The situation on the battlefield is bad, and the situation at home is even worse. Opposition parties, parliamentarians, experts and scholars... Now there is no one who doesn't scold the government.
If it was in the Taiping years, it is estimated that the protest procession team has already rushed to the government to ask for an explanation.
There is no need to worry tonight, because everyone is busy moving, and they can't take care of their bad luck for the time being.
There will probably be no trouble tomorrow. According to the current situation, as long as tomorrow is not a violent storm, the enemy's fighter planes will visit again.
No matter how much resentment people have against the government, they will not march out with bombs on their heads to protest.
If there is any movement, it is a living target. These days, there is no saying that it can't hurt civilians. Now everyone's favorite thing is to throw bombs in crowded places.
Of course, the London bombing was an exception. Limited by natural conditions, the Shinra Air Force was forced to launch an indiscriminate attack.
For the time being, they escaped the catastrophe, but everyone was not happy at all. Because the longer you hold it, the more violent it will explode in the future.
After a while, Asquith, the chancellor of the Exchequer, broke the silence: "The people are watching the government, and the enemy has thrown bombs on our heads. If it hadn't taken concrete actions to counterattack, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain it this time. already."
Feeling the expectations of everyone, Attilio became more and more embarrassed. "Retaliation" he also thought, the strength of the problem is not allowed!
Seeing that he couldn't escape, Attilio said helplessly: "Don't look at me, the Air Force can't bomb Vienna, even if it only throws a bomb in the past.
The enemy's air force took off from the continental coastal airfield, which was a short distance from London; while Vienna was far in the interior of Europe, thousands of miles away from Britain.
This distance has long exceeded the coverage of our Air Force. If we really want revenge, we can symbolically send fighter jets to attack the enemy's coastal cities.
It's really not possible. Bombing Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and other cities is barely able to do it. "
This is a sad subject. If you can't reach the enemy's capital, it's fine. Even if you want to sneak attack on the enemy's coastal cities, you must be cautious and not dare to dispatch the main force.
After all, the enemy on the opposite side is the world's No. 1 air force. Britain does not have a complete air defense early warning system, which does not mean that the enemy does not have it either.
If it is discovered by the enemy in advance, it will be another wave of people. It can only be said that the battle during the day scared Attilio, the Air Force Minister, out of the shadows in his heart, and a cautious mind once again prevailed.
Even if it is to retaliate, it must be carried out in areas where the enemy's troops are weak. There is no doubt that a day trip to the airspace of the three countries of Fabian and Dutch is far safer than wandering around the mainland of Shinra.
Foreign Minister Adam: "No, although the three countries of France, Belgium and Holland are our enemies now, they are all forced to join the Continental Alliance, and they are not of the same mind as the Vienna government.
Although the three countries have participated in the war, in fact, they have provided airports and some strategic materials for the Shinra Air Force, and have not really sent troops.
Bombing their capital now can certainly put pressure on the Vienna government from the side, but it will also completely force the three countries against us.
If it were just these three countries, it would be fine. The key point was that it would also trigger a chain reaction and lead to hostility from other members of the Continental Alliance.
With the usual style of the Vienna government, such an opportunity will certainly not be given up. If they take the opportunity to integrate the European countries, then this war will not be fought. "
It seems that the two camps are competing for hegemony, but in fact, only Britain and Shinra are really doing it. The remaining alliance countries are either waiting to see or waiting for an opportunity.
If it really stimulates these countries and forces them to do their best, the situation in Britain will be even worse. If nothing else, the Indian defense war started first.
No, the Indian defense war has already started, but the battlefield is still a little far from India, and it is not a threat for the time being.
War Secretary Marcus: "Adam is right, the current situation is very unfavorable for us, and it is really not appropriate to stimulate countries.
This war is not limited to Europe, Africa and Asia are the main battlefields. Also today, the enemy has launched a full-scale attack on Persia and the Indo-China Peninsula, clearly targeting India.
Now the front line is full of reinforcements, even if we expand the army to 1 million and the colonial army to 3 million, it is still not enough.
