The price of a mile (Second story in the world war series)

Chapter 22- Day one

With the mad dash the Commonwealth forces have advanced 30 yards before dropping down to take cover due to danger close artillery raining down now. In the mad dash to push the SS back, the Major has ordered in artillery strikes to commence on the German positions.

"Pull back to the town, their going to over run us! Get to the civilian housing, the British won't risk civilian casualties with artillery!" The SS-Hauptsturmführer yells deciding that now is enough on the skirmishing front, and to pull back now for the gory fighting within the town.

Hearing the order, the SS sturmtruppen quickly move back to the roads that are twisting and narrow where. They'll be able to set up in the buildings that leads into the town for gruesome house to house combat.

Seeing the SS fall back, the infantry rush forward into the first sector of the German defense where as. The German patrols have safely made it back into the 2nd line of defense that is the outer most of the town.

Behind the infantry advancement is the big heavier tanks that are the church hills and this time, the British are coming prepared to fight the elite SS that awaits them. As the tankers lead the way in their metal horses up the twisty narrow road.

After another minute of watching them approach, the order is finally given and the gun fire errupts from the housing and the sides of the road where it's forestry. A perfect place for a ambush.

Caught in the cross fire the tanks on the narrow road have no where to go except backwards and forward, so the infantry get into cover. Or the ditches along the road and the 6 surviving tanks of 10 of the platoon quickly pull back so the infantry can fight.

"Stay in cover but fire back! We must get out of this cross fire!" A NCO yells as the first volley of bullets quickly reaches them taking out soldiers who're not quick enough to take cover or weren't cautious enough.

Bullets whistle and whip by or come in with a shriek that follows a sickening thunk of a bullet hitting metal, or flesh. The advance has been halted and the SS continue to pour led down range from their defensive positions.

Ben using the ditches along the road for cover, mutters some curses before he brings his rifle up to aim, then pressing the stock of his rifle to his shoulder. Taking aim for the windows up the twisting roads where the rapid flashes are lighting from, Ben steadies himself then fires.

The bullet screams forward piercing the air and making its journey where it then drops off the bullet missing its target in the window and instead. Had hit the wall below the window. Cursing a little, Ben reaches forward and adjusts his sights to 100 m. Once done he pulls the bolt back and then drives it forward loading a round into the chamber.

Aiming down range again as soldiers hold position and return fire, focusing on the closer threats of the ambush within the forest. All the while the rage of battle surrounds Ben as he aims and then gently squeezes the trigger. Once again a bullet is sent downrange and this time, it smashes into the Mg gunners upper shoulder shoving him back.

With faint yells carried by the wind Ben can just barely hear it over the rage of gun fire and rattling of machine guns, but he knew he hit his mark. Reloading he aims again and fires at another window and that bullet finds its target and Ben has a smile on his face having them zeroed in.

A church hill has came back up the twisty road now and back in range, the church hill opens fire into the forest shooting its mounted mgs, and throwing high explosive into the forest with each cannon shot. Which quickly makes short work of the infantry within the forest and they pull back retreating.

Then slowly advancing forward as bullets are pinging like wild off of the tank, the church hill takes the lead and a dozen paratroopers form up behind the metal horse for cover. Seeing men advancing gets courage into the reserves of Ben and Phillips Company as they now push up with the 78th.