Chapter 621 Local Military Advantage
Another general was Admiral Reinhard Scheer, commander of the German High Seas Fleet. His voice was filled with frustration:
"Your Majesty, our warships are blocked in the harbor by the British Royal Navy and it is difficult for us to do anything."
"On the other hand, Charles invented some equipment that seems to allow French warships to detect submarines underwater, which makes our strategy of using submarines to block the enemy's supply lines lose its basis."
(The picture above shows German Admiral Reinhard Scheer)
William II changed his sitting position so that he could face Admiral Scheer more easily: "General, it is precisely because of the failure of the submarine war that I thought of the navy."
Scheer understood what William II meant.
If victory was possible either by land or submarine, William II would not have used the navy.
The gap between the German Navy's strength and that of the British Royal Navy was so great that it was almost impossible to win.
However, the Empire was now in its most dangerous moment, having been defeated by the Charles in both land and submarine warfare.
What's worse is that they don't see any hope of winning.
Falkenhayn was helpless and had to thank God as long as he was not defeated. He and his soldiers could be said to have lost confidence in winning.
In the submarine war, they didn't even know how Charles discovered them, and they had no idea how to resist, so they could only shrink their attack line.
So, how long will the Navy have to wait?
Just because the enemy is too strong, do nothing and just stay in the port waiting for the empire to collapse?
If this is the case, what is the point of investing a large amount of money in building a navy?
"It's time for the navy to make some achievements." William II's tone left no room for doubt: "No matter what method is used."
"But, Your Majesty." Admiral Scheer looked embarrassed: "We only have 18 battleships, while the British Royal Fleet has 33. In addition, we lack steel and funds due to the blockade of the Allies and cannot build more warships, while the number of British warships is still increasing..."
"So," Kaiser Wilhelm II interrupted Admiral Scheer, "we have to think of a solution now."
The longer we delay, the greater the advantage the Royal Navy will have, so it must be resolved now.
There was another long silence, so quiet that the sound of the flames dancing could be heard.
William II waited quietly, waiting for Admiral Scheer's answer.
However, he understood that this would take time. After all, the gap in strength was there, and it was too much to ask Admiral Scheer to come up with a feasible plan immediately.
Just as he was about to end the meeting and let Admiral Scheer go back and think about it, Falkenhayn broke the silence.
"I thought of the Shire's army," Falkenhayn said without any context.
"What?" William II looked at Falkenhayn in confusion and frowned again. What's the use of Tishar's army at this time? Can you defeat him?
Admiral Scheer didn't care; he was thinking about his own problems.
His eyes were fixed on the wine glass on the coffee table. It was shining bright red under the fire, as if depicting the destruction of the German navy in a sea of blood and artillery fire.
"What I mean is," Falkenhayn explained, "the Shire's troops always win with fewer troops, and our navy is also smaller than the Royal Navy. So, perhaps we can get inspiration from the Shire's tactics."
Admiral Scheer replied in a deep voice, "I have thought of everything I can think of, General, including Charles's tactics."
After a pause, Admiral Scheer analyzed:
"Char was able to defeat a larger force with a smaller one because he used his superior equipment and mobility to penetrate the enemy's weak points."
"Our fleet not only does not have these advantages against the British Royal Navy, but is actually at a disadvantage."
"So, I don't think we can learn Ciel's tactics."
These words are enough to show that Admiral Scheer is not considering this issue now, but has been considering how to defeat the British Royal Navy by using the weak to defeat the strong at the beginning of the war, or even before the beginning of the war.
"You are right, General," Falkenhayn replied. "We cannot learn the tactics of the Charles in this respect."
It is a fact that the German fleet is weaker than the British army, whether in terms of quantity, quality, or the sailors' combat experience.
However……
Falkenhayn turned his attention to Admiral Scheer:
"I wonder if you have ever considered that the infiltration of the Shire is actually to form a troop advantage in a local area."
"I mean, Charles' First Armored Corps only has more than 20,000 men, but he always uses the mobility of this unit to face weaker opponents with a huge advantage in numbers."
"Ultimately, we were never able to muster more troops in time to fight them."
Admiral Scheer suddenly raised his head and looked at Falkenhayn: "You mean..."
William II didn't understand yet, but he remained silent tactfully. He didn't want to interrupt the communication between the two at this time.
Falkenhayn nodded:
"I'm not sure that's feasible, General, as naval warfare is very different from land warfare."
"But I think they have similarities tactically, as long as we can take advantage of them."
"Although the British have many more warships than us, their warships are scattered in every part of the encirclement. Why don't we concentrate our forces to form a local advantage like Charles did, and then eat them up bit by bit?"
Admiral Scheer was stunned. After a long while, he nodded and said, "You are right, General. Although this may be difficult, it may be our only tactic to win."
"So," William II asked, "is this method feasible?"
He seemed to understand, but still didn't quite understand.
"I think so, Your Majesty," Admiral Scheer replied. "If this tactic doesn't work, there may be no other way."
Then he excitedly pulled the route map out of his jacket pocket and spread it out on the coffee table. He looked at it in the firelight for a while, looked up at Falkenham, nodded gratefully, and then turned his gaze to William II.
“I think we have room to maneuver, Your Majesty.” Admiral Scheer seemed to have regained his energy. His voice became sonorous and powerful, and his speed increased:
"The British fleet is relatively scattered. We can use a small fleet to lure the British fleet out, then set up an ambush and concentrate our superior forces to encircle and annihilate it."
"Although the outcome cannot be determined in one go, if the Royal Navy does not have a better tactic."
"I mean, if they keep encircling us, their warships will be reduced in one defeat after another."
William II understood, and he exclaimed: "One day, their warships will be reduced to the same strength as ours!"
"Yes." Admiral Scheer clenched his fists excitedly. "If they concentrate their warships, it means there will be loopholes in the encirclement, and they will not be able to guarantee the blockade of our fleet!"
"Great!" William II stood up: "Great tactics."
Then he grabbed the red wine on the coffee table: "Generals, for our victory!"
Admiral Scheer and Falkenhayn quickly grabbed their wine and stood up, responding: "For our victory!"
(End of this chapter)
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