Chapter 805: The Honor of the Japanese Navy

However, Kato Hiroji didn't feel embarrassed at all. He said calmly: "Even if the German fleet does not pursue it, it's okay. We can just retreat like this. There is no need for us to take too much risk at the moment. Although I am not willing to leave like this, this may be a bit embarrassing, or it may bring shame to our imperial navy, but we must not make decisions on the battlefield because of impulse. You should all understand this principle." At the end of these words, his tone seemed very helpless, and anyone could see the unwillingness in his eyes.

Before, Tadaki Kato's idea was the same as Kato Hiroji, thinking that there was no need to continue taking risks, but at this time it was different. He could see the mentality of other naval generals present. If the Second Fleet did not bring back any results, it would be a shame that the Imperial Navy would be indelible. Soon he considered the political situation in the country, and the General Staff Headquarters took great pains to attack Qingdao. If this battle failed, the General Staff Headquarters would definitely be criticized by democratic parties, and the national defense power of the Great *** Empire would be greatly reduced.

It has to be said that the combat troops participating in the Qingdao War this time were under extremely heavy political pressure. Kato Tadakishi couldn't even understand why Kamio Mitsumon chose to give up easily?

Colonel Oshima couldn't hold back his anger and stepped forward and asked, "Commander, why not attack directly!"

Just as Kato Tachiyoshi was about to speak, a dull sound of shells came from the front, and a shell landed on the sea two hundred meters ahead of the Kojima. A shout came from outside the bridge: "Be careful of the artillery attack from the German ship, all the soldiers will take their place and stay alert."

Colonel Oshima took a telescope and looked forward. At this time, the German ship opened fire again, and the second shell landed in front of the Danou. He snorted coldly and said unhappily: "They actually dare to fire at us!? This is clearly not a shooting within range, it is the Germans provoking us."

Everyone could see this. The German shells had no power or accuracy, and were completely fired firecrackers. The only purpose of doing this was to demonstrate! All the officers on the bridge were ignited with anger, wishing they could rush up to crush these arrogant white people immediately.

"Commander, what should I do now?" someone asked.

"Order the third column to retreat first, then detour to the sea of ​​Jiaozhou Bay to ambush. Other ships retreated slowly to attract enemy ships to follow up." Kato Tadaki finally spoke, and he issued an order in an orderly manner.

Everyone knew that Tatsuki Kato was preparing to attack the German Far East Fleet, and they were immediately excited. Several captains from other columns immediately ordered the adjutant to prepare a small boat and immediately return to their respective warships to start the fight.

A few minutes later, the commander's order was passed on to each ship. The third column, Chisho, Chiyoda and Akitsushi, three cruisers, changed direction first. After their captains returned to the ship, they immediately drove at full speed to retreat with the help of the dark sky. After driving for about five nautical miles, they turned to the southeast and turned toward Jiaozhou Bay without knowing it.

After receiving the radio from Chitose, other ships of the Second Fleet began to retreat one after another. Several sea sweepers came behind the three battleships, dragging the battleships slowly moved backwards. Other cruisers and destroyers formed a intensive defensive formation, and retreated collectively based on the battleships. However, the retreat was very slow. Except for the sea sweepers, all warships did not even turn directions, and just reversed the propeller and did not leave.

The six cruisers of the Far East Fleet hesitated for a moment, then adjusted their direction and followed the Japanese fleet at the same speed.

When the sky was completely dark, the Japanese fleet was almost completely out of Qingdao's waters, and the range of the Qingdao Fortress cannons could no longer reach the Japanese fleet, and all the fortress' artillery stopped firing. The Far East fleet accelerated a little speed, but it didn't take long to slow down. Occasionally, a few shells were fired, but without exception, they all went off.

Just as the Second Fleet was about to withdraw from Qingdao waters, the third column that was detouring near Jiaozhou Bay suddenly appeared from the rear and approached the Far East Fleet with full power. At the same time, all the main ships of the Second Fleet stopped retreating, and all the thrusters advanced forward, rushing towards the Far East Fleet.

The Far East Fleet did not notice the appearance of the third Japanese column in the dark. It was not until the Chiyoda fired the first shot that the German ship realized. The six cruisers immediately adjusted their formation, stopped their advance in time, and turned around for a half circle along the northern waters of Qingdao, and drove all the power back towards Jiaozhou Bay.

However, the main battleship of the Japanese Second Fleet was originally backwards, but now it can chase forward with horsepower directly, which is more time-saving than a one and a half circles in the Far East Fleet. As for the third column that appeared from behind, the route of the Far East Fleet retreat had long been predicted, and the three warships slowed down early and waited for the Germans to pass by.

The German ship saw the threat of the third column. At this time, both sides had entered the farthest range and unhesitated the gun. The commander of the Far East Fleet decisively ordered the abandonment of the original route and went straight to the east, and then returned to Jiaozhou Bay. Anyway, the main ship of the Second Fleet took some time from regressing to accelerating. He was able to get rid of the pursuit of the main ship of the Second Fleet by maintaining the fastest speed.

The real danger is the three cruisers of the third column of the Japanese army. The other party has already set up its formation and occupy the rear position. When they go around in circles, they will definitely have medium- and short-distance exchanges with the other party. However, they have no choice, and they have to rush over in one go. It is not a loss to fight three warships with the firepower of six warships, but they cannot be held back by the third column, otherwise when the main ship catches up, it will be a disaster.

The third column saw the German fleet circled a large circle and immediately chased after it from a straight line.

The six German warships gradually changed into a single-line formation. All warships opened fire at the warships with tail guns and outer side guns. Because the *** fleet occupied the central position, the main guns of the three warships could all play a role.

Flashes of cannons came from the dark seaside, and the light of the cannon fire was like thunder in the dark clouds, and waves emerged from the black curtains. The shells exploded with surging water in the sea water, and occasionally the shells hit the warship and ignited a cluster of fire, which immediately became the target of concentrated attack by the enemy ships. In the era when there was no effective lighting facilities, the naval battle at night was very difficult, and once a fire occurred, all sailors must be extinguished as soon as possible.

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Chapter completed!