding in to his temporary headquarters in a small village school. He knew that elements of at least one, LoN battalion had engaged his left flank. The fact that this battalion had been identified as Atlanteans indicated that the Cavalry Reserve was being hit by elements of the LoN Mobile Brigade, which was not a comforting thought given how roughly the Mobile Brigade had handled the Wilno Cavalry Reserve in action previously. Von Kloskowska, however expected the other shoe to drop shortly, the Atlanteans could not be ment to attack his position in isolation.

General de Brigade Yvanne Louis Gerard, was as nonplussed as Luitenant-Generaal Jurian van Loon, at the way things had gone - the hotheaded Lt.Colonel Thule, had managed to wrong-foot the Mobile Brigade, yet again. Nevertheless, Gerard worked to grasp this particular nettle firmly. Gerard ordered Lt.Colonels Anton Krebs and Fritz Luck to commense their own attack as quickly as circumstances directed, to relieve the pressure on the 1st Atlantean Recon Battalion. The 105-mm guns of LoN Field Battery "Eisler", under Oberfaehnrich Raimund Eisler, were released to support the two German reconnaissance battalions. De Vries, was ordered to ready the 2nd Jagers te Paard to advance on short notice. Gerard, was in the midst of trying to contact Major Piron and his Lancers, when a red-faced and nearly irate Lt.General van Loon burst into his headquarters, and demanded to know what was happening with the Mobile Brigade. Gerard, only just managed to calm, the increasingly wrathful dutchman.

The 4th and 5th German Reconnaissance Battalions, with their dismounted motor fusiliers in the lead, closely followed by their armoured cars, picked their way through the muddy, waterlogged Lithuanian countryside. The abundance of trees, and hedges hindered their advance but along with the intermitent rain and fog, shielded their approach. Krebs's battalion working from pre-battle scouting, managed to work it's way around the Wilno Cavalry Reserve's right flank, without being initally noticed by the Wilno Ulan pickets. Luck, found that his battalion had suffered from the same terrain and weather induced drift that had partially caused Thule to wind up hitting the front of von Kloskowska's left flank rather then it's edge. Luck however decided to take advantage of the situation and launch a spoiling attack to cover, Krebs's movement.

Using rapid fire-and-movement tactics, the German motor fusiliers and armoured car crews, proceeded to bull their way through the thin, Wilno picket screen, and hammer any Wilno resistance points. Leutnant Christoph von Langhausen's heavy armoured car platoon quickly emerged as the bullies of the battlefield, blazing away with automatic cannons and machineguns. Wilno Ulans scattered before them, armed as they were with only carbines and with only a handful of AT rifles and or even grenades, the armour plated vehicles rolled on oblivious to bullets and shrapnael raining off their steel flanks and seemingly invulnerable to harm.

Lt.Colonel Patryk von Kloskowska recieved this unpleasant news, just as 105-mm shells began to rain down on his headquarters. The Wilno commander now knew his command would come under increasing pressure, both his flanks had come under serious attack, and while the left was holding, dispite increasingly heavy fighting, and the right was being vigourously probed. Other then artillery fire, nothing had yet suspiciously happened on his central front, and this worried, von Kloskowska, almost as much as the developing attacks on his flanks.

October 25th, 1935:

President Kazys Grinius, glanced over the proposal for the formation of a lithuanian national air lines corporation. The idea seriously intrigued both him, and his cabinet ministers, however budgetary constraints for the year, made it unlike that the proposal would be immediately acted on. An infusion of outside, probably foreign capital would be essential in the coming years, to even try and get Lithuanian Air Lines off the ground. Grinius, rubbed his eyes tiredly and put the proposal down and reached for the next file folder in his In Box.

The door to his office suddenly opened. The Presidential secretary entered the room diffidently, and bowed.

"Yes?" Grinius mumured, looking up from the accumulation of paperwork that demanded all too much of his time and energy these days.
"Sorry, to interrupt you, Your Excellency, but Silvestras Žukauskas has arrived."

President Grinius, blinked absently for a minute, his mind befuddled by facts, figures and governmental or bureaucratic accountings then shuck himself, he'd made a point of asking the man to come round to the Palace today to interview him about a special military assignment.
"Thank you. Please, show him in at once."

Silvestras Žukauskas was perhaps Lithuania's most distinguished son, born in 1860, he had attended the Vilnius Military Academy, enlisted in the Imperial Russian Army as a cavalryman, seen action in both the Russo-Japanese and Great Wars, and climbed to divisonal commands and the rank of major-general in 1916. Highly decorated by the Russians he went on to fight for his native Lithuania when it proclaimed it's independence, serving as first the chief of the Army General Staff. He'd organized Lithuania's vigorous defense against the Bolsheviks, Bermontians, German Freikorps and Poles. Three times he'd been named Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian Army, to met national crisises in 1919 and 1920 and again in 1921. General Žukauskas worn out by then from his hard service had retired that May, in 1921.

Žukauskas, yet again decorated and loaded with honours, returned to civilian life. His civilian career compared to the violent activity of his military career , turned out to be rather quiet. Silvestras Žukauskas , unexpectedly took a job as an executive with the then newly formed American-Lithuanian Company. An enterprise that was involved in the construction and operations of a power plant near Šiauliai, a bus transportation line, and various gas stations and maintenance garages. he'd only returned to military duties on two other occassions following his 1921 retirement. Yet again, the Seimas had asked him to serve as the Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian Army from 1923 to 1928, whereupon the Grand Old Soldier of Lithuania had promptly retired again.

Grinius, watched as the grey haired, stiff-backed and soldierly old man walked across the floor towards him. Grinius sincerely hoped that the 75 year old veteran was up to yet another recall to active duty. Grinius rose from behind his desk and walked round it to greet the only other man - the first in fact, until 1935 - to hold the rank of Field Marshal in the Lithuania Republic's history.

