The German Navy's High Seas Fleet departed from the Wilhelm Harbor naval base, comprising five "Bavaria-class" battleships, five "King-class" battleships, five "Kaiser-class" battleships, five "Helgoland-class" battleships, and four "Nassau-class" battleships. This formidable armada sailed forth into the North Sea.
The German Navy's movements sent ripples of anxiety across the waters, reaching the British fleet on the other side. Churchill ordered the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet to prepare for battle, bracing for a possible German surprise attack.
Simultaneously, the full deployment of the German Navy's main forces left Churchill somewhat apprehensive. The strength of the German fleet was daunting, with no fewer than twenty-four battleships. Among these, ten were armed with 380mm main guns, another ten with 343mm guns, and only four carried 305mm guns. When considering the twelve battlecruisers alongside them, the total number of frontline ships rose to an imposing thirty-six. This superiority in numbers was particularly concerning for the Royal Navy, even with the newly commissioned "Queen Elizabeth-class" and "Revenge-class" battleships. Previous naval engagements had already demonstrated that the German fleet possessed overwhelming advantages in both firepower and defense. Thus, the prospect of defeating the German Navy and reversing the tide of war seemed increasingly remote.
At the very least, Churchill resolved not to engage the German Navy directly until the new battleships under construction were ready for service. However, many matters lay beyond his control. While the British Navy sought to avoid a decisive confrontation, the German Navy would not allow them to progress unchallenged. Should the no-sail zones be firmly established, it would spell the end of Britain's prosperous days. With overseas trade completely severed, the nation would face economic strangulation. Eventually, the Royal Navy would be compelled to strike against the German fleet to break the blockade. Therefore, in this conflict, the Royal Navy undeniably found itself at a disadvantage. Achieving victory over the German forces would prove exceedingly difficult.
The British government was keen to communicate these developments to the United States. Britain eagerly anticipated America's entry into the Allied ranks, leading them to curry favor with the American administration.
The full mobilization of the German Navy indeed terrified the American government. Navy Secretary Daniels even advised President Woodrow Wilson to order their fleet to return home immediately. The disparity in strength between the two navies was stark; the American fleet was merely one-third the size of Germany's, and in terms of combat effectiveness, it was likely only one-quarter to one-fifth as formidable.
In light of such overwhelming odds, provoking Germany was far from a prudent course of action. Should the German Navy target the American fleet, the latter would stand little chance.
However, after careful deliberation, President Wilson ultimately ordered the fleet to continue its planned operations, primarily to maintain the facade of resolve for both himself and the American government. They had already committed to this course of action, and reversing it would render their efforts futile, not to mention severely damage their credibility. The prospect of seeking reelection under such circumstances would be nothing short of a fantasy. Thus, Wilson resolved to persevere despite the difficulties ahead.
To mitigate the risk of inadvertently igniting conflict with Germany, which could lead to a disastrous defeat for the American Navy, President Wilson specifically instructed Admiral Franz Fleischer to exercise utmost restraint during this mission. This operation had shifted from a demonstration of force to a means of placating domestic public sentiment. The German Navy's recent actions had clearly signaled their assertiveness, and any continued American rigidity could only lead to war.
Though this strategy left both the American government and Navy feeling constrained, there was no alternative; a war with Germany would be decidedly detrimental to the United States.
Admiral Franz Fleischer, commanding the Atlantic Fleet, found himself at a loss for words after receiving urgent telegrams from the Navy Department. As a naval commander, he certainly wished to avoid such a predicament. However, he understood the unfortunate reality of their circumstances; had the American Navy been stronger than its German counterpart, they would not be facing this dilemma.
To prevent any unforeseen incidents, Admiral Fleischer convened the captains of the main vessels, urging them to exercise caution in their forthcoming maneuvers and ensure that no accidental skirmishes occurred with the German Navy. History had shown that many wars erupted from unexpected incidents. The American Navy's current operations resembled playing with fire; a moment's inattention could ignite a full-blown conflict.
While the American government remained shaken by these developments, the German Navy remained unaware of the American apprehensions. Thus, Vice Admiral Spee, commander of the interception fleet, activated the fleet's emergency readiness protocol upon receiving communications from the Navy Department.
The light cruisers and destroyers of the interception fleet began patrolling the Atlantic, searching for the American fleet's location. Only by locating the American vessels could they effectively intercept them. Germany, after all, had no desire for open conflict with the United States; the ideal scenario would be to deter them from proceeding.
Should the American fleet breach the no-sail zone established by the German Navy, Germany would have no choice but to engage them in battle, leading to an unavoidable outbreak of war.
Similarly, the German submarine forces ventured deep into the Atlantic in search of the American fleet. Despite the considerable size of the American forces, they were but a drop in the vast ocean, making the search akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Nevertheless, as long as the American fleet continued its course toward Britain, the likelihood of detection by the German Navy remained substantial.