Seeing the retreat of the US and Canadian fleets, Clarence did not ask for pursuit, but ordered the ships to step up the search and rescue of the soldiers who fell into the water. It's not that he doesn't want to pursue the victory, but that although the U.S. and Canadian navies have suffered a lot of losses, their main force is still there. The Mediterranean Fleet rushes forward. Even if the U.S. and Canadian fleets fight back desperately, they may not be able to win. . The reason why the Mediterranean Fleet was able to cause the U.S. and Canadian navies to make a big somersault with relatively small losses was entirely due to the advantages of weapons. And this advantage must be played at a certain distance. , if the two sides fall into a melee, it will be hard to say who will die in the end. Besides, the third mission of the Mediterranean Fleet is to lift the blockade of the US and Canadian navies on the Azores. Blocked by the U.S. and Canadian navies for several months, the ammunition and other materials on the archipelago have long been exhausted. In the entire Azores, only Terceira and Graciosa are still under the control of France, and the other islands are occupied by the US and Canadian Marines. If the Mediterranean Fleet cannot lift the blockade of the United States and Canada on the Azores as soon as possible, it will be a matter of time before the last two islands are occupied by the United States and Canada.

In the previous battle, the Mediterranean Fleet still achieved extraordinary results. During the fierce battle for several hours, they launched a total of 8 lightning strikes to the U.S. and Canadian fleets. In addition to those sunk by artillery fire, the U.S. and Canadian fleets lost a total of more than 40 warships, including two 'New York' class warships , 'South Carolina' class battleship 'Jefferson' was also severely damaged. The Mediterranean Fleet only lost 6 "Dolphin" class destroyers, 1 "Bayone" class destroyer and 1 "Hussar" class light cruiser, which can be described as brilliant results.

After the search and rescue work was completed, it was already evening, but in order to get to Terceira Island as soon as possible, Clarence ordered the fleet to turn around and sail towards the Azores.

Nothing happened overnight. At 9 a.m. on the 17th, the French Mediterranean Fleet appeared in the waters of the Azores, but what surprised them was that they did not even encounter a single American or Canadian warship during their journey, as if they had never encountered any warships in the Azores. The Sores blockade.

"Send warships to search the surrounding 50 nautical miles." Clarence ordered. He is really afraid of falling into the trap of the Americans, although the strength of the Mediterranean Fleet is no longer afraid of those traps. However, it is always good to be able to spot pitfalls early or avoid falling into them.

Following Clarence's order, more than 20 "Dolphin"-class destroyers, "Bayonet"-class destroyers, and "Light Cavalry"-class destroyers fanned out in all directions. More than two hours later, the ships telegraphed back that they had not encountered a single American or Canadian warship.

After receiving this information, Clarence understood that in order to reduce unnecessary losses, the U.S. and Canadian fleets had ordered the fleet blocking the Azores to retreat, and only more than 20,000 Marines remained on the Azores. It's just that they have now turned from offensive to defensive.

Indeed, after the failure on the 16th, Davis immediately and decisively issued an order to retreat to the US and Canadian fleets blocking Azov Island. He is very clear that the goal of the French Mediterranean Fleet is the Azores. Now, since the fleet led by him cannot defeat the French Mediterranean Fleet, it means that the US and Canadian navies have nothing to do with the French navy for the time being. And if the fleet blocking the Azores does not retreat, facing the internal and external attacks of the French Mediterranean Fleet and the Vasser Fleet, the result must be very tragic. Therefore, in order to preserve their strength, Davis forced those fleets to retreat overnight.

"Proceed to Terceira Island, contact General Wasser, and verify whether the news of the withdrawal of the US and Canadian fleets is true?" Clarence issued a new order.

Ten minutes later, they got a call back from Wasser. The Wasser Fleet also discovered the abnormality. After sending the fleet to confirm, it was confirmed that the US and Canadian fleets had left the waters of the Azores Islands. However, because they were afraid that it was a trap set by the enemy, they did not dare to send the fleet to further afield. reconnaissance. Now combined with the situation of the Mediterranean fleet, it can basically be confirmed that the US and Canadian fleets have retreated, and the blockade of the Azores has been lifted.