"Marshal Žukauskas, it's an honor to met you again."
Žukauskas took the offered hand, his grip was steady and firm, dispite his age worn face. He took the offer of a seat in front of the president's desk, and quietly waited for Grinius to resume his own.

"It has been a while since the first Seimas, mister President, although I doubt it has changed much - parliments never do, the names and faces change but not the antics and agendas." Žukauskas remarked sardonically. Grinius found himself grinning back at the old man's bantering tone, dispite himself.
"Yes, I suppose they do."

President Grinius considered his next words with some care, Žukauskas waited for his president to speak his mind with a quiet, patient air. Grinius considered briefly whether he should phrase what he needed to say, ask really as either an order or as an appeal. He wasn't sure which would work most effectively with Field Marshal Silvestras Žukauskas, and that was the truth of it. Grinius decided to go for bluff honesty.

"Field Marshal Žukauskas, I want you to accept the position of Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. I'm very much afraid, that your country requires your services again." Grinius finally said without embellishment or rambling explanation. Silvestras Žukauskas stared back at President Grinius, his serious, almost sleepy eyes widenly slightly with total astonishment.

"Your, Excellency, I am a soldier, and a patriot, and if Lithuania requires my sword, then I will gladly offer it, and do what I can." Žukauskas paused for a long moment, then waved a white gloved hand.
"Are you sure about this? I 'm also 75, and some might object to me accepting such a position." Silvestras Žukauskas splendid in his bemedalled and sashed dress uniform, rested his gloved hands on the hilt of the golden sabre. The honor weapon, had been awarded to him by the Tsar for his defiant defense of Šiauliai, during the Great War.

"Some in the Seimas, might object on that ground, yes. However I've discussed it with the party leaders, with the heads of the armed services, and they are all agreed. You are the best cantidate for the post. Pranas, in point of fact, refuse the appointment point blank when I offered it to him, the other day. The only other person who has the experience to be offered the job, is Antanas Smetona...and he is just not a politically acceptable cantidate with either my Cabinet or the Seimas at the moment."

"I see." Field Marshal Žukauskas, murmurred almost to himself. "Well, I don't blame him, he's got his hands well and truely full, just managing the army. That was certainly the case when I was Supreme Commander, and I doubt it's gotten anything but steadily more complicated with all the reforms and re-organizations underway."

Silvestras Žukauskas shuck himself, smiled ruefully then stood.
"Well, your excellency, if you have a need for one slightly less then mint condition, field marshal, that marshal is at your disposal, and awaits his orders." Grinius stood in response, and reached across his desk, taking the old man's hand and shaking it with both hands.

"Thank you, Field Marshal. Thank you, indeed." When Grinius broke the hand clasp, he reached for a bundle of folders in a side drawer, and indicated a map of Lithuania on the side wall of the office, and walked with Žukauskas over to it. He handed the field marshal one of the folders - marked secret - he immediately broke the tape sealing it, and quickly perused it's contents.

"Now this is the current situation, marshal..." Grinius began at his side. Silvestras Žukauskas stood and listened, letting the details, numbers and facts wash over him, as his mind anaylsised and tackled the military problems that now challenged his country.

The Banque de Paris et des Pays Bas, once peace is restored in Lithuania, is quite willing to offer their financial assistance to assist Lithuania in setting up the Lietuvos Avialinijos.

[SIZE=1](As we discussed already. )[/SIZE]

can provide technical assistance.

October 25th, 1935: The Attack of the I LoN Field Corps - Part III

Lt. Colonel Patryk von Kloskowska quickly found his situation becoming more desperate by the minute, as his positions were being violently if lightly shelled, by field artillery to which he could not respond. Further his flanks were now being warmly pressed by League of Nations troops, and his threadbare lines threatened to collapse. Within thirty minutes of the first fire fight begining, that is in fact what happened. Krebs and Luck's steady and competent handling of their troops had nawed away at von Kloskowska's right flank. Von Kloskowska found he could only could only shore up his position by ordering the squadron holding his right to "fight as if it had been nailed there." He then hurriedly formed a new battle line with his last remaining reserves, his headquarters quards, scouts and guides and whatever else he could scrape together. This new line bent back from his center units, forming new flank behind and at an angle to his old one. The Wilno cavalry commander had formed this denyed flank not a moment to soon, as Krebs crashed the full weight of his battalion against the already shaky right flank - which promptly went to pieces! Wilno Ulans began to fall back without orders and without discipline. As they sheered away like so much chaff before a breeze before the briskly advancing Germans.

Lt.Colonel von Kloskowska had to endure the sight of this undignified route of part of his command, as he galloped up to direct the positioning of his new battle line. Now it was von Kloskowska's turn to inflict a violent check on the German advance. Ordering his dismounted Ulans to hold their fire until the last minute, the Wilno troops unleashed a searing fire into Lt.Colonel Krebs's battalion's own flank as he advance to keep contact with the fleeing Ulans to his front. Anton Krebs, a steady, capable soldier was not one to be baulked by the unexpected. While his leading Motor Fusiliers took a maulling as the Ulans hammered them with small-arms fire, he lead the battalion's armoured cars to the rescue. Lt.Colonel Fritz Luck, also recognized what was happening and shifted several platoons of his own motor fusiliers to help Kreb's stablize his position, neither German officer contemplated a retreat: they knew, the Wilno troops were close to breaking apart completely.

