Holy Roman Empire

Chapter 983: Chapter 246, All Winners VS No Winners

As time ticked by second by second, the war grew fiercer, and Admiral Falkenhein’s smile had long vanished, replaced by a deeply furrowed brow of worry.

The battle had commenced at ten in the morning and had lasted until five in the afternoon; being hungry was one thing, but the key issue was that the enemy refused to retreat despite heavy losses.

Because of their inadequate training and poor accuracy, the Japanese continually closed the distance during the battle, attempting to engage in close-quarters combat.

When their ships were severely damaged, the first reaction of the Japanese was not to leave the battlefield but to accelerate forward, attempting to collide and perish together.

The Japanese were mad, while the officers and soldiers of the Spanish Fleet were still rational. After their ships were severely damaged, they chose to withdraw from the battlefield immediately.

Logically speaking, these severely damaged ships should no longer have posed a threat, yet the Japanese pursued them relentlessly.

The main fleet was too busy for a decisive battle and couldn’t spare the effort to strike a fallen enemy, but the Sailing Warships staying in the rear could.

Once the Spanish warships withdrew from the battlefield, the Japanese Sailing Fleet swarmed in. The cannons of the Sailing Warships were originally limited in power and could not threaten Ironclad ships, but this didn’t include the damaged ones.

The Japanese were willing to sacrifice lives and a few Sailing Warships, which invariably took down at least one severely damaged Ironclad ship.

Aside from these regular attacks, the Japanese Navy also had suicide attack ships loaded with explosives that would detonate upon rushing forward, forcing the Spaniards to divert their firepower to handle these smaller vessels.

This tactic of trading lives for lives was a unique invention of the Japanese Navy; such tactics had neither been encountered nor even heard of before.

Facing such a group of madmen would give anyone a headache. Admiral Falkenhein was no exception. The initial disdain had completely evaporated, leaving only deep apprehension.

“Report: the Battleship ‘Madrid’ has been hit, the hull is leaking, and repairs are underway. Major General Alfondas has died in action; now Colonel Winterger is taking over the command!”

Another piece of bad news arrived, and Falkenhein’s heart sank, yet his expression remained indifferent as he said, “Understood!”

At this point, the battle was a test of resilience. The Spanish Fleet had suffered heavy losses, but the losses of the opposing Japanese Fleet were even more severe.

The gap in the quality of the ships and the caliber of the soldiers was vast, relying merely on numbers meant that the bloodshed was inevitable.

For the Spanish Fleet, the most crucial task now was to crush the enemy’s frenzy; otherwise, the rest of the war would be a disaster.

…

A loud “boom” resounded, and the ‘Tokyo,’ having been unfortunately struck, violently shook. General Ito Yohiro fell to the ground while commanding the battle.

Ignoring the pain from the fall, Ito Yohiro urgently ordered, “Quick, get people to repair the ship!”

Soon, a young officer, panicked, ran over: “Commander, the ‘Tokyo’ is severely damaged; it must be pulled back to the shipyard for repairs immediately, or it will be in grave danger.”

There was no choice, the British-built ships with their thin hulls were not built to last. They suffered severe damage after just a few hits. In contrast, the ships built by the French were much more resilient.

Of course, this was directly related to the construction time. The “Tokyo” was born more than a decade earlier than its counterpart, the “Madrid.” If its performance had not surpassed that of the “Madrid,” the French would not have had the capability to challenge Britannia’s naval supremacy back then.

Receiving this bad news, General Ito Yohiro, who was usually calm and composed, could no longer contain his agitation. He could accept the sinking of other warships, but the “Tokyo” was different—it was not only the flagship of the Japanese Navy but also one of their only two Pre-Dreadnoughts.

Affected by the butterfly effect, the development of the navy had accelerated by more than a decade, but the old power countries benefitted the most. For emerging nations like Japan, the gap had only widened.

Finally, they had managed to purchase two second-hand Pre-Dreadnoughts from the British. If these were now lost, replacing them would be difficult.

“Pull it back, do you mean to say that the Tokyo’s propulsion system is damaged and it cannot sail back on its own?”

The young officer explained, “Yes, from the start of the battle until now, the Tokyo has been hit by the enemy seven times; its propulsion system has collapsed.”

Looking at the battlefield, Ito Yohiro shook his head, “The Tokyo can’t retreat now, nor can it be towed. Unless we hold out until dark, the enemy will not let us leave.”