Under such circumstances, the Mediterranean Fleet began to boldly enter the waters of the Azores. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the Mediterranean Fleet finally arrived at the military port of Terceira Island. The various military materials carried by the warships began to be loaded and unloaded. This batch of materials can be said to have solved the urgent need of the Azores. But after all, warships are inferior to transport ships, and they simply cannot carry too much supplies. Therefore, Clarence immediately sent a report to the Admiralty, informing them that the crisis had been resolved, and the transport fleet that had been prepared in advance could set sail. But in order to avoid danger, the Mediterranean Fleet still sent a squadron to respond.

In the naval port of Terceira Island, what shocked Clarence the most was the main force of the Channel Fleet and the Atlantic Fleet, which were extremely powerful in the past. Now there are only about 30 severely damaged warships lingering in the military port. The demeanor of the world's number one naval power? Fortunately, the formation of the Mediterranean Fleet has been completed, otherwise, the French Navy would have suffered a complete defeat. At the same time, this also reflects the strength of the US and Canadian navies on the one hand. However, from now on, the French navy has come out of the trough. Although it cannot completely defeat the US and Canadian navies, it is not without the power to fight. The entire eastern Atlantic region will return to French hands.

Four days later, a convoy of eight transport ships arrived on Terceira Island, and they brought in 50,000 tons of urgently needed materials from the Azores. Not only can it guarantee the consumption of more than 10,000 French troops on Terceira Island and Graciosa Island, but it can also provide material support for the French army to counterattack other islands in the Azores. Now, there are about 20,000 American and Canadian marines stationed on other islands in the Azores. Of course, it is obviously impossible to counterattack the Azores with the current more than 10,000 French troops alone. The Ministry of the Navy has decided to send the 8th Marine Division to the Azores within a week to regain the Azores. The Wasser Fleet will also continue to stay in the Azores to provide fire support for the 8th Marine Division. Of course, Wasser will return to the Admiralty. As the deputy commander of the French Navy, his work is naturally very busy.

On the 23rd, the Mediterranean Fleet left the Azores and began cruising in the eastern Atlantic. At present, there is only such a fleet left in the French Navy, and their work is naturally very busy. This situation will probably have to wait until the formation of the next two fleets can be changed. The second fleet formed is the Atlantic Fleet, but their number of warships is much larger than that of the Mediterranean Fleet, so it takes a lot of time to form an army. It is estimated that it will not be completed until April next year at the latest. As for the remaining Strait Fleet, it is estimated that the time to become an army will have to wait until the year after next, that is, 1831.

On the same day, Davis returned to North America with the American and Canadian fleets. All the US fleets returned to their home ports to rest, and all the Canadian fleets also returned to Halifax. Of course, the warships patrolling the Atlantic are still at sea.

Davis returned to Washington on the 25th. But before he even returned home, he was summoned to the White House by President Adams. In the President's Office, there are not only Adams, but also Secretary of State Brandon, Chief of General Staff Zominsk, and the head of the Department of War, General Henry. The expressions of everyone were different. Among them, Adams and Brandon had a trace of worry on their faces, while Zominsk was full of anger, and Henry was a little gloating.

For this situation ~ lightnovelpub.net ~ Davis is not surprised, he seems to have expected this to happen. So he calmly sat on a sofa facing Henry.

"General Davis, I hope you can give me a reason. Why did you withdraw from the Azores without waiting for the order of the General Staff? Do you know what this means? It means that we will lose the entire east from now on." The Atlantic region even lost the chance to win the war." Chief of the US General Staff Zominsk said with a blushing face. At that time, Davis thought that the US General Staff had issued a request to retreat because the enemy was strong. But before he got an answer from the US General Staff, he had already issued an order to retreat, which created a fait accompli.

"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff. If I do not issue this order, I am afraid that our country and the Canadian fleet will suffer heavy losses. Perhaps, by that time, we will not voluntarily withdraw from the Azores, but flee in embarrassment under the pursuit of the French navy." The Azores." Davis said in a neutral manner, completely ignoring Zominsk's anger.

Zominsk wanted to say something more, but Adams held him back. Then he asked: "General Davis, is it true that the French navy has become so strong that even the combined Chinese and Canadian fleets are no match for them? As far as we know, the French navy currently has only one Mediterranean fleet. There are only more than 90 warships, not even a hundred. And you have more than 170 warships, almost twice as many as the other party."