Chapter 280 Pillar of the Nation
(The picture below shows the sunken "Goliath")
Around 10:30 the next evening, Charles, who had just finished work, returned to the dormitory as usual. He planned to read for a while before going to bed.
In modern times, Charles doesn't like reading. He usually browses his phone, but in this era, it seems that only books can be a bedtime pastime.
Just as Charles' eyelids were growing heavy and he was feeling sleepy, there was a sudden and hurried knock on the door from the direction of the Gallieni Lounge, which was two rooms away.
Charles was suddenly awakened, then sat up. He knew that there might be changes on the battlefield, so he got up immediately and put on his military uniform.
Sure enough, soon a signalman knocked on Charles' door and he nervously reported: "Colonel, Dardanelles battle report, the battleship Goliath was sunk!"
Charles was stunned, and hurriedly put on his shoes. While buttoning his military uniform, he opened the door and walked towards the operations department with the signalman.
Gallieni was already waiting there, his uniform wrinkled, as if he had slept in it.
This is a good habit, Charles thought. There is no time to take off and put on clothes on the battlefield, so this step should be omitted.
Gallieni handed the telegram to Charles and said, "Half an hour ago, the Goliath was attacked by two torpedoes and sank within two minutes. The cause is not yet clear. Most of the 750 crew members are missing and are still being rescued urgently, but..."
There is no need to say what happened next. If the battleship sank within two minutes, it would probably have caused heavy casualties like the "Bouve".
The Operations Department was busy. Intelligence arrived one after another, and the situation became clearer:
At that time, the battleship "Goliath" was carrying out a night bombing mission under the cover of a destroyer. An Ottoman "torpedo boat" sneaked up on it under the cover of darkness and fired three torpedoes at a distance of less than 100 meters. Two of them hit the target and the "Goliath" was sunk instantly.
(Note: Torpedo boats are actually torpedo boats. They are powered by coal-fired steam engines for cheapness, so they are called "torpedo boats". They usually have a displacement of about 600 tons.)
Gallieni looked grim.
Unlike the previous warships sunk by mines, this time it was the Ottoman Empire that took the initiative to attack and use "torpedo boats" to sink the Allied battleships, which was a serious matter.
"This means that it is not safe on the warship either." Gallieni said worriedly, "In addition, sinking a battleship with just a small 'torpedo boat' will cause a great blow to the morale of the troops!"
Then Gallieni turned his gaze to Charles: "You have to hurry up, they may take this opportunity to 'denounce' you again."
Charles nodded. This was a good opportunity for the capitalists.
…
Sure enough, the next day, major newspapers reported this shocking news:
"The Ottoman 'torpedo boat' fired three torpedoes and sank the 'Goliath'!"
"The Ottoman Empire has a total of four such 'torpedo ships'. Does this mean that the Allies cannot carry out bombing missions at night? Will the war situation fall into a stalemate again?"
"Who was the David who sank 'Goliath'?"
…
The final title is derived from the Bible.
The ship was named "Goliath" after the giant Goliath in the Bible, who was killed by the young David who threw a stone and knocked him down.
The reality is quite similar to the story in the Bible, and people are speculating who is the "David" who killed "Goliath".
Soon news came that the Ottoman Empire was celebrating their "National Pillar" torpedo ship, and its captain was promoted to major. Captain Ferler, who planned the operation, was awarded many medals, including the German Iron Cross First Class.
A call is gaining momentum among the people:
"They can't win this war because they don't have the Shire."
"It's time to send Charles to the battlefield and let him teach those stupid British how to fight."
"Only the Ciel can win this war!"
…
Brest, more than 600 kilometers west of Paris, is home to the Port of Brest, one of the two major naval ports in France (the other is the Port of Toulon), as well as the largest shipyard in France.
Various machines were rumbling in the shipyard, and there were noisy sounds of banging and shouting. The workers were busy in an orderly manner around the prototypes of several small boats.
Wells and Tijani stood aside, comparing the design drawings with the actual objects and discussing what to pay attention to.
"I think the pedals on the bow can be thicker and higher," Tijani said, pointing to the blueprint. "It can just balance the weight of the engine at the rear and provide better cover for the soldiers."
"It can't be raised any higher." Wells rejected the idea: "Otherwise it will affect the stability of the hull."
"We usually choose to land when the sea is calm." Tijani insisted on his point of view: "I think the safety of the soldiers is more important."
"Of course," Wells replied, "but you don't seem to be considering the enemy's shells?"
Tijani was speechless for a moment.
The enemy's artillery fire would create considerable waves around the hull, and a mere explosion nearby would capsize the ship, putting the soldiers equally at risk.
Wells looked at Tijani with a smile, and said with relief: "You don't seem to be against the navy!"
"I've never been against the navy." Tijani shrugged. "I'm against the useless navy!"
Wells nodded slightly.
Tijani had said something similar before, but Wells didn't believe it and thought it was just an excuse from Tijani.
How could the navy be useless?
Only with a navy can you have colonies, and only with colonies can you be a great power!
How many people are crazy about a strong navy, but Tijani says the navy is useless.
Now, Wells understood Baitijiani's idea a little, because he saw with his own eyes that Charles was gradually making the "useless" French navy "useful".
Just then, the butler walked up to Wells with a newspaper: "Sir, I think you should read this!"
Wells took the newspaper and saw the headline on the front page: "Battleship Goliath suspected to be sunk by 'torpedo boat'."
Tijani, who came closer, also saw it. The two of them looked at the details for a while, then looked up at each other in shock.
Wells exclaimed: "This is what Shire meant by developing torpedo boats to protect the coastline."
"Yes." Tijani nodded. "This is to prove Charles' theory is correct through actual combat. This is just a 'torpedo ship' with a speed of only 35 knots."
(The picture above shows the Ottoman Empire's "Pillar of the Nation" "torpedo boat", the main weapon is three torpedo tubes, and there are two 75MM guns)
(End of this chapter)
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