The choice of this battlefield was due to its proximity to the port, facilitating a quick escape in case of defeat. Unfortunately, plans did not adapt quickly enough, and the desperate Japanese fleet unexpectedly matched the enemy blow for blow.

“Severe casualties,” for Ito Yohiro, were not a problem. As long as they could win this war, any loss would be worth enduring.

You must understand, this war was not just about fighting; it was also about making a statement to the major powers.

Observers from more than ten countries, including the Holy Roman Empire, Anglo-American, Russia, Netherlands, Belgium, and Qing, were stationed in ships far away. At this moment, the performance of the Japanese Navy would directly influence these countries’ future stance toward them.

Otherwise, why would Ito Yohiro bother to amass such a force to clash fiercely with the Spaniards? Allowing some of the Spanish Army to land and contribute would’ve been easier, wouldn’t it?

From the beginning, Ito Yohiro’s aim was to leave an impression of daring and madness among the nations, only by doing so could he deter the major powers and dispel their covetous gaze toward the Philippine Islands.

Otherwise, with Japan’s current strength, even if they defeated the Spaniards, they could not secure the Philippine Islands.

The effect was indeed very clear. Governor Chandler, who was observing the battle, had already decided to revise his strategy for seizing the Philippine Islands. Before securing support from his homeland, he was not prepared to let the Southeast Asian Fleet take risks.

The British, who had harbored doubts about the Japanese fighting capability and were hesitating to provide support, would likely make up their minds after this war.

…

As the weather gradually darkened, both parties withdrew from the battlefield under the cover of night. With the end of the naval battle, telegrams were sent from Southeast Asia to all corners of the world.

At Vienna Palace, watching the outcome of the first ironclad ship battle in human history, Franz felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

Who won between Japan and Spain?

This question, perhaps no one could give a precise answer. Judging solely from the number of casualties and sunken ships, the Spanish Fleet was clearly the big winner; however, from an overall strategic perspective, it was the Japanese Navy that truly won this maritime battle.

Breaking the myth of white invincibility, with such a significant achievement, any great loss was acceptable.

“The naval battle is temporarily over. According to the intelligence sent by the Governor of Southeast Asia, both Japanese and Spanish navies are severely damaged and are unlikely to engage in a major battle again soon.

“Now it’s time for the army to show its capabilities. How effective is the Spanish Army, and do they have the ability to take the Philippine Islands from the Japanese?”

The coastline of the Philippine Islands is incredibly long, making it impossible for the Japanese Navy to defend comprehensively without defeating the Spanish expeditionary fleet.

Given the poor relationship between the Japanese Army and Navy, the Navy might even take pleasure in the Army’s misfortunes. If the Army were defeated, and they had to step in to clean up, it would be even more perfect.

“We haven’t delved deeply into the combat effectiveness of the Japanese Army. However, judging by their military expenditure, their combat strength should not be very strong.

The combat effectiveness of the Spanish Army is mediocre, and judging by their performance in the Anti-French Wars, it could be said to be very poor. Like their international status, they are certainly at the bottom among the major powers.

Nevertheless, they should still be stronger than the Japanese Army. With equivalent forces, I favor the Spaniards more.”

It isn’t that Feslav underestimates both the Japanese and Spanish. After entering the Second Industrial Revolution, the factors determining absolute military strength have changed. To use the most popular phrase of the day, “Strong armies are fed by military spending.”

No flattery or slander, the spirited valor of the Japanese Army is indeed formidable, but it’s ineffective before the onslaught of steel.

Not to mention the Spanish Army. If not for their victory in the Anti-French Alliance, the Spanish Army wouldn’t have even completed their rearmament.

If stuck with the same outdated equipment, the Spanish wouldn’t have much advantage over the Japanese Army. Although they’ve now updated their equipment, Japan is much closer to home!

With Spain’s national strength, they can’t afford the steel onslaught even at home, let alone in the Philippine Islands.

The greatest advantage for the Spaniards now is probably that their army equipment and ammunition are all war trophies, saving some military expenditure.

“The Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring Spain’s internal situation; we cannot allow this war to affect the peace and stability of the European Continent!”

There’s no doubt, Franz does not have a high opinion of the Spaniards. There’s no plethora of reasons, just one—distance.

If the Spanish Government were more assertive and deployed the main forces of both the army and navy, they might be able to decide the war quickly.

Now, with the navy committing the majority and the army only deploying around one hundred thousand men, it seems impressive but lacks the ability to deliver a fatal blow.

