On July 10, 1915, at the German naval base in Wilhelmshaven, Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz, the Minister of the Navy, personally arrived to bid farewell to the expeditionary fleet departing for the Far East.
Present at the ceremony were Chief of Naval Staff Grand Admiral von Pohl, Admiral Reinhard Scheer, Commander of the High Seas Fleet, Vice Admiral Franz von Hipper, the Fleet Chief of Staff, and other senior figures of the Imperial Navy. This mission, involving operations in distant waters thousands of miles away, was fraught with potential risks and unforeseen challenges. The Navy, therefore, had to act with the utmost caution. Given the critical significance of this operation for the Empire, the appointed commander of the expeditionary force, Vice Admiral Maximilian von Spee, bore immense pressure.
"Admiral von Spee, His Majesty places great importance on this expedition. We hope you will secure victory in this campaign," said Grand Admiral Tirpitz.
"Yes, Your Excellency. I assure you we will achieve success!" replied von Spee with firm resolve.
"Admiral, by accepting the role of commander, you must be fully aware of the difficulties involved. I trust you will always act in the best interests of the Empire," Tirpitz reminded him.
Von Spee, understanding the weight of Tirpitz's words, nodded solemnly.
The farewell ceremony, though brief, was imbued with solemnity. Accompanied by stirring martial music, the Imperial Navy's expeditionary fleet departed from the military port, setting course for the vast oceans.
This formidable fleet, comprising nine battlecruisers, ten light cruisers, twenty-seven destroyers, eight supply ships, and two hospital ships, embarked on its voyage to confront the island nation.
Standing silently on the bridge of the flagship *SMS Mackensen*, von Spee reflected on the journey ahead. Having previously served as the commander of the East Asia Squadron, his appointment to lead this expeditionary force was a natural choice. Among the Navy's ranks, few could rival his familiarity with the Far East.
Though the operation might involve attacks on the island nation's coastal cities, resulting in significant civilian casualties, von Spee remained unmoved. His actions during prior operations against Britain, where he had reduced Edinburgh to near ruins, left no room for moral hesitation. This would simply be a repeat performance—only this time, the targets would be the island nation's populace instead of the British.
"Let's hope their Navy has the courage to face us in battle," von Spee remarked.
"Do you believe they'll dare, Admiral? I doubt it. Our fleet far surpasses theirs in strength. I suspect they'll either flee or cower in their harbors, too afraid to meet us at sea," laughed Rear Admiral Mauve, the fleet's Chief of Staff.
Von Spee nodded. "Indeed. Though we've dispatched only nine battlecruisers without armored cruisers, our combat capability far outweighs theirs. This operation may indeed seem like bullying."
"True enough! But who asked them to provoke the Empire so audaciously? They must now pay the price for their folly," Mauve replied with an air of confidence.
The deployment of such a grand fleet by the German Navy was a clear signal to the world: Germany was preparing to strike at the island nation. Observers had suspected as much when the island nation recklessly advanced into Southeast Asia. Familiar with Germany's unyielding approach, they anticipated that retaliation was inevitable.
Many countries, however, secretly hoped that the island nation would rise to the occasion and, as it had defeated Russia's Navy a decade earlier, deliver a crushing blow to Germany's expeditionary force. Such an outcome would deal a significant setback to Germany's ambitions.
In Britain, embroiled in war with Germany, the hope for a German defeat was particularly fervent. A disaster in the Far East would likely provoke German retaliation against the island nation, thereby easing Britain's own struggles.
The United States also hoped to see the island nation weaken Germany's power, thus ensuring its own security. Although the U.S. had initiated an ambitious shipbuilding program, constructing battleships was no swift undertaking. Should Germany focus its resources on the island nation, it would buy the U.S. valuable time to expand its military capabilities. To bolster the island nation's resolve, the American government even instructed its ambassador in Tokyo to offer intelligence support and a $20 million loan.
France and Italy, still reeling from their defeat and the heavy reparations imposed by Germany, harbored simple schadenfreude. They cared little whether the island nation succeeded or failed, only wishing to see Germany suffer.
Even Austria-Hungary, Germany's ally, had grown estranged. With Emperor Franz Joseph incapacitated, Crown Prince Karl now held de facto authority and harbored deep resentment toward QinTian and the German Empire. A defeat for the German Navy would likely be celebrated with jubilation in Vienna.
Elsewhere, nations watched with cold detachment. Yet many hoped for a German failure. A victorious Germany emerging from the war as a superpower, surpassing even the British Empire, would threaten the interests of all other countries. A loss in this expedition would shatter the myth of German invincibility, reducing global fear of the Empire and complicating its path to world domination.