DKB Catchup news

[Sachmle]

Late June, 1912.
Personal chambers of Kaiser Friedrich IV

The arrival of Großadmiral Letters brought Hanz to his feet to present him to the Kaiser. Upon opening the doors he announced Großadmiral Letters presence, and once he was inside shut the door securely and returned to his post.

Kaiser Friedrich IV was sitting at his desk looking over some documents. Once he looked up Letters bowed slightly and then returned to attention.

Kaiser: Come Allard, sit. We are kin, this does not need to be so formal.

Letters: Yes, well said. I presume this is about the state of the Kaiserliche Marine and the plans I have for it.

K: Yes, those plans have been called into question by some of the Admiralstab and I can not ignore them. The news of the Maori's building quite large, if very slow, linienschiffens has brought the validity of an all schlachtkreuzer battleline into question.

L: I see. Well, your Majesty, thanks to your father we do have the two Kaiser Wilhelm II linienschiffens as well as the old French relic. However I'm convinced we could best the Maori if it comes to that with the schlachtkreuzers. Their speed allows so much more of a tactical advantage. We can select to engage or withdraw at out pleasure, and dictate the range of any engagement we choose.

K: Yes, I've read the reports and the recommendations and the theories and plans. But I've also seen the reports from our Hapsburg cousins of how little effect the Turk schlachtkreuzer had at Crete. The linienschiffens decided that battle. No, schlachtkreuzers are excellent for scouting and dispatching großerkreuzers and the like. They are not for deciding major battles between fleets, that job still belongs to the linienschiffens and I want MORE of them. And I WILL HAVE more of them, am I clear Admiral?

L: Ja, mein Kaiser. I will have the Reichsmarineamt  start on new designs right away.

K: That won't be necessary Admiral, the order has already been sent by the Großadmiral of the Kaiserliche Marine.

L: Your Majesty, am I to take it I've been removed from my position?

K: Yes, Admiral you have. You will be put in charge of the 1st Scouting Group of the Hochseeflotte with you flag aboard SMS Moltke.

L: If I may be so bold your Majesty, who has taken my position?

K: Friedrich von Ingenohl has, effective this morning.

L: Of course you Majesty. I will endeavor to regain your favor, for I feel I have failed you somehow.

K: Not me Allard, the Fatherland. The losses to the Swiss were hard to except as it was, but with the possibility of action against the Maori sooner or later a change had to be made. You may go now. I'll arrange for you personals to be sent to KWII. Have Hanz send for Admiral Ingenohl on your way out.

L: (Standing and salutes) Of course your Majesty.