Judging from the current situation, if we want to defend the overseas colonies, we need at least two million regular troops and five million colonial troops. "
After hearing this appalling number, everyone felt dizzy, as if they had been struck by their souls.
Two million regular troops + five million colonial troops, this is completely refreshing the upper limit of troops in human history.
Even in the period of the European Continental War, there was no one family to come up with to create an army of 7 million. This is clearly challenging everyone's three views.
"Don't look at me like that, this number is the final result of the Ministry of War's collection of information, after careful research and analysis. I can give you an account:
Optimistic calculation, to maintain the security and stability of the homeland, especially the stability of the Irish region, at least 500,000 regular troops are needed;
The key military strategic point - the Cape of Good Hope, the Ministry of War plans to arrange 100,000 regular troops and 200,000 colonial troops to be stationed there, which will be stationed in batches according to the actual situation;
The East African region has a slightly inferior strategic position, but has a vast area. The Ministry of the Army plans to arrange 200,000 regular troops and 600,000 colonial troops to be stationed, which can be abandoned if necessary;
Indochina…”
I don't know, I'm shocked. Don't look at the seven million troops, but that many troops are really needed on the battlefield. If you want to counterattack, even this number is far from enough.
There is no way, the combat power can't keep up, and the only way is to use the number of people to make up. If you count the reserves, supplementary corps, etc., I am afraid that the number of armed forces in Britain will directly exceed 10 million.
The thought of maintaining such a huge armed force makes the scalp feel numb. Rao is a great British family, and everyone feels it is difficult.
After a moment of silence, the Minister of the Interior, Azevedo, took the lead and said: "This war is for the entire Ocean Alliance, not only our family. I propose to mobilize the strength of our allies and share the pressure together."
To mobilize the power of allies, the British government has been doing it for a long time. However, everyone is the master who does not see the rabbit but not the eagle, and it's okay to shout a few times. If you want everyone to work hard and don't have enough benefits, there is no drama at all.
There is no way. In the past few hundred years, the British government has written too many empty cheques that have not been cashed. Now everyone is prepared.
Countries will not be fooled at all if specific interests are not implemented in advance. The most important thing is that the current Britain is not strong enough to give everyone enough confidence.
Especially after today's air raids. A boss who cannot even guarantee the safety of his own homeland, it is even more difficult for everyone to follow.
Even if you know clearly that there is no way out now that you are standing in line, the selfishness can't be eliminated.
…
In Singapore, at about the same time as the news of the declaration of war came, the Shinra Navy came to kill them, and they were greeted by the guards who were waiting.
As an important place to guard the Strait of Malacca, the British have been operating in Singapore for decades, and naturally it is impossible to give up easily.
Rows of super-large-caliber shore artillery are the biggest strength of the defenders. As soon as the Shinra Navy emerged from the sky, it encountered an overwhelming cannonball.
The startled Admiral Aleister hurriedly ordered: "Order the fleet to stop advancing, the bombing group will take off immediately, and target the enemy's shore artillery."
Fighting against warships and shore artillery would definitely be a loss-making business. If it was before, then there is no need to say that in order to achieve the strategic goal, no matter how big the loss is, it can only affect the scalp.
It's different now, and the emergence of aircraft carriers has changed the pattern of naval warfare. There is a mobile bombing fortress, so naturally there is no need to continue to hit hard.
When the shore artillery meets the bomber, the result is self-evident. A bomb that fell from the sky instantly broke the situation on the island.
The line of defense that used to be impregnable now seems to have been turned into a piece of paper, which can be broken with a single stab under the bombardment of the enemy.
Colonel Berks, who was stationed at the Port of Singapore, was no longer as elegant as he used to be, and almost roared: "Immediately organize the air defense, and let me move the anti-aircraft artillery and machine guns.
The shore artillery that has not been locked by the enemy should be concealed immediately, and the speed should be faster...
Signal soldier, signal soldier, where did he die? "
I saw a young man who ran over immediately, and before he got close, Colonel Burks scolded: "What are you running about, don't hurry up and generate electricity for the Far East Fleet.
Tell Admiral Michel, we are under siege by the enemy, the situation is very critical, we need reinforcements, reinforcements! "
Don't panic, the port of Singapore has been peaceful for decades, and most of the island is full of immigrants, and there is not even a conflict between indigenous peoples on weekdays.
