Downing Street, the Prime Minister's Office—an air of tension enveloped the room as Prime Minister Asquith's secretary served coffee before discreetly exiting, leaving only Asquith, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, commander of the Grand Fleet, and Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty, his chief of staff.
"What transpired last night?" Asquith inquired. Though his voice remained calm, those familiar with him could sense the simmering anger beneath. Asquith was already pessimistic about the future of the war, and the Royal Navy's grievous losses at this crucial juncture were simply intolerable.
"General, this was due to our negligence. We never anticipated the Germans would send submarines to infiltrate Scapa Flow for a surprise attack. We have already begun to install anti-submarine nets in the vital waterways of Scapa Flow; it will be impossible for German submarines to penetrate it again," Admiral Jellicoe responded.
However, such a reply did little to appease Asquith. After all, they had already paid an exorbitant price for the German submarine attack.
"Will the five damaged battleships be ready for our confrontation with the Germans?" Asquith pressed.
"Sir, if the decisive battle occurs in three months, all five battleships will be ready. If it's within a month, neither the _Warspite_ nor the _Vanguard_ will be able to participate. If the battle happens imminently, it is likely that none of the five will be ready," Admiral Jellicoe answered, his resolve faltering.
Asquith's countenance darkened considerably, akin to the soot of a blackened pot. The Royal Navy's odds were already slim; this latest loss of five battleships undeniably diminished their chances further—perhaps even rendering them hopeless. While he had anticipated such an outcome given the Germans' harsh terms and their refusal to negotiate, Asquith had harbored a faint hope that the Royal Navy might outperform expectations in battle, reminiscent of Admiral Nelson's triumph at Trafalgar.
Yet now, the German Navy had shattered even that flicker of hope with their actions, leaving Asquith grappling with the harsh reality.
"If we engage in a decisive battle with the Germans soon, what are our chances?" Asquith inquired.
"Prime Minister, the odds are exceedingly low. The Germans hold overwhelming advantages. If the battle occurs soon, even with the addition of _Agincourt_, _Canada_, and _Ireland_, we would only have 24 battleships. In terms of numbers, we would match the Germans, but in combat effectiveness, we fall short. The performance of their battleships has been made evident through prior engagements; we must concede that their individual capabilities far surpass ours. Thus, our chances remain bleak," Admiral Jellicoe replied.
"And you, Lord Churchill, what are your thoughts?" Asquith turned to Churchill.
"Prime Minister, given the current circumstances, the likelihood of the Germans engaging us in battle shortly is quite high. They will not let such an opportunity slip by," Churchill remarked.
"So, does that mean our defeat is assured?" Asquith could not help but shut his eyes in despair.
Silence enveloped the room. It was clear that they all shared a grim sense of inevitability regarding their fate.
"Sir, I propose a strategy that might turn the tide in our favor," Churchill suddenly declared.
"Oh? What is this strategy?" Asquith inquired eagerly, as though grasping at a last lifeline.
"Since a confrontation with the Germans is unavoidable, I urge that during our engagement, the Grand Fleet must strive to destroy as many of the German battleships as possible. The more we sink, the better. Even if it means sacrificing every ship in the Grand Fleet, we must aim to sink at least eighty percent of their main fleet," Churchill asserted.
Admiral Jellicoe and Vice Admiral Beatty shivered at his words, realizing just how brutal the upcoming naval battle would be. If they were to fulfill Churchill's operational mandate, it was likely that the Grand Fleet would suffer total annihilation in the clash with the Germans. Yet, whether they could inflict significant losses on the Germans remained uncertain.
"Churchill, why do you suggest this?" Asquith asked, perplexed by Churchill's stance.
"Sir, if the Grand Fleet can significantly damage the German main fleet, our pre-dreadnoughts will still have a role to play in the ensuing battles. Even if we lose all our capital ships, we will retain dozens of pre-dreadnoughts, which would still possess adequate strength to engage the Germans in a decisive battle. Moreover, we would hold an advantage.
"Moreover, a severely weakened German Navy would be unable to maintain its blockade. We could obtain crucial resources from North America and India, allowing our subsequent battleship construction plans to progress smoothly. If we endure for just two more years, we will possess sufficient capital ships to contest naval supremacy with the Germans. I firmly believe that the future of naval power will still belong to us," Churchill continued.
Upon hearing this plan, Asquith nodded thoughtfully. Although it was a ruthless strategy that would send the entire Grand Fleet to face the Germans, Churchill's rationale suggested a glimmer of hope for success. If victory could be achieved, it would be the best outcome. Despite the substantial losses that would ensue, Asquith felt it was entirely justifiable.
Admiral Jellicoe and Vice Admiral Beatty, however, appeared pale, clearly shocked by Churchill's audacious battle strategy. It was evident that he was asking them to sacrifice themselves to secure advantageous conditions for future engagements. But at this juncture, could they refuse?
Taking a deep breath, Admiral Jellicoe declared, "Prime Minister, First Lord, the Grand Fleet will exert every effort to achieve this strategic objective!"