On August 31, 1914, a formidable fleet set sail from the eastern coast of Canada. Comprising over twenty merchant vessels, this fleet was laden with ingots of iron, aluminum, various non-ferrous metals, as well as wheat and grains.
With the onset of the great war, the British war machine had begun to operate at full throttle, necessitating vast quantities of war materials. Relying solely on the limited resources extracted from the British Isles was clearly insufficient to meet the demands of warfare. Thus, Britain was compelled to mobilize diverse resources from its extensive colonies. It was precisely due to this vast colonial network that Britain had the audacity to engage in the conflict.
Despite the relentless assaults from Germany's commerce raiders, which inflicted considerable losses upon British maritime transport, this did not deter the British from shipping essential supplies to the homeland. The British understood all too well that their maritime routes constituted the lifeblood of their survival; for a nation that relied on overseas imports for sustenance, a severed maritime supply line would spell doom.
Consequently, the British government remained exceedingly anxious about the threats posed to their maritime routes by the German navy, insisting that the Royal Navy spare no effort in annihilating the German commerce raiders to ensure the safety of these vital supply lines.
Conversely, the Germans were acutely aware of this reality, which spurred their relentless efforts to disrupt Britain's maritime routes, thereby undermining British war potential and securing victory in the conflict.
It could be said that the struggle for maritime supremacy between Britain and Germany would primarily center around the British supply lines. Especially before the main fleets of both nations engaged in decisive combat, the battles of commerce raiding and counter-raiding would dominate this naval war.
The news of the British fleet's departure from Canada quickly reached Germany through spies stationed there. Upon receiving this information, the German navy conducted an analysis, concluding that this could very well be a British ruse.
After all, under the onslaught of the German commerce raiders, Britain had already suffered substantial losses to its maritime supply lines. Even with warships deployed for escort duty, the damage had only been partially mitigated. The German navy's battlecruisers and submarines continued to achieve victories, sinking British merchant and transport vessels, thereby threatening the integrity of British maritime routes.
Statistically, for every cargo ship that successfully transported goods back to Britain, one vessel, along with its cargo, would sink beneath the waves. Such losses, even with Britain's vast merchant fleet and unparalleled shipbuilding capabilities, could not be sustained indefinitely. Thus, the British were certain to devise ways to alter this grim scenario, with the extermination of the German commerce raiders being the most effective long-term solution.
"Your Excellency, the Marshal and the Commander," the Chief of Naval Staff, Marshal von Pohl, stated, "the naval staff has concluded that this information is likely a deliberate ploy by the British. Their intent, as is evident, is to target our commerce raiders."
Count Tirpitz, the German Navy Minister, nodded in understanding; he too could fathom the British scheming at play.
"However, another intelligence report indicates that the goods carried by this fleet are indeed genuine, comprising vital resources and foodstuffs necessary for Britain to sustain its war effort. Should we refrain from attacking, this fleet could safely deliver its cargo to Britain, significantly bolstering their war potential," Admiral Reinhard Scheer, Commander of the High Seas Fleet, remarked.
"Are you suggesting, General Scheer, that we should take the risk even knowing it is a trap?" Count Tirpitz furrowed his brow. The impending naval confrontation with Britain was pivotal to whether the German navy could seize maritime supremacy from the British. Therefore, he preferred a more cautious approach, believing the German navy should avoid such an obvious trap.
"Yes, Your Excellency. I personally believe we can afford to take the risk. Our commerce raiders are sufficiently powerful to handle any contingencies. Moreover, with our speed advantage, even if we encounter danger, we can retreat with ease. If we manage to eliminate this significant British transport fleet, it would likely deter them from attempting such an operation in the future. This would effectively disrupt British maritime supply lines and diminish their war potential," Admiral Scheer articulated his reasoning with conviction.
Count Tirpitz nodded in agreement, recognizing the merit in Scheer's argument. Yet, he remained uncertain about the decision to make.
"Your Highness, what is your perspective?" Count Tirpitz inquired, turning to Qin Tian.
Indeed, Qin Tian was also present at this naval conference. Although his recent focus had been primarily on the army, following the Eighth Army's successful annihilation of the Russian Northwestern Front, a week of rest had commenced. He took advantage of this interval to return to Berlin, report to Wilhelm II, and reunite with his family.
Upon learning of the British maneuvers, Count Tirpitz had invited Qin Tian to attend the meeting. Given his considerable investment in the navy, Qin Tian fervently wished for a decisive victory against the British. Thus, he had accepted the invitation without hesitation.
"There is no doubt that this is a trap set by the British, intended to eliminate our commerce raiders. I am certain that if we launch an attack, the British will have their formidable battle fleet poised to ambush us," Qin Tian asserted.
"Does your Highness suggest we disregard the British altogether?" Count Tirpitz asked.
"Certainly not. If we allow the British fleet to reach their homeland, they will undoubtedly employ the same strategy again in the future. At that point, attempting to sever their maritime supply lines would become a futile endeavor. Therefore, we must do everything within our power to prevent such a scenario from unfolding," Qin Tian replied.
Everyone present gazed at Qin Tian, perplexed by his seemingly contradictory statements.
"While we are aware that this is a trap set by the British, we can turn the tables and let them suffer the consequences of their own deception!" A smile graced Qin Tian's face.