"Mr. President, our counterattack in Chesapeake Bay has failed again. In this battle, we lost more than twenty submarines, over ten light cruisers, and more than thirty destroyers!" Minister Daniels reported to President Wilson with a face full of self-reproach.
After Naval Base Norfolk had been completely destroyed by the German fleet, Minister Daniels, General Benson, and General Mayo went to the White House to report the outcome to President Wilson. Yet despite their painstaking preparations, they had still lost, leaving them utterly humiliated.
"Lost again? It seems we truly have no way whatsoever to deal with the Germans!" President Wilson sighed. He felt utterly helpless. If the American Navy could have made the German fleet pay a considerable price in this battle, then they could have argued their case in the peace talks with Germany and fought to reduce their losses.
But now, it seemed the American Navy simply had no strength to contend with the German fleet! Even their carefully prepared counterattack had ended in failure. If they continued resisting, the American Navy's losses would only grow greater and greater.
"From this moment on, order the Navy to cease all attacks on the German fleet!" President Wilson said.
Minister Daniels and the other two all wore expressions of shame and indignation.
"Mr. President, are we surrendering to the Germans so quickly?" General Mayo asked. Such an outcome was indeed difficult for the American Navy's senior officers to accept.
"We truly are no match for the Germans. If we keep fighting, we will only suffer even greater casualties. Rather than that, we might as well stop resisting and preserve some seeds for the Navy. This war with the Germans will eventually come to an end. Once it does, we will rebuild the Navy. Warships are easy enough to build,