My Italian: Chapter 407 meet by chance

The shelling of the Newport News Shipyard and Hamilton Harbor lasted until noon, and then the Spanish fleet sailed away, leaving the American soldiers and civilians full of disgrace and bitter faces.

As for the Spanish fleet, the officers and soldiers were elated. Such a successful attack with no casualties, how can one not be happy.

Sorry, not nothing, two people twisted their feet in the battle, and one hit his head, and three people in the Spanish fleet were still injured.

And the happiest thing here are the two Garibaldi-class ships and the three Maria Teresa-class armored ships. The Spanish officers and soldiers on board cheered so lively. As for the three Turin-class ships and the two Venice-class ships, the Italian officers and soldiers on board are all battle-tested veterans. Although the fixed targets are happy, they are not so happy.

From the reactions of the officers and soldiers on both sides, we can see the gap between the two. Of course, the Spanish officers and soldiers have experienced a few more naval battles, and they will be like the Italian officers and soldiers.

"This battle has greatly improved the morale of the officers and soldiers!"

On the former Turin flagship, now the Empress Isabel Spirit, the fleet commander Lieutenant General Sedra looked at the calm Italian mercenaries, and said to Colonel Lefer enviously.

"Yeah, no one thought that the U.S. Navy was so unprepared. I find it incredible. Although their warships are not strong enough, even if they come out, they are useless, but they will cause us a lot of trouble. But this is not counted. What surprised me the most was the lack of coastal defenses, which made me think that the next battle was full of hope."

Speaking of which, Colonel Lefer took out the chart and pointed to it. "Currently we are off the coast of Newport News, which is only more than 400 nautical miles away from New York, the largest port in the United States. Considering that even Newport News's coastal defenses are so poor, New York will not be too high."

Lefer's words made Lieutenant General Sedra's eyes shine.

Obviously, this remark made Lieutenant General Sedra's heart moved. If the Spanish fleet also made such a vote in New York, it would definitely shock the whole world. Moreover, three battleships are under construction at the Brooklyn Shipyard in New York. American confidence. Maybe it is also possible for the Americans to cease fighting and admit defeat.

Don't think that Lieutenant General Sedra is thinking about it. It goes without saying that New York is important to the United States. The largest city in the United States, the largest trading port, and the financial center, if it is bombarded here, it is conceivable how much it would shake the United States.

Of course, New York's defense is not comparable to that of Newport News. Its coastal defenses have 6 coastal defense guns with a caliber of 200 mm or more, and 18 guns with a caliber of 100 mm or more.

In addition, the fleet's attack on Newport News has exposed its whereabouts, and the coastal cities of the United States must be on the alert. It is impossible to conduct a surprise attack again. Moreover, there is also a fleet in the northern United States. Although its combat effectiveness is not as high as that in the south, if there is the cooperation of coastal defense batteries, it will still cause trouble for the Spanish fleet. It is equally difficult to carry out the task smoothly.

Perhaps Lieutenant General Sedra didn't know that the American North Atlantic Fleet that he never forgot was not far away from him.

In the Atlantic, a fleet flying the flag of the United States Navy is sailing south. This fleet consists of the battleship USS Iowa, the cruiser USS New York, and the protected cruisers Atlanta and Boston. Under the leadership of Colonel Lorant, the fleet is sailing to Jacksonville Naval Port.

The reason is very simple. Didn't Major General Samplin discover the traces of the Spanish fleet before? In order to strengthen the strength of his own fleet in order to fight with it, he sent a telegram to recall the fleet that was previously sent to the northern part of the east coast.

Of course, it's not easy to call back, and it can only be done after a lot of wrangling.

"Telegram Hamilton Naval Station to tell them we're approaching and to have the USS Texas ready to join us."

On the flagship Iowa, the commanding officer, Colonel Lorant, gave the orders.

Now they were only forty nautical miles away from the Hamilton naval port, and it was just right to send a telegram to the USS Texas in advance.

"Yes, Your Excellency!"

After a while, the communications officer rushed back with a constipated expression on his face.

"Colonel, we sent a telegram to Naval Port Hamilton and got no response."

"You send it a few more times."

"Colonel I have sent several times, but there is no response from the Hamilton Naval Station. I tried to send a message to Newport News, and no one responded."

Hearing the communications officer's answer, Commander Colonel Lorant asked with a hint of doubt. "Has our telegraph failed again?"

