At dawn on February 1, several Capital Ship Squadrons of the Island Nation Navy's Combined Fleet were sailing northward across the Philippine Sea. All of these fleets had raised their speed to over twenty-five knots. They did not know whether the German Navy had dispatched carrier-based aircraft to pursue them, so they needed to get as far away from these waters as possible to ensure their own safety.
There was no doubt that the operation before dawn had been a success. The four Capital Ship Squadrons had successfully destroyed the German Navy's airfields on Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. No one knew how many aircraft had been destroyed on the ground by their artillery fire, nor how many pilots and ground crew had died under their bombardment. To the Island Nation Navy, this was undoubtedly a tremendous victory. It left the officers and men of the Island Nation Navy's Combined Fleet exhilarated and proud.
"General, the telegram has been drafted. Once you sign it, it can be sent to the flagship." Captain Fukudome Shigeru, chief of staff of the Combined Fleet's 1st Capital Ship Squadron, had a face full of smiles.
Lieutenant General Yoshida Zengo took the telegram draft, read it carefully once, then took out his fountain pen and signed his name.
"Mm, send it out like this," Lieutenant General Yoshida Zengo said.
"Yes, General." Captain Fukudome Shigeru nodded.
"Order the fleet to prepare for air defense. The more it is at a time like this, the less we can afford to relax. Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable," Lieutenant General Yoshida Zengo said.
Without question, the Combined Fleet had gained a certain advantage in this battle. So long as they remained cautious in the battles to come, further held onto their advantage, and gave the German Navy no