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Text Chapter 1307: Die for glory!

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    Gibraltar is located on the Gibraltar Peninsula. Algessi! La to the west of the peninsula is a natural harbor. This is why the British Royal Navy chose this place as the home port of the Mediterranean Fleet.  Departing from the Gulf of Algesira, the fleet can easily block the Strait of Gibraltar and cut off the connection between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean.  Especially after the opening of the Suez Canal, the strategic status of this place has been enhanced. After the British Navy captured Gibraltar from Spain, it built a naval base here in an attempt to guard the throat of exchanges between the East and the West!

    Most of the Gibraltar Peninsula is a steep and rolling limestone mountainous area known as the Rock of Gibraltar.  There are two platforms at its southern end. A slightly higher platform was formed by alluvial waves in ancient times, with an altitude of about 90 meters to 125 meters. It is called the Windmill Platform, and the city of Gibraltar is located here.  The lower Europa platform is 5 to 30 meters above sea level.  The northern part of Gibraltar is steep and mountainous, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack. In order to recapture Gibraltar, the Spanish launched several attacks, but they were all beaten back by the British army.  It relies on the terrain advantages of northern Gibraltar.  In the southern part of Gibraltar, with the help of two terraces, the British Navy built coastal fortifications backed by solid fortresses.  Before the twentieth century, the defense of the Fortress of Gibraltar was absolutely among the best in the world.  However, after entering the 20th century, military technology developed rapidly, and the once world-famous fortress no longer seemed indestructible in the face of new weapons!

    The Battle of Sicily was undoubtedly a fatal blow to the British Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet.  John.  The Mediterranean Fleet led by Admiral Jellicoe and the French Navy were besieged by China's naval aviation deployed on Sicily. All the capital ships were lost, which greatly damaged the strength of the Mediterranean Fleet.  Coupled with the British Navy's subsequent disastrous defeat in the Battle of the Bahamas, the British Navy no longer has the ability to replenish capital ships for the Mediterranean Fleet!  The attitude towards the Mediterranean Fleet has also undergone great changes.  Before the Battle of Sicily, the British government very much hoped that the Mediterranean Fleet could defeat the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet and reverse the difficult situation.  But now, they can only let the Mediterranean Fleet fend for itself!  The Mediterranean Fleet and the British troops stationed in the Gibraltar Fortress are now on tenterhooks all day long, fearing that the Chinese will attack Gibraltar.  But now, what they were worried about was finally coming!

    Gibraltar, on the seaside of the Gulf of Alges, inside the headquarters of the Royal Navy¡¯s Mediterranean Fleet, Commander of the Mediterranean Fleet John.  Admiral Jellicoe was in a daze holding a telegram.  The telegram was sent from the British Admiralty, Lord Admiralty John.  Sir Fisher told John.  Admiral Jellicoe, the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet is rushing towards Gibraltar and is expected to launch an attack on Gibraltar within two to three days.  John.  Sir Fisher asked the Mediterranean fleet to defend Gibraltar as much as possible. If it could not, surrender directly to the Spanish, abandon the northern defense line and let the Spanish take over Gibraltar!

    John now.  Admiral Jellicoe no longer had the high spirits he had when he won the Battle of the North Sea. The disastrous defeat in the Battle of Sicily completely destroyed his hopes.  Although he was still allowed to serve as the commander of the Mediterranean Fleet and also the commander of the Gibraltar Fortress, he believed that this was simply an exile for him.  Originally, after winning the Battle of the North Sea, he was made an earl by the royal family and was about to be promoted to marshal, becoming a strong contender to be the next Lord of the Navy.  However, after the naval battle in Sicily, everything was hopeless!  Now only 53 years old, he looks like a man in his sixties with a head full of white hair.  This shows the blow the Battle of Sicily had on him!

    "Chinese! Are you going to attack Gibraltar? Come on, I'm waiting to fight you to the death!" John.  A trace of determination flashed in Admiral Jellicoe's eyes. He no longer wanted to live such a life of exile.

    The final destination of the heroic Royal Navy is the sea!  John.  Admiral Jellicoe would rather die at sea than continue like this.  And now, the Chinese navy's attack on Gibraltar seems to have given him a chance!

    "Someone, go find the chief of staff!" John.  Admiral Jellicoe ordered the guards outside the door!

