Chapter 0642: The French's Helplessness

Southern France, Toulouse. This had now become the temporary seat of the French government. Initially, the French government had moved to Bordeaux, but when German warships appeared in the nearby waters, the high-ranking officials of the French government fled in a panic, much like startled birds scattering from the trees, rushing immediately to Toulouse. 

Toulouse was the last major city in southern France. If it too fell under threat, the French government would have no choice but to retreat further south, crossing the Pyrenees and seeking refuge in Spain. However, in that case, could the French government still be considered the French government? It would be little more than a government in exile. Moreover, it was doubtful whether the Spanish government would even dare to accept the French fugitives. Given that Germany seemed poised to win the world war, would Spain risk its own destruction by helping the French?

The Town Hall of Toulouse had become the makeshift office of the French government. As more and more territories fell into German hands, and more of their military was scattered by the advancing German forces, France was barely hanging on, struggling to survive. How much longer they could endure was anyone's guess.

The French government clung to the hope of a decisive naval battle between the Combined Fleet and the German Navy. If the Combined Fleet were victorious, there would be a glimmer of hope. But if they were defeated, there would be no reason left for further resistance.

In President Poincaré's office, the ministers and high-ranking officials gathered, anxiously awaiting news from the battle at sea. After waiting for an entire day, they were all exhausted, yet none of them had given up. The most they had done was smoke a few extra cigars or sip another cup of strong coffee.

"Minister of the Navy, do we have any news?" President Poincaré asked, perhaps having lost count of how many times he had posed the question.

"Mr. President, there is still no word. However, it is nearing evening now, and the battle should soon come to a close," replied Minister Victor Gagnoul.

President Poincaré nodded, "Do we stand a chance?"

"Mr. President, I fear the chances are slim. Although our three nations combined have formed a fleet rivaling Germany's in strength, it is not simply the number of ships that can defeat the Germans. Our ships' performance and the quality of our naval personnel are no match for the German Navy. The British Navy's elite officers, those who survived the earlier battles, have been nearly wiped out. The men we have now are far less capable," Minister Gagnoul responded.

Sighing deeply, President Poincaré murmured, "May God protect the French Republic."

The French government was indeed in a helpless position. Their performance in this war had been dismal from the start. On the battlefield, they could not withstand the German onslaught and had been forced to retreat, trading space for time. Now, all they could do was wait for the outcome of the naval battle. They had pinned all their hopes on it. If the battle was won, they would still have a chance. But if the Combined Fleet were defeated, surrender would be inevitable.

The outcome of the naval battle was now critical to France's survival. It would determine the next steps for the government, and the ministers were both hopeful and anxious. They hoped the Combined Fleet could perform a miracle and defeat the German Navy, but deep down, they feared the inevitable—defeat.

Of course, defeat was the more likely outcome. The disparity in strength between the two sides was far too great, and placing their hopes on a miracle was not a realistic expectation.

Half an hour later, a naval officer entered the room, his face grave.

"Has there been any result?" President Poincaré immediately asked.

All eyes in the room turned to the officer.

"Mr. President, the Combined Fleet has been defeated. All of our main ships have either been sunk or captured by the Germans. The damage we inflicted on the Germans was minimal," the officer reported.

"Defeated? So, it has happened…" President Poincaré sank back into his chair, the hope in his heart now completely shattered. 

At the same time, however, Poincaré felt a strange sense of relief. With this news, at least he could abandon the futile hope that had been lingering.

The other ministers began to murmur amongst themselves, their faces reflecting a deep sense of despondency. Though the defeat of the Combined Fleet was not entirely unexpected, it was still a bitter pill to swallow. After the fleet's loss, the French government had only one path left to take.

"Mr. President, it seems we can no longer reverse the course of this war. With the defeat of the Combined Fleet, our last hope has been shattered," Prime Minister René Viviani said.

President Poincaré nodded solemnly. "We had placed our hopes on the Combined Fleet, hoping it could work a miracle and defeat the German Navy. But now, it is clear that such hopes were nothing more than a pipe dream."

"Gentlemen, the most difficult moment in the history of the French Republic has arrived. What should we do now?" President Poincaré asked, looking at the officials.

But none of the officials spoke. They all kept their heads down in silence. Wasn't the answer already clear? Any further discussion was futile.

"Mr. President, with the defeat of the Navy and the Army unable to stop the German advance, the Germans continue to push south. We are powerless to stop them. This war has already dragged on for far too long, and we have paid a heavy price. Since victory is no longer possible, perhaps it is best to end the war now. At least, this would minimize further losses," suggested Foreign Minister Théophile Delcassé.

"Yes, Mr. President. We have no other choice. The Army has been repeatedly defeated by the Germans, and now many of the Army's soldiers have lost the will to fight. Every time the Germans open fire, our troops flee in disarray. At this rate, it won't be long before the Germans reach Toulouse. All of France will fall under German control," said Minister of War Alexandre Millerand.

The elite forces of the French Army had long since been wiped out. Now, the troops were mainly made up of fresh recruits, lacking the experience and morale to continue the fight. They were already terrified by the relentless onslaught of the Germans.