CHAPTER 291: CHAPTER 291: SHIRE’S TELEGRAM

O’Connell’s response took Admiral Robek by surprise; he even forgot to chew the beef in his mouth.

After a long moment in a daze, Admiral Robek quickly swallowed his food: "Are you sure? They sank the submarine?"

"Yes, confirmed!" O’Connell nodded assuredly: "They retrieved floating debris and bodies, confirming that they were German submarine sailors. They even identified more detailed information from the ID."

Colonel Forbes was both shocked and delighted. This meant that the "Queen Elizabeth" would no longer just sit at the anchor point like a decorative flower!

Who wouldn’t want to put such a battleship to good use?

More importantly, every time Colonel Forbes encountered his colleagues, they would look at him with strange eyes and expressions.

Colonel Forbes knew what that meant: enjoy the best benefits and fight the safest wars. Truly an "enviable" captain!

"What did he use to blow up the submarine?" Colonel Forbes asked curiously.

"It’s said to be a kind of bomb," O’Connell handed over a telegram: "This bomb is released from the stern of a destroyer, sinking into the sea and exploding. They chased after the course of the escaping submarine and finally succeeded in destroying it!"

"Summer’s new invention?" Colonel Forbes asked again.

"Of course!" O’Connell nodded emphatically, but added, "It should be."

Actually, he wasn’t sure because the telegram didn’t say.

Colonel Forbes realized something. He glanced at Admiral Robek sitting across from him and didn’t dare to say more.

O’Connell suddenly noticed that Admiral Robek didn’t look right and immediately stopped speaking.

Admiral Robek turned back, staring blankly at the food in front of him.

Admiral Robek realized he had been deceived; Summer’s objective in this operation was not to land on V Beach but to destroy the submarine.

Though Summer succeeded, allowing the previously "trepidatious" and "cautious" battleship to unleash its full power,

Summer made Admiral Robek, the supreme commander, look like a fool and made him a laughingstock in front of everyone.

Just a moment ago, Admiral Robek was still guessing with Forbes whether Summer would successfully land!

"Have they returned?" Admiral Robek asked coldly, his face frosty.

"Yes!" O’Connell sat upright: "About an hour or so and they’ll be back at the anchor point."

"He messed up the entire operation plan." Admiral Robek snorted coldly: "When he returns, have him come see me!"

"General..." O’Connell wanted to say something but was stopped by Admiral Robek’s sharp gaze.

"I cannot indulge him," Admiral Robek said righteously: "This is the military; he must follow orders. Otherwise, others will imitate his actions!"

"Yes, General," O’Connell responded helplessly.

But he thought to himself, yet they are also the French Army, our allies. Although nominally under your command, you can’t use British military law to discipline France’s Summer!

If you do that, what will the French military think?

What will the French citizens think?

What will the French Government think?

Do you intend to single-handedly sabotage the Franco-British alliance?

But Admiral Robek was in the heat of anger. O’Connell knew that opposing him now could immediately get him dispatched to the island to command an infantry battle.

...

Soon, the news reached France.

The first to get the telegram was, of course, the Paris City Defense Command.

During this period without Summer around, Gallieni felt uncomfortable everywhere.

Sometimes he would call Major Fernan: "Analyze the battle situation, in your opinion, how should the French Army land?"

Major Fernan hesitated with an "uh" and answered painfully: "General, only Summer might know this. Besides, I graduated from Saint-Cyr military academy. I am not very familiar with naval warfare."

"You can say you don’t understand at all, Major; I can understand," Gallieni was somewhat annoyed and complained: "Summer never attended military school, yet he knows everything."

Major Fernan looked troubled; there are few Summers in this world, who could compare to his talent?

But he didn’t dare say this. Although it was true, it would be seen as "insubordination."

Gallieni anxiously waved his hand and let Major Fernan go about his business.

Major Fernan felt a great relief and immediately ran away, hiding far away to avoid being seen by Gallieni.

The other staff were almost the same; as long as Gallieni raised his eyes, the entire headquarters staff would immediately pretend to be busy, actually doing nothing.

Major Fernan sighed internally: Colonel, please come back soon. Your presence has raised the General’s expectations of the staff. The General no longer values us.

Suddenly someone excitedly shouted, "Summer’s telegram!"

Gallieni instantly turned his gaze towards the direction of the voice. The previously worried expression vanished, replaced with an excited glow in his eyes.

Everyone quietly breathed a sigh of relief. This meant that the General wouldn’t be torturing them, at least for the next few hours.

When the communications officer decoded the telegram, the staff exclaimed: "Summer commanded the fleet to successfully sink the Germans’ submarine!"

"Sank the submarine?" Gallieni was taken aback before smiling lightly: "That kid always surprises people."

Then Gallieni asked, "What did he use to sink it? A new invention?"

"Yes, General," the staff replied: "It’s something called ’Deep Water Bomb.’"

Gallieni hmmed, nodded in satisfaction, thinking it’s not Summer if there’s no invention. Another military order, but this is the Navy’s business.

The news was not immediately released; it was prepared for the "Merit Newspaper’s" operation.

Kobudo moved quickly, detailing the entire operation and analyzing the strategic significance of sinking the submarine, including the performance of the German submarine, filling an entire page.

It was just after eight in the morning. The newspaper staff had just gotten back to rest after working overnight, but Kobudo called each one to work overtime.

As soon as the newspapers hit the market, they were immediately snatched up. All of France was in an uproar, discussing Summer’s victory in every street and alley:

"See, I knew Summer could outdo the British."

"Those foolish British don’t even know how to fight a war!"

"They should let Summer be the fleet commander. It’s good for everyone."

...

The Minister of the Navy also heard this news and found it odd: Summer used a bait strategy, so why did Tijani specially send a telegram yesterday mentioning the landing on V Beach today?

Could it be someone around me...

No! Impossible!

It must be that the Royal Navy let the news slip!