Chapter 59: Voyage around the world
"After the quiet and stable year of 1893, the turbulent year of 1894 is about to begin!" When the first day of 1894 was approaching, Ruprecht couldn't help but exclaimed that the days of boring money are coming to an end. From now to 1898, it can be said to be surging! As a traverser, can you be worthy of yourself if you don't stir it up?
"Your Highness, the admiral's dress from Berlin. And a letter from Prince William." An attendant walked up and said in a low voice.
"Well, let it go." Although it is just an honorary admiral, it greatly satisfies the vanity of the traveler. In history, the royal families of European countries have the privilege of obtaining honorary titles, as well as conferring honorary titles. Rights, for example, William II held many military ranks granted by the British royal family. During the First World War, the German royal family also granted the Ottoman Sultan the title of Imperial Marshal.
The honorary rank of admiral was specially awarded by the German royal family in order to thank the prince for his "excellent contribution" to the German navy. Although it is not useful except for a rank and a few sets of clothes, it is another prince’s. The plan paved the way.
"Sure enough!" Putting the dress aside, the prince probably scanned the letter after opening the letter, with a satisfied smile on his face. The content of the letter is very simple, Prince Ruprecht can participate in the German navy circumnavigation! The prince went as an admiral!
1894! The whole Far East was surging. According to the agreement reached between Germany and Russia, it is necessary for the German government to show its strength in the Far East in order to ensure the interests of the Far East. Moreover, the 6 armored cruisers have not yet formed a formation for ocean voyages. Germany also has islands in the Pacific Ocean, so this time the German Navy plans to draw out 4 Munich-class armored cruisers and 2 supply ships to form an ocean-going formation for a global voyage!
The destination this time is not only the Far East, but also the United States, Africa and South America! The fleet will initially be divided into two, one of which starts from the North Sea, passes through the North Atlantic, then sails along the west coast of Africa, and finally bypasses the Horn of Africa into the Indian Ocean. The other fleet will enter the Mediterranean, visit Spain, Italy, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and then enter the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal. After the two fleets merge, they will enter the Far East together. After visiting Singapore and Hong Kong, they will travel north along the coastal ports of the Qing Dynasty to visit and supply.
Among them, in order to show respect for many years of old customers and support for the Qing Dynasty, the armored cruiser Mainz will visit the Lushun military port in Beiyang. The fleet will then visit the Russian Far East Fleet in North Shanghai.
After leaving Asia, the fleet crossed the Pacific Ocean into the west coast of the United States. Visiting the United States is also considered a certain degree of deterrence. The fleet will also travel south along the west coast of America. Bypassing the Strait of Magellan and going north to visit Argentina and Brazil, but the prince cannot go to these two places, because the prince will make a state visit to the United States with government representatives. When the German fleet arrived on the east coast of the United States, it left by boat.
Ruprecht’s main purpose this time is three points. The first point is naturally to look at his home country. It may be very difficult to change history, and his reputation as Admiral is useless. The second point is to go to the United States. Apart from the diplomatic visit, the prince also wants to dig someone! And the third point is to have a good relationship with the future high-level navy. The people participating in this voyage are incredible!
Major General Tirpitz served as the commander of the fleet, the commander of the armored cruiser Mainz was von Ingernauer, and the commander of the German fleet after the beginning of World War I was the commander of the German fleet. The gunner was Count Spey, and Hipper also served in the fleet. , Because it is a Bavarian relationship, the traveler specially made him his adjutant... The prince feels very proud when he thinks that such NB person is actually his own little brother! By the way, there is another person, William’s younger brother, Prince Heinrich. Historically, he was the commander of a German squadron at the beginning of World War I. This time he came out with the rank of colonel, but his rank is Real!
And in order to cooperate with this German operation, the Russian navy will also dispatch the Azov Hero cruiser to accompany the German fleet, and will continue to sail with the German fleet to Vladivostok! The political significance of this is already very obvious! Germany and Russia have common interests in the Far East, and their attitudes are the same!
What surprised the prince even more was that this time France also wanted the two countries to show their favor, saying that the Russian-German fleet could dock in French Indochina and get supplies! This is unexpected by the travellers. I don't know if the diplomatic work done by the Russians is in place, or the French also feel that a newly emerging country may threaten the interests of France in the Qing Dynasty!
On March 5, 1894, Prince Ruprecht finally boarded the deck of the armored cruiser USS Mainz. Four armored cruisers and two supply ships lined up in the port of Kiel. As the flagship of the fleet, the armored cruiser Munich was also the ship of Major General Tirpitz, the commander of the fleet. The second is the armored cruiser Mainz, the prince's ship. The third was the armored cruiser Königsberg, which was used by the diplomatic representative Herbert. The fourth armored cruiser Hamburg is the ship of Prince Heinrich. Ship No. 4 will travel around Africa with a supply ship~www.wuxiaspot.com~, and the other three armored cruisers and a supply ship will go directly to the Mediterranean after converging with the Russian fleet, passing the Suez Canal into the Indian Ocean .
Such a high-profile outing of the German navy naturally attracted practical attention, especially when the Russians expressed their willingness to go together, and even France, as an old enemy, expressed a certain degree of goodwill. This signal can be described as shocking the world! Italy and Austria-Hungary are friends. The whole European continent seems to have formed a consensus on one issue. This makes the British feel very stressed!
"What the **** do they want to do?" British Prime Minister Salisbury said irritably after receiving the news. Supporting Japan to defeat the Manchu and then resisting Russia’s eastward expansion is the established national policy of the United Kingdom. It is an important part of whether the United Kingdom can maintain its global hegemony. Russia seems to be aware of this. power.
"The strength of Russia, Germany, and France in the Far East will seriously affect the course of this war. Japan will definitely take action against the Qing country this year. At this time, the German-Russian fleet has arrived in the Far East! It is difficult for me to understand the purpose of the Germans. ?" Chamberlain said with an iron face.
"The Germans only appeared in a sensitive period of time. They are not interested in the Far East. This fleet will not stay in the Far East for a long time. Then they will complete the German Navy's first large fleet global voyage. We have already communicated with the German Prime Minister. In response to relevant circumstances, Bismarck stated that Germany just wanted to prevent its own interests from being damaged and would not directly intervene in this war."
The Prime Minister did not think that the Germans would copy the guys themselves. What he worried about was what Germany would do after the war! After all, winning the battle does not mean everything!
Thank you book friend zhouyu1976 for your reward~~~.
