Chapter 0887: Mediation

"General, we cannot continue the assault. Our forces have suffered immense losses. The first wave of troops has lost more than sixty percent of its strength. The retreating units are broken in spirit. We no longer have the capacity to press on," a lieutenant general implored, his voice laden with despair.

"Indeed, General. The German firepower is overwhelming. Not only do they possess formidable machine guns, but their artillery density is also extraordinary. To make matters worse, they have naval gunfire support. The power of their naval guns is devastating—each shot claiming the lives of hundreds, leaving nothing but shattered corpses. Our soldiers have lost the courage to fight on," another lieutenant general concurred.

General Markmisian's face turned ashen. The battle had only just begun, and yet the troops he commanded had already crumbled, their resolve shattered. The humiliation of it was unbearable.

Although he understood the truth—that the Germans were stronger than anticipated—he was left with no explanation to offer to His Majesty the King. The consequences of the King's wrath would be dire, and as the commanding officer, Markmisian would be the first to bear the brunt of it.

"What of the other units? Are they still able to fight?" General Markmisian asked.

"General, considering how ruthlessly the Germans have fought, how could our troops possibly find the courage to continue?" one of his subordinates replied.

"Yes, General. If we send more units into the fray, it would be little more than a death sentence. The soldiers would never consent to such an order," another added.

"General, if we force an offensive order, it could spark a mutiny. The consequences would be even more perilous," warned yet another officer.

Markmisian sank into a state of despondency. He knew the troops no longer had the will to fight.

"Since it seems everyone is of the same mind, I will not insist further. I shall report to His Majesty the King. I hope His Majesty will understand our plight," General Markmisian sighed.

In truth, he believed that waging war with Germany over the trivial matter of Gibraltar was a foolish endeavor. It had nothing to do with international honor. After all, Gibraltar had not been in Spanish hands before; it had belonged to the British. The British had handed it back to Spain with ulterior motives. If it were possible, they should have simply refused it. Even if for the sake of appearances they had to accept, there was no need to provoke the Germans. If the Germans wanted to lease it, so be it. Although the rent was negligible, it was certainly a better option than incurring further losses.

General Markmisian, though opposed to war with Germany, was loyal to the Spanish King and his country. That was why he had been entrusted with command. Now, knowing that continuing the fight would lead to disastrous results, he was forced to heed the opinions of his officers and cease the offensive.

"General, will this decision bring us trouble?" some of the officers inquired, concerned.

"I will bear all the responsibility," General Markmisian replied with a sigh.

He knew full well the grave consequences of disobeying the King's orders. However, there was no alternative. If he did not intervene, others would face punishment. Given his position and his relationship with the King, he might lose his post, but his life would be spared. But if he did nothing, others might be sent to a military tribunal. The consequences of that would be far worse. General Markmisian did not wish to see other officers lose their lives because of this.

"General..." Some officers attempted to speak further, but were silenced by Markmisian. He had made his decision, and it was final.

In Madrid, at the Royal Palace, King Alfonso XIII was incensed upon receiving the telegram from the frontlines.

"Scoundrels! How dare they defy my orders? One hundred thousand men sent to assault Gibraltar, and now they lack the courage to continue. This is a disgrace. I will see these cowards brought before a military tribunal and sentenced to the gallows!" King Alfonso XIII raged, his face black with fury.

The telegram from the front had clearly angered him, leaving him profoundly dissatisfied. He had expected that, even if the Spanish forces were no match for the Germans, they would at least put up a decent fight for Gibraltar. This way, even if he had to ask the Americans to mediate, he would retain some semblance of dignity.

But now, his army had given up before a decisive defeat, giving the impression that they had been forced to seek mediation. What would become of his reputation?

"Your Majesty, I know General Markmisian well. If he believes the battle is unwinnable, then the situation at the front must be dire. General Markmisian would never defy your orders unless the circumstances were grave. As you know, he is one of your most loyal commanders," Count Romanones, the Prime Minister, offered.

After hearing the Prime Minister's words, King Alfonso XIII paused to reflect. He knew General Markmisian well, and it was true that he had always been among his most faithful commanders. If Markmisian had disobeyed his orders, the situation must indeed be dire. The thought of it unsettled the King.

"What are we to do now? The disparity in strength between our army and the Germans is insurmountable. If this continues, we will be swiftly defeated. And if the Germans see our weakness and attempt to widen the war, what then?" King Alfonso XIII fretted, panic creeping into his voice.

This was the nature of the King: suspicious and prone to overreaction. Hearing the news of his army's faltering, his mind turned away from blaming General Markmisian for disobeying orders and focused instead on the threat of a broader war. What if the Germans, seeing their weakness, decided to launch a full-scale invasion of Spain? He now understood that their army's fighting capability was no match for the Germans. If the war escalated, their defeat would be catastrophic.

"Your Majesty, since continuing the war is not viable, and further combat would only result in more losses, we have no choice but to request American mediation and end this conflict. The Americans had promised to intervene, and now is the time for them to fulfill that promise," Count Romanones suggested.

"Very well, request the Americans to mediate immediately," King Alfonso XIII concluded decisively.