NOVPUBAt the headquarters of the Allied Command in Constantinople, the capture of the Bosphorus Strait should have been a cause for celebration after such a great victory; however, the reality was quite the contrary.
After seeing the casualty statistics, no one felt like celebrating.
Because the Russian Army consumed a lot of time in the Ava landing battle, they gave the enemy ample time to react, and the Ottoman Empire had gathered heavy forces for defense.
The consequence of the head-on clashes was heavy casualties. Despite winning the battle with a superior equipment advantage, the Russian Army also paid a significant price.
The staggering number of 30,000 casualties was enough to illustrate the war’s brutality. And if we include the casualties from the Ava landing battle and other areas of combat, the Russian Army’s casualties since the start of the war have already surpassed the 40,000 mark, with close to 10,000 killed in action.
Perhaps this number was not worth mentioning for the Russian Empire, but for the expeditionary force of only 150,000, it was extremely fatal.
The morale of the Russian forces had noticeably decreased, and even victory could not change the sequelae brought by the heavy losses. Even if the wounded were effectively treated, no more than 20,000 Russian soldiers would be able to return to the battlefield.
This meant that from now on, the Russian Army would permanently lose 20,000 troops. In the short term, the Russian forces that could be mobilized numbered only 110,000, and with some required to maintain their hold on the Bosphorus Strait, the maneuverable forces were fewer than 80,000.
As the General of the Allied Command, Arest felt the pressure. He was unconcerned with the heavy Russian casualties; what troubled him was the prospect of the battles ahead.
The Vienna Government’s attitude was very clear, to win victory at the lowest possible cost. Placing a naval officer in the position of the Allied Command was proof of Vienna’s lack of interest in the Asia Minor Peninsula campaign; they had no plans to deploy troops.
As a military man, he never wanted to face defeat. Although the Russians themselves directed the war and Arest was not responsible for it, a defeat on the battlefield would still impact his reputation.
Of course, as a naval officer who did not personally command the war, he could minimize the impact, ensuring it would not affect his career trajectory.
Arest warned, "General Ivanov, your strategic objectives have been exposed, and the enemy is prepared, waiting for you to fall into the trap. Will you continue regardless?"
The word "you" fully illustrated the relationship within the Allied Forces, with cooperation between Russia and Austria being anything but close.
Ivanov’s face changed color, and his expression became somewhat awkward. They had planned to demonstrate their strength to Austria through this campaign, but now it was better left unmentioned.
If it were not for the Austrian Airship Troop showing up at the last minute and striking at the enemy’s morale, the war might still be ongoing.
Strength equates to a voice. Since the Russian Army did not prove itself exceptional in combat, its influence within the Alliance naturally suffered.
Especially in the Allied Command, the fact had already proven the Russian Army’s operational plan was a failure. During meetings, Ivanov’s voice was noticeably lower.
"Your Excellency, we have taken the Bosphorus Strait, the gateway to the Sea of Marmara is open, the Allied forces may enter the Black Sea Strait at any time, and we can launch landing operations more flexibly."
"Not turning back until hitting the south wall," hearing this response, Arest retained the words he intended to say, reorganizing his thoughts.
From their time together, Arest knew Ivanov was not a fool and his military capabilities were considered excellent. The previous wars proved it, as the Russian Army had not made any major mistakes overall.
For him to disregard the actual situation and stubbornly continue with a plan that was clearly militarily wrong could only be due to "political necessity."
Military needs serving political purposes, when it comes to politics, right and wrong are no longer important.
The Tsarist Government needed to quickly secure the Black Sea Strait to ensure domestic trade could proceed smoothly, and therefore the front-line Russian forces had no choice but to press on.
Heavy casualties? No matter, the Russian Empire had a surplus of people, and since Austria was providing the combat supplies, the Tsarist Government could afford the losses.
If the ally was so eager to fight, Arest couldn’t stop them. As long as the Russians were willing to expend lives, the Vienna Government was willing to spend money.
"With your troop strength, to complete the operations planned thereafter might be overly ambitious. Does your country intend to send reinforcements?"
Ivanov nodded, "Yes, Your Excellency. The Ottoman Empire has already reacted, and to take the Black Sea Strait, we need at least 200,000 troops. I have requested 100,000 reinforcements from home, expected to arrive at the front within two months. The only issue now is supplies.
In recent years, the Russian Empire has been financially strained, and the Russo-Polish War has just broken out; currently, we are unable to bear the..."
Upon hearing this response, Arest stood up and turned his back to everyone, as if deep in thought.
Without asking, Arest knew the Tsarist Government was looking to take advantage of the situation again. The so-called 100,000 reinforcements were likely just young recruits.
If he was not mistaken, the Tsarist Government hoped to use this war to train their troops, preparing for the upcoming Prusso-Russian War.