They can attack the Philippine Islands, so why not attack mainland Japan? The current Japanese Government isn’t crazy; if the war reached Tokyo, their likelihood of compromise would be greatly increased.

Instead, fighting a war of attrition against the Japanese in the Philippine Islands doesn’t profoundly affect the Tokyo Government, not only failing to deter the Japanese, but also likely to spur their madness.

Of course, such a strategy requires much from Spain. Unless the Madrid Government spends heavily and gains support from various European countries, it would be challenging to implement.

Franz was preparing for the aftermath, yet the main actors of the war declared themselves as the victors. The Spaniards asserted their victory through battle achievements, while the Japanese rallied public and military morale by “breaking the myth of white invincibility.”

They speak boldly, but their actions reveal the truth. After the naval battle in the Philippine Sea, both Japanese and Spanish launched diplomatic offensives simultaneously.

…

Sulawesi, harassed to no end, Governor Chandler still met with Admiral Falkenhein. Compared to their previous encounters, the Spaniards were much more sincere this time.

There was no choice, as the fate of the expedition fleet now lay in the hands of the Governor of Southeast Asia. While the Japanese could tow their damaged warships back home for repairs, the Spaniards had no way to bring their ships back to Europe.

Over such a great distance, their damaged ships would sink before they could make it back. In fact, on their retreat, the Spanish fleet lost two more ships due to running aground, including the severely damaged “Madrid.”

Of course, they weren’t the only ones at a loss, as the Japanese Navy, their enemy, didn’t gain any advantage either. On its way back to the homeland, the flagship “Tokyo” also tragically sank.

The sinking of a ship does not mean it is irreparable; if the hull damage is not too substantial, it might still be salvaged.

Admiral Falkenhein’s visit this time was specifically to rescue the “Madrid.” Although the Vienna Government had shown them support, the actual execution still depended on the Governor of Southeast Asia.

Whether the “Madrid” could be rescued, and how long the ship repairs might take, were questions that still depended on the support from the Governor’s Mansion of Southeast Asia.

Colonists in Southeast Asia could not help but eye the Philippine Islands, and without the involvement of the colonial government, Admiral Falkenhein dared not imagine what might happen next.

Surely one couldn’t expect any integrity from these repair yards? After all, they were in for long-term business, and a fleet like the Spanish, being short-term clients, did not carry as much weight as the local colonists.

“Commander, you must understand, this is Southeast Asia, not Europe. Repair yards here are not the same as shipyards; it’s normal for there to be some deficiencies in the skills.

If perfection is desired, I personally suggest that your country should consider pulling the warships back to Europe for repairs. Here, we truly cannot guarantee the quality.”

This work was to be done, as decreed by treaties. But how it was to be done needed negotiation.

From Governor Chandler’s perspective, he hoped for a situation where both the Japanese and Spanish would suffer heavy losses, with the Japanese continuing to hold the Philippine Islands.

Even if the Spaniards took legal actions to Vienna, he would maintain this stance. As the Governor of Southeast Asia, expanding colonial territories was part of his duties. As long as he acted within the rules, no one could say it was wrong.

Admiral Falkenhein shook his head, “The repair yards of your country in Southeast Asia are not ordinary repair facilities. Not to mention simple ship repairs, if needed, they might even be capable of building warships. The technical prowess displayed now clearly does not match the real capabilities of the repair yards.

We have agreements with your country, and both Madrid and Vienna have reached a consensus on this matter. The current performance of your repair yards, I fear, might be an attempt to sabotage the friendship between our two nations.”

Chandler gestured dismissively, “Sorry, sir, but you might be talking to the wrong person. Regarding the technical issues of the repair yards, you should discuss this with the capitalists, not with me as a governor.

Perhaps the capitalists want to exploit the situation. As you know, this kind of manipulation is their specialty, even extorting our own fleets.”

Had it not been for his proper upbringing, Admiral Falkenhein would have lost his temper. Not to mention in the heavily regulated Holy Roman Empire, even in other European nations where capital had more influence, he had never heard of any shipyard daring to ‘extort’ its own navy.

Let alone in the colonies, if they offended the navy and got consistently targeted for inspections and raids, even the most influential shipyard would struggle to survive.

Military dealings did not involve so much beating around the bush, and Admiral Falkenhein did not remember so many diplomatic niceties, nor did he have the time to waste here. @@novelbin@@

“What do we need to provide to gain your assistance?