Back on the embattled Wilno Cavalry Reserve's left, things were going no better. Major Jean Piron, had finally - after taking the time to sort out the situation - lead his dismounted Belgian Lancers forward at the run to aid the Atlanteans. They were not a moment too soon, as the action hung in the balance. The Wilno Ulans crumpled before the renewed Atlantean and Belgian assault on their sketchy lines. Slowly at first hardly noticable, the Ulans began to fall back here and there. Then after some minutes, the Wilno soldiers began to throw in the sponge, retreating in both as individuals and as small units, making use of whatever cover the terrain they had been fighting for offered. A grim von Kloskowska, knew his position was on the point of disintigration, he knew only one more push by the enemy, and his NSD Cavalry Reserve, was done. General de Brigade Yvanne Louis Gerard, commander of the LoN Mobile Brigade had the same feeling, and decided to act on it. The order was given: 2nd Jagers, advance!

De Vries, lead his Jagers te paard forward at the Wilno Ulans, at a dead run. A ragged, unsteady fire, met the charging light infantry, and while bullets found their mark, and droped men both wounded and dead, it didn't stop them. Von Kloskowska's center broke before, the 2nd Jagers attack before it even reached the Wilno lines. Lt. Colonel Patryk von Kloskowska was shot through both the shoulder and the leg, as he whirled into the fight sabre in hand, shouting himself hoarse trying to rally his fleeing troops. A non-commissioned orderly managed to grap the bridle of the stricken von Kloskowska's mount, and lead the badly wounded commander to safety through a perfect storm of bullets. Gerard seized the moment and order all his units to advance, it was essential to press the retreating Wilno and run them down, or send them flying beyond any ability of their officers to recall them to their posts. Gerard sent a request to Brigade-Generaal Snellensoon, to bring up his Legion Oranje at the double quick, they would be needed to strike the next blow.

October 25th, 1935:

President Kazys Grinius, surveyed his cabinet, the Lithuanian Council of Ministers. Grinius was painfully aware, that his regime had come to lift less then two months ago, and was as shaky now as it was at it's birth. His government head sway over the Seimas by the single virtue that it held eighty-four of the one-hundred-and-fourty-one seats in the Parliment, due entirely to a gimcracked coalition of four often bitterly divided and disagreeing parties. The Lithuanian Democratic Coalition, formed from his own Democratic Party, Christian Democratic Party, Democratic National Freedom League, and Civic Democratic Party were the balance of power in the Seimas, and even on their best days they couldn't agree on the colour of an orange!

President Grinius, often wondered in private just how long the coalition would actually hold together. The first serious crash on military or economic issues would undoubtable shake the government apart. Still, his cabinet was reasonable solid, composed of men of with good experience of government and not inconsiderable administrative talent. With that thought in mind, he turned back to the table and his expectent officers of government. These dozen men held along with him, the reins of Lithuania's government, it was a sobering thought.

Prime Minister Jurgis Saulys, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bartus Kalvis-Haack, Minister of Interior Affairs Marius Ivinskis, Minister of National Defense Field Marshal Pranas Tamassaulo, Minister of Agriculture Adomas Bernotas, Minister of Education & Science Eduardus Galdikus, Minister of Finance Donatas Bartkus
Minister of Justice Samuelis Paukikas, Minister of Social Security & Labour Jonas Vileisis, Minister of Transport & Communications Vladis Landsbergis, Minister of Health Raulis Marrus, and the Presidential Secretary Aldas Valters.

"Very well, gentlemen, Field Marshal Silvestras Žukauskas will be joining us presently, he wanted to consult with the service chiefs-of-staff, to bring himself fully up to date." Grinius remarked.

"I thought the Field Marshal said, your briefing to him this morning was quite complete?" Saulys asked looking slightly surprised. Grinius nodded, before continuing.
"It was, however, Zukauskas considered it essential to touch base with the military staffs, to get their personal views before proceeding. Not everything makes it into the reports and memos, after all. Some things can remain unsaid."

Nods of agreement occured around the table, they were all familiar with the ins and outs of administration. Grinius turned to Field Marshal Tamassaulo, who sat straighter in his chair, as the president's gaze fell on him. Grinius supressed a frown, Pranas Tamassaulo, struck all who met him as an energetic man, the last few weeks, that energy had seemed to fade a bit. Tamassaulo, since taking over the Ministry of National Defense, had driven himself hard to master the problems before his government, and it was begining to show. Tamassaulo, looked if anything tired, and increasingly age worn - which wasn't all that surprising for a man who had been born in 1880, and then spent the whole of his life in the army.

"Pranas, I know we've gone over this before, but I think it is vital that we have a decision on the military expansion programs." Tamassaulo looked frustrated but resigned at his president.
"Yes, your excellency."

Field Marshal Tamassaulo rose, slowly from his chair, and started to addressed the Council, Field Marshal Silvestras Žukauskas quietly entered the presidential office. Tamassaulo saw him, and began to stop speaking, Žukauskas gestured for him to continue, as he walked round to take a seat beside the president.

"Discussions between the Ministries of National Defense, Finance and Interior Affairs have made it plain, that it is in the country's best interests to put the breaks on the military troop mobilization tabled by both President Smetona, and Minister of Defense Liatukas." Tamassaulo said without rancour, gesturing to his colleagues, before continuing in the same steady tones. "Further, Foreign Affairs, has made it plain that these same mobilizations are rattling the nerves of some of our neighbours, and it would highly advisable to settle those as quickly as possible."

"To that end, the Ministry of Defense is ordering that the I, II, and III Line Brigades in the Antanas Line be demobilized within the next month. They will be replaced with detachments from the 1st and 4th infantry divisions, until the LoN is able to settle the situation in Wilno and a finally settlement is reached."

"The Lithuanian National Guard, will be reduced to roughly their original strength of twenty-three battalions. Although it has been deemed advisable by several army staff studies to maintain at least some additional thirty-eight independent companies for rapid mobilization in the event of military crisis or mass civil disorder. At the Ministry we're still looking into what would be the best arrangement for the National Guards' organization and tactical deployment."