In the eyes of politicians, human life is cheap. The Tsarist Government would likely not mind the casualties if they could use Austria’s supplies to train an elite army.
Half a moment later, Arest gave his answer, "This is beyond my authority. To increase the supply of materials, we must have the consent of the Vienna Government."
Ivanov said somewhat urgently, "Commander, in fact, we do not need the consent of the Vienna Government. If we report additional losses, we can balance the books…"
Letting the Vienna Government decide would involve the diplomatic level. Nations have always spoken in terms of interests, and the Russian-Austrian Alliance is no exception.
This would touch upon the issue of how the spoils of future wars are divided. Ivanov would rather have fewer supplies now than see the Russian Empire pay a greater price later.
The Russian Army has always been used to hard times. The standards for the expeditionary force’s logistics, modeled after the Austrian Army’s supplies, far exceeded what the Russian Army was accustomed to.
In the eyes of many Russian officers, offering such treatment to their grey beasts was entirely a waste. If they lowered the standard a bit and reported more losses, the provisions for an army of 150,000 could suffice for 230,000 Russian troops.
Shortages in weapons and equipment could also be managed. According to Russian practice, when a soldier in the front falls, the one behind can pick up the weapon and continue the fight.
Moreover, a portion of the supplies could be captured on the battlefield. With everyone’s cooperation, the problem would be solved.
Arest’s face changed dramatically. Russians could do that kind of thing, but he dared not.
Franz is very strict with military regulation. Falsifying losses and betraying national interests would land anyone in a military court. The advantages promised by the Russians were like a death warrant for Arest.
"No! General Ivanov, I warn you to let this matter rest, and please do not insult the honor of the nobility!"
Having said this, Arest stormed out, slamming the door behind him. He was truly angry. One wrong step and his doom would be sealed.
It wasn’t easy getting to his current position, and he knew many were watching it from below, ready to take over. Arest had no desire to become a mere stepping stone for others.
As for the "advantages promised by the Russians," Arest couldn’t care less. If someone of his rank were to be a pauper, then how would the officers and soldiers below him survive?
...
At Vienna Palace, looking at the report in hand, Franz felt no surprise. No matter how decayed the Ottoman Empire was, a sinking ship still has three pounds of nails.
The reforms previously initiated by the Sultan Government weren’t entirely futile; at least they trained a modern army. Perhaps constrained by financial means and bureaucratic corruption, the Ottoman Army’s combat effectiveness wasn’t strong, but was the Russian Army any better?
Limited by financial resources, the Tsarist Government’s army was also enduring hardships. The data collected from the front had already shown severe deficiencies in Russian military training.
Two fledgling armies pecking at each other, with the Ottoman Army having the numerical advantage and the Russians the advantage in equipment—it was no surprise that the victory came with heavy losses.
As long as there was no major defeat on the front that would require Austria’s intervention, Franz was satisfied. From Austria’s perspective, it was preferable for the Russian Army to remain weak.
"The Russians wish to use our strength for training, and perhaps later, they will keep rotating their troops, using the need for rest as an excuse.
"The Tsarist Government is desperate. It seems the Prussians have delivered quite the shock to them. What do you think our response should be now?"
The Tsarist Government’s aspiration to open the Black Sea Strait had been subconsciously forgotten by Franz. Compared to the hidden agenda, it was a trivial matter.
In the last Prusso-Russian war, insufficient training of most Russian soldiers was also a key factor leading to their defeat.
Once bitten, twice shy.
The Tsarist Government’s desire to train an elite force was an inevitable outcome. Now, the biggest problem for the Tsarist Government was the lack of funds, and the Near East war presented an opportunity for Russian soldiers to gain experience.
After all, Austria was footing the bill. They only needed to provide the manpower. Regardless of the heavy casualties on the front lines, once the troops have rested and recovered, the remaining forces’ combat effectiveness would undoubtedly not just remain the same but increase.
Prime Minister Felix said, "Your Majesty, it all depends on how much the Russians are willing to pay. Real battle training causes high casualties, and soldiers cannot serve for long periods—they will be discharged in a few years.
"If the Prusso-Russian war does not break out shortly, these soldiers can only pass on their experience. The Russian Army isn’t lacking such experience; the last war only ended a few years ago.
"I think the Tsarist Government wants to foster a batch of qualified officers through real combat. As long as there are enough officers, it wouldn’t be difficult to expand the army at all, and they could also ensure a certain level of combat readiness."
Training officers was what Austria was doing. Amassing a cannon fodder army for the battlefield was meant to provide practice for officers. Otherwise, the campaign in the Middle East wouldn’t have dragged on until now, with Jerusalem still not being captured.
If the Russians wanted to train officers, it wasn’t as simple as it seemed on the surface. This was related to the future direction of European politics, such as increasing the Tsarist Government’s chances of winning in a potential Prusso-Russian war.
...
