Tramp in Armour by Colin Forbes Read Free Book Online Page B

pasturelands. And whereas Storch saw every evidence of a French collapse in the deserted view ahead, Meyer saw a panorama full of hidden dangers. He was well aware that the Manstein Plan envisaged a. tremendous encircling sweep which would cut off the northern group of Allied armies from the French forces in the south, a sweep which would be completed when they reached the sea, but it seemed to Meyer that this plan was based on the extraordinary assumption that the Allies would sit back and let this happen. From his Great War experience Meyer knew this to be the assumption of a madman. At any moment the enemy counter-attack would erupt, rolling like a tidal wave against the armoured column's stretched out far ahead of the main German army. He only hoped to God that the counter attack would not materialize behind them. Another instruction came as they approached a crossroads. Storch was waiting in his stationary tank as Meyer arrived. Climbing down out of bis own vehicle he walked over and stood looking up at his general, who spoke first.
    'The spotter plane reports something on the road ahead - it's investigating.'
    'I know.' Meyer took a deep breath, wishing that Storch would come down out of his turret. 'I've been expecting this -there'll be a heavy counter-attack at any moment. May I suggest that we wait here until the infantry catches us up? It might even be wiser to withdraw a few miles - to consolidate.'
    'Why?'
    Storch's voice was silky. He leaned over the turret to examine Meyer, who was at a further disadvantage because the general's peaked cap shaded his face and he couldn't see his expression.
    'Because we have no supporting troops to hold the ground we have taken.' He took another deep breath. 'In fact, what we have taken may mean very little without troops occupying the ground we are rushing over like the Berlin Express.'
    As soon as he had spoken he felt that he had gone too far, but having spoken he was determined not to back down and he prepared to defend himself. In any case, if things did go wrong this might well be a useful conversation to repeat at a military court of inquiry. The general did not reply immediately. Instead, he turned his head sideways, cocking his ear as though listening to something almost beyond the range of human hearing. Storch did have exceptional hearing powers and he attributed these to his total abstinence. Looking up, squinting against the sun's glare, Meyer had a view of Storch's profile now - an arrogant curve of nose, the thin wide mouth, the sharply pointed jaw-line.
    'It sounds like bombing,' the general commented. 'Our Stukas must be taking out the next town. So, you think we ought to stop here do you, Meyer?'
    'Or withdraw to a less-exposed...'
    'May I remind you, Colonel Meyer,' Storch paused, still listening, 'that this Panzer division is under my command, and I, in turn, am responsible to the Corps Commander, General Guderian*, who takes his instructions from General von Rundstedt?'

    * General Guderian, who had carefully studied General de Gaulle's work, 'The Army of the Future', was chiefly responsible for the development of the Panzer divisions. Guderian later took the armoured host to the southern approaches of Moscow.

    Meyer was appalled. What on earth was coming? Surely Storch was not contemplating sending him back to base? He stood stiffly as the awful realization of his tactical error dawned on him. For Storch could easily interpret what had just been said as faint-heartedness in the face of the enemy. Meyer said nothing as Storch continued in the same silky tone.
    'And may I also remind you of General Guderian's orders that the Panzers are to be let off the leash - to push forward as far and as fast as they can while their petrol lasts out?'
    For the first time the general looked down at his GSO as he pulled down his earphones in position, listened, and then lifted them again. His voice was harsher now.
    'It may interest you to know that the spotter plane has