Around 10:30 p.m. the following evening, Charles finished his day's work and returned to his quarters, intending to read a bit before bed. In modern times, Charles would have scrolled on his phone, but in this era, reading seemed like the only suitable pre-sleep pastime.
As sleepiness overtook him and his eyes began to droop, a sudden, frantic knock echoed from the direction of Gallieni's room, just two doors down. Startled, Charles sat up, instantly alert. He knew there might have been a change in the situation on the battlefield, so he quickly got up and put on his uniform.
Sure enough, moments later, a messenger knocked on Charles's door, his voice tense: "Colonel, news from the Dardanelles—the battleship Goliath has been sunk!"
Charles paused, hurriedly slipping on his shoes and fastening his uniform as he opened the door and followed the messenger to the operations room.
Gallieni was already there, his uniform rumpled, as if he'd fallen asleep in it. Charles thought it a good habit—no time to dress and undress on the battlefield.
Gallieni handed the telegram to Charles. "This happened half an hour ago," he said grimly. "Goliath was ambushed and hit by two torpedoes. It sank within two minutes. The exact cause is still unclear. Seven hundred and fifty crew members are unaccounted for, and emergency rescue operations are ongoing, but…"
There was no need for Gallieni to finish; when a battleship sinks in under two minutes, the likelihood of heavy casualties is almost certain.
The operations room was soon abuzz with activity, as one report after another clarified the situation. Slowly, the details emerged: the Goliath had been conducting a nighttime bombardment mission, covered by a destroyer escort, when an Ottoman "torpedo ship" had crept close under the cover of darkness. At a distance of only about 100 meters, it launched three torpedoes, two of which struck Goliath, sinking it almost instantly.
(Note: The so-called "torpedo ship" is essentially a torpedo boat, powered by coal-burning steam engines as a cost-saving measure. These ships usually displaced around 600 tons.)
Gallieni's expression was severe. Unlike previous sinkings caused by mines, this attack was a deliberate strike by the Ottomans, who had sent a torpedo ship specifically to sink the Allied battleship. This was a significant shift.
"This shows that even being on a battleship is no longer safe," Gallieni said, visibly concerned. "The fact that such a small 'torpedo ship' could sink a battleship is bound to deal a blow to troop morale."
He turned to Charles, "You'll need to accelerate your preparations. They may use this to put even more pressure on you."
Charles nodded, knowing that the capitalists would not miss this opportunity.
The next day, newspapers were flooded with shocking headlines:
"Ottoman Torpedo Ship Sinks Goliath with Three Torpedoes!"
"With Four Torpedo Ships in Their Fleet, Is Night Bombardment Now Impossible for the Allies? Will the Stalemate Resume?"
"Who Is the David That Felled Goliath?"
The last headline was a reference to the Bible. The Goliath was named after the biblical giant defeated by the young David. In reality, this story bore a striking resemblance to the biblical tale, as people speculated about who the "David" was that had brought down Goliath.
News soon emerged that the Ottomans were celebrating the "Pillar of the Nation," the torpedo ship responsible for the attack. Its captain was promoted to major, and Lieutenant Felleur, who had planned the operation, received multiple decorations, including Germany's Iron Cross, First Class.
Amidst this news, a popular sentiment surged among the public:
"They can't win this war without Charles."
"It's time to send Charles to the front. Let him show those foolish British how to fight."
"Only Charles can secure victory in this war!"
Over 600 kilometers west of Paris, in the port city of Brest—home to one of France's two major naval bases and its largest shipyard—there was a cacophony of activity. The hum of machinery, hammering, and shouted orders filled the air as workers busied themselves around the frames of several small boats.
Standing off to the side, Wells and Tijani held blueprints, discussing various design points and adjustments.
"I think the bow ramp could be thicker and higher," Tijani said, pointing to the blueprint. "It would improve protection for the soldiers and balance the weight of the engine in the back."
"We can't make it any higher," Wells disagreed. "It would affect the stability of the boat."
"We'll usually be landing in calm conditions," Tijani argued. "The safety of the soldiers is more important."
"Of course," Wells replied. "But you might be forgetting about the enemy's artillery?"
Tijani fell silent, realizing that enemy shelling could create waves capable of capsizing a boat that wasn't balanced. Soldiers would still be vulnerable. The source of thɪs content is ɴovᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet
Wells gave Tijani a look of approval, the hint of a smile on his face. "It seems you're not as against the Navy as you once were."
"I've never been against the Navy," Tijani shrugged. "I'm against a useless Navy."
Wells nodded, recalling that Tijani had said similar things before. At the time, Wells had dismissed it as an excuse; after all, how could the Navy be "useless"?
A strong Navy meant colonial power, and colonies were essential to being a great nation. Many people admired a powerful Navy, yet Tijani had called it unnecessary. Now, Wells understood what Tijani meant: Charles was transforming the Navy from an old, static power into something more vital.
Just then, Wells's butler approached, holding a newspaper. "Sir, I believe you should take a look at this."
Wells took the paper, its main headline reading: "The Goliath Battleship Reportedly Sunk by Torpedo Ship."
Tijani, who had come up to read over Wells's shoulder, saw the story too. They exchanged stunned looks as they read the details.
"This is precisely what Charles predicted would happen with torpedo boats protecting coastal areas," Wells remarked.
"Yes," Tijani nodded, eyes shining with excitement. "This incident proves Charles's theory correct. And this was just a single torpedo ship, with a top speed of only 35 knots."
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