Chapter 981 Critical Point 2

"If the other party is not deliberately lying, then I think the accuracy of this intelligence will be very high. The submarine attack distance was very close, and the lighting conditions on the water surface were good at the time. It is not difficult to confirm the results. I think, Admiral House Don’t you think that your subordinates deliberately lied about military information?” After speaking, the prince looked at the commander of the Austro-Hungarian fleet aside.

"Of course not. Captain Lerch is one of the most valuable submarine commanders in the Austro-Hungarian Navy. His experience and moral character cannot be questioned." Admiral House said on the side.

"So you think this is an opportunity?"

"Well. If Count Spee decides to take action, then I am willing to cooperate with the Allied Mediterranean Fleet. Vice Admiral Negovan will personally command the fleet to sail and strive to join the Count." Admiral House felt that he was being bypassed by the prince. If you don't agree with this telegram, it will be like a slap in the face. If you agree, then you must command the fleet to the Aegean Sea to join Count Spey, and then hand over most of the Austro-Hungarian fleet to the Germans.

"Okay, that's it. Anyway, this is His Majesty the Emperor's order. I just need to follow it. Prince Ruprecht is also very knowledgeable in naval warfare. He won't trick us, right?" Thinking of this At one point, Admiral House was resigned to his fate. The other party is reasonable and well-founded. I can't seem to say anything negative.

"I think we should seek the opinions of front-line generals, such as Count Spee, is his fleet ready for attack? If his fleet is not suitable for attack, then we should not force him, you say Is that so?" Tirpitz thought for a moment and said.

"No problem, we can send a telegram to inquire now." After saying that, the prince turned to Admiral House: "Your Excellency, tell your subordinates to prepare for the attack immediately. I'm sure that Earl Spey can't wait. He pulled out the sword in his hand!"

"How did you guess that?" Tirpitz asked. "You haven't already bypassed us and contacted the count directly, have you?"

"Of course I didn't contact him in advance. Count Spee is a courageous and responsible man. He is not as conservative as you think." The prince said without knowing a word. “Never apply office-keeper thinking to a real general.”

At this moment, an officer came in and sent a telegram to the prince and others. When Tirpitz saw the telegram, his face suddenly changed, with a mixture of surprise and confusion. appeared together on that wrinkled face. In the end, there was a hint of blush and a hint of shame on his face.

"Your Highness, there is no need to send a telegram. Count Spee has already sent a telegram. His fleet is about to take action, and he hopes that the Austro-Hungarian Navy can provide cooperation." Tirpitz handed the telegram to the man not far away. The prince said with shame on his face.

"What the count did was still a bit reckless. Didn't he consider the situation of the Austro-Hungarian fleet? If Admiral House's fleet was not prepared..." Tirpitz was still a little confused. said.

"First of all, the count believes that the Austro-Hungarian fleet never wants to break through the blockade and fight with the German allies. Secondly, if such a situation really occurs, then the count will act as usual, because this opportunity is really rare!"

Count Spey got the news about 2 hours earlier than the prince.

It was only around 5 a.m. when his subordinate, the Austro-Hungarian Rear Admiral Vélennik, the captain of the fast battleship Prinz Eugen, woke up the sleeping Count Spee with a telegram from the submarine No. ub-12.

"Call all fast battleship captains for a meeting immediately! Now, immediately, immediately!" After the count quickly glanced at the telegram, he was like a lion waking up.

"Now?" Major General Velennik said somewhat unexpectedly.

"Of course! I have been waiting for this day for too long. I have been thinking of ways to break the deadlock. Unexpectedly, your country's submarine became the key to breaking the French blockade chain!" The count patted the other party's shoulder in a friendly manner. ! "Now that you have done a good job, it's time for us to take action and order the fleet to prepare to set sail! Auxiliary warships will clean up the waters outside the strait!"

"And we haven't verified the accuracy of this news!" The major general couldn't help but raise his voice.

"Won't we find out once we go out? They can't catch us anyway." Count Spey said indifferently. As he said, if the intelligence is wrong, just treat it as a cruise. It will be difficult for the Germans to break through. Aegean blockade, but the French's fleet of low-speed battleships want to capture the count's fast battleships? Then just take a shower and go to bed.

Count Spee's understanding of fighter aircraft is this. When it's difficult for the other party to keep you, it's always right to go out for a run. What if you run into someone? We are the navy, we are meant to gallop on the sea, not fish in the harbor!

Ten minutes later, Count Spee, his deputy, Colonel Melkel, the captain of the Turkish Navy Sultan Osman I, Colonel von Riole, the captain of the Reschadier, and Pachner, the captain of the Prinz Eugen. The Commodore and Captain Milenkovich, the captain of the Teghov, all came to the conference room of Sultan Osman I.

"I think everyone has read the intelligence. Our comrades in the Adriatic Sea helped us kill a French battleship and mine the port. Our current situation is very good. Some of the French battleships will be temporarily trapped in the port. In the face of 2 dreadnoughts and a group of Dantons in another berth, I think we have an overwhelming advantage. Considering some of the French warships performing escort missions, the fleet they can now use in Crete is very Limited, I think this is an opportunity! An opportunity to break the deadlock, what are your opinions?" the earl said concisely.

"I agree, this is an opportunity." Colonel Melkel is the count's old partner. When the count was the captain, he was the count's gunner. When the count was the squadron commander, he was the captain of the light cruiser squadron. Now, when the count became lieutenant general, this guy finally became the captain of the battleship. His attitude towards the count's order was very clear, as long as If it makes sense, then I will firmly support it.

"Should we contact the Vienna authorities? It is best that we need their cooperation in our actions." Major General Velenier asked. He was the commander of the Austro-Hungarian fleet, so he thought he should inform him first.