novelnext Chapter 1015 1015: The British Fleet Has Surrendered
Chapter 1015 1015: The British Fleet Has Surrendered
Today there's only one chapter, sorry!
......
London War Building, the command center is busy organizing fleet reinforcements.
"I need the 'Queen Elizabeth'." The Minister of Military Supplies spoke with a stern face: "Use it as the flagship, along with 'Warrior' and the 'Iron Duke' class, all four ships."
(The above is the battleship 'Warrior', the 4th ship of the 'Queen Elizabeth' class battleships, completed in 1916)
(The above is the 'Iron Duke' class super dreadnought battleships, the main force in World War I, a total of four ships.)
The Minister of the Navy was surprised: "Sir, these are our main forces defending against the German High Seas Fleet, deploying them to the Mediterranean is not very appropriate..."
"Forget about the Germans." The Minister of Military Supplies interrupted the Minister of the Navy: "The Germans have no time to bother us, even if they plan to challenge us it won't be soon, we must defeat the French Fleet in the shortest time possible, this is the only important matter now!"
Others turned their gaze towards Prime Minister George, they no longer trusted the judgment of the Minister of Military Supplies.
Prime Minister George nodded slightly.
Although the Minister of Military Supplies had made command errors time and again, this decision was correct; the immediate priority was indeed the French Navy, only by defeating it could they suppress the restless colonies, including the German Navy.
But just then, a communications officer let out a startled cry: "Prime Minister, Major General Avis has sent a message, he is prepared to surrender to the French Army, this will be his last contact with us!"
The Minister of Military Supplies quickly stepped forward, shouting angrily:
"No, no, no, he can't do this."
"Tell him, we are assembling the most powerful fleet to reinforce them, we're deploying 'Queen Elizabeth' and 'Iron Duke', a total of six super dreadnoughts, along with other dreadnoughts!"
"We will defeat the French Army, without a doubt."
Then the Minister of Military Supplies added another sentence: "Or he could choose to break through now, we will intercept them at Gibraltar Strait!"
Major General Avis leads the main forces of the Mediterranean fleet, even if completely destroyed in a breakout battle, it is better than surrendering.
This is not just a matter of dozens of warships, it would severely damage the reputation of the Royal Navy.
The staff officer responded and immediately communicated the Minister's intentions.
Yet Major General Avis persisted in his view:
"Sorry, Sir, we have no other choice."
"I would advise everyone, never assume dispatching 'Queen Elizabeth' could defeat the French Navy."
"It's impractical, you have no idea what we've been through, nor how powerful the French Army is, we are completely powerless."
"I'm certain even if the entire Royal Navy were deployed, the result would be the same."
"No one can withstand France; consider reconciling with Shire, that's what you should do!"
Then there was silence, no matter how many telegrams the Minister of Military Supplies sent, it was futile.
Everyone was silent.
The Minister of the Navy quietly looked at the message from Major General Avis.
If General Winter is cowardly and lacks combat experience leading to defeat, is Major General Avis the same?
He is an old soldier who has battled at sea for thirty years.
Where is the problem?
Major General Trunchard seemed to understand, bombers and torpedo attack planes, these new types of equipment left the Mediterranean fleet powerless.
He was even somewhat excited, does this mean the long-unheeded air force is about to become the world's dominant power?
...
Malta main battlefield.
Under the joint attack of the French Navy and bombers and torpedo planes, the 'Duncan' slowly raised a white flag, losing speed amid black smoke.
The bombers diving towards it immediately stopped the assault to seek other targets.
Major General Avis delivered a statement to the fleet via radio:
"To all officers and soldiers of the Mediterranean Fleet, please believe that I did not want to come to this point."
"But as you can see, we have no other choice."
"This is not a matter of continuing to fight, but we cannot fight, our guns, machine guns, and warships, all cannot attack the enemy."
"We have done our best, we have lived up to our honor, to our perseverance, to the Royal Navy."
"However, persisting is now meaningless, make the right choice, God will forgive us!"
This is an educated man, never explicitly mentioned "surrender", yet all spoke of surrender, making everyone feel reasonable, feeling they had no guilt.
Perhaps influenced by Major General Avis, or perhaps due to the pressure of war, or intimidated by the enemy's unprecedented powerful equipment, other warships one by one raised white flags.
Amidst the black smoke, on the azure sea surface, the white flags fluttered gracefully, creating a harmonious color palette, making it hard to believe just recently it was a bloody battlefield.
French destroyers and torpedo boats shuttled between the battleships and cruisers, French sailors stared in dismay, unable to believe such a massive fleet had surrendered to them.
No exaggeration to say, before the battle they had prepared for sacrifice, but the situation suddenly reversed unbelievably.
The whole affair felt like a dream, the sailors even forgot to cheer for victory, only staring blankly at the passing warships, and the Royal Navy sailors standing high on the deck, yet with faces of fear.
...
Berlin, Imperial Chancellor's Office.
Prime Minister Albert and 'Armistice Committee' Chairman Eitzberger are urgently restructuring the navy.
When William II fell, the German Navy staged a rebellion, they left their fleet in large numbers to take to the streets against William II and his deceit to the military and civilians.
After the interim government was established, everyone was busy organizing the regime to restore the army's combat strength to fend off the British Army's land assault, neglecting the restructuring of the navy.
Only when needed did they realize a major mistake.
"Is Admiral Scheer willing to return to his former position?" Prime Minister Albert asked.
"Yes, Sir." Eitzberger replied: "He is on his way to Wilhelm Port."
Since Admiral Scheer was William II's most trusted general, he was implicated and dismissed.
Then the interim government discovered, no one could unite the disorganized German Navy except Admiral Scheer, so they invited him back.
"Order the ships to prepare." Prime Minister Albert restlessly:
"We must quickly prepare the fleet for departure."
"The British have declared war on France and launched a fierce attack."
"If we don't hold back the British fleet, do you know what it means, do you know what it means?!"
Of course Eitzberger knew.
If France is defeated, Germany will lose the 'absolute friendly' armistice policy; awaiting Germany will be three enormous reparations.
And possibly more, other countries may follow suit.
Just as the Chancellor was anxious, a staff officer brought a telegram to the Chancellor, looking puzzled: "Prime Minister, they say, they say the French Fleet has won, the British Mediterranean Fleet has surrendered..."