Chapter 0781: The Intentions of the British

"Commander, I personally agree with engaging the German forces in a decisive battle at Canterbury. Here, we do indeed have several advantages. At the very least, we can marshal five armies to confront the Germans' two corps and two marine divisions. The Third and Eighth Corps can fall back to Maidstone to engage a German corps and a marine division. In whichever theater we choose, our numerical superiority will be significant. If we execute this well, we are very likely to defeat the Germans!" General Haig said.

"Even if we concentrate five corps in Canterbury, our total force would still be under a million men. In contrast, the Germans' First and Second Corps, along with their two marine divisions, number nearly 700,000. Our advantage in numbers is limited. Moreover, the Third and Eighth Corps, with fewer than 400,000 men, face off against the Germans' Third Corps and one marine division, which total over 200,000. With 1.4 million men against 900,000 Germans, can we really claim a decisive edge?" General Benson questioned.

General Hamilton nodded, "Indeed, our advantage doesn't seem vast. However, we are fighting on our own soil and can receive reinforcements at any time, while the Germans must cross the Channel. At Canterbury, we can rely on troops from London if necessary. If the situation demands it, I will order reinforcements from London. With their support, we will surely defeat the Germans!"

"Sir, if that's the case, I would suggest secretly drawing two elite corps from London to support the Third and Eighth Corps in eliminating the Germans' Third Corps and Marine Division. We can then concentrate our main forces to strike at the Germans' First and Second Corps, as well as their First and Second Marine Divisions. With this strategy, our chances of victory would increase significantly," General Gough proposed.

Hamilton shook his head, "London only has two elite corps, and for the sake of maintaining stability there, we cannot afford to divert them easily. The Prime Minister and the Minister of War would not approve of such a move. If we take all our forces to the Southeast, what will we use to defend London if the Germans decide to send troops across the North Sea? That could lead to a complete collapse."

A flicker of reluctance passed through Gough's eyes, but he understood Hamilton's reasoning. London, as the capital of the British Empire, must be protected. If London were attacked, the consequences would be dire and could potentially jeopardize the frontlines.

"For now, we will rely on the seven corps at our disposal to face the Germans' three corps and three marine divisions. A force of nearly 500,000 troops is a decent advantage. While I must admit the Germans are formidable, I believe the spirit of defending our homeland will inspire our soldiers to fight with equal resolve. Additionally, I have already ordered the tank divisions stationed in London to reinforce us. With these forces, our prospects remain strong!" General Hamilton asserted.

Although Hamilton appeared confident, Generals Haig, Benson, and Gough remained unconvinced. The British Army's elite corps, though formidable, still lagged behind their German counterparts in terms of overall strength. While the spirit of defending the homeland might embolden the troops, it remained uncertain whether it would translate into decisive effectiveness on the battlefield.

However, none of them voiced their doubts, for undermining Hamilton's confidence would make the forthcoming battle all the more difficult.

Having decided on a decisive engagement with the Germans at Canterbury, General Hamilton hurried back to London to personally present his strategy to Prime Minister Churchill and Minister of War Richard Haldane.

Both Churchill and Haldane expressed approval of Hamilton's plan. They, too, hoped to strike a decisive blow against the Germans in the Southeast. If the battle could be confined to this region and not spill over into London, it would be ideal. Churchill assured Hamilton that if the situation grew dire, he would order reinforcements from London. Additionally, he pledged full air support to ensure the British forces maintained control of the skies, relieving pressure on the ground troops.

Churchill's assurances greatly encouraged Hamilton. Upon returning to Canterbury, he immediately ordered the army groups to begin retracting their defensive lines in preparation for the battle.

Following Hamilton's orders, the First and Sixth Corps withdrew from Margate to Canterbury, while the Second and Seventh Corps moved from Dover to Canterbury. The Third and Eighth Corps retreated from Folkestone to Maidstone, and the Ninth Corps, already stationed at Canterbury, completed the gathering of forces. 

By this point, the British Army had concentrated five corps in Canterbury and two in Maidstone, totaling approximately 1.4 million men. This was the entirety of the British forces in the Southeast. Hamilton's decision to concentrate these forces in Canterbury was a gamble, aiming to determine the fate of the entire campaign with a single, decisive clash.

As the British forces were pulling back from the coastal regions, the German First, Second, and Third Corps were also withdrawing in an orderly fashion. German reconnaissance aircraft, however, were well aware of the British movements. Despite this, the Germans refrained from taking further action, aside from occasional bombings of the retreating British forces.

The British retreat, for the Germans, was a stroke of fortune. The delay it caused in the German forces' landing was greatly alleviated. While British harassment could have slowed their progress, the British withdrawal made things considerably easier for the Germans.

German engineers had constructed makeshift docks at sea to facilitate the unloading of troops and equipment. To assist the disembarkation of heavy equipment, they reinforced the docks with steel plates, enabling tanks, armored vehicles, and heavy artillery to be offloaded smoothly. These measures greatly accelerated the speed of the German landing.

By August 27, the main forces of the German First, Second, and Third Corps had all successfully landed on British soil.