The council digested Field Marshal Tamassaulo's remarks, quietly, then the prime minister Jurgis Saulys, spoke aloud again.
"What of the other divisions being mobilized?"

Field Marshal Silvestras Žukauskas suddenly picked up that particular gauntlet before Tamassaulo could respond.
"I've ordered the mobilization of the 3rd, 4th and 5th cavalry divisions suspended for the present. The same has been done with the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th infantry divisions. As they are primarily at cadre strength this isn't a great problem and demobilizing them over the next three months will be no great administrative difficulty. Although, I think we should give consideration to the viability of continuing with the full scale formation of at least the 5th and 6th infantry divisions."

"What about the rifle divisions?" Saulys went on sharply, his distrust of the Lithuanian Rifle Union, was obvious to all the Council of Ministers and his President. Saulys tone dripped acid, and bordered on the insulting. It was certainly not lost on the newly appointed supreme commander of the Lithuanian armed forces. Silvestras Žukauskas however was made of sterner stuff the most and wasn't a man to be baulked by a self-important, sharp tongued politican.
"The Lithuanian Rifle Union, has made clear that they will serve Lithuania and it's government in any capacity that is within their abilities. However, they have also made it clear that, they do not approve of this government. A large proportion of their mobilized membership, which represents by the way, some fifty-thousand riflemen, have asked to be released from service to return home, to help with civil projects as part of the reconstruction programs."

Prime Minister Saulys face curdled at Field Marshal Žukauskas's perfectly polite but coolly voiced words. Of course the import of his words, would have done that equally as well. Hm, Grinius thought mordauntly, these two are developing a certain chemistry - council meets are going to be a lot livelier, then previously if that were possible. Žukauskas continued in the same grave tones, drawing everyone in the room's attention back to him.
"With that in mind, it is likely that we will have to forgo formation of at least some of the planned rifle divisions. That said, at least ten thousand Lithuanian Rifle Unionists have agreed at present - I will add - to stay on, to form the main rifle contingents of the 1st and 2nd rifle divisions should we decide to accept their offer." the Field Marshal, paused a moment. "I for one, would consider it useful to at least serious consider taking them up on that pledge."

October 25th, 1935: The Attack of the I LoN Field Corps - Part IV

With Lt.Colonel Patryk von Kloskowska's cavalrymen falling back before the Mobile Brigade in total disarray, Colonel Rafail Zhechev, proceeded to make his own advance. The 1st LoN Field Column, composed of 2nd Battalion/8th Turkish Infantry Regiment (Major Cemal Denir), 6th Turkish Independent Armoured Car Company (Captain Sunay Seuket), 2nd Dutch Royal Guards Dragoon Regiment (Colonel Herman van Voorst tot Voorst), 2nd and 4th Battalions /Civil Watch Corps (Lieutenants Jerome Westerbaen and Klaas Tallien) and the LoN Field Batteries "Hadschieff" (Oberfeldwebel Horst Hadschieff, 3 x 76.2-mm guns, 1 x 76.2-mm howitzer) and "Stadloben" (Oberfaehrich Karl Hendryk Freiherr von Stadloben, 4 x 75-mm guns) and the Dutch Guards Cavalry Support Artillery Battalion (Major Martin Lauritz Van Hout, 16 x 75-mm pack howitzers, 4 x 45mm ATG, and 4 x 23mm AAG). The dozen Turkish armoured car contingent, was strengthed by the addition of the 2nd Dutch Guards Dragoons reconnaissance company which comprised of 16 PA-IV armored cars.

The 1st LoN Field Column, moved initally with some slowness, hampered by the fog, rain and mud, and wooded terrain. Still all things considered the 1st LoN Field Column made good progress, and the men were in excellent spirits. Colonel Zhechev, had the column deployed with the 2nd Dutch Guard Dragoons on his left, with the 2nd Battalion/8th Turkish on his right, alongside the 4th Civil Watch Battalion. The 2nd Civil Watch Battalion, was in reserve behind, them, along with the 6th Turkish Armoured Car Company, and the field batteries.

Wilno Major-General Boleslaw Guttowa in command of the Wilno Governmental Defensive Pocket, faces the wet, fog ridden dawn with increasing apprehension. The sounds of violent and intense fighting to the southwest, west and northwest of Vaskes have been reported to him. Guttowa, is deeply concerned about his ad hoc command's ability to fight and hold their ground in the face of a serious League of Nations Task Force attack. The badly maulled remaining elements of the 1s, 2nd, 3rd and 5th National Self-Defense Wings, the relatively intact 4th NSD Wing and the operational guns left to the NSD Artillery Reserve formed his command. Marshal Letowska, has publically expressed his complete faith the men defending the Wilno Republic's offices of government, Major-General Guttowa is not however not quite so sanguine. In every military and logistical particular, his men are critically under supplied, except in regards to enemies.

Colonel Zhechev, plans to probe, the Wilno Governmental Pocket's perimeter cautiously until he is sure of both it's depth and relative strength. A rash head-on-attack without adequate tactical reconnaissance is not in even in Zhechev's mind, he made it crystal clear to his battalion commanders, that he expected them to use caution. With his driver, Corporal Lazare de Vaux, and his senior aide-de-camp, Oberleutnant Hans Geering beside him, Zhechev moves towards the front.

