"Victory, victory!"
Deputy Chief of Staff Erich Ludendorff, his face flushed, hurried in from outside, and without watching his step, he tripped on the doorstep, nearly landing face-first.
Thankfully, a quick-reacting guard by his side immediately steadied him.
"General, at 7 a.m., the 1st Marine Division 9th Regiment captured Hanous, and the first and third groups captured Samalayuca!"
Victor, who was having breakfast, jumped up and in a few strides was by the sand table where Chief of Staff Horatio Herbert Kitchener had already planted red flags over the two small cities.
"Samalayuca is about 30 kilometers from Juarez, a typical desert area. If we launch artillery fire here, we could pound Juarez to dust!"
"According to the battle plan, we've secured the northern and western sides of Juarez. To the east is the Rio Grande; if they run, they can only retreat south, along the coastal river."