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"Hissing Minister of the Navy, the Prime Minister is holding a meeting, why don't you wait a moment!" The secretary of the Prime Minister's Office said to Sir Fisher, the British Navy Minister. In the near future, King Edward VII of England will ascend the throne, Prime Minister Arthur Bell
Fu is convening relevant personnel to discuss some issues that need to be paid attention to during the throne ceremony, etc.
"No, I must meet the Prime Minister immediately. This is related to the fate of Britain!" said Sir Fisher, the Minister of Navy, with a gloomy face.
"This, okay! I will report to the Prime Minister immediately!" The secretary of the Prime Minister's Office did not dare to neglect. After all, Sir Fisher said so seriously. If something really happened, it was not something he could afford.
Sir Fisher nodded and went straight to Prime Minister Arthur Belfort's office to wait.
At this moment, in the conference room of the Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Arthur Belfort is organizing a meeting. Everyone is discussing the throne ceremony of Edward VII. Prime Minister Arthur Belfort proposed that he would be at this throne ceremony.
, to show Britain's strong strength, let countries around the world know that Britain is still the most powerful country in the world. However, the condition he proposed is a bit too difficult. Britain's dominance of the world depends on the navy. However,
Although the British Navy still has more than 20 battleships, these battleships are all outdated old battleships. Even the six "old man star" battleships that have just been put into service, they are only allowed to be in front of the new battleships of the Chinese Navy.
The British Navy's own "Defensible" battleship will probably be in service in the second half of the year.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister. The Navy Minister wants to see you in an emergency!" The secretary of the Prime Minister's Office opened the door of the conference room and came to Prime Minister Arthur Belfort and whispered.
Prime Minister Arthur Belford frowned. He didn't like being disturbed during the meeting. However, he knew that Sir Fisher, the Minister of the Navy, must have something urgent to see him. Therefore, he
Nodded.
"You guys discuss it first, I have something else to deal with!" After that, Prime Minister Arthur Belfort left the conference room and went to his office. Along the way, he was also guessing what had happened.
What? Did the Chinese and Germans form an alliance? If this is true, it would not be good news for the UK. Wang Yuze and his wife are visiting Germany. If Arthur Belford can think like this, it is because
It's inevitable.
"Sir Fisher, what happened?" After entering the office, Prime Minister Arthur Belfort saw Sir Fisher fidgeting, which made him feel that something really was going to happen.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister. It's like this. Our intelligence personnel discovered that the Chinese were secretly building several battleships in the shipyard in China!" said Sir Fisher.
Prime Minister Arthur Belford frowned immediately and said, "Does the Chinese still continue to develop their naval strength? Do they really want to replace the Royal Navy and become the most powerful navy in the world?"
"Prince Prime Minister, if this is true, it will not be a big threat to us. After all, China is too far away from us. If they want to attack us, they need to cross a 20,000-kilometer voyage first.
.” said Sir Fisher.
"What does it mean?" Prime Minister Arthur Belford was a little puzzled.
"Prime Minister, based on the information we have obtained, these battleships do not belong to the Chinese Navy, but were built by the Chinese for other countries!" said Sir Fisher.
"Another country? Are you talking about Germany! The Chinese are building battleships for the Germans?" Prime Minister Arthur Belfort stood up from his chair. If the Chinese are building battleships for Germany, this is a problem
But that's great. Germany itself is also building battleships crazily to catch up with Britain. In order to cope with Germany's naval challenges, Britain had to do its best to mobilize resources to build new battleships as much as possible so as to suppress Germany.
.Now, there are 8 battleships under construction in Germany, but Britain has 12, which is enough to ensure Britain's advantage. However, if China is also building battleships for Germany, Britain's advantage will no longer exist.
Once the German navy has the advantage over the British navy, a fool will know what will happen. The arrogant German navy will definitely challenge the British navy. Once the British navy is defeated, the entire Europe will not be able to stop the Germans.
It's right.
"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister. We can be sure that the battleships on the Chinese ships belong to the Germans. There are four, which are the Germans' Nassau-class battleships, with a 280mm main gun caliber, and China
The 305mm caliber main guns of human 'Chinese-class' battleships are completely different. These four battleships are likely to be put into service in the second half of the year. In addition, there are four Hergos, which are transformed based on the Chinese 'Qin-class' battleships.
