Admiral Shigetarō Shimada, Admiral Oshimi Nagano, and Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto did not keep Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, Admiral Gen Sugiyama, and the others waiting long. Half an hour later, they arrived at the Prime Minister's residence.
The three had analyzed Prime Minister Tojo's reasons for summoning them on the way over. Though they did not know the specifics, they had already guessed the general purpose. The Southern Army was now locked in a bitter struggle, and Prime Minister Tojo's summons at this time was undoubtedly related to the war in the South Seas. As for how they should respond, that would depend on what Prime Minister Tojo intended to do next.
When the German Navy's main force swept into the South Seas, the Island Nation Navy had voluntarily withdrawn from the region in order to preserve its strength. The Combined Fleet was now operating in the waters east of the Philippine Islands. Although there were quite a few German islands in those waters, after the Island Nation Navy recovered its strength in the first half of the year, it had repeatedly attacked those islands. Bombs and shells had destroyed the military installations on them again and again. As a result, the German Navy was unable to make use of those islands for the time being.
However, the Island Nation Navy understood very clearly that although it was now at the peak of its strength in history, it still stood at a disadvantage compared with the German Navy. Even with only three fleets assembled in the Pacific Ocean, the German Navy was not something the Island Nation Navy could handle. If possible, the Island Nation Navy hoped to delay its decisive battle with the German Navy as long as it could. Once more aircraft carriers and Capital Ships entered service, it