"Hello, Your Highness," Millard Wiss greeted Edel and his entourage with a distinctly American flair. Edel, unbothered by the informal greeting, went straight to the point with the engineering expert. "How is the progress now?"
"Your Royal Highness, the main channel has been cleared and can now accommodate cargo ships up to 30,000 tons. Currently, we are focusing on installing cranes and laying down rails, and the cargo yard is nearing completion. We expect the port to be fully operational in three months," Millard Wise responded, and Edel was quite pleased with the update.
"His Royal Highness, the main concern is from the navy regarding the expansion of the military dock," Millard continued, sharing the navy's perspective. Edel was aware of this issue. The navy had been quite vocal about their desire to strengthen Romania's relatively weak naval forces. However, the government's financial support was already stretched thin with the ongoing army reorganization, and the navy's requests had been put on hold.
Edel had been trying to avoid any conflicts with the navy, so he had deferred this issue to the government. Nonetheless, the Romanian Navy was undeniably under-equipped. Their largest ship was the unprotected armored cruiser Elizabeth, a training ship built in 1880 by the Armstrong Shipyard. It measured 73.4 meters in length and 10.3 meters in width, weighing 1351 tons, with a speed of 18 knots. It was armed with four main 5.9-inch guns, in addition to possessing four 104-ton gunboats, four 47-ton torpedo boats, and other vessels. The total tonnage of the naval ships was less than 6000 tons, lacking a large armored cruiser with a significant tonnage. Edel speculated whether the Romanian Navy had intentionally built such small ships to avoid provoking the Russian Black Sea Fleet, given their ability to navigate the Danube.
After inspecting the expanded port, Edel visited the Romanian naval base, located on the left side of the port. He was greeted by Major General Lomodan, the fleet commander, who was surrounded by naval officers in blue uniforms. Before Edel's arrival, Major Midraphael, captain of the Blatianu gunboat, was quietly conversing with Captain Balbic of the Bogdan torpedo boat.
"Do you think the major general can convince the crown prince to agree to increase the naval funding?" Captain Albuque asked his friend, expressing hope for success. "I haven't been to sea for two months. If I don't sail soon, I fear the crew will get seasick," Major Midraphael lamented the lack of funding.
"You're mad! His Royal Highness is arriving soon. If you complain like this, you'll be punished," Captain Urbick whispered, glancing around nervously as he covered for his friend.
Realizing his indiscretion, Major Midraphael quickly fell silent and gratefully blinked at his friend. Suddenly, someone shouted, "The crown prince is here!" Both Midraphael and Urbick, along with other officers, straightened their uniforms and lined up at the base gate to welcome Prince Edel.
From a distance, Edel noticed the group of officers awaiting him. He understood their intentions; they were clearly seeking an increase in military funding.
"Your Royal Highness, welcome," Major General Lomodan greeted him as he approached. "I came here primarily to inspect the port expansion and to review our Romanian naval fleet," Edel replied, subtly hinting that they shouldn't get their hopes up about additional funding.
Caught off guard by the prince's directness, Major General Lomodan was momentarily stunned, but his chief of staff quickly intervened. "Your Royal Highness's concern for the navy is deeply appreciated, and our colleagues have eagerly anticipated your visit," he said, smoothing over the moment.
"This is the expectation of our Navy," General Lomodan added after regaining his composure.
"Thank the Navy for having such high expectations of me," Edel responded, nodding.
The crown prince then followed the two officers into the naval base for a tour. Although the Romanian Navy was small, consisting of only a handful of ships, Edel feigned interest as Major General Lomodan briefed him on the capabilities and status of the naval vessels. The briefing was brief, concluding in less than thirty minutes.
"Your Highness, please join me in my office," Major General Lomodan invited after the tour, hinting at a more serious discussion to come. "I've also heard that your commander's coffee is quite unique, and I would like to try it," Edel replied, playing along.
They soon reached Major General Lomodan's office, a simple space with a Black Sea chart on the wall and shelves lined with navy professional books. Edel noticed various notes marked in the books, indicating they were frequently consulted.
"Your highness, your coffee," Major General Lomodan offered, handing Edel a cup.
After a brief stir, Edel spoke bluntly. "Major General Lomodan, I understand your desire to increase naval expenditure, but our military budget is limited. The primary threat to the kingdom is from Russia, and we must prioritize land security."
Major General Lomodan nodded, understanding the national pressures but still compelled to advocate for his service after two decades in the Navy.
"Your Highness, the navy's annual funding is insufficient even for routine patrols and training. I hope you can empathize with our plight," he expressed.
"Why can't patrols and training continue? Weren't they manageable before?" Edel inquired, genuinely puzzled.
"Recently, the government has been unable to make financial ends meet, so funds are often delayed. Currently, we can only ensure salaries and essential maintenance, not operational activities," Lomodan explained with frustration.
"Return to your duties, and I will request the government to release the full amount owed to you," Edel promised, aware that the government had recently completed various industrial projects that would soon generate tax revenue that could be allocated to the navy.
Seizing the opportunity, Major General Lomodan pressed further. "Your Highness, given Russia's recent announcement of a large-scale shipbuilding program, our navy feels immense pressure. Could we possibly strengthen our fleet?"
Edel understood the navy's predicament but also knew Romania lacked the national resources to expand its naval capabilities significantly. "Major General Lomodan, even with increased funding, we cannot ensure the safety of the Romanian coastline. The army must remain our priority. I'm sorry, but I cannot fulfill your request," he apologized.
After two hours of discussion in Major General Lomodan's office, Edel finally agreed to consider adding a cruiser to the Navy in five years. This concession was met with cheers from the officers outside, which made Edel somewhat uneasy. The navy's joy over such a modest increase highlighted just how dire their situation was.