＜ The obvious fate. (1) >
Washington DC
British Embassy in the United States.
Bureung-
late night.
A black wagon headed for the British Embassy in the United States. The sentries at the entrance of the embassy opened the cage as the black wagon approached.
“This is what the British embassy looked like.”
“Are you here for the first time?”
Actually, it’s not the first time.
But I’ve only been to the British embassy once in the 20th century. At the end of the 19th century, it was the first time that the British embassy had such an old-fashioned atmosphere.
As we entered, the British ambassador was waiting for us.
“I will guide you to the communication room.”
We followed the British ambassador into the communications room located inside the British embassy.
The communication room of the British embassy here could send telegrams across the continent, starting with submarine cables installed in the mid-19th century, through Suez, the Middle East, India, Singapore and Australia.
So, I was able to have a conversation with Admiral Dewey in Hong Kong in Morse code, and also with the directors of the Great Northern Railway in Yokohama Port and Osaka Port in the Japanese Empire.
All telegraphs were built in such a way that they passed through the British colonies, and security was thorough.
“It’s a control tower.”
“Haha, in terms of warships, it would be a good location for a bridge.”
Shouldn’t he be the ambassador of the British Empire?
It was the pre-war navy.
“Didn’t you say that you could communicate with the Governor-General of Hong Kong through this telegram?”
“Yes. You can also contact embassies, legations and consulates of each country.”
“Five.”
I took any chair in the communication room and sat down. To be honest, living in the 21st century, I was used to a control tower with a monitor.
Here, black power cords were densely hung like cobwebs everywhere, and people were busy picking up papers and moving.
The desk was full of carriers who moved their fingers to send and receive Morse code.
The British ambassador put a finger to his mouth.
“You must remain quiet here except when instructed.”
“Yes, I know. By the way, who do I go to to communicate with the Japanese Empire?”
“If it’s the Imperial Japanese Line, you can go over there.”
The directors of the Great Northern Railroad were allowed to communicate through the British Embassy in Japan in advance.
“Take good care of me.”
“It is me.”
I sat down with a chair next to the Japanese line operator.
“First, please check the communication with the British Embassy in Japan. He must have been in the hospital by now.”
“Yes.”
The telecommunication company sent a ticking signal, and a reply came a few minutes later. For a 21st century person who communicated in seconds, it was like a sweet potato.
‘Minute units….Is this alone a gamdeokji.’
“Communication is good. I got a telegram saying it was the Great Northern Railway, is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I instructed James.
“James, you check the Hong Kong side. Admiral Dewey or an aide will connect you.”
“yes!”
As James disappeared after the newsroom staff, I focused again on my operator.
The operator who had been sitting still abruptly got up and listened to the communication.
“The signal is coming.”
The news agency who wrote something on the paper handed it to me.
I read the scribbled cursive.
“I contacted Mitsui Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Sumitomo Corporation at the Port of Japan. The first handover of US merchant ships to Hong Kong is completed. 15 ships in total.”
15 ships?
If you’re armed with all of them, 15 warships?
The Asian Fleet includes 4 armored cruisers and 2 ships.
The Spanish Fleet had 2 armored cruisers and 5 unprotected cruisers. 5 ships, including 1 transport.
It’s similar to the sum of all of these, isn’t it?
“…the scary thing about capitalism.”
In the original history, the Spanish fleet was wiped out with only the Asian fleet under the command of Admiral Dewey.
But 15 ships are reinforcements.
In my condolences to the Spanish fleet in the Pacific, I continued to read.
“Requested by Mitsubishi Kisen (a shipping company) to support merchant ships.”
‘Mitsubishi.’
In the current business world of the Japanese Empire, the Mitsui, Mitsubishi, and Sumitomo conglomerates are holding the Japanese economy tight through political and economic cooperation.
When the Russo-Japanese War is over and Japan annexes the Korean Empire, it will enter a full-fledged heyday, but its status in Japan is still high.
“You are using evil to catch up with Mitsui Corporation.”
Mitsui Trading Co., Ltd. is the No. 1 company in Japan.
Mitsubishi Corporation is the second largest company in Japan.
Well, unlike Mitsubishi, the Mitsui conglomerate had a long history, so it had no choice but to do so.
“Are you going to support the US Navy with merchant ships this time to pay off debt and win the Philippines’ interests?”
haha.
where to put the spoon.
“news agency.”
“Yep.”
“Give me a euphemistic refusal.”
“Has confirmed.”