Lan-class battleships are under construction and are expected to be in service within one and a half years or two years! By then, the Germans will have 16 powerful battleships, and we only have 12!" Sir Fisher said in a little.
said in a low voice.
"How can those damn yellow-skinned monkeys do this? They are destroying peace in Europe and the whole world!" Prime Minister Arthur Belford roared angrily. I have to admit that this move by the Chinese is just right
It hit the deadly place of the British Navy. Although the British Isles are protected by the Straits, it is very difficult to say how useful the narrow Strait will be.
"Sir Fisher, what should we do now in Britain? How can Britain cope with the current crisis?" said Prime Minister Arthur Belfort. He knew that getting angry could not solve the problem, and he could only actively deal with these problems.
OK.
"Prime Minister, we have no other way, we can only take the initiative to deal with the Germans. Only our navy, with more powerful battleships than the Germans, dare not act rashly. Therefore, the Imperial Royal Navy must
You must maintain your advantage over the German Navy's battleships. If you approve, next month, the 'Saint Vincent-class' battleships can be built and six ships are built at the same time. At the speed of our shipyard, you can definitely be in the German Navy's battleships.
When we are in service, these six "St. Vincent-class" battleships will also be in service. In addition to the three "Invincible" battlecruisers we will start construction, we will have eighteen battleships and three battlecruisers by then.
We can still have an advantage over the Germans! However, this advantage is very fragile. Once the Chinese join in, we will lose all our advantages. Therefore, we need to build more battleships!" said Sir Fisher.
In his opinion, the total number of battleships in the British Navy must be at least twice as many as that in the German Navy in order to meet the challenges of Germany and China at the same time.
"Build six more 'St. Vincent-class' battleships?" Prime Minister Arthur Belfort was a little embarrassed. Six 'St. Vincent-class' battleships cost more than 20 million pounds, plus three 'Invincible' battleships, total
The cost will reach more than 30 million pounds. In the current UK, in the quagmire of the Boer War, fiscal revenue can no longer afford the large-scale shipbuilding plan.
"His Excellency Prime Minister, we have no other way. After the construction of the 'St. Vincent's class' battleship began, the design of our next-class battleship, the 'Neptune' battleship has also begun. In order to ensure the advantages of the British Royal Navy,
We must continue to build more advanced battleships," said Sir Fisher.
"In this case, we will completely enter the arms race and our economy will be dragged down!" said Prime Minister Arthur Belfort.
"His Excellency Prime Minister, even if our economy is dragged down, I believe that the Germans' economy will collapse before us. The Germans' economy is developing very quickly, but their foundation is too weak. In addition, we can still
The Germans won't be able to get support from the colony. So, even if the arms race really starts, the first ones that can't stand will be the Germans!" said Sir Fisher.
"Is it possible for the Germans to give up the arms race with us?" said Prime Minister Arthur Belfort.
Sir Fisher shook his head: "Prime Minister, the ambitions of the Germans are already very obvious, otherwise they would not have built battleships in China secretly."
"Well, immediately call on the Foreign Minister Lord Lance Dorn, Chancellor Charles Thomson Ritchie, Field Marshal Sir Neville Bowles Chamberlain to discuss countermeasures!" Prime Minister Arthur Belfort said.
He cannot decide the major matter alone. Even if it is decided, he must approve funds from the Admiralty, so the parliament must agree. Therefore, he must first reach agreement in the cabinet.
Soon, the cabinet officials came to the Prime Minister's Office. When British Navy Secretary Sir John Fisher informed everyone of the information they obtained from China, everyone was shocked. Everyone knew very well that the Germans had been coveting the United Kingdom.
Overseas colonies. The Germans had only one purpose for vigorously developing their navy, that is, to defeat the British navy and then seize the British overseas colonies. Once the British overseas colonies are seized, the decline of Britain will be in front of us.
"Everyone is already very clear about the seriousness of the matter. So, do you think the naval shipbuilding plan proposed by Sir Fisher should be approved?" asked Prime Minister Arthur Belfort. (To be continued...)