(I'll save some manuscripts first, update every day, I'll go to school to report on the 19th, and I'll test the pace of interruption...)

In a debate with fleet commanders who have been at the forefront of the sea, the old Master, who was transferred from the senior ship command squad of the Royal Naval Academy, was defeated.

Lieutenant General Lampard, the author of "Scarglack's Gold", also failed the expectations of the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Fleet. The Deputy Chief of Staff raised his arm awkwardly to say something. Frustrated, he did not notice a flash of brightness flashing under the brim of David Betty's deliberately lowered hat. His lips trembled, and finally he still slapped the sharp question in his stomach.

"I don't understand what you have to worry about. Although the new greenbo can be unstable, it will at least not be worse than the old armor-piercing bombs used in the Battle of Scarglak Straits, right? Although Heidi Sileme is recognized as a first-class maritime commander, we also have David Betty and Lampard. The so-called battlefield situation is that no matter whether it is divided or a head-on decisive battle, the Germans are not our opponents!"

The deputy chief of staff turned around and prepared to leave the office that was stressful and heavy, but Betty called him.

The Battle of Scarglake Strait destroyed the "Sea Cavalry" who fought bravely in the Far East war, shelled the Nile River, and was heroic when he visited Kiel in 1914 and was famous for his bravery. Today, David Betty lacked a little bit of the unruly and unrestrainedness that belonged to young people. In addition to the white hair on the temples, there was also a few more of the steady and perseverance of middle-aged people.

Betty sat behind the desk with her hands on her chest. Most of the time she didn't speak, she just deliberately lowered the brim of the standard military cap, and occasionally released a few rays of cold light through the cover of the brim.

The decisive battle in the North Sea in 1917 is imperative, which is David Betty's point of view, but unfortunately he does not have many supporters.

"Chapter" The ordinary sailors and subordinate officers of the fleet are naturally looking forward to this long-planned decisive battle. The young people on the British Isle have been influenced by the power of the Royal Navy since childhood. When they have the heart of a great power and join the dreamy Royal Navy with the soul of the great power, they face the challenge of the newly rising German Ocean Fleet.

The Battle of Helgolan Bay, the Battle of Coronel, the Battle of Doger Sands, the Raid of Muderos Bay, the Battle of Skager Strait, the Battle of Portsmouth, the Great Royal Navy was almost invincible. For a moment, young people with good self-feeling fell from the clouds above the mortal world, their values ​​collapsed, their self-esteem was trampled on, and their pride was fooled. They were at a loss and didn't know what to do. They didn't know where to go.

Fortunately, the Royal Navy also had King Arthur Belfort to help people. The sailors and subordinate officers who knew shame and bravely took advantage of their health and wanted to buy naval public debts without hesitation to reduce their clothes and take advantage of the rebuilding of the large fleet. They were motivated and fearless, and vowed to usher in the great moment of the revival of the Royal Navy!

Now, the Royal Navy, which almost exhausted the British Empire's treasury, has returned to the throne of world overlords. It is just lacking a touchstone, so sailors and subordinate officers are looking forward to the decisive battle in the North Sea more than anyone else.

The opinions of sailors and subordinate officers can only form a public opinion advantage and cannot interfere with the decisions of the top naval leaders in a short period of time. At this level, conservatism is prevalent within the navy, and only the First Minister of Maritime Affairs Goff Karthorp chose to support the decisive battle in the North Sea from a political perspective.

The top naval executives who opposed the decisive battle in the North Sea were still Jelico, or Jelico opposed all the maritime wars of the Royal Navy during the European War.

Chief of the Navy General Staff Jelico is a naval commander known for his rationality and calmness, and rationality and calmness are conservative in a sense. Just like sailors and subordinate officers, General Jelico will never think of finding General Jelico in the hands of General Jelico. "Confidence, General Jelico can't do anything that surprises you!

It has to be admitted that General Jelico proposed the "long-range blockade" theory based on the terrain of the North Sea and Germany, and it is extremely powerful to act from a military perspective. During the period when the Royal Navy was weakest after the Battle of Portsmouth, if it were not for Jelico's "long-range blockade", the Royal Navy would probably not have recovered. If it were more boldly assumed that the British Empire insisted on "long-range blockade" in the early stages of the European War, everything might have been completely different.

Assumptions are only assumptions after all, history has no ifs. In the context of the British Empire not willing to move away the wealth accumulated in the era of pirates and mercantilism, it is somewhat inappropriate to continue to adhere to the "long-range blockade" theory in the context of the people of the Empire looking forward to a brilliant and decisive victory.

However, General Jelico and his supporters still disagreed with any form of active attack. Fleet commanders and visionary intermediate officers could see the exhaustion of the Germans from the frontline reports that were only circulated internally, especially when news of the Kiel riot and the Schleswig riot were heard continuously, and Germany was already on the brink of civil war, they frantically declared the view that "complete blockade of German maritime transportation lines will make Germany weak to death."

These frontline commanders who were trapped in the quagmire of conservatism naturally would not admit that they were scared by the Ocean Fleet and Heidi Sileme. After experiencing countless failures, they were afraid of failure and did not dare to bear the responsibilities given to them by history. They kept saying that this was a "safe, necessary, way to the door to victory", and chose to ignore Germany's heritage as an army power and Heidi Sileme's strategic vision.

"The way to the gate of victory?" Betty doubted this.

