"General, the British have fled. Should we pursue them?" an officer aboard the SMS Moltke inquired.
Vice Admiral von Spee shook his head. "Let them go! Pursuing them could lead us into a trap. We have already achieved a significant victory by sinking a British capital ship. This is a remarkable triumph!"
Operating in British waters demanded utmost caution. After struggling for victory, it would be unwise to jeopardize their position through recklessness.
"Report to the Admiral: the SMS Goben has signaled that the British battleship engaged with them has also retreated. They ask if we should pursue."
"Send a message to the SMS Goben instructing them not to pursue and to continue with their commerce raiding mission."
"Understood, Admiral!"
For the German navy's raiding fleet, the primary objective remained commerce disruption. Sinking British capital ships was merely a secondary benefit. While opportunities for such encounters might arise, shifting their focus now would be counterproductive. The time for a decisive clash with the Royal Navy had not yet come; the battle-hardened ships remaining in Germany were better suited for that engagement.
Having sunk the HMS Lion, the SMS Moltke did not linger in the area but departed in search of British merchant vessels.
The sinking of the HMS Lion caused a significant uproar within the Royal Navy, particularly as it had occurred even while two British battleships were engaged against one German vessel. This implied that even two British battleships could not match the might of a single German ship. If this was the case for their battleships, then despite their numerical superiority, the Royal Navy might struggle in future naval engagements, risking a humiliating defeat.
Upon learning of the HMS Lion's demise, Minister of the Navy Winston Churchill flew into a rage, shattering antique vases in his office.
"Order the immediate recall of all ships engaged in pursuing the German battleship!" Churchill commanded.
Although this would halt their plans to encircle the Germans and allow the German raiding fleet to wreak further havoc on British maritime supply lines, Churchill dared not take additional risks without a thorough assessment of the situation. The loss of more ships would further weaken the Royal Navy, placing them at a grave disadvantage in upcoming battles.
"Furthermore, summon Admirals Jellicoe and Beatty to see me at once!" Churchill declared.
That evening, Admirals Jellicoe and Beatty arrived in London, having flown in seaplanes. Despite the inherent dangers of the still-maturing aircraft, they had little choice but to risk it for speed. Fortunately, they arrived safely.
Upon entering Churchill's office, both admirals remained silent, especially Beatty, whose face was a mask of shame. He had personally commanded the HMS Lion, only to see it fall to defeat, leaving him at a loss for how to face Churchill.
The HMS Lion was undoubtedly one of the Royal Navy's most formidable battleships. While the HMS Queen Mary was a modified version of the Lion-class, its enhancements were minimal and did not significantly improve its combat capability. The HMS Tiger, on the other hand, represented a substantial upgrade of the Lion-class but had yet to enter service.
Beatty believed that even if the HMS Tiger had been operational, it too would likely face defeat against the German battleships.
"Please, have a seat, gentlemen!" Churchill said, attempting to temper his fury.
After the secretary delivered coffee, he swiftly exited, aware of Churchill's volatile temperament—staying longer could be perilous.
"Gentlemen, why was the HMS Lion sunk? That was our strongest battleship! Particularly since we deployed nearly double the number of ships compared to the Germans in pursuit. If this information becomes public, it will severely damage the morale of the Royal Navy and the entire British Empire. The Germans are launching offensives in Western Europe, the Belgians are enduring tremendous strain, and the French are desperately preparing for battle. Our army is planning to send an expeditionary force to the continent. The Royal Navy has long been regarded as the pride of the British Empire, the world's mightiest navy, and our assurance of victory over Germany. Yet now, in our first engagement, we have suffered a disastrous defeat with one of our powerful battleships sunk! How can I explain this to the Prime Minister, to the King, to our nation?" Churchill erupted, his expression twisted in fury.
While the Royal Navy possessed numerous battleships and even more vessels, the loss of a single battleship should not be catastrophic.
However, the entire British establishment had not anticipated that their formidable navy would falter so early in its encounter with the Germans, and certainly not by sinking. This incident would undoubtedly sow seeds of doubt regarding the Royal Navy's capabilities and future victories. Thus, Churchill's reaction was entirely justified.
"Prime Minister, regarding the sinking of the HMS Lion, I must express my deep regret. I did not foresee such an outcome. However, I must emphasize that the brave men in battle did their utmost—they showed remarkable valor," Vice Admiral Beatty defended.
"Admiral Beatty, are you suggesting that the sinking of the HMS Lion was not due to human error but rather the overwhelming strength of the enemy?" Churchill furrowed his brow, clearly dissatisfied with Beatty's explanation.