Chapter 0253: An Unacceptable Outcome
The British Admiralty was bustling with activity after the outbreak of war. The Royal Navy, as the mightiest and most vital force of the British Empire, had long been regarded as the foremost protector of imperial interests. Centuries of global dominance had instilled a belief that both the Empire and its Navy were invincible.
However, unbeknownst to the outside world, the Admiralty was gripped by anxious anticipation. The naval battle taking place that day was of paramount importance to the British Empire. A failure would plunge Britain into a dire crisis.
In the office of the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill paced restlessly. Seated before him was Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Commander of the Grand Fleet, who had returned hastily from Scapa Flow. Churchill had summoned Jellicoe as a precaution; if Vice Admiral David Beatty was unsuccessful, they would need to devise alternative strategies against the Germans.
"Is there no news from Admiral Beatty yet?" Churchill inquired.
"None, sir," replied his secretary.
Churchill nodded, remaining silent. No news was perhaps the best news; it was certainly preferable to tidings of defeat.
Admiral Jellicoe understood Churchill's concerns all too well; he was equally apprehensive. The Royal Navy had committed most of its modern battleships to this operation. If they could not secure victory, they would be at a loss against the German Navy.
"Sir, I am confident Admiral Beatty will emerge victorious. After all, we have dispatched nine battlecruisers and eight battleships. Such firepower can only be met with a full commitment from the German main fleet. Otherwise, they stand no chance against us," Jellicoe asserted.
"True, but Admiral Jellicoe, we must always prepare for the worst. What if Admiral Beatty does not succeed?" Churchill pressed.
Jellicoe fell into silence, contemplating the weight of the question. After two minutes, he finally responded, "Sir, if Admiral Beatty fails, we will need to consider other measures to counter the German raiding fleets. Regardless, we must hold out until the first half of next year when our Queen Elizabeth-class and Revenge-class battleships are commissioned, enabling us to confront the Germans decisively. At that point, our chances of victory will be significantly improved."
"That makes sense," Churchill replied with a nod.
"However, if we cannot contend with the German raiding fleets, how can we ensure the safety of our maritime supply lines? The Germans will not hesitate to exploit this opportunity to undermine us," Churchill remarked, furrowing his brow. The maritime supply line was akin to Britain's lifeline. If severed, could Britain endure? The prospect seemed grim.
"Sir, we have considered this issue. Our merchant vessels can fly the flags of neutral nations, such as that of the United States. With that, the Germans would likely refrain from attacking, as they would not dare provoke a major power like America at this time. Moreover, we could procure military supplies from the United States and have their ships transport them to us, thereby avoiding German assaults. We only need to withstand until our new battleships are operational. Once we secure victory, all crises will be averted. If we fail..." Jellicoe's voice trailed off, but the implication was clear.
Churchill understood that if the Royal Navy suffered defeat in the decisive battle, Britain would be irreparably doomed. The loss of naval supremacy would precipitate a rapid decline from world dominance to a second-rate nation—a reality unacceptable to the British government and its populace alike.
"God bless Admiral Beatty. I pray he brings us a resounding victory!" Churchill murmured.
As the First Lord of the Admiralty, overseeing the world's most formidable navy, he had never envisioned such a day. Previously, Britain had leveraged its naval might to impose its will on other nations. Yet now, they found themselves cornered by the Germans in such perilous circumstances—it was simply inconceivable.
"Report!" At that moment, a staff officer knocked and entered the room.
Both Churchill and Admiral Jellicoe immediately rose from their seats. They sensed this could only mean news from Admiral Beatty.
"What is the situation?" Churchill asked.
"Did we win?" Jellicoe inquired.
"Report! Admiral Beatty's telegram states we have been defeated," the officer announced.
"What? How could we lose?" Churchill exclaimed, collapsing onto the sofa as though his bones had been extracted, utterly drained of energy.
"Impossible! It cannot be true. We assembled such a formidable fleet; how could Admiral Beatty possibly have lost? There must be some error!" Jellicoe said, clearly struggling to accept the outcome.
"General, we have confirmed multiple times with Admiral Beatty. They have indeed suffered defeat and are in retreat," the officer said, maintaining his composure.
Admiral Jellicoe was taken aback; although he was loath to accept it, he knew it was likely the truth.
"How was Admiral Beatty defeated?" Jellicoe asked.
"General, the detailed account of the engagement is in the telegram; you may wish to read it for yourself," the officer replied.
Reluctantly, Jellicoe took the telegram, dismissing the officer with a wave of his hand. He understood that their earlier outbursts had likely unsettled the man.
Jellicoe began to peruse the telegram, his expression darkening with each passing moment until his face resembled a stormy sky.
"Admiral Jellicoe, has Admiral Beatty truly failed?" Churchill asked, his voice laden with dread.
"Yes, sir, Admiral Beatty has indeed suffered defeat. The treacherous Germans had anticipated this trap, and thus were adequately prepared, leading to Admiral Beatty's downfall," Jellicoe ground his teeth in frustration.