If Lion made the route to Constantinople too dangerous, Goeben could seek shelter with Austria-Hungary in the Adriatic. She would be the fastest major capital ship in that theatre and powerful enough to overwhelm Italian pre-dreadnoughts. Raids against Italian ports could resemble those against Hartlepool and Scarborough. In this scenario, the threat brings Italy into the war against Germany and Austria-Hungary earlier. Greece might also join the Allied side. A wider coalition including Italy would make Ottoman intervention alongside Germany still more dangerous.
Chapter · 1:48:02-1:52:11
Goeben in the Adriatic: raids and an earlier Italian intervention
Seeking Austro-Hungarian shelter could give Goeben a new raiding role while drawing Italy into the war earlier and discouraging Ottoman intervention.