"Admiral, the Germans are catching up. In another hour, they are expected to overtake us completely," a staff officer reported to Admiral Anton Haus.
Admiral Anton Haus nodded. He knew what that meant. In other words, the great battle would erupt in an hour. Then they would have to fight the German Navy, which was far stronger than their own. Neither Admiral Anton Haus nor the ordinary sailors of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Navy held any hope of defeating the German Navy. The German Navy was simply too much stronger than they were.
Compared with the Austro-Hungarian Empire Navy, the German Navy held every advantage. Not only did it possess superiority in both the number and quality of its Capital Ships, its personnel and combat experience also far surpassed those of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Navy. Its morale was superior as well. The Austro-Hungarian Empire itself had already perished. These sailors were like men with homes they could not return to—how much morale could they possibly have left to keep fighting?
"Order every ship to prepare for battle! This will be our decisive battle with the Germans. The Germans, disregarding how we once fought shoulder to shoulder with them, brazenly destroyed our country. As soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, we must fight the Germans to the bitter end for our nation's future!" Admiral Anton Haus gave the order.
Germany's destruction of the Austro-Hungarian Empire had become a pain in the heart of every Austro-Hungarian Empire serviceman. A soldier's duty was to defend home and country. Yet because the enemy was too powerful, they had been unable to defend their homeland. Still, the officers and men of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Navy firmly believed that they were not those cowardly soldiers of the army. They would never surrender to the Germans.
Admiral Anton Haus