I was a tycoon in World War I: Starting to save France

Chapter 1019 The British Fleet Has Surrendered

Only one chapter today, sorry!
………………

At the War House in London, command is busy organizing fleet reinforcements.

“I need the HMS Queen Elizabeth,” the Quartermaster said gravely. “To use it as the flagship, along with the HMS Warrior and the Iron Duke class, four ships in total.”

(The image above shows the battleship HMS Warrior, the fourth ship of the Elizabethan-class battleships, completed in 1916.)
(The image above shows the Iron Duke-class super-dreadnought battleships, the mainstay of the fleet during World War I, of which there were four.)
The Minister of the Navy was taken aback: "Your Excellency, this is the main force of our defense fleet against the German High Seas Fleet. Isn't it inappropriate to move them to the Mediterranean...?"

"Ignore the Germans." The Minister of Munitions interrupted the Minister of the Navy: "The Germans don't have time for us. Even if they intend to launch a challenge, it won't be any faster. Our only important task right now is to crush the French fleet in the shortest possible time!"

Others turned their attention to Prime Minister George, who no longer trusted the Minister of Munitions' judgment.

Prime Minister George nodded slightly.

Although the Minister of Munitions made mistake after mistake, the decision itself was not wrong. The most pressing issue was the French Navy. Only by defeating it could the restless colonies, including the German Navy, be contained.

But just then, the communications soldier cried out in alarm: "Your Excellency, Major General Aves has telegraphed that he is preparing to surrender to the French army. This will be the last time he contacts us!"

The Minister of War stepped forward, roaring angrily:

"No, no, he can't do that."

"Tell him that we are assembling our most powerful fleet to reinforce them. We are sending the 'Queen Elizabeth' and the 'Iron Duke,' a total of six super-dreadnoughts, and there will be other dreadnoughts as well!"

"We will defeat the French army, without a doubt."

Then the Minister of Munitions added, "Or he could choose to break out now, and we will meet them in the Strait of Gibraltar!"

Rear Admiral Avis was leading the main force of the Mediterranean Fleet. Even if they were all wiped out in the breakout battle, it would be much better than surrendering.

This is not just a matter of dozens of warships of various sizes; it will also severely damage the reputation of the Royal Navy.

The staff officer acknowledged and immediately sent out the minister's message.

But Major General Elvis insisted on his opinion:
"I'm sorry, sir, we have no other choice."

"I would like to advise you all not to think that sending 'Elizabeth' will defeat the French Navy."

"That's unrealistic. You have no idea what we've been through, or how powerful the French army was. We were completely powerless to fight back."

"I am certain that even if the entire Royal Navy were brought here, the result would be the same."

"No one can stand against France. Think about how to reconcile with Charles. That's what you should be doing!"

Then there was no sound, and no matter how many times the Minister of Munitions tried to send a signal, it was to no avail.

Everyone was silent.

The First Minister of the Navy silently read the telegram sent by Rear Admiral Elvis.

If General Winter was defeated because he was cowardly and lacked combat experience, was General Elvis also defeated?

He is a veteran who has fought at sea for thirty years.

What's the problem?
Rear Admiral Trenchard seemed to understand something; bombers and torpedo bombers were the new equipment that rendered the Mediterranean Fleet powerless.

He was even a little excited. Did this mean that the air force, which had always been neglected, was about to become the world's hegemon?
……

Malta is the main battlefield.

Under the combined attack of the French Navy, bombers, and torpedo bombers, the USS Duncan, billowing black smoke and losing speed, slowly raised the white flag.

The bombers that were diving towards it immediately ceased their attack and searched for other targets. Rear Admiral Ives issued a statement to the fleet via radio:
"To all officers and men of the Mediterranean Fleet, please believe me, I do not wish for this to come to this."

"But as you can see, we have no other choice."

"This is not a question of continuing the fight, but that we are unable to fight. Our artillery, machine guns, and warships are all unable to attack the enemy."

"We have done our best. We have lived up to our honor, our perseverance, and the expectations of the Royal Navy."

"However, there is no point in persisting. Make the right choice, and God will forgive us!"

This is a cultured person. He never said "surrender" in the whole article, but he talked about surrender all the time. He also made everyone feel that it was reasonable and that they had a clear conscience.

Perhaps influenced by Rear Admiral Ives, or perhaps due to the pressure of war, or perhaps intimidated by the enemy's powerful equipment which they had never seen before, the other warships raised white flags one after another.

Against the backdrop of black smoke, the white flag swayed gracefully on the azure sea, the colors harmonizing perfectly, making it hard to believe that this was a bloody battlefield not long ago.

French destroyers and torpedo boats moved among the battleships and cruisers, leaving the French sailors dumbfounded, unable to believe that such a massive fleet had surrendered to them.

It is no exaggeration to say that they were prepared to sacrifice themselves before the war began, but the situation suddenly took an unbelievable turn.

The whole thing felt like a dream. The sailors even forgot to cheer in victory, staring blankly at the warships passing by and the British sailors standing on the ship's side, looking down at them with fear on their faces.

……

Berlin, the Reich Chancellor's residence.

Prime Minister Abbott and the chairman of the Armistice Commission, Etzberger, are urgently rebuilding the navy.

When Wilhelm II fell from power, the German navy launched a mutiny, with large numbers of its members leaving their fleet to take to the streets in protest against Wilhelm II and the enemy for deceiving their own people and the military.

After the provisional government was established, everyone was busy organizing the government to restore the army's fighting capacity in order to stop the British army's land offensive, and they neglected the reorganization of the navy.

It wasn't until I needed it that I realized I had made a big mistake.

"Is General Scheer willing to return to his former post?" Prime Minister Albert asked.

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Etzberger replied, “He is on his way to Port William.”

General Scheer was implicated and dismissed from his post because he was one of Wilhelm II's most trusted generals.

Then the provisional government discovered that no one could unite the chaotic German navy except for Admiral Scheer, so they "invited" him back again.

"Order the warships to prepare." Prime Minister Abbott was extremely uneasy.

"We need to organize the fleet to set sail as soon as possible."

"The British have declared war on France and launched a fierce attack."

"Do you know what the consequences will be if we don't tie down the British fleet? Do you know what that means?!"

Etzberger certainly knew.

If France is defeated, Germany will lose its policy of "absolute friendship" in the armistice, and what awaits Germany is three exorbitant reparations.

It might not just be three copies; other countries could follow suit.

Just as the Prime Minister was in a state of great anxiety, a staff officer presented him with a telegram, looking bewildered: "Your Excellency, they say... they say the French fleet has won, and the British Mediterranean Fleet has surrendered..."

(End of this chapter)