As luck would have it, Lieutenant Klaas Tallien, and the men of the 4th Civil Watch Battalion, are the first to come in contact with the Wilno defense lines. Pushing forward a heavy force of skirmishers, Tallien's battalion practically runs down, Guttowa's outer most string of outposts and pickets. Tallien mindful of his instructions, keeps his men in check, and continues to advance at a measured pace. The Turkish soldiers of the 2nd Battalion/8th Turkish, also bear down on the Wilno's northern lines, keeping up with the flanking Civil Watch battalion, dispersing Wilno pickets as they move forward. The Dutch Guard Dragoons, also make good progress, although they are soon snarled up in an area of heavier woods, just to the north of Vaskes, where they find themselves engaged unexpectedly by a strong force of Wilno self-defensemen. Maj.-General Guttowa, had thrown forward a company from the 2nd NSD Wing, to reinforce his faultering line of outposts. These advancing soldiers promptly collided with the dismounted and advancing Dutch cavalry, and a fierce, blazing fire-fight quickly erupts amidst forest and thicket. Dutch cavalry carbine fire, is soon joined by their infantry mortars and light horse artillery. The Wilno self-defensemen responds as best they can with an assortment of rifles and carbines, and a handful of light machineguns.

Zhechev, orders Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst, to clear the woods as quickly as circumstance dictate. The Turkish battalion, makes contact with the Wilno lines. Major Denir's leading platoons are driven back, when they attempt to enter the outskirts of northern Vaskes, their inital probes are savagely blocked again and again. Maj.General Guttowa has hurriedly directed the 5th NSD Wing to blunt the dangerous Turkish advance. Colonel Zhechev orders the Turkish armoured cars, to come forward, to support the Civil Watchman and the Turkish infantry. Oberleutnant Geering, moves quickly to bring the field batteries into an advantageous supporting position.

Seven field guns, and one field howitzer came up at the double, and were soon wheeling into battery, under the direction of their commanders. Men and horses, sweated and heaved, struggling to pull the heavy pieces through the mud, over rough ground. Gun breeches snapped open, fixed rounds were withdrawn from their carrying limbers, gunlayers worked their sights, as their gun captains called out ranges and degrees of traverse and elevation.

"FIRE!" Hadschieff and von Stadloben, yelled.

Eight pieces of field artillery, fired as one: eight rounds of high-explosive screamed down-range into Vaskes. Lt.Colonel Aleksandr Pozarnsky, from the roof of a building, watched the fall of shot. He grabbed a field telephone, and called his nearest gun captains. Three Wilno guns began to respond to the League of Nations artillery. Oberfaehrich von Stadloben, brushed cloying clods of mud and turf from his uniform and field glasses, as the first of the Wilno counter-battery fire began to fall before the LoN gunners. Their first shot was short, their next will be long. Stadloben, thought. The field batteries ignored the Wilno fire and concentrated on hammering, the self-defensemen positions to their front in support of the Turks.

The 4th Civil Watch Battalion, came forward at the run, slamming a hard attack into the 5th NSD Wing. Lieutenant Tallien, had brought his men quickly forward in his own attack to support the faultering Turkish advance. The field batteries fire was giving the Turks time to collect themselves for a more concerted effort. Tallien's unexpected assault helped buy them even more. Major Slawek Kosowski's men recoiled at the civil watchmen's ferocious attack, scattering in panic and fell back into Vaskes. A Furious Guttowa, managed to halt the unordered retreat and stiffened a new defensive line just inside northern Vaskes, with elements of the 3rd NSD Wing. Meanwhile, the 2nd NSD Wing's position was slowly crumbling in the woods, Major Maximilian Bryzska ordered his hard-pressed and nearly encircled advanced company to retire, without consulting Maj.General Guttowa. The Dutch armoured cars, supported by a mounted cavalry squadron, however circled round the bulk of the woods, and fell on the retreating rifle company's exposed flank.

Colonel Zhechev, released the 2nd Civil Watch Battalion to join the fight, with the Dutch Guard Dragoons, Turkish infantry, and other Civil Watch battalion engaged, the Wilno defensive line was being heavily pressed. Zhechev, considering the reports coming in from his field commanders, and what he could see from his own observations, that while the Wilno troops were heavily dug-in within Vaskes, their lines, were not especially well manned nor heavily supported with machineguns or field artillery. Major Denir, lead his battalion forward a second time, companies formed for battle. This time his attack was not rebuffed, Turkish infantrymen fought their way the equivalent distance of two village blocks into northern Vaskes. Savage fighting, often hand-to-hand broke out inside the defenses, across rubble, blasted streets and buildings, and a criss-crossed maze of entrenchments, fox holes, and field works. Westerbaen and Tallien joined forces with the Turkish armoured cars, with supporting fire from the field batteries and made five repeated efforts to enter the Governmental area, each time they were repulsed with heavy losses, dispite great skill and gallantry in pressing home their attacks.

The 2nd Dutch Royal Guards Dragoons, finally disentangled themselves and advanced to support their fellow battalions. Major Van Hout, directed his sixteen 75-mm pack howitzers ruthlessly, hammering every building in sight. Van Hout had his men, roll up the four 45mm anti-tank guns and four 23mm anti-aircraft guns through the streets, using them to provide the Turkish infantry and dismounted Dutch cavalrymen with a devastating close-range artillery support: blasting bunkers and strong points through open-sights. Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst's men made the most spectacular advance of the 1st LoN Field Column, that day. Three cavalry troops and two PA-IV armored cars of the Guards Dragoons fought their way within a single street of General Orbay's Vaskes Central Defensive Pocket.

Maj.General Boleslaw Guttowa, was astonished by this singularly nearly successful action, and made increasingly desperate sorties with whatever units he could cobble together, to try and seal the near corridor, the Dutch had driven through his lines nearly clear through the Wilno Governmental Defensive Pocket. Colonel Zhechev and Colonel van Voorst tot Voorst, were both nearly as desperate to try and shore up, the success. With all the field columns units committed to action, there was no immediate reserve to exploit this startling development. The energetic Oberleutnant Hans Geering, without higher instruction however rose to the occassion, putting together an ad hoc rifle company. Gathering sufficient men from each battalion to form an improvised rifle platoon, and three Turkish and four Dutch armoured cars, that could be spared from elsewhere. Major Van Hout obliged by adding four of his 75-mm pack howitzers to provide the four platoons with some artillery support. A slightly bemused Colonel Zhechev, sent forward at the double quick, Field Company "Geering" to reinforce the increasingly isolated Dutch cavalrymen.