    "Yes, General!" The guard saluted and strode away!  Soon, Roslin, Chief of Staff of the Mediterranean Fleet.  Lieutenant General Wells came to John.  Admiral Jellicoe's office.  He and John.  Like Admiral Jellicoe, he was a victim of the failed naval battle in Sicily.  If they could win that battle, maybe he would be the commander of a fleet now.  But now, he can only communicate with John.  Admiral Jellicoe is still nestled in Gibraltar, commanding this broken fleet!

    "General, what happened?" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells asked.  During this time, he was also relatively depressed!

    "Chief of Staff, Sir Fisher has sent a telegram! The main force of the Chinese Indian Ocean Fleet is heading towards Gibraltar.Gibraltar is coming, and it is expected that they will arrive in two to three days. Their goal is probably Gibraltar!  Sir Fisher prepare us to resist the Chinese!  "Said General John Jellicoe!

    "What? The Chinese are coming so soon?" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells was shocked and quickly took the telegram and read it.

    After reading it, his face was already pale!

    "General, the Chinese Indian Ocean Fleet has 11 battleships, and they are basically super battleships. We now only have 6 heavy cruisers, 15 light cruisers and 16 destroyers! Without a single capital ship, we are not at all  Opponent of the Chinese!" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells said.  Obviously, the Mediterranean Fleet cannot defeat the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet at all, even with the help of coastal defenses.

    "I know, that's why Sir Fisher told us that if we can't hold it, we can surrender to the Spanish and let the Spanish take over Gibraltar! In this case, it is much better than the Chinese occupying Gibraltar!" John.  Admiral Jellicoe said!

    "Hmph! Those Spaniards? Are they opponents of the Chinese? I'm sure that even if the Spanish take over Gibraltar, the Chinese will definitely attack! For the Chinese, they don't care at all.  There will be one more enemy like the Spaniards!" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells said!  After the war progressed to 1913, China's war strength had been fully unleashed. The Chinese navy and army continued to win victories on various battlefields. Second-rate countries like Spain were no match for China at all!  Whether it is the weak Spanish army or navy, they pose no threat to China at all!

    ¡°Chief of Staff, we don¡¯t have to worry about this! If the Chinese and Spanish fight, it will not do us any harm at all!¡± John.  Admiral Jellicoe said!

    Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells nodded. It is true. If China and Spain go to war, China will have another enemy, and the pressure on Britain will be less!

    "So, General, shall we follow Sir Fisher's instructions? Hold on for a while. If we can't resist, give up Gibraltar immediately, let the Spanish in, and let the Spanish resist the Chinese!" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells said!

    "Hmm!" John.  Admiral Jellicoe nodded.  The defense cannot be defended. The Mediterranean Fleet and the army and marines stationed here are simply no match for the Chinese navy.  They have no hope of holding on here!

    "General, let the fleet return home immediately! When the Chinese arrive, they won't be able to leave even if they want to!" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells suggested!  The British Navy's Mediterranean Fleet, which has no capital ships, is no match for the Chinese Navy.  Rather than losing it in vain, it is better to return home immediately and preserve your strength!

    "No, Chief of Staff! From now on, the defense command of Gibraltar Fortress will be handed over to you!" John.  Admiral Jellicoe said!

    "General? What do you want to do?" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells asked in surprise.

    "I will lead the Mediterranean fleet to fight the Chinese to the death!" John.  Admiral Jellicoe said firmly!

    "What? General, we are no match for the Chinese. Going to a decisive battle with the Chinese will only lead to death!" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells was shocked.  He originally thought John.  Admiral Jellicoe wanted to lead the fleet to escape back to England, but he did not expect John.  Admiral Jellicoe actually wanted to die!

    "I know, but even so, I will not give up! The Royal Navy of the British Empire has retreated countless times. This time, even if I die in battle, I will never escape again! The Chinese want to annihilate us  , you have to pay a heavy price!" John.  Admiral Jellicoe said stubbornly!

    "General, with our current strength, there is no way we can threaten the Chinese Navy!" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells persuaded!  The most powerful battleship in the Mediterranean Fleet is the Devon-class heavy cruiser. Its main gun has a caliber of 210 mm. Such power cannot penetrate the armor of the Chinese Navy's battleships.

    "We still have 12 submarines! The battle will begin in the Alboran Sea, and I am prepared to use submarines to deal with the Chinese! I know that even if the submarine succeeds, it may not be able to defeat the Chinese. But even if it sinks one  The Chinese capital ship, that¡¯s great too! As British Imperial Navy soldiers, we will use our lives to safeguard the glory of the Royal Navy!¡± John.  Admiral Jellicoe said!

    Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells didn't know what to say. Do you want to die for the so-called glory?
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