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Text Chapter 1093: Shirking Responsibility

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    On August 18, 1912, a naval battle broke out in the sea 100 kilometers west of Sicily in the Mediterranean. Although the scale was not as large as the naval battle that broke out between the German Navy's High Seas Fleet and the British Navy's Home Fleet in the North Sea at the end of May, its impact was.  Worse than that.  In just 4 hours from the beginning to the end of the naval battle, the combined fleet of the British and French navies lost 13 battleships and battlecruisers, 8 of which were captured, and 1 armored cruiser and 6 light cruisers.  and 11 destroyers.  The total casualties were around tens of thousands, and more than 7,000 British and French naval officers and soldiers were captured.

    At the same time, this naval battle was also the first time that aircraft were used in a naval battle, and it showed extremely powerful combat effectiveness.  In the past, all countries in the world regarded battleships as the most powerful weapons in naval battles. All countries were desperately building battleships with larger tonnage, thicker armor, and larger-caliber guns.  However, the performance of the Chinese naval aviation in this naval battle undoubtedly gave all countries a wake-up call and showed them that huge battleships are no longer the decisive weapon in naval battles, but aircraft are the decisive weapon in determining the victory of naval battles.

    It is precisely because of the outstanding performance of the two naval aviation wings that the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet was able to successfully capture eight advanced battleships.  Although these battleships were severely damaged, they only needed a few months of repairs in the shipyard before they could sail on the sea again.  These battleships are all on the same level as the Chinese Navy's Han-class battleships. Although they may not be as good as the Chinese Navy's Han-class battleships in terms of performance, they can be used to replace the Chinese Navy's old "Zhonghua" battleships.  Class, battleship.  Moreover, in this battle, the losses of the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet were also very small. Except for the losses that occurred during the initial reconnaissance of intelligence between the light cruisers and destroyers of both sides, there were no other losses.  The losses of the naval aviation were not large. In this naval battle, only a dozen aircraft were lost.  Several of them were improperly operated during the attack, causing the fighter planes to crash into the sea, eventually causing the aircraft to crash and causing fatalities.  Others are losses due to malfunctions.  Overall, the Chinese Navy won this battle at an extremely small cost and achieved very fruitful results.  It also determines the ownership rights in the Mediterranean Sea.  At least until there are no weapons to deal with the Chinese naval aviation, the British and French navies will never dare to approach the waters near Sicily. The waters east of Sicily have become the area under the absolute control of the Chinese navy.

    After losing all the battleships, the British and French naval combined fleets still have many heavy cruisers, armored cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers, but they can no longer challenge the strength of the Chinese navy in the Mediterranean.  Even if the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet returns to perform missions in the Indian Ocean, the two wings of fighter jets deployed by the Chinese Naval Aviation on Sicily alone are enough to block the British and French navies' access to the eastern Mediterranean waters.

    ??And the series of reactions that resulted have almost always developed in a direction that is beneficial to China and the Allies.  At least after the British and French naval fleets suffered heavy losses, the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Greece in southern Europe no longer dared to make any moves. They became more honest, and the crisis in the Austro-Hungarian Empire was also relieved a lot.  Moreover, Italy's situation is even more dangerous, and the coastal areas will become the target of retaliation by the Austro-Hungarian Navy.  China also obtained Sicily, a base with important strategic materials, and strengthened its control over the Mediterranean.  Whether during the war or after the war, this is very beneficial for China to intervene in the Mediterranean coast and even Europe.

    On the British Navy¡¯s heavy cruiser Edinburgh, until all the aviation forces of the Chinese Navy returned, John.  Admiral Jellicoe breathed a sigh of relief.  After the battleships of the British and French naval combined fleets were lost, these relatively larger heavy cruisers and armored cruisers also became the targets of the Chinese navy.  Fortunately, they had abandoned those capital ships before and fled westward at full speed.  Otherwise, their fate will be very tragic.  However, the problem still lies with John.  In front of General Jellicoe.  The Combined Fleet lost all its battleships. How should we explain this to the British government?  One bad word and he'll be court-martialed.  From former hero to prisoner.

    "Your Excellency, Commander, the crisis is finally over now!" After issuing the order to return to Gibraltar, Fleet Chief of Staff Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells finally felt relieved.  After the Chinese naval aviation fighter planes returned, he determined that they should be safe now and should be out of the strike range of the Chinese naval aviation.

    "General Wells, although the fleet's crisis has passed, our crisis has not been resolved yet! We have lost 13 aircraft and 3 battlecruisers. How should we report it to the Navy Department and the government now?" John  £®  Admiral Jellicoe said with a grimace. You must know that when he arrived at the Portsmouth naval port, he was asking the Lord of the Admiralty John.  Lord FisherHe promised that he would defeat the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet, win the naval battle, and open the way for the British Empire to advance eastward.  But now, the fleet has suffered heavy losses, and even the road heading east has been completely blocked.  At least, in the face of the ability to deal with the Chinese navy's aircraft deployed in Sicily, Britain can no longer think about marching eastward, supporting India and Australia, and regaining its colonies in the Middle East.  As for detouring around the Cape of Good Hope, not to mention the distance, the Chinese Navy has greatly increased its strength after acquiring the eight captured battleships. The British Navy will mobilize the last main force to the Indian Ocean, otherwise it will not be able to compete with the Chinese Navy for the Indian Ocean.  Control of the sea.  Thinking of this, John.  Admiral Jellicoe felt that the future was dark.

    "General, I think that although we have to bear a certain responsibility for this failure, the main reason is not because of us, but because the Chinese are too cunning. No one thought that the Chinese could actually apply aircraft to naval warfare.  , and even less expected that a small aircraft can actually carry heavy bombs and torpedoes to attack the battleship, and cause fatal damage to the battleship. If it were other generals, facing this despicable and shameless tactic of the Chinese, they would also  Defeat is inevitable." Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells said.  Of course, their main responsibility was probably to underestimate the enemy, and ended up falling into a trap set by the Chinese.  However, in his opinion, this is completely excusable.

    John.  Admiral Jellicoe nodded. He strongly agreed with Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells's point of view is only that of Admiral John.  It is difficult to say whether Sir Fisher and the ministers in the Cabinet will accept his rhetoric.  Once he is held accountable, he will have no choice but to walk away, and if not, he will be sent to a military court.  After all, the loss this time was too great, and even the British Navy could not afford such a loss.  The 10 battleships lost are all the latest battleships of the British Navy. The loss of three battlecruisers will also leave the British with only one battlecruiser.

    "General, I suggest that we and General Palmiro finally unify their voices. If he says anything wrong in his report to the French government, it will be a disaster for him and us." Roslin  £®  Lieutenant General Wells said softly.

    "Well! Please ask General Palmiro to come to Edinburgh immediately, we have something important to discuss!" John.  Admiral Jellicoe said.  If the two parties could unify their voices and attribute the main reason for the failure to the Chinese Navy's aircraft being too powerful, the penalties they would receive might be much smaller.

    French Admiral Palmiro is also troubled by the loss of three 'Breton-class battleships. They were the last three battleships of the French Navy, and now they are all lost.  General Palmiro has even thought that as soon as he returns to France, he will definitely be sent to a military court immediately.

    John.  Admiral Jellicoe's plan was completely in line with Admiral Palmiro's wishes, and the two hit it off immediately.  Later, in the battle reports sent back to their respective governments, they all blamed the failure of this naval battle on the aviation force of the Chinese Navy, and also pointed out that without a sharp weapon to deal with the aviation force of the Chinese Navy, the combined fleet would lose control of Sicily.  Island offensive capabilities.

    When John.  When Admiral Jellicoe sent the battle report back to the British Admiralty, it was already five o'clock in the afternoon, and the British Lord of the Admiralty John.  Sir Fisher was getting ready to leave work.  The reason why the battle report was sent back at this time was entirely because of John.  Admiral Jellicoe wasted a lot of time trying to shirk responsibility.  So, John.  Sir Fisher was not informed of the battle until three hours after the battle had ended.  Of course, this battle report appeared much longer than John.  Sir Fisher's expectations were met.  Because a naval battle takes a very long time, especially against a powerful country like China. Even if the combined fleet has an absolute advantage, there is no way to determine the outcome without more than half a day or even a day.

    When John.  When Sir Fisher was about to go home from get off work, the head of the Telegraph Office of the Admiralty walked into John John with a pale face.  Sir Fisher's office.

    "Your Excellency, this is the battle report from John Jellicoe!" The person in charge of the telegraph room said with a pale face. He had already read the battle report and knew that the United Fleet suffered a disastrous defeat.
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