But for the future, the connection with the Japanese conglomerates is important. There is a big event called the Russo-Japanese War in less than 10 years.
Eat it- No, you need a connection with them to earn sprouts.
Then James poked me with his finger from behind.
“Master, this is a telegram from Hong Kong.”
“Is it Admiral Dewey’s request?”
I was handed a telegram from Hong Kong.
“Would you like us to use the old ship? Will it be used for mine verification?”
This novel was posted at https://noblemtl.com
Oh, just for confirmation.
Mine removal would be impossible with a few abandoned ships, but it would be possible only to check mines.
‘In the original history of the Battle of Manila, the Spaniards covered the coast with landmines, right?’
But what happens when you place mines?
The water was so deep that it was unable to sink a single U.S. Navy warship.
Still, it was enough to support the abolition.
“Tell me you have permission.”
“Yes.”
creak-
I leaned my back on the chair.
‘With this, all the plates were laid.’
Now all that remains is to wait patiently for the victory.
***
Hong Kong.
A naval colonel in the uniform of the Royal Navy handed the file to Admiral Dewey.
Admiral Dewey scribbled a signature on the payment documents.
“…I think it’s the first time in my life I’ve ever borrowed guns from the Royal Navy.”
“Haha, you don’t know the world.”
“Can’t you meet your boss yet?”
“The Governor-General of Hong Kong also serves as the commander-in-chief of the British Army in Hong Kong. So please forgive me for being very busy.”
“is it?”
“Isn’t your departure tomorrow?”
“Uh, I’m going to go to Manila Bay through Subic Bay in the Philippines.”
“Then the supply…well, that would be enough.”
“Heh heh heh.”
Supplies were piled up like a mountain.
Admiral Dewey burst into laughter when he saw the armed merchant ships floating offshore without being able to dock at the Hong Kong naval port.
However, the colonel of the British Navy tilted his head as he looked at the abandoned ships connected to the aft of the armed merchant ships.
“What are those junk ships?”
“For mine verification.”
“ah.”
win-
Admiral Dewey broke the Coke bottle. The eyes of the colonel of the British Navy looking at Coca-Cola changed.
The eyes of a lion starving for food.
“Can I get you a bottle too?”
“I will not refuse even a fever.”
“Hey, what do you know?”
Coca-Cola Hong Kong branch.
Sales of the British and U.S. naval forces were rising vertically through the roof.
and that time.
Hong Kong Government-General.
“Great.”
The deputy governor-general of Hong Kong was having a private conversation with the Spanish consul in Hong Kong.
“Nice to meet you. This is Wilson Black, acting as the acting governor of Hong Kong.”
“……Yes.”
The Spanish consul in Hong Kong sat down with a blank expression on his face. The Governor-General of Hong Kong narrowed his eyes as he recalled the telegram sent from his home country.
– In case of engagement, hold the Spanish consul.
‘It is said that the Philippines garrison uses the Spanish consulate in Hong Kong as an information network to understand the movements of the US Navy.’
it makes sense
In the same situation, he would be too, and from the beginning, the job of an ambassador, a consul, and an ambassador was inherently spy and counterintelligible.
The Governor-General of Hong Kong raised his face and looked at the Spanish consul.
‘The eyes and ears of the Spanish garrison are blocked by holding him in the governor’s office.’
Probably Armada (invincible fleet) guys.
I will wake up and be upset.
“Then let the conversation begin.”
The Hong Kong governor’s eyes curved like a crescent moon.
***
April 30, 1898.
The Asian Fleet consisted of 4 armored cruisers, 2 included, 15 armed merchant ships and 5 abandoned ships, sailing in the Philippines’ Subic Gulf.
If we could bring Subic Bay and Manila Bay from the Spanish Navy, we could isolate the Spanish garrison in the Philippines through a naval blockade.
However, Subic Bay was unexpectedly empty.
shoot-
late night.
Admiral Dewey looked at Subic Bay from the bridge of the flagship USS Olympia.
Then signalmen and officers rushed to the bridge.
“Telegram from the US Consulate in Manila!”
“Give it to me.”
Admiral Dewey snatched the telegram.
“The Spanish Fleet in Subic Bay joins the Manila Bay Fleet. Presumably received information from the Spanish consulate in Hong Kong.”
“The Spanish Consul in Hong Kong…”
“Uh, right now, I am conducting a solo meeting with the Governor-General of Hong Kong, Oh Soon Do-soon. A few nights and a few days.”
“Then why did the fleets in Subic Bay join Manila?”
