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Text Chapter 294 How to deal with the aftermath

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    (Thanks to book friends Longhu Fishing Alone and Party Command Gun for the reward!)

    The United States received news of its defeat even earlier than China.  When Mahan's telegram was sent back to the U.S. Navy Department, it was in the early morning of September 17.  Theodore?  Roosevelt had been staying at the Navy Department, waiting for the latest battle report.  He knew that the battle would be over before dark in the sea where the battle took place, and he would be able to obtain specific battle reports.  However, he was very worried about what the result would be.

    When the hands on the clock pointed to 12:30 in the morning, Roosevelt made himself a cup of coffee to refresh himself.  No matter whether it is good news or bad news, tonight will be a sleepless night.

    "Your Excellency, General Mahan's urgent telegram!" When Roosevelt brewed the coffee and the rich aroma filled the office, his secretary rushed into his office.  Although the secretary didn't knock on the door this time, Roosevelt couldn't care less.

    "Is it good news or bad news?" Roosevelt asked quickly.  There was a hint of hope in his eyes.

    "Well, Mr. Minister, this is bad news!" the secretary said with some anxiety.

    "Okay, I get it, give me the telegram and prepare a car for me. I'm going to the White House!" Roosevelt said.  There was a trace of sadness in his eyes.  Unexpectedly, with all the strength of the U.S. Navy, it still couldn't defeat a fleet of the Chinese Navy, which made him very disappointed.

    "Yes, Your Excellency, Minister!" The secretary quickly handed the telegram to Roosevelt and then exited the office.

    "The 'Indiana' sank, the 'Iowa' sank, the 'Oregon' was captured, the 'Texas' sank, the 'Massachusetts' was severely damaged and has escaped (after the 'Massachusetts' escaped,  In addition, a telegram was sent to the Admiralty). In addition, eleven cruisers and fourteen destroyers were sunk. Vice Admiral Mahan and Vice Admiral Benson were captured! "Theodore?  Roosevelt, holding the telegram, read it slowly.  He did not expect that the losses would be so heavy. The main force of the U.S. Navy had been wiped out and it had lost the ability to fight again.  This made him, the actual person in charge of the Navy Department, feel very sad and disappointed.

    Theodore?  After Roosevelt read the telegram, he picked up the coffee on the table and drank it in one gulp.  The bitter coffee made him sober.  As a well-known American nationalist, he cannot be defeated so easily.  Although the Navy failed this time, they did not have no chance.  If you lose this time, just win it back next time.  Moreover, this failure can serve as a wake-up call for all Americans. Once the United States increases its investment in the navy, the final victory will definitely belong to the United States.

    Theodore?  Roosevelt put on his coat, got into his car, and, protected by a team of guards, drove to the White House.  The navy was defeated, so it was time for the government to step in and end this war.  The United States needs to start working hard to make a comeback.

    Theodore?  When Roosevelt arrived at the White House, President William?  McKinley did not sleep.  He also knew that today was a crucial day. Although he was in poor health, he still held on and waited for the outcome of the naval battle.  When Roosevelt rushed to the White House from the Navy Department, other major members of the United States also got the news and rushed to the White House one after another.  As everyone knows, it is time to discuss how to deal with the aftermath.

    "Your Excellency, President, I'm sorry, the Navy has failed to live up to your expectations, we have failed!" Theodore?  Roosevelt said.

    "Okay, Mr. Roosevelt. Although I very much hope that the Navy can win, I know that the Navy officers have tried their best. It doesn't matter if we fail this time, we have another chance. Next time, we will definitely be able to defeat those yellow men.  Monkey skin!" William?  President McKinley said.  Although, he knew that once the news of the navy's defeat spread, this government would be severely hit, and it would be almost impossible for him to seek re-election.

    "Yes, Your Excellency, the President. The navy has no power to fight anymore. So, what we need now is to end this conflict and not give the Chinese a chance. From the battle reports we have received, the Chinese navy only has two capital ships.  It was just severely damaged, but other warships can continue to fight. If we cannot reach an agreement with China quickly, once the Chinese Pacific Fleet moves eastward, it will be a huge threat to our west coast!" Roosevelt said.  Although the center of gravity of the United States is still on the Atlantic coast in the east, the Pacific coast in the west has developed rapidly. If the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet approaches the west coast of the United States, it will be enough to cause heavy damage to such an area.  Even if the Chinese navy does not launch an attack, panic alone is enough to make Americans flee the West Coast.

    "Huh!" William?  President McKinley nodded.  Obviously, the faster it is to reach an agreement with the Chinese, the more beneficial it will be. However, he is also worried that China will take advantage of the opportunity.The lion opens its mouth to blackmail the United States.  After all, in this naval battle, the US Navy launched the attack first.  Although China has not declared war on the United States, China is now the winner of the naval battle and will definitely take this opportunity to threaten the United States.  If the United States does not agree, China may even declare war on the United States and further expand the war.  The navy has failed, and the United States has no chance of defeating China.

    Soon, other cabinet members also rushed to the White House, including Vice President Garrett?  Hobart, Secretary John?  Sherman, Treasury Secretary Lyman?  J?  Gage, Secretary of War Russell?  A?  Alger.  However, everyone's expressions were a little ugly. As the top leaders of the US government, it was very difficult for them to accept failure.

    "Everyone, everyone already knows the result of the naval battle! Because the gap between us and the Chinese is too big, this naval battle will inevitably suffer failure. Now, what should we do? Everyone talks about their own  What do you think?" William?  President McKinley said, in his words, for Theodore?  Roosevelt excused himself. He knew that Roosevelt was a responsible Secretary of the Navy, and the revitalization of the U.S. Navy needed to be led by a talented person like Roosevelt.

    "Your Excellency, now that we have failed, the Navy no longer has the strength to fight again. We should contact China immediately to clarify the misunderstanding with them in order to end this military conflict!" Vice President Garrett?  Hobart said.

    William?  McKinley nodded, and then said: "There is no doubt that this is the most important thing. However, I am afraid that China will not easily agree to our request. They will definitely take the opportunity to blackmail us. The Sino-Japanese War two years ago  , wasn¡¯t the small country of Japan extorted by China for a total of 200 million pounds? And we are much richer than Japan. In the eyes of the Chinese, we must have been regarