"Order all ships to remain on alert. In addition, those battleships in the Italian Sea that have been controlled will return immediately. Let the battlecruiser Wang Ben lead a few light cruisers and destroyers to escort these battleships back to Port Said!" Admiral Li Haitao
ordered. Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire is now considered an ally of China, the Austro-Hungarian Navy suddenly appeared in this sea area. Without clarifying their true intentions,
It is better to remain cautious. Originally, the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet planned to attack the Italian Navy together with the Austro-Hungarian Navy, but they did not expect that the Italian Navy would seek death on its own, and the Austro-Hungarian Navy also chose to sit back and watch the fight. Therefore,
, this made Admiral Li Haitao a little wary of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although, the possibility of the Austro-Hungarian Navy launching an attack on them was very small, almost non-existent.
"Yes, Commander!" Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Wu Zhiyuan immediately issued the order. In less than ten minutes, the four captured Italian Navy battleships, some armored cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers began to head southeast
direction sailing, before preparation
Go to Port Said. Port Said has become an important base for the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet. However, there is no large shipyard and it can only repair some small battleships. Those seriously damaged battleships have to go to the large shipyard in Singapore.
Only then can it be repaired.
The battlecruiser Wang Ben, together with several light cruisers and destroyers, also escorted these captured battleships and monitored these battleships. Although the Indian Ocean Fleet has dispatched many officers and soldiers to board the captured battleships, and
Confiscated
The weapons of the Italian naval officers on the battleships. But at the moment, the Indian Ocean Fleet does not have enough manpower to drive these battleships, so it still has to rely on Italian naval officers. However, they will be monitored by Chinese naval officers holding weapons.
Several battleships of the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet also adjusted their positions, formed a battle line, and remained alert. At the same time, they contacted the Navy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and asked them about their purpose of coming here.
Appearing in the north of the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet is the Austro-Hungarian Empire's navy, which consists of four 'United Forces' class battleships as the main force and nearly thirty cruisers and destroyers. After the main fleet of the Italian Navy left Willis and headed south
After that, Archduke Ferdinand personally led the main fleet of the Austro-Hungarian Navy from Astre and bombarded Venice, an important coastal city in northern Italy. However, the Austrian army
The Hungarian Navy did not take advantage here. Although the main force of the Italian Navy has left, the Italian Navy's coastal defense forces here are still very strong. In the Port of Venice, the Italian Navy's coastal defense forces are deployed
It has dozens of large-caliber coastal defense guns, and its firepower is very powerful. Although the Austro-Hungarian Navy destroyed many coastal defense fortifications of the Italian Navy's coastal defense forces, it also
It suffered a lot of shells and lost several light cruisers and destroyers. In order to avoid more losses, Archduke Ferdinand had to lead the Austro-Hungarian Navy to stop the attack on Venice. However, he did not want to return to Astre.
. So he chose to go south. In Archduke Ferdinand’s view, the strength of the Italian Navy’s main fleet and the Chinese Navy’s Indian Ocean Fleet should be about the same, and the naval battle between the two sides would definitely be
It was very tragic. After the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet and the Italian Navy's main fleet were both damaged, the Austro-Hungarian Navy could wait for a while and make a big deal. But he did not expect that when he led the Austro-Hungarian Navy to the battle waters,
The battle was over. Among the six battleships of the Italian Navy, except for two that were sunk, the remaining four surrendered to the Chinese Navy.
On the battleship United Forces, the flagship of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, Archduke Ferdinand regretted it very much. He did not expect that the Italian Navy would be so vulnerable. Not even a single Chinese battleship was sunk.
It sank two battleships of the Italian Navy and captured four battleships. If the Austro-Hungarian Navy had not
With so many concerns, if we directly engage in a decisive battle with the Italian Navy, the Austro-Hungarian Navy may have won a brilliant victory. If the Austro-Hungarian Navy can also capture four Italian Navy battleships, then the Austro-Hungarian Empire
The navy can add four powerful battleships and even dominate the entire Mediterranean.
Archduke Ferdinand was a staunch supporter of the navy. It was with his support that the Austro-Hungarian Navy developed. It was also he who transformed the Austro-Hungarian Empire from a land power to a maritime power and became the overlord of the Mediterranean.
The hope he had always had was now seeing the opportunity slip away from him, which made him very angry.
Archduke Ferdinand was the Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Franz.
Carl, brother of Emperor Joseph I.