Germany is far from the end of its reach. The facts may be even more cruel than the most pessimistic estimates of the Allies: On the Western Front, the British and French forces attacked the "Soul of the Great Powers" outside the outskirts of Paris. Chapter 8: Guns and cannons are loaded! (2)" Although the momentum is fierce, it is already the end of the force. History once again proves that as long as Germany makes up its mind to defend and does not lack material supplies, it will be almost invincible!

On the Eastern Front, the Russians withdrew from the European war and cede land and paid compensation for land cedes. The Germans could calmly receive Russian supplies, manpower, factories and food, and transferred the millions of troops trapped on the Eastern Front to the Western Front. Once the Eastern Front Army arrives in Paris, the front line will probably be another defeat!

At sea, the Ocean Fleet maintained strong combat effectiveness. Silame was a visionary and unwilling to be lonely. He would not be unable to see the impact of the Americans' participation in the war on the situation, nor would he let the Ocean Fleet stay in Wilhelmshaven and wasted his light. He would definitely start a sea decisive battle before the Americans joined the war.

Betty had no doubt about Silame's decision and skills. It was difficult for the German emperor and the Supreme Command to interfere with the maritime operations of the Ocean Fleet, and Silame had a lofty prestige within the German Navy. He was like a finger to the Ocean Fleet. As long as Silame sent a fleet of even old battleships to shell any section of the long east coast of the British Empire, the large fleet guarding Scapa Bay could only revenge in the face of the excitement of the whole country, and then fell into Silame's rhythm.

"This topic can be stopped because I am sure that the scout fleet that stayed on the west coast of Ridland Peninsula was the bait thrown by Sileme!"

Betty called out to the deputy chief of staff of the Fleet who had turned away, moved his chair, leaned over and flipped out several documents with the words "top secret" on the cover from the drawer of the desk and threw them on the table. Then he stretched out his index finger and pressed the brim of the hat, revealing his jingling eyes, and said lightly: "For some people, this may be good news. After you sign the confidentiality agreement, I have another good news to notify you!"

The sarcasm of the commander-in-chief of the Great Fleet made many senior officers who wished to insist on "remote blockade" blush. They voluntarily signed their names on the "Soul of the Great Power" agreement, and then opened the file bag with trepidation and expectation.

“Huh?”

"hiss……"

"Oh!"

The senior officers present were obviously shocked by the bold plan in the file bag, and unconsciously covered their mouths and issued various onomatopoeia.

"The United States has fourteen main battleships, most of which are stationed on their east coast. They often go out to sea to cruise and train, so even if the whole world knows that the Americans are actively preparing for war. However, several battleships sneak out of the military port for several times and don't return, many people will not notice it. As long as the Americans choose a route that is off-the-scenes. They can completely stuff a battleship squad into Scapa Bay before the Germans react!"

Betty's fingers pounded the corner of the table rhythmically, looking at the frightened fleet commanders, smiling:

"According to the agreement, the Americans sent their best main ships here: New York-class battleships, with a standard displacement of 27,000 tons, 45 diameter 356 mm dual main guns, with a speed of about 21 knots. Nedahua-class battleships. Standard displacement of 27,500 tons, 45 diameter 356 mm triple main guns, with a speed of about 21 knots. These four super-dreadnoughts will further increase our advantages. Therefore, the arrival of the Americans should be the time when the large fleet fights the North Sea!"

"Wait... Commander, the Americans have not officially declared war on the Allies!" Lieutenant General Martin Geram, the commander of the Second Battleship Fleet, jumped out first.

"There is no need to worry about these diplomatic procedures. US President Wilson will read the war letter while the naval war breaks out!"

"But, commander, we didn't need to take risks. Long-range blockade is enough to deal with Germany." "Chinese people, and on the sea, everything is possible..." Although Martin Geram was polite, those fears and conservatives were still revealed in a very obscure way.

If the decisive battle is won, everyone is a hero, if the decisive battle is lost, everyone is a sinner. Although the "remote blockade" is lukewarm, it will not allow them to experience the intense and exciting joy and sorrow.

"General Martin Geram, do you think the Royal Navy will not take the initiative to seek the Orkney Islands and fight with us?"

Betty smiled, as if Lieutenant General Martin Geram had said something ridiculous joke that made him forget his identity as the commander-in-chief of the Great Fleet and smiled back and forth in front of his subordinates.

"Silem will not allow the Americans to be involved in this war, which has made the North Sea one-sided situation with our balance of power, so he will definitely launch a sea battle before the Americans declare war. General Martin Geram felt that the Germans attacked our coastline with great fanfare like the Battle of Portsmouth, or sent a team to raid the land like the Battle of Dogers, and we can still stay in Scapa Bay with peace of mind?"

The cold sweat from the sideburns of Martin Jelam, the commander of the Second Battleship Fleet, slid down and flowed into the panicked heart of the Lieutenant General.

"Since the decisive battle in the North Sea in 1917 is imperative, it is better for the large fleet to take the initiative than let Silame take the initiative!" David Betty closed his smile, stood up with his desk, and pulled his style and clasped his words and said: "The Germans don't know that the Americans intend to fight undeclare, and they are even less clear that the London Naval Intelligence Department has deciphered some of their passwords. Although armor-piercing bombs are a big trouble, the progress of fleet training, officers and soldiers training and logistics support is not satisfactory, the Royal Navy still wins this battle!" (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!