I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France

Chapter 1028 1028: The English Channel Blockaded by French Warplanes

In the "HMS Warspite" command cabin, Captain Major General Louis held the binoculars and looked ahead.

His expression was somewhat frustrated, feeling as if he was being played with by the enemy, having been moved from the North Sea last night, only to have to return in the blink of an eye.

Major General Louis believed this was not a wise decision, and he voiced his dissatisfaction to the deputy captain when the order was received:

"What if the German High Seas Fleet retreats by the time we reach the North Sea?"

"And then, what if when we return to Brest Port again, the Germans send out their fleet once more?"

"Does that mean we'll forever be shuttling back and forth on the English Channel?"

The deputy captain agreed: "Therefore, we should take Brest Port first at all costs, doing so could end this damn cycle and seize the initiative ourselves."

Louis nodded, thinking that those in high positions in the London combat command should be swapped. This terrible situation was their doing.

They are merely politicians adept at playing tricks, he thought. They don't understand the military or know how to fight!

After staring ahead for a while pondering, Major General Louis yawned and nodded to the deputy captain: "I'm going to get some rest, Jason, she's (referring to the ship) in your hands."

Last night, Louis didn't sleep at all while rushing over, and immediately engaged in tense combat. Now, relaxing, he felt his eyelids fighting.

"Understood, General." The deputy captain was confident: "There won't be any issues!"

This is the English Channel, where England holds absolute control, and even with France on the other side of the channel, there's nothing to worry about.

After Major General Louis left, Deputy Captain Jason looked up into the sky, where a few "S.E.5a" fighter planes were flying.

They were sent by the Royal Flying Corps, with the task of ensuring the fleet wouldn't be attacked by France's "Torpedo Planes."

Nothing to worry about, Jason thought, France's aircraft carriers were blocked at the Gibraltar Strait, and "Torpedo Planes" couldn't compete with these fighters specialized for air combat.

Suddenly.

A strange whistle came from the sky, and before Jason could react, violent machine gun fire rang out in the air.

He craned his neck upwards, just in time to see an "S.E.5a" spiraling down, trailing black smoke, crashing into the sea as if performing a magic trick, turning into flames and black smoke with an explosion, with parts of its body scattering everywhere, soon sinking into the seawater.

Then another one was hit by fire, exploding and disintegrating as it crossed the port side, with flying shards striking the battleship's armor, making crisp clanging sounds.

Major General Louis rushed out from the lounge in a panic, putting on his coat as he asked: "What's happening?"

"I don't know, General." Jason replied: "An air battle broke out, probably the French 'Camel' fighters."

The Flying Corps said the "S.E.5a" was more advanced than the French "Camel," but now it seemed that was a lie.

However, this had nothing to do with the fleet, Jason thought, let them decide the outcome in the air!

(Note: At this time, the naval battle mode had just transitioned from ship-to-ship to air-to-ship, and many naval commanders hadn't changed their mindset, still thinking that "as long as the fighters are advanced enough and the air force does well enough, air battles and naval battles are two unrelated aspects.")

Originally Major General Louis had also thought this, but when he ran outside to the command cabin and raised his binoculars to see, he turned back and cursed: "Those are French 'Jenny' fighters, you fool, sound the air raid alarm!"

Jason's face changed dramatically: "'Jenny' fighters? How could they appear here?"

Shouldn't they be carrier-based aircraft at the Gibraltar Strait?

No, that's impossible!

At this point, the lookout shouted in panic: "Bombers, 'Jenny' bombers, they're coming!"

Jason followed the direction indicated by the lookout, indeed seeing a flock of small black dots in the southeast, at least 30 or so, and though far away, the distinctive inverted gull wings were clearly visible.

"God." Jason exclaimed: "How did this happen, why are they appearing here?"

...

"How did this happen?" Prime Minister George exclaimed when he received the telegram: "Why are they appearing here?"

The Minister of the Navy held another telegram over the navigation chart: "This is impossible, not long ago we still detected these planes at the Gibraltar Strait!"

Spain was a neutral country, and the British Military Intelligence had placed many spies there, making it easy for them to observe carrier-based aircraft flying over the 43-kilometer wide Gibraltar Strait.

The Minister of Military Supplies had understood what was going on, but he remained silent.

Soon, the Royal Flying Corps Chief of Staff Major General Trunchard reacted, his expression blank: "I, I understand now, their carrier-based aircraft transitioned, last night they flew to airports near the English Channel, waiting for us!"

Everyone froze, then suddenly gathered around the navigation chart.

"I need to know the locations of the nearest airports." Prime Minister George shouted.

From the airport positions, the distance of the bombers to the fleet could be calculated, thereby determining the operational radius of the French bombers.

"No." Minister of the Navy Belfort changed the order: "We need to know the locations of all French airports along the English Channel!"

This determined whether the fleet could pass through the English Channel.

"Also their scale and fuel reserves." Major General Trunchard added: "If possible, investigate the construction time of these airports."

This could reveal how prepared France was.

The Minister of Military Supplies said nothing as he quietly walked to the window to light a cigar.

All of this was to no avail, Shire had been planning to target England for some time now, having long thought of blockading the English Channel.

Therefore, England had no chance, everything was lost!

Sure enough, before long, the gathered information was fed back to the command post one by one:

"The nearest French airport is in Caen."

"There are a total of 3 airports along the English Channel coast, specifically in Brest, Caen, and Dunkirk."

"These airports were built a year ago, with ample fuel and ammunition stocks!"

(The above illustration shows the positions of the three airports, each approximately 200 kilometers apart, they almost cover the western half of the English Channel.)

The Minister of Military Supplies gazed at the scenery outside the window, expressionless, adding: "No, it's not only three airports, you should add Antwerp."

Antwerp in Belgium is one of Shire's important aviation bases.

Major General Trunchard's gaze moved east along the English Channel: "There might also be Holland."

Holland is a member of the "International Alliance" and it's not impossible for it to provide a military base for France's aircraft to take off and land.

Everyone was stunned.

This meant the English Channel was under blockade by French fighter aircraft.

If the fleet wanted to pass through the channel, it would need to withstand more than a dozen hours of bombing!