October 25th, 1935: The Attack of the I LoN Field Corps - Part V

Oberleutnant Geering's field company, arrived in time to reinforce the Dutch Guardsmen, just as Maj.General Guttowa directed a vigorous counter-attack with several rifle platoons, supported by four of Pozarnsky's artillery pieces against them. Gun fire raged back and forth across a few narrow yards of ground, as the Dutch Guardsmen and their supports tried to press forward, while Wilno Self-defensemen fought equally hard to prevent them from gaining any ground. Geering fel shot through the neck and shoulder, mere feet from the outer edge of the LoN defensive perimeter in central Vaskes.

Unable to make further headway, the men of the 1st LoN Field Column were forced to retire, back the way they had come. Fierce skirmishing resulted as the Wilno troops tried to over run the retreating LoN troops, but a heavy covering fire from Van Hout's redeployed pack howitzers, allowed the sub-column to withdraw in good order. Colonel Rafail Zhechev order the 1st LoN Field Column to halt in place, and consolitdate. The blazing fight amidst forests, farms and buildings was thoroughly disorganizing his advance, units were intermingled, disordered and vital communications and co-ordination between the main units was threatening to breakdown. Further the 1st LoN Field Column had expended a considerable part of it's available stock of munitions. Resupply particular of the artillery batteries was becoming an urgent matter.

Colonel Zhechev decided to wait until he had his men once more firmly in hand, his artillery massed and his logistics complete before making another attack. His probes, had convinced him and his staff, that the Wilno defenses while physically strong enough to defy anything but a serious attack, although they were not as well manned or well supported at every point. A well planned, well supported and sustained effort would break them.

The Legion Oranje, crawled forward through the halted ranks of the LoN Mobile Brigade. The Legion tank battalion, composed of FT-17 light tanks, heavily supported by infantry and field artillery, drove towards the Wilno lines. Snellensoon directed the bulk of his troops against the perimeter of the Wilno Governmental Defensive Pocket, in an effort to support the sputtering attack of the 1st LoN Field Column. Snellensoon, detached a force of two platoons of tanks, two companies of infantry an a supporting battery of artillery to mask Festung Kessel. The Legion's attack hammered the Wilno perimeter for thirty minutes, but although Brigade-Generaal Jacob Snellensoon, made some progress and knocked out or captured several pil-box positions and entrenchments, he found that he could make relatively little headway. The Wilno defenders managed to stall or block each attack, abeit at a heavy price in casualties. Snellensoon and Zhechev conferred on the battlefield and quickly decided that a combined assault by both their commands, offered the best chances of success.

While the attacks of the I LoN Field Corps wound down, the 1st Nordmark Armoured Divisons, under Major-General Hans Enfeldt swung up into Vaskes from the south, linking up with each of the LoN Garrison defensive pockets in turn. Nordmark tanks rolled into the rubble filled streets of Vaskes, supporting infantry following in their wake. Enfeldt, ordered his tank unit commanders to bring Wilno defensive positions as they were encountered under a heavy fire with any and all weapons that they could bring to bear.

Maj.General Ziven Konarski, in Festung Kessel, realized the situation had deteriorated seriously, and made what effort he could to rally his improvised command within the defenses of the former LoN garrison position. Konarski's communications with the other defensive pockets, were sporadic at best. Lt. Colonel Jerzy Cywinska, Wilno National Self-Defense Battalion chief-of-staff merely restated Marshal Letowka's orders to all units to hold to the last cartridge, when Konarski managed to reach Letowska's field headquarters in the Wilno Governmental defensive pocket. Konarski's found that he still had one field telephone line that granted him reasonable communications with Major-General Boleslaw Guttowa's headquarters, but that contact with Major-General Benedek Koberda in the Vaskes Eastern defensive pocket was all but non-existent.

General Kazim Orbay, was pressed by Generalmajor Erik Hansen, Lt.Colonel Halil Gurdal, and Colonel Todor Lazov Krstev for premission to commence attacks by the LoN Vaskes Garrison against Wilno positions opposite them. Orbay, demured however, the reports reaching his headquarters in central Vaskes were fragementary and conflicting. Lieutenant-General Raoul Daufresne de la Chevalerie arrived in the late of the afternoon to confer with Orbay. Much work remained to re-supply and re-fit the LoN Vaskes Garrison before it was fit to launch a finishing assault against the Wilno National Self-Defense Battalion. The I and II LoN field corps would make a combined attack after a short delay, at most no more then forty-eight hours to attend to necessary re-deployments, re-provisioning and re-arming.

The Fliegerfuehrer Lituanen, obliged General Orbay, with a massed air raid upon central Vaskes, the weather had cleared spectacularly and for several hours good flying weather was forecaste over Vaskes. An estimated one-hundred aircraft, squadrons of Do-17s, Bf-110s, and Ju-87s arrived over the Wilno Governmental defensive pocket and hammered it with high explosive and incendary bombs for at intervels through the day. The eastern Wilno position, and Festung Kessel recieved similar treatment from the Luftwaffe and Bulgarian air detachments in their turn.

General Kazim Orbay, contacted unit commanders and ordered a full leadership conference at his field headquarters in Vaskes. It was only when all of them were seated and General Orbay about to begin the meeting, did it occur, that something was amiss. Luitenant-Generaal Jurian van Loon, was nowhere to be found.

