Since leaving Port St. Louis, Lieutenant Colonel Lawcons, the captain of the "Galati" light cruiser, had a bad premonition, and he was worried that the Chinese would suddenly kill from the sea.
The fleet was ordered to quickly leave this dangerous sea area at a high speed of 16 knots and sail not far from the coast, so that after being attacked, it would quickly run to the neutral zone of twelve nautical miles to hide.
At 10:30 a.m., two seaplanes flew past the side of the fleet. Although they could not see the signs on the plane, the concern in his heart became more and more obvious.
Two more planes flew over and circled in front of the fleet for a while before leaving hurriedly.
"We have been found out that we must enter the French Cayenne Harbor to hide!" Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence was giving the order to turn to the fleet.
As soon as the fleet began to turn, he heard the lookout hand on the bridge shouting: "Spot the smoke column, position 110!" The observation commander on duty looked along the direction reported by the lookout hand, and the water line in the sky floated.
A few light columns of smoke rose.
"What kind of ships are those?" Captain Lawrence asked on the phone.
"I can't see clearly. The distance is about 30 nautical miles now, but they are very fast!" The observation officer stood in front of a monocular telescope like a cannon, holding the phone in one hand, and pressing his right eye against the eyepiece.
"Send someone to climb to the top of the mast, be sure to see clearly!" Lawrence continued to order.
"Captain, no need, Cassander's position has already hung a signal flag, and six cruisers are coming, and they are heading towards us at a high speed of more than 25 knots!" The observer replied at this time.
This is sure when the enemy's warship!
At this time, Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence had two choices yesterday. One was to throw down these slower merchant ships and flee alone, and the other was to lead the weak fleets under his command to fight, winning some time for the merchant ships to escape.
The brave Royal Navy officer chose to fight, although he knew that he would be in trouble and probably wouldn't help.
"Issue a battle alarm and the merchant fleet enters the Cayenne at full speed!" Lieutenant Colonel Lauren ordered that the Cayenne Port in French Guiana is about fifty nautical miles away. If the merchant fleet does its best to avoid it, it may be able to escape this disaster.
.
At this time, about 25 nautical miles above the sea, this cruiser fleet composed of Chinese and German warships was sailing towards the British merchant fleet with all their might, blocking the British fleet.
"Report, the other party is turning, four escort ships are coming towards us, and have been sending out radio telegrams!" On the German ship "Earl Spey", the combat staff officer reported to Major General Longsdorf on the German ship "Earl Spey",
The latest situation.
"Let's pack up these British ships and let the Chinese intercept the merchant fleet!" Longsdorf issued an order, with one armored ship and two heavy patrols on his side, and it's still packed up four British light cruisers.
A plate of side dishes.
On the sea, more than a dozen merchant ships fled in scattered areas. The American Light turned its bow and fled to the southward coast of Brazil. It was obvious that Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence's order was a little wrong, and the enemy's fleet appeared in the northeast direction.
It is impossible for merchant ships with slower ships to break through the enemy's interception to go to the Cayenne.
"They are here, it's a Chinese armored ship!" On the bridge behind the "Light of America", Captain McCann held a telescope in his hand and kept staring at the sea. "Light of America" is
A new tanker with a displacement of 13,770 tons can reach 20 knots. The captain hopes that he can enter Brazil's territorial waters with his speed before the enemy catches him.
"How can you tell it? We can only see its mast clearly now!" said Jeff, the eldest mate.
"The Chinese armored ship is in a special shape, and it looks like a battleship from a distance, so it's very good to separate." Captain McCann said, "Now you can see its hull, you can confirm that it is a Chinese armored ship
Ship!"
The first mate took the telescope from the captain and looked towards the sea. The huge warship was much closer. He rushed towards them at high speed with a murderous smell on the sea.
"How far is it from us?" the captain asked the captain.
"It's about 15 nautical miles!" The chief engineer said hesitantly, estimating the approximate distance.
"Turn right immediately, there is a sheltered harbor on the Otaki coast ahead, and we will hide there. As long as we enter the bay, we will be within the territorial waters of Brazil. Even if the Chinese send the entire fleet here, we can't do anything to us.
Like!" Captain McCann ordered the ship to turn at full speed.
At this time, five cargo ships with higher speed followed them, and bursts of cannon sounds turned from the sea. The escorted British fleet was fighting against the enemy. Those merchant ships with slower speeds were almost chased by the Chinese.
On the way, the warships were warning and shooting at the sea, requiring the merchant ships to stop.
Time flies. Half an hour later, the warship had chased after these merchant ships less than five nautical miles away. Captain McCann also breathed a sigh of relief. They had entered the Brazilian territorial waters.
"Stop the ship immediately, we will board your ship!" The captain read the signal from the warship, "Don't pay attention to them, we are now in Brazil's territorial waters, protected by neutral legislation, slow down the ship!"
Suddenly, several orange-red flames spewed out from the warship, and the Chinese opened fire!
The shells crossed the ship and exploded less than two nautical miles from the coast.
"Stop the ship immediately, or I will sink you!" Now, things are obvious. The Chinese people insist on capturing these merchant ships regardless of international maritime conventions.
"Stop the ship immediately and hang the signal flag!" Captain McCann shouted angrily, "These Chinese are simply a group of robbers!"
Several merchant ships stopped after two rounds of artillery attacks and floated on the sea.
The Chinese-Supership also slowed down its speed on the sea surface about 3,000 meters away from them and pointed at these merchant ships with its muzzles. Soon, another cruiser with a displacement of about the same as that of the "Light of America" also rushed to the scene.
Come over, its side is painted with three eye-catching white Arabic numerals "231", but from the outside, this Chinese cruiser grows a lot more than the "American Light".
Several motorboats weighing more than 20 tons were placed on the sea surface in cranes, and were filled with fully armed sailors. The motorboats quickly started and headed towards the British merchant ship that was parked not far from the coast.
Captain McCann and about thirty crew members stood on the deck, quietly waiting for the arrival of these "uninvited guests". On the sea not far away, two Republican Navy warships pointed their muzzles at them, with a slightly lower bow.
The faded iron-blooded naval flag is fluttering in the wind, and the black five stars symbolizing iron-blooded are slightly deformed in the breeze, looking more like a pirate flag.
"They are here!" At this time, a crew member shouted. Captain McCann looked down the port side. A large motorboat had already leaned on the side of the "American Light". (To be continued.