Swordpoint (2011) Read Free Page B

casualties, exhaustion and low morale. From this it can be assumed that he has no fresh reserves, only a few tired ones, and it is considered that an attack on San Eusebio will cause him to withdraw.
    ‘Suggestions: An assault crossing, the first flight to be silent and at night – launched from points on the near bank opposite San Eusebio to a mile upstream – to cross the highway and seize the far bank and escarpment east and north of the village. All to be undertaken with covering artillery fire, and preceded by an air strike by the RAF. A rapid follow-up in daylight, with tanks, under all available covering fire, to build up the bridgehead, then a rapid advance from the bridgehead to capture San Eusebio.
    ‘Details: Initial attack, at brigade strength, should go in opposite San Bartolomeo Bucelli and Foiano di Miscano, and as soon as the bridgehead is established, a second brigade should pass through towards San Eusebio on D + 1. Rapid consolidation is vital as enemy is bound to throw in counter-attacks from the direction of San Eusebio or further east. Steady pressure could be kept up elsewhere as a diversion.’
    And so on and so on.

    Two days before the idea hadn’t existed.
    It hadn’t merely sprung into existence, however. It was something that had been growing for quite a while.
    The political benefits of capturing Rome exercised a not inconsiderable influence on the people in London, just as its retention exercised an equal influence in Berlin. At first it had seemed that Fascism had been utterly discredited by the fall of Mussolini the previous year, but his rescue from captivity, coupled with the adherence to him of a few disreputable but well-known figures, had brought the Italians, who had thought they had seen the last of the war, back into the fight under the Duce’s tattered banners. So the Italian campaign, which had been intended by the Allies to tie down German divisions, was now doing the opposite and tying down Allied divisions. At Alamein they had quoted Henry V on the emotions of St Crispin’s Day, but that attitude had worn a little thin on the long struggle up the narrow peninsula from Sicily, and Cassino had finally stopped them dead.
    It had been said as long ago as the Boer War – and doubtless even before that – that heights were the key to any military situation, and at Cassino most of them were in the hands of the Germans. Something had to be done to break the deadlock, and it was therefore inevitable that the plan would attract attention. It caught the eye of the army commander at once.
    ‘Where’s this come from?’ he asked.
    His chief of staff glanced at the folder over his shoulder. ‘19th (Indian) Division, sir. I gather it’s actually the idea of the divisional commander, Royal Artillery – Brigadier Heathfield.’
    The army commander was unimpressed. ‘Seems to be assuming a lot about German weakness,’ he observed. ‘Outflanking Cassino with a crossing’s already been tried by the Americans – with disastrous results – and, with the approaches as waterlogged as they are, I shouldn’t imagine anybody’s in favour of trying another until they’ve dried out.’ He paused. ‘But, you know, I think we might use the idea. If nothing else, it’ll keep the Germans too busy to know what else we’ve got up our sleeve. Who’ve they got?’
    ‘Tallemach’s Seventh Brigade, sir. That’s the North Yorkshires, the Yellowjackets and the Baluchis. And Rankin’s 9th (Indian) Brigade, which is the Birminghams, the Rajputs and the Punjabis. 11th Indian’s also in the mountains there. They’re supposed to be earmarked already, but I suppose they could be used if they’re needed.’
    The army commander frowned. ‘We can pull the Yorkshires and the Yellowjackets out and refit them,’ he said. ‘Then send them in again south of the town. Get hold of Corps.’

    ‘You will make a strong thrust across the river towards San Eusebio. More than one crossing should be