I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 989 - 988: Two Nations, One War Inevitable

Chapter 989: Chapter 988: Two Nations, One War Inevitable

No one expected that the battle for Emden port would unfold between minesweepers and minelayers.

Major Bernhard became famous overnight.

His minelayer approached the enemy’s minesweepers and deployed all 150 mines it carried into the water.

The mines drifted downstream, alternately submerging and surfacing, propelled by the wind and current.

The ten British minesweepers were completely unaware of them, continuing their operations back and forth across the sea.

...

Mines are typically anchored to the seabed with cables, keeping the mine body suspended at a certain depth in the water.

This makes the surface look calm, but when a deep-draft warship passes over them, they explode, sinking the ship.

Minesweepers, with their shallow draft, do not trigger the mines even if they pass over their tops.

Thus, they can confidently sail back and forth with a "dragging knife" at the stern.

The "Racecourse" class minesweepers are adept at this work, having become seasoned veterans since the war began.

But this time, they encountered a setback.

"Boom."

A minesweeper lifted several meters into the air from the force of a massive explosion and waves, then crashed back down.

Its bow was blown open, and within a minute it plunged into the sea, the stern rising high as the bow flooded severely, then it sank straight to the bottom.

In less than five minutes, all that remained on the surface were bubbles and unusual currents, so swiftly that the crew had no chance to escape.

"What happened?" British 7th Minesweeping Squadron Commander Lieutenant Colonel Valentine looked bewilderedly at the spot where the Uhulho had vanished.

"Perhaps it’s the current," an aide suggested as explanation: "Some mines had their cables cut but weren’t noticed, and they were swept off course by the current, colliding head-on."

Lieutenant Colonel Valentine acknowledged with a "Hmm" this explanation.

"Orders," he said unhappily, "All units must closely observe the sea surface and detonate any detected mines promptly."

"Yes, sir!"

Before the words were fully spoken, two more loud "boom" explosions echoed.

Two more minesweepers were struck, one at the bow and the other at the hull.

As civilian vessels, they were less resistant to sinking, and without exception, they sank quickly without rescue; the one with the hull strike even broke in two.

"Is this all due to currents?" Lieutenant Colonel Valentine cursed, racing to the bow to raise his binoculars and scan the sea.

He believed there was something they hadn’t discovered.

Sure enough, through his binoculars, he saw many dark objects bobbing up and down in the water, carried by the current, and one was directly ahead.

"Mines!" he anxiously turned to shout to the aide: "Avoid them!"

But neither the aide nor the helmsman could see the submerged mines, making avoidance impossible.

Lieutenant Colonel Valentine could only watch helplessly as the mine loomed ever closer, closer...

Germany’s 29th Mine Laying Squadron claimed a major victory, not only sinking six minesweepers and halting the British minesweeping process but also sinking two destroyers and one cruiser from the fleet stationed a few miles away.

...

Then the air battle commenced.

The British dispatched their proud "S.E.5a" fighters to Emden Port, hoping to completely dominate the port’s airspace, yet they were soundly defeated by the German "Fokker D.VII" fighters that arrived upon hearing the news.

The British Army indeed reached Emden Port, but suddenly two German tank divisions inserted into the rear of the Ruhr District, cutting off the British Army’s retreat.

As a result, the Royal Navy was stalled by the minefield and couldn’t attack the port, while the thirty thousand British troops that reached the port were surrounded by German forces.

...

London War Building.

Telegrams arrived one after the other into the hands of the Minister of Military Supplies, who was overseeing the situation from the shadows.

The Minister of Military Supplies, in a rage, held a telegram and loudly questioned General Winter:

"Two German tank divisions’ insertion?"

"Where did they get fuel? Where did they get ammunition?"

"Is this the German Army barely able to breathe under our blockade?"

General Winter replied, "Minister, I have reason to believe Shire provided the supplies to the Germans."

"Shire?" The Minister of Military Supplies froze.

"Yes." General Winter nodded: "The prisoner exchange plan between Germany and France, resulting in frequent train traffic between both countries in Belgium."

The Minister of Military Supplies immediately understood.

If these trains ceased transporting prisoners, they could quickly become supply vessels for Germany.

Fuel and food heading to Germany from France, while weapons and ammunition could be transferred from the Ruhr Industrial District to the Army.

Of course, not "send" but sell.

Shire gained substantial profit from this while concurrently draining British resources.

Aggravatingly, Britain couldn’t accuse Shire.

The supplies went through Belgium and Holland.

While Belgium might be part of the Allies, Holland was a neutral state, perfectly free to sell supplies to any nation.

And whether it was Belgium or Holland trading with Germany, it wasn’t Shire’s problem.

The only connection was the Ruhr Industrial District.

But under the guise of "Germany maintaining security," Shire’s supplies grossly exceeded the "maintain security" demand.

"Additionally," General Winter remarked, "one major reason for our Army’s defeat at Emden Port was supply line obstruction."

"Supply line obstruction?" The Minister of Military Supplies looked puzzled at General Winter: "Isn’t our supply line under the protection of the French hold of the Ruhr?"

French protection of the Ruhr was safest, being a "neutral state" in principle.

"Indeed, Minister," General Winter confirmed: "It is indeed very safe, but we cannot prevent the French from building roads there."

The Minister of Military Supplies suddenly comprehended.

Any road the French wish to close goes "under maintenance," easily blocking British supply convoys for several hours.

The Minister of Military Supplies anxiously lit a cigar.

He understood Shire’s intention:

Shire, by holding the throat of Germany through the Ruhr Industrial District, was directing the German Army’s maneuvers.

Further consuming the British military, while France swiftly advanced in this progress.

In this tit-for-tat scenario, it won’t be long before France surpasses Britain and becomes the world’s leading power!

No, this can’t happen!

The Minister of Military Supplies rose and walked a few steps.

If this continues, Britain will be doomed, with colonies collapsing like dominoes, reducing it to a second-rate nation, potentially even becoming a puppet of France!

And all of this, was due to Shire, due to France.

The root of the dilemma lies there; attacking Germany is merely wasting efforts.

To change this outcome, France must be attacked and Shire defeated; only then can the other nations be intimidated!

This is inevitable!