Admiral Dewey smiled at the lieutenant’s question.
“The fear of a lack of information. If contact with the Spanish ambassador to Hong Kong, an informant, had been cut off, they would have suffered considerable panic. Their eyes and ears are covered.”
“It would be.”
“Then there is only one answer. We don’t know the strength of the US Navy, so we’re going to give up on Subic Bay, where the fortifications and coastal artillery are poor, and focus on Manila Bay.”
“ah.”
Admiral Dewey brushed his beard.
‘But it fits too tight.’
For some reason, it felt as if he and this Asian fleet were moving on someone’s elaborate plate.
The British Governor-General has exclusive talks with the Spanish Consul. The British Navy loaned the guns. The arrival of a large number of merchant ships from Japanese ports.
All of this was ‘accidentally’ strangling the Spanish army.
“…is it a coincidence?”
Admiral Dewey decided to read the rest first.
The telegram of the consul in Manila still had behind-the-scenes details.
“The Spanish fleet had two armored cruisers and five unprotected cruisers. Includes 5 ships and 1 transport ship.
“The defense line of Manila Bay consists of four layers of fortifications, coastal artillery, mines, and fleet, but each component is composed of outdated equipment.”
“The sea route from Subic Bay to Manila Bay is difficult for first-timers, but geographic information is attached.”
Admiral Dewey widened his eyes.
“It even contains geographic information from Subic Bay to Manila Bay. Spaniards, is this enough to detain our consul?”
to lie
Besides, the equipment is outdated.
This novel was posted at https://noblemtl.com
Only two old-fashioned armored cruisers? We had four new armored cruisers.
Admiral Dewey looked around the bridge.
“From now on, we will start the night voyage. Even though geographical information is measured in detail like this, there are no fools, right?”
“to!!!”
Admiral Dewey’s fleet steered and sailed toward Manila Bay.
bang-! bang-!
Perhaps it was not a lie to say that it was difficult for a beginner, the mines in the water exploded, but the depth of the water gave only scratches to the leading armored cruiser.
I still couldn’t use the scrap line.
“This…..!!!”
The officers on the bridge doubted their eyes.
Waiting for the Asian Fleet to arrive in Manila Bay are only a dozen warships and six coastal batteries and three fortresses. Even wooden ships were mixed with the warships.
poor
too bad
“Is this… Spain?”
The officers on the bridge were stunned.
The equipment was so poor that I thought it might be a trap. But Admiral Dewey saw the reality precisely.
“But we would have struggled if we had come here without ammunition, coal, or armed merchant ships.”
“…..!!!”
“I should be grateful for the abundant supply.”
Admiral Dewey picked up a telescope.
After an ambitious night’s voyage, the morning sun was starting to pour over Manila Bay. With this, I was able to fight with my back to the sun.
Well…..
There was no fleet in his fleet that was foolish enough to sink from such an advantageous plate.
Rather than getting hit by that coastal cannon, he would rather cut off his head and kill him.
With this level of advantage, the Spanish Empire’s fleet began to have a different meaning in the eyes of Admiral Dewey.
“Lieutenant, no matter how you look at them, these guys. You don’t seem to know our power?”
“Yes. It looks that way to me.”
“Hmm.”
In Admiral Dewey’s eyes, the Micronesia of the Pacific to be eaten later fluttered.
great.
“Gentlemen.”
“Yes!!!”
“Change operational objectives.”
Admiral Dewey lowered his telescope.
In his eyes, the Spanish warships were no longer an enemy to be defeated.
It was literally food.
Whoop-
Admiral Dewey took a deep breath.
“From now on, we will capture Spanish warships as much as possible!!!”
***
Washington DC
British Embassy in the United States.
win-
I went out into the lobby for a moment and opened a Coke bottle. I sat on the sofa and stretched out my aching legs.
“The master has supported the armed merchant ships, but I’m still concerned.”
“why? No gloves?”
“Yes, can we cover the entire Pacific Ocean…”
That’s right.
The United States was now a second-class power, so it was a time when armored warships were scarce. They did not yet have enough naval power to print out warships and create a white fleet, so they were focused on warships.
That’s why the armed merchant ship was so happy.
“Don’t worry. The Spanish fleet is poor, and we also have the British navy. More than anything···”
“?”
sool
I drank cola.
“If it’s not there, it’s not war.”
I reclined comfortably on the sofa, remembering the face of Admiral Dewey, who must have been excited at the thought of arresting him by now.
＜ The obvious fate. (1) > end