"I also checked that the telegraph is operating normally and there is no fault. I wonder if it is because of the influence of the weather, which may cause the communication distance to be insufficient?"

The communications officer didn't think too much about not being able to get in touch. Instead, he took the weather into consideration.

This is not surprising, this radio communication has received many interference factors, and the most interference is the weather. This is also quite possible given the changing weather at sea. But I just don't know how bad the weather is at the Hamilton Naval Port, which can actually affect the Marconi N-3 transceiver with a communication distance of 100 kilometers.

That's right, Marconi telegraphs are currently used by ships at sea in various countries, and this N-3 type is the latest model launched by Marconi last year. The maximum communication distance can reach 100 kilometers, and 120 kilometers under good weather conditions. can be achieved.

At present, the latest radio transceiver in the world is the N-5 type that Marconi has not yet released, which can reach 150 kilometers.

Colonel Lorant didn't think much about the fact that he couldn't get in touch with the Hamilton Naval Port. If he continued to sail south, he would always be in touch.

But not long after, the watchman shouted. "There seems to be something ahead, like a fleet."

The smoke column that appeared at the junction of the sea and the sky made the watchman have to remind him.

"Don't worry, it should be the merchant navy."

The officer didn't think much about it. After all, the east coast is busy with trade, and it is very normal to encounter a fleet.

"But this column of smoke looks a little strange, and it moves a little fast."

The lookout, who was unwilling to give up, wanted to defend himself.

"Okay, Love, don't make a fuss. This may be a fast merchant ship carrying high-value cargo. What are you worried about?"

The observer, who had been taught a lesson, stopped talking.

However, as the distance approached, the opponent's fleet also appeared, and it was heading towards them at high speed.

"Why does this figure look a bit like a warship?"

Something feels wrong with the observing hand.

"No, there are warships coming towards us."

The observer who reacted immediately reported his findings loudly.

"What?"

The officer took a closer look at the high-powered binoculars, and it was really a warship.

"Not good, there are warships approaching."

The officer who came to the conclusion immediately sounded the siren, and at the same time the other ships also sounded the siren, announcing the news of the approaching warship.

"what happened?"

Colonel Lorant, alarmed by the siren, immediately came to the command room.

"Report to Colonel, there is a warship approaching us."

"What?"

Shocked by the news, he immediately raised his binoculars and looked over.

Before he could see clearly, he heard shouts from the observation post. "No, it's a Spanish battleship, it's the enemy's fleet, three Turin-class battleships, two Garibaldi-class patrols, two Venice-class patrols, three Maria Teresa-class patrols, what do they do? At this?"

"Why are they here?" This was what Colonel Lorant wanted to ask. But now he can't care about this problem, and now he needs to think about what to do next, fight or flee, this is a difficult multiple choice question.

"Sir, what should we do?"

"Sir, other warships are questioning us."

"Sir, make a decision."

Colonel Lorant has never felt so difficult to make a choice, but looking at the increasingly clear enemy ships, he said with difficulty. "Order the ships, retreat, and the ships evacuate themselves, return to New York, and tell them the Spanish fleet is coming."

When Colonel Lorant ordered the retreat, on the side of the Spanish supervision, Lieutenant General Sedra looked at the American fleet that appeared in front of him, showing ecstasy.

It must be my prayer that God heard, UU Reading www.uukanshu.com Otherwise, how could I have sent an American fleet in front of me. Although the enemy is turning and trying to escape, how can they be allowed to escape in this situation.

"Order the ships to pursue immediately. The three battleships will target the USS Iowa, the USS Columbus and the USS Francisco. The targets will be given priority to the USS New York, and the other ships will choose their opponents in turn."

In fact, it wasn't just him, the officers and soldiers on the battleship all showed the same expression, and even Colonel Lefer, who had always been very stable, changed his expression.

Although Lieutenant General Sedra was ambitious to take down all the opponent's warships, he still carefully chose to take down the most threatening targets first, that is, the battleship Iowa and the cruiser New York.

Among them, the top speed of the Iowa is only 16 knots, while the top speed of the New York is 20 knots, while the Turin class is as high as 18 knots, and the two Garibaldi class are as high as 23 knots. In terms of speed, it is determined that they cannot run, and the only hope is to drag them until sunset and use the cover of night to escape from pursuit.

As for now, you can only ask for blessings!

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