Crown Prince Rudolf, the son of Archduke Ludwig and the emperor's only son, became the heir to the throne after committing mental illness and committing suicide in 1889. Because he advocated expanding the Austro-Hungarian Empire's dual empire consisting of Austria and Hungary into Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia by annexing the Kingdom of Serbia.
The Three Yuan Empire was formed. In 898, he became Archduke Ferdinand's deputy commander-in-chief of the Austrian army.
He actively promoted the expansion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the Balkan Peninsula in an attempt to establish the United States of Greater Austria. At the same time, Archduke Ferdinand also actively developed the navy in an attempt to establish the maritime hegemony of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the Mediterranean. In particular, Germany began to build battleships aggressively, challenging
After Britain's maritime supremacy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire followed suit and built the 'United Forces' class battleships.
However, due to financial constraints, the Austro-Hungarian Empire only built the 'United Forces' class battleship. Fortunately, the navies of various countries near the Mediterranean were not very powerful. The Austro-Hungarian Empire's four 'United Forces' class battleships,
Battleships are also a very powerful force.
After the outbreak of the World War, the Austro-Hungarian Empire focused its main energy on the war against Russia. Because the trigger that triggered the war was different, Archduke Ferdinand was not assassinated. However, the war with Russia on land,
The generals on the army side were in charge, and Archduke Ferdinand had to work with the naval commander Anton.
Feng.
Together with Admiral House, he commanded the Austro-Hungarian Navy. However, due to the influence of its strength, the Austro-Hungarian Navy could only swim in the small pond of the Adriatic Sea. This time Italy joined the Allied Powers, which meant that the Austro-Hungarian Empire
It was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity. But Archduke Ferdinand never expected that he originally wanted to get something cheap, but in the end he couldn't get anything.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Chinese drove away the captured Italian warships!" Anton.
Feng.
Admiral House came to the side of Archduke Ferdinand and said. Looking at the departing Italian Navy battleships, his eyes were full of regret.
"Damn it! Those Italians were so inexperienced that they surrendered to the Chinese so quickly. It is simply a shame for Westerners!" Archduke Ferdinand cursed.
"His Royal Highness, what should we do now? The Chinese have already sent a telegram asking us about our intentions. How should we reply to them?" Anton.
Feng.
Admiral House asked.
"Damn! Do those yellow-skinned monkeys really regard the Mediterranean as their inland sea? The Austro-Hungarian Empire's navy has the right to sail freely in the Mediterranean. Tell them that the Austro-Hungarian Empire's navy is cruising normally!" Ferdinand
The Grand Duke said angrily.
"Well, Your Excellency, China is our ally after all. Moreover, the strength of the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet has greatly surpassed ours. We need to ease the relationship with China. In addition, the empire's consumption in the war is very large.
His Majesty the Emperor has already planned to ask China for help and let China transport various combat materials to us through the Mediterranean. If it offends the Chinese navy, it will cause great trouble to the empire's plan." Anton.
Feng.
Admiral House reminded.
After Archduke Ferdinand heard this, he immediately frowned. The current Austro-Hungarian Empire is also in crisis. Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire is one of the main countries of the Allied Powers, it is actually just a follower of Germany. Moreover, the Austro-Hungarian Empire
The combat effectiveness of the army is weak. If it were not for the support of Germany,
Otherwise, they would have been defeated by Russia long ago. Relying on the assistance of the German army, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's army won several battles in succession and defended its territory. But now, the betrayal of the Italians has plunged the southwestern border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into another
In the midst of the war, the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Greece were also trying to
These movements are always threatening the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After China's power expanded to the Mediterranean, it was also a huge help to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. At least, the Kingdom of Greece and the Kingdom of Serbia did not dare to act rashly. China captured Sicily, and its navy
Annihilating the main force of the Italian Navy gave this
The two countries were greatly shocked. If they dared to join the Allies at this time, they would definitely be besieged by the Austro-Hungarian Empire and China. With the strength of these two small countries, they simply could not hold on. Therefore, China
The war launched in the Mediterranean was a great help to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
"Send a telegram to the Chinese to congratulate them on their victory in this naval battle. In addition, I hope to meet with their commander to discuss the next joint defense against the Allied navy in the Mediterranean and the attack on Italy!"
After Archduke Ferdinand suppressed the anger in his heart, he made the right choice. Being able to become the crown prince of this huge country in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he was not a fool. He naturally knew that he could not make a small sacrifice.