The Will of the Senate - Senate Deliberations III

[Braden]

I feel that the basic premise of landing a force to the South East of Carthage’s main cities is sound…it will draw the greater bulk of their armies to it.

However, there are several aspects that I am very worried about, not least as I am likely to be attached to the invading Consular army.

Firstly, the Consul stated that he was going to invade Afrika with TWO Consular sized formations, as yet I do not see TWO Consular armies in position. What I do see is ONE Praetorian sized army which sorely requires re-enforcement either before or directly after landing and only ONE Consular army (to which I am attached).

Now, I have stipulated in one of my motions that the invasion of Afrika MUST be with TWO Consular armies and I dearly hope this motion is passed and that the next Consul must abide by it.

For if he does not, I truly hope that our transport ships are kept close by.

My other concern is that I feel that Servius has miss calculated the speed to which Carthage will respond and be in a position to attack his force.

Should his fleet remain close to the Carthaginian coast for a season or two whilst awaiting the Consular armies to be ready then does he, or the Consul, expect the Carthage forces to remain static?

Nay I say! They will see a large fleet off their coast baring troops; they have the same access to spies that we do. They will move a force to await Servius’s landing and all this preparation will be to naught.

This plan has been visualised correctly but enacted poorly. I try not to make a poor reference to the outgoing Consul but I strongly wonder why Servius has actually embarked already?

There is NO second Consular army ready for this invasion….if Servius waits in the sea, on his ships, for such an army to be raised and then marched to a port and then sailed into position…….Gods teeth Senators! Poor Servius will be on the ocean for YEARS Sirs!

I ask the next Consul, whomever it be, to withhold this attack on Afrika until the Republic is fully ready. Until TWO Consular armies are ready to board ships.

As it stands, should one Consular army land near Carthago and Servius’s Praetorian army land near Lepcus Magna, I seriously doubt that we will survive to return to Italia.

As for Senator Servius, he has an able Praetorian legion at his command. It should be put to use aiding the liberation of our Islands before embarking for Afrika.