It can be said that since the beginning of the garrison, there has been no war. It is precisely because the port of Singapore is safe enough and relatively wealthy that Colonel Birx was brought here to gild.
However, the plan did not change quickly. The port of Singapore, which had been peaceful for decades, ushered in a war immediately after Birx took office.
Originally, Colonel Birx still had the opportunity to leave, but he believed that he was familiar with military books and insisted on staying to guard Singapore for the Queen.
To this end, a "perfect" defense plan was also formulated, and the platoon of shore artillery was completed under the auspices of Colonel Burks.
It is a pity that he considered the threat from the sea, but ignored the threat from the sky. Colonel Birx panicked after seeing a huge artillery piece being scrapped under enemy bombardment.
After all, he graduated from a military academy, and he has some military background. After just hesitating for a moment, he responded immediately.
In the distance, Admiral Aleister, who was looking at him with a telescope, was showing admiration in his eyes at this moment, and from time to time he said something in a voice that only he could hear.
With the passage of time, the enemy's shore artillery gradually fell silent. Either damaged under bombardment, or to hide the location. In short, now only the sea is calm.
The adjutant on the side reminded: "Your Excellency Commander, the enemy's firepower has been suppressed, and the landing operation can be launched."
The conditions for the landing operation were ready, and Admiral Aleister waved his hand: "No hurry, we have time.
The enemy's telegram for help had just been sent. Most of the Far East Fleet has yet to set off, and they have taken Singapore so quickly. What if they don't come? "
The tactics of ancient and modern Chinese and foreign countries are actually similar. Although the Holy Roman Empire does not have the allusion of "circling the point and fighting for aid", the tactics of "circling the point and fighting for help" still exist.
The reason to attack Singapore Port in such a hurry is to attract the Far East Fleet to come over for a decisive battle. Looking at the map, you can see that fighting in the Straits of Malacca is very beneficial to the Shinra Navy.
Next door is its own colony. The Air Force has already coordinated it. An Air Force division has completed the assembly, and now the Far East Fleet will come and be beaten.
Against this background, the Port of Singapore cannot be taken down all at once. If the British did not see hope, the Far East Fleet would not have come to fight!
Admiral Arrest had already planned it, and as soon as the British Far East Fleet was settled, he would stab the British in the Indian Ocean.
Regardless of whether the final plan is successful or not, as long as the British Far East Fleet is resolved and the war is brought to the Indian Ocean, it will be a strategic success.
…
People who count people keep counting.
The Shinra Navy is planning the Far East Fleet, and the British are also not idle. At this moment, the Far East Fleet is no longer in Cam Ranh Bay, and it is even less than 200 nautical miles from Malacca.
After receiving the telegram for help from the defenders, Admiral Michelle did not panic at all, but instead showed a sarcastic smile.
Then he asked the officer who was near: "How far is the Japanese navy from us, and how long will it take to join us?"
The Shinra Navy wants to lure the Far East Fleet to fight in the Straits of Malacca by besieging Singapore, which is a conspiracy in itself, and it is naturally impossible to hide from Admiral Michel.
This battle could not be avoided as long as Britain wanted to keep the Malacca route. Long before the war broke out, both sides expected it.
In Michelle's view, as long as one's own strength is strong enough, even if the battlefield selection is somewhat unfavorable, it can still be compensated by strength.
In order to ensure the safety of the Straits of Malacca, under the background that the main force of the Shinra Navy could not be lured out, Michelle decided to make a plan.
In order to ensure the victory of the war, Michel, at the expense of the Japanese, prepared to gather the strength of the navies of the two countries to seize the sea dominance in the Nanyang region in one fell swoop.
"There is still a distance of about 50 nautical miles. According to the current speed of the two sides, they will be able to catch up with us at noon tomorrow."
Looking at the telegram in his hand, Admiral Michel said slowly: "The pressure on the defenders is very high, we can't delay too much time on the road.
The time for the decisive battle may be earlier, so urge the Japanese to speed up their driving and try to join us as soon as possible. "
…