Chapter 174: The Power of the Press

Chapter 174: The Power of the Press

Cobb was perhaps the busiest person at headquarters, even busier than Gallieni, who often spent his time reviewing maps while eating his bread. Cobb worked at the city defense headquarters during the day, as it was the best place to access fast, accurate, and comprehensive information. The moment there was news of combat or any other update, Cobb was the first to know, immediately calling the newsroom to dispatch reporters.

Sometimes, he didn't even need to send anyone out; Lieutenant Colonel Fernand could order the relevant troops to take a few photos and send them along with maps and other documents. These served both as military intelligence and as material for the military gazette, effectively achieving two goals at once.

After sunset, Cobb would return to the newsroom to oversee layout and printing, sometimes working through the night and sleeping briefly at his desk when he became too exhausted. Charles worried that Cobb might burn out, but Cobb assured him confidently:

"Don't worry, Lieutenant. I've done this before. Back then, I'd conduct interviews during the day and stay up writing articles at night—I'm used to it!"

"Besides, the team I hired is all new to this. They don't know how to get things done yet. Once they get up to speed, I'll have an easier time!"

Charles realized he was right. Starting a new venture was never easy, especially in an industrial boom during wartime. The soldiers weren't the only ones fighting on the front lines; the whole nation was straining under the effort.

Just then, Cobb took a call and suddenly exclaimed, "An incident at Coronel—a naval battle!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing, turning their confused gazes toward Cobb.

After working with him for a few days, they understood that Cobb wasn't just any reporter; he had developed some "exchange agreements" with foreign journalists to share information, often gaining access to more objective, comprehensive, and timely intelligence than even the city defense headquarters.

"Coronel?" Gallieni looked at Cobb in confusion, then turned to Fernand, who shrugged, just as perplexed, and shook his head to indicate he hadn't received any related information.

Holding the receiver, Cobb listened for a few more moments, then put the phone down and explained:

"Coronel is a port in Chile, General. The battle happened yesterday afternoon. The British Royal Navy encountered a small German fleet near Coronel, and two British cruisers were sunk."

"It's reported to be the Good Hope and the Monmouth, with the Royal Navy losing over a thousand men."

There was a shocked silence in the room, and many faces turned pale.

The British Royal Navy was considered an invincible force, yet in their first engagement, they had been beaten 2-0 by the German navy. The staff naturally began to wonder if Germany could work similar wonders at sea as they had on land.

Charles, however, continued to sort through his papers, indifferent to events at sea, knowing Germany wouldn't ultimately succeed. Naval warfare was unlike land combat, where an underdog could win through better-trained soldiers, capable officers, or innovative tactics. Naval warfare required overwhelming resources: fleets, experience, and industrial power. In this regard, it was nearly impossible for Germany to catch up to Britain.

Gallieni, on the other hand, grew anxious. Frowning, he ordered Lieutenant Colonel Fernand, "Confirm this with the British immediately!"

Soon, a telegram from the British confirmed the report: it was indeed true. The German fleet, consisting of eight warships stationed in colonial waters, had arrived at Coronel under Admiral von Spee's command.

As the staff murmured in concern, Charles, still focused on his documents, casually remarked, "Don't worry. This German fleet will eventually fall into Cobb's hands."

The officers laughed, thinking Charles was just making a joke. Cobb even blushed slightly at the compliment.

At first, Gallieni thought the same, believing the young lieutenant was simply venting his frustration with journalists and the public's constant attention. But upon further thought, he sensed there was more behind Charles's words.

Gallieni wasn't wrong. Charles knew what was going to happen. The Germans' initial success had been due to their efforts to stay inconspicuous, carefully concealing their movements and splitting up for resupply in neutral ports to avoid attention. In an era without radar, with limited aviation, and no widespread radio communication, tracking a fleet in the vast ocean was exceedingly difficult.

However…

This victory shattered that protective anonymity. The world now saw Admiral von Spee as a rising naval star, and the global press was eager to follow and track his every move. The exposure made it impossible for Spee's fleet to remain hidden; the British would only need to consult the newspapers to know his approximate location. Eventually, this fleet would be hunted down by British battlecruisers, and Spee, along with his sons, would sink with his flagship, the Scharnhorst.

Charles sighed inwardly. This was probably the first fleet in history doomed by the media's reach. Von Spee was undoubtedly the last person who wanted fame.

Charles even felt a tinge of sympathy. He, too, was constantly battling with reporters and fans; one day, he might meet a similar fate as Admiral von Spee.

He shook his head, muttering a quick prayer against such bad luck.

...

The next day, despite the drizzle, Charles decided to visit the aviation club.

The pilots were now in full uniform, as stipulated in their contracts—all second lieutenants. They no longer addressed Charles by name but used his rank, though their tone remained carefree:

"Hey, Lieutenant! We heard you won another battle!"

"We saw it from the sky—the tank unit looked impressive!"

"When do we get a chance to drive a tank? They look sturdier than planes!"

These were a group of adventurers, without formal training and with little respect for convention. But Charles didn't mind. As long as they obeyed commands and fought well, he didn't need anything more from them.

When Charles found Carter, he was preparing to receive a batch of new planes.

Spotting Charles, Carter immediately set his work aside and saluted. "Lieutenant, good to see you!"

Charles asked, "How's the airfield coming along?"

"All is well, Lieutenant," Carter replied, glancing at the busy pilots and ground crew. "We've never had so many planes or personnel before. I'm planning to standardize our fleet with only the Avro models, including the reconnaissance planes. The other models will be relegated to training."

Charles nodded. This decision would clearly improve combat efficiency; Carter's management was indeed reassuring.

However, Charles added a reminder, "Have you considered that you might need more preparation?"

Carter looked puzzled. "What do you mean, Lieutenant? Right now, we're either patrolling or taking down enemy balloons. We don't seem to need much else."

(End of Chapter)

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