October 26th, 1935:

President Kazys Grinius, killed the impulse to sign aloud as he read the handwritten note through for the second time. It was Field Marshal Pranas Tamassaulo's handwritting, very shaky but still surprisingly clear. Grinius, had been shocked to hear that Marshal Tamassaulo had unexpectedly collapsed in his office, that morning. He'd been immediately rushed to hospital of course, Grinius noted with some relief. The doctors initial diagnosis was that the collapse had been brought on by poor diet, overwork and extreme mental strain imposed by the Marshal's determined dedication to his duties and intense work schedule he'd kept since taking the office of National Defense minister.

On the pointed recommendations of the doctors, Tamassaulo had reluctently tendered his resignation. Grinius, felt the loss of the field marshal to his cabinet deeply. Tamassaulo had been a stalwart of the new regime, and done every he could to support the cabinet in making it's decisions and setting it's priorities. Now, President Grinius would have to find a suitable replacement.

Grinius looked up from the note again, at the two men that sat opposite him in the palatial office. His Minister of Interior Affairs Marius Ivinskis, and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Silvestras Žukauskas. Grinius reached across his desk, and passed the note to the field marshal, who read it's scribbled contents gravely. He nodded once, slowly, then folded the note neatly and handed it back to Grinius.

"Gentlemen, your comments?" Grinius finally ventured into the silence that seemed to fill his office.

"This is a terrible development, Mister President, for the Cabinet and the Country as a whole." Ivinskis stated flatly, there was no doubt or equivocation in his voice or expression.
"It isn't exactly ideal for Pranas, either, Minister Ivinskis." Field Marshal Žukauskas remarked with a touch of frost in his voice. Ivinskis, blinked, then realised what he'd said.
"My apologies, Field Marshal. I didn't mean to say this wasn't a tragic situation for Minister Tamassaulo."
Žukauskas nodded silently, slightly mollified by Ivinskis, apologetic tone.

"Deputy-Minister Cepas-Cepaukas has matters in hand, in his chief's enforced absence I understand, but who is going to fill the office of National Defense?" Žukauskas put in bluntedly. Grinius and Ivinskis, shared a wary look, then had discussed this matter before summoning the field marshal to this particular meeting, and neither were entirely sure how he'd react to what they were about to suggest.

"Actually, Field Marshal, I've considered naming you to the post of Minister of National Defense." Grinius said quite flatly. Žukauskas blinked in surprise for a moment, then tilted his head to one side as he considered the notion.
"You'd still retain the position of supreme commander, while holding the ministerial office." Ivinskis remarked quietly, hoping perhaps to sway the old veteran's mind towards the decision to accept the post.

"I see." Žukauskas said gravely, then continued in the same thoughtful tone. "If I accept, would it be acceptable to the whole Cabinet? or the Seimas for that matter?" Grinius nodded in his own turn before answering. "I've discussed the matter with several of the ministers individually, and I will address the matter formally in the cabinet meeting scheduled for later today. Generally the view is that you taking the post, would be very acceptable to the people of Lithuania, and the military services. The Seimas will undoubtable quibble about you holding two important posts at once, but I think we can head that off without too much trouble."

Field Marshal Silvestras Žukauskas, almost gritted his teeth as he turned the matter over in his mind. He'd always been a dutiful soldier, and his country need any reasonable assistance he could lend to it, particularly in this period of crisis. The elderly field marshal suddenly rose from his chair, and saluted his president with military formality.
"Very well, Mister President. I accept."

President Grinius, and Minister Ivinskis both let out a long held breath of relief. Grinius rose from his seat and offered his hand to Žukauskas.
"Thank you, Field Marshal. We realize this is a very really sacrifice - another sacrifice - on your part, and we appreciate your making it."

October 26th - 27th, 1935:

General Kazim Orbay, takes the next two days after the actions of the 25th, to re-organize his battle lines and fine-tune his command arrangements for the coming assault on the last bastions of the Wilno Republic. Further he takes time to compose a short report to the League of Nations Council, to appraise them of the the situation. Military supplies are brought in by air, road and rail. Forward supply dumps and artillery shell depots are created, while the damaged roads and streets leading into Vaskes are repaired as much as material and manpower allow to smooth the follow of munitions to the troops.

The men of the field corps, and the LoN Vaskes Garrison work feverishly to prepare for the assault, which they hope will be the last they have to preform. Fliegerfuehrer Lituanen, likewise prepares with great thoroughness for it's part in the coming battle, all German and Bulgarian aircraft are refited and readied, all supplies are checked and double-checked again. Weather, while prone to bouts of flurries, and sudden drenching rainstorms, promises to be crystal clear and sunny, if however chilly, for the 27th, 28th and 29th.

The 2nd LoN Field Hospital, hurriedly restocks it's supplies of medicines, bandages, and surgerical equipment. They brace themselves for a new flood of casaulties. Improvised wards are cleaned up, and readied. The wounded from previous battles are evacuated and shunted by the now opened lines-of-communications to hospitals in Vilnius, and Kaunas.

General Kazim Orbay, orders all captured Wilno military or self-defense personel, removed from Vaskes|: the majority are shipping straight out by road and rail, back to camps set up form them in Vilnius. General Orbay, requests however, that the captured Wilno Senior officers, be taken by aircraft to Koenigsburg, Germany for safe keeping. The Lithuanian authorities will not vouch for their safety, in the circumstances, if they are held in Lithuania.

Despite continued efforts, no sign of Luitenant-Generaal Jurian van Loon, has been found. Orbay, reports him as missing in action to the responsible League of Nations authorities. The I LoN Field Corps headquarters staff, carefully traced van Loon's movements up til he last made contact with the Mobile Brigade and Legion Oranje staffs. Van Loon made it clear he was going on ahead to check with the 1st LoN Field Column, which was heavily engaged at that time, against the Wilno Governmental District perimeter. Colonel Zhechev confirmed that Luitenant-Generaal van Loon, never arrived at his headquarters, nor did he recieve any message from him by radio or courier.

