Naval Bill

Although the German Navy had developed very rapidly in recent years, its disadvantage compared with the old-established maritime powers remained glaringly obvious. To say nothing else, Germany was completely at a disadvantage in the number of Capital Ships alone. If war broke out, the consequences would be all too easy to imagine.

After hearing Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz's words, Germany's high-ranking officials were all deeply shaken. With such an enormous disadvantage, expecting the navy to break the British Navy's blockade was clearly asking the impossible.

Crown Prince Wilhelm was like a defeated rooster, lowering his head and falling silent. Only now did he realize that he had been far too optimistic about Germany's military strength. Germany's enemies were equally not to be underestimated!

"Gentlemen, without question, our enemies' military strength is formidable. The gap between us and them is also very wide. Although we are still striving to catch up, surpassing them will require a great deal of time. Therefore, at present, we must avoid going to war with our enemies as much as possible," Wilhelm II said.

Given Wilhelm II's headstrong and arrogant nature, if victory had been possible, he naturally would not have endured in silence. It was precisely because he knew that the odds of winning would be very small if war broke out that he had restrained himself again and again. There was no helping it.

I never expected the gap between the navy and the British to be so vast. It seems necessary to increase investment in the navy. If the German Navy could stand no lower than the British Navy, would the British still dare support the French so brazenly? Wilhelm II thought to himself.

The reason the German Navy had been able to grow strong so quickly, even making the British, lords of the seas, feel threatened, was precisely Wilhelm II's vigorous support. However, because it had started too late, Wilhelm II faced immense difficulties in trying to overtake the British Navy.

Wilhelm II suddenly thought of Oscar's German Shipyard, which was undergoing expansion. It was expected to begin constructing New-style Battleships very soon. Wilhelm II was also well aware of Oscar's recent string of moves. After investing huge sums in the German Shipyard, Oscar had reached a cooperation agreement with the Krupp Company, having it provide armor and large-caliber main guns. At the same time, he had Sulzer Boiler Company provide oil-fired boilers, along with the German Engine Manufacturing Company he had established himself. All of this was undoubtedly laying the groundwork for the construction of New-style Battleships.

Wilhelm II felt both moved and gratified that Oscar had managed to accomplish so much. He had never imagined that his least valued son, whom he had always believed merely muddled through life waiting for death, would display such outstanding talent. Oscar had even eclipsed the brilliance of his other sons; even Crown Prince Wilhelm could not compare with him. If Crown Prince Wilhelm had not been his eldest son, Wilhelm II might even have believed that Oscar was more suited than Crown Prince Wilhelm to become the Empire's Crown Prince.

Of course, that thought merely flashed through his mind. Wilhelm II could not possibly strip Crown Prince Wilhelm of his right of succession. Unless Crown Prince Wilhelm himself became unable to fulfill the duties of Crown Prince—for example, if he fell gravely ill and could not rise again, or died young. Otherwise, once Wilhelm II passed away, Crown Prince Wilhelm would become Emperor of the German Empire. That was something that could not change.

"Your Majesty, judging from the current situation, our chances of victory would be very small if war broke out. Therefore, I believe we should remain restrained," Prime Minister Bernhard von Bülow advised.

Although this was a result that was difficult to accept, that was simply the situation now. No matter how dissatisfied they were, for the sake of the greater picture, they could only endure it.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Temporary restraint is for the sake of crushing all our enemies next time," Moltke the Younger said as well.

Although the German Army was powerful, without the navy's cooperation, it too would struggle to hold up a single tree.

Wilhelm II nodded. "All right, let it be so for now! On the Moroccan issue, we will do our utmost to prevent the conflict from escalating further. However, on the surface, we absolutely cannot show weakness to them. Otherwise, they will push their luck inch by inch. In addition, our interests in Morocco must be safeguarded as much as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" everyone replied.

Oscar did not pay too much attention to the Moroccan Crisis. In any case, he already knew the outcome. Although Germany's attitude was growing increasingly hardline, even deploying heavy forces along the border, anyone with discerning eyes knew that this was merely putting on a bold front.

With British and Russian support, the French were full of confidence. Faced with Germany's hardline stance, they responded tit for tat. This made the situation in Europe even more tense.

On November 18, 1905, the expansion project at the German Shipyard was completed. By recruiting a large number of engineers and skilled workers, the German Shipyard had more or less completed its accumulation of technical expertise in constructing large warships. What it lacked was only practical experience.

The following day, Oscar arrived at the German Shipyard and presided over the commencement ceremony for the Nassau-class Battleships. Four Battleships began construction simultaneously on four large slipways.

Of course, due to technical and experience-related reasons, the German Shipyard's construction progress would be relatively slower. But as long as it thoroughly mastered the relevant technologies through this round of construction, there would be nothing to worry about.

Oscar gave Brutt a deadline: all four Battleships had to be launched before November 1907.

If Oscar remembered correctly, the British Navy's Dreadnought Battleship officially entered service on December 3, 1907. Moreover, that was only because a great deal of time had been spent testing new equipment. However, Germany should obtain relevant intelligence on the Dreadnought Battleship before then. If the Nassau-class Battleships could be launched by that time, it would be a tremendous encouragement for the German Navy. There would also be no issue with having the navy accept the Nassau-class Battleships as its next generation of Capital Ships.

In January 1906, the Algeciras Conference convened. Because Britain and Russia supported France, a treaty favorable to France was signed at the end of the conference. It recognized Morocco's independence, while also recognizing France and Spain's right to police control over Morocco. However, France also promised that Germany's interests in Morocco would be guaranteed. German capital would be allowed to enter Morocco.

When the news reached Germany, the German people were stirred into a furious uproar.

Under immense pressure, the German Parliament revised the Naval Law, producing the First Amendment. According to the amendment, the German Navy's shipbuilding budget for the next ten years would be raised to 940 million Mark. Beginning the following year, two Battleships and one large cruiser (Battlecruiser) would be built each year. By 1917, the German Navy would possess a powerful fleet centered on 38 Battleships, 20 large cruisers, and 38 light cruisers. This was an important milestone in the German Navy's formal challenge to maritime hegemony, and also the Germanic people's powerful response to the "Humiliation of Algeciras"—German public opinion could not direct its spearhead at Wilhelm II's mistaken decisions, instead blaming the setback on the reckless interference of Britain, Spain, and other nations. If Germany had possessed a fleet capable of contending with the British Royal Navy, such a tragedy would never have occurred. Because the Algeciras Convention had severely damaged Germany's capital interests in Morocco and wounded the swelling self-respect of the Germanic people, everyone in Germany, from great capitalists to soldiers and civilians, harbored the desire to wash away this shame and demanded faster naval construction.