The Sun Never Sets In Spain - Chapter 138

In fact, Roman citizens have discovered that the main fleet has left the port.

The communication ship sent by Italy is on the way, and it has brought an emergency retreat order.

It’s a pity that the Italian fleet was destroyed at a speed that exceeded everyone’s expectations.

When the Italian government first heard the news that the port of Rome was empty, although it was nervous, it did not panic too much.

Except for the three ironclad ships in Sicily, this is already the entire Italian naval force. Even if the Spanish navy is dispatched, there is no big gap between 10 ships and 13 ships.

Throughout the history of naval warfare in the world, there are very few battles in which the entire army has been wiped out. Most naval battles can last for one to two days, and both the winner and the loser will suffer considerable losses.

Like the future battle of Jutland, it is very similar to the current situation. The cause of the battle was that the German II tried to ambush the British, but the British reversed the ambush.

But even if the British took the lead, they objectively lost the battle—the British sunk far more tons than Germany.

It’s just that Britain has achieved its goal of continuing to block Germany and has become a strategic victor.

So… all kinds of plans and conspiracies on land can only add weight to a naval battle, and it really depends on hard power.

Therefore, when the results of the sinking of 4 ships and 6 ships in the Corsica naval battle were announced, it was conceivable how surprised all countries were.

“I doubt that the Italians will sail at all.”

After the British Prime Minister Gladstone heard the news, he complained directly in front of everyone.

The fact that he can say such things, who has always been more serious, shows his contempt for Italy.

“The enemy left the port in Rome but didn’t find it. The ironclad ship was sunk by a wooden cruiser, and the fleet surrendered for three hours…” Foreign Minister Count Granville immediately agreed. Although neither of them are professional naval personnel, they are more amateurish. People are more consequential, in their opinion, Italy is useless.

However, if the British First Minister of Maritime Affairs were here, he would definitely give a different opinion.

It is true that the command of the Italian commander, Badoglio, does not have much glaring points, but he can’t fault it. The whole process can be said to be steady and worthy of his salary.

Italian sailors can be considered loyal to their duties. Maybe they are not professional enough, but the heart to serve the country is obvious to all. Basically, all warships surrendered until the last minute.

The main problem is that their tactical thinking is too backward, and the design of the armored ship is also behind the version.

But they can’t be blamed. Ironclad ships only appeared not long ago, and all countries crossed the river by feeling the stones, with all kinds of strange tactical ideas and ship designs.

On this critical battlefield, most commanders will only choose the old tactics that have undergone the test of time like Bagdoglio.

… But the winners and losers, to say that these are of no avail.

What lies before the British Prime Minister is an unquestionable mess.

They only wanted Spain to teach Italy a lesson, and then they made peace from it.

But now Italy has been maimed by World War I, and the situation is suddenly out of control.

They don’t know whether Spain’s ambitions are still confined to Sardinia, and not to mention Spain, Italy has suffered such a degree of weakening, and they know with their toes that the Austro-Hungarian Empire will never sit still.

For the solidarity agreement to carve up Italy and then dominate the European continent, Prime Minister Gladstone felt dizzy just thinking about this sight.

“It must be stopped,” Gladstone said.

The Earl of Granville didn’t raise any questions about this nonsense. In fact, he came to No. 10 Downing Street for exactly this purpose.

Just as he took the order to go out, Prime Minister Gladstone stopped him and said in a deep voice: “If Spain makes too much demand, don’t forget the Mediterranean fleet of the United Kingdom.”

…

Britain’s hard-line intervention has not yet arrived, and Spain has fallen into the euphoria of the whole country.

As every detail is disclosed, every new report will set off a wave of discussion.

Especially the port of Barcelona, ​​at this time it is crowded with people.

There are six captured Italian ironclad ships docked here. Although they are scarred and ugly in appearance, it is precisely this way that demonstrates the power of the Kingdom of Spain.

National pride reached its peak at this moment.

The people are holding celebrations all over the country, but Alfonso is urgently discussing the follow-up war plan with Campos and others.

The war hit this point, there is no doubt that it is on the verge of victory.

As long as Spain wants, this war can be ended at any time.

The only question is how to end it.

As everyone in the parliament hall expressed their views on the slaughter of Italy, Foreign Minister Cruz reminded him abruptly: “The ambassador of the Austria-Hungary Empire just came to me. They hope that we will not withdraw from the war for the time being.”

Everyone was taken aback, and then they all laughed: “We are not an offensive and defensive alliance. Even if they want to fight, the Austrian-Italian War and the Western-Italian War are two independent wars, which have nothing to do with us.”

Cruz did not speak, and turned to look at Alfonso who was sitting on the main seat.

Alfonso surveyed the circle calmly, and he probably understood the thoughts present, most of them wanted to stop after earning enough.

And Cruz may be worried that this move will offend Britain, Italy, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the same time, and even if France is involved in the Italian war, it may be dissatisfied in the future, which will make Spain an unprecedented isolation in the world.

After thinking for a while, Alfonso had an idea. He stood up and signaled everyone to be quiet. Then he said firmly: “It’s not time for peace. There are still hundreds of thousands of troops in Italy waiting for us to destroy. The obligations of the solidarity agreement are also needed. We go to fulfill.

We will continue to fight until Italy completely surrenders! “

…

Everyone in the Progressive Party was stunned. In their impression, Alfonso was a monarch who was good at compromise and communication. Although he was different from others, he preferred to use war to solve problems, but he could usually grasp it well. That degree.

I didn’t expect it to be so rigid this time.

They couldn’t help but murmured, did the Habsburg royal family say something in the private letter with the king, or the two Sicilian Bourbons and the royal family reached a secret throne transfer agreement?

Alfonso had no idea to explain to them, and immediately announced the adjournment of the meeting.

According to the news, although the Progressive Party is generally worried about the expansion of the war, there are also many war mongers who support this move. It is of course good to be able to solve Italy’s troubles at once.

…

In a private meeting in the evening, Alfonso told Cruz and Campos his thoughts in the office:

“What I want to get is already available. It’s just that talking about peace now will make the unity agreement ununited, so I plan to let Britain be the villain…”