General Orbay, decides to temporarily brake up the LoN field corps, and divide his force into three field detachments, each assigned deal with a particular Wilno defensive position. General Orbay, takes command of the detachment dealing with the Wilno Governmental District, while he assigns, Lt.General Raoul Daufresne de la Chevalerie to handle the thorny Festung Kessel position. Major-General Hans Enfeldt is detailed to oversee the reduction of the Eastern Vaskes pocket. The final LoN Task Force attack is scheduled to begin at dawn on the 28th of October.

League of Nations Wilno Task Force Order of Battle - October 28th, 1935

Deployed against the Wilno Vaskes Governmental Defensive Pocket: General Kazim Orbay
- 5th Bulgarian Infantry Division: Major-General Theodosi Petrov Daskalov
- 3rd Dutch Marine Brigade: Luitenant-Generaal Henrius Fabius
- 4th LoN Field Colum: Lt.Colonel Halil Gurdal
- LoN Mobile Brigade: General de Brigade Yvanne Louis Gerard

Deployed against the Wilno Eastern Vaskes Defensive Pocket: Major-General Hans Enfeldt
- 1st Nordmark Armoured Division: Colonel ?? ??
- 1st LoN Field Column: Colonel Rafail Knev Zhechev
- 2nd LoN Field Column: Lt.Colonel Wilhelm Berlin
- 5th LoN Field Column: Colonel Todor Lazov Krstev

Deployed against the Wilno Festung Kessel Defensive Pocket: Lt.General Raoul Daufresne de la Chevalerie
- 1st Atlantean Expeditionary Division: Major-General Arikus Patreaus
- 3rd LoN Field Column: Generalmajor Erik Hansen
- Legion Oranje: Brigade-Generaal Jacob Snellensoon

General Kazim Orbay, directs the 5th Bulgarian Infantry Division, 3rd Dutch Marine Brigade, and combined 4th LoN Field Column and LoN Mobile Brigade to completely surround, the Wilno Governmental Defensive Pocket. The Bulgarians cover the west and north of the pocket, while Dutch Marines takeover the east and part of the south. The 4th/Mobile, under General de Brigade Louis Yvanne Gerard, covers the rest of the southern front of the Wilno defensive pocket. Heavy artillery attacks by the Dutch marine artillery, the Bulgarian 1st and 20th field artillery regiments - both regiments fire will be continuously directed by flights of Fw44 observers, by radio and special smoke. Massed air attacks by German Luftwaffe bombers and figher-bombers are prepared for the 28th.

Lt.General Raoul Daufresne de le Chevalerie, surrounds the Festung Kessel, with his three units, the 1st Atlantean Expeditionary Division covers the nearly pulverized Wilno position to the north and east. The 3rd LoN Field Column's units cover the western sections, while the Legion Oranje details it's battalions to cover the south of Festung Kessel. Fliegerfuehrer Lituanen, details a heavy concentration of it's air strength: particularly it's medium bombers, the Dornier Do-17s to bomb, Kessel. Major-General Arikus Patreaus feels keenly his division's lack of attached supporting field artillery. In point of fact, the whole of De le Chevalerie's force is short of artillery, Hansen possesses only one LoN field battery: Oehler's, and the Legion Oranje possesses a single battalion: two field batteries of 75-mm guns, and two batteries of 105-mm howitzers, and a single battery of 75-mm AA guns. Both Patreaus, and De le Chevalerie would welcome the support of the heavier pieces of the 1st Bulgarian field artillery but it is committed to the attack on the heavily fortified Governmental pocket.

Major-General Hans Enfeldt, musters his 1st Nordmark Armoured Division with some care for what will be it's major test in the Wilno Crisis. While many of his staff and unit commanders are upset at the delays, that have prevented the Nordmark division from playing a more active role, Enfeldt is philosophical. Enfeldt's division has suffered numerous engineering and vehicle casualties in it's madcap race to reach Vaskes and help relive the trapped LoN Garrison and Field Headquarters. Some fifty-five armoured fighting vehicles line the roads leading from Vilnius to Vaskes, a liteny of burnt out motors, thrown tracks or jammed firmly in ditches or sunk deep in icy Lithuanian October mud. A futher two dozen tanks suffer from structural or heavy engine damage inflicted by improvised and repeated attempts to free mud or ditch bound comrades. Enfeldt's maintaince staff estimates, that well over half of the two armoured regiments remaining operational tanks have thrown a track at least once during the trip.

Enfeldt is optimistic about his coming attack, combined with his division, he has the support of three battle experienced field columns, the 1st, 2nd and 5th, under Colonels Zhechev, Berlin and Krstev. Their respective troops have met the Wilno troops in battle and more often then not, won. Major-General Enfeldt plans, to use both the LoN field batteries attached to the 1st and 2nd Field Columns, as well as his own division's artillery regiment to batter the Wilno Eastern Defensive Pocket into submission, followed by infantry attacks - with his motorized infantry regiments, and the field column battalions - supported by his anti-aircraft and anti-tank battalions in a close support role. Fliegerfuehrer Lituanen forward observers, factor in air support attacks by the Bulgarian light bombers, while a flight of Bulgarian Fw44s will help direct the combined LoN-Nordmark artillery bombardment.

Major-General Enfeldt divides his two tank regiments into detachments, at General Kazim Orbay's request, to support the field columns both under his command, and those that will take part in other sections of the embattled town. Some of Enfeldt's regimental commanders object to this, claiming that a sweeping, massed armoured attack will achieve greater effect. Enfeldt dismisses this, noted pointedly that the heavy urban and agricultural terrain, the massed debris and rubble piles, bomb craters and the numerous field emplacements, bunkers and entrenchments that criss-cross much of the area both in and around Vaskes, make massed armour, unattractive. In the constricted and churned up ground, armour will be used to better effect in close co-ordination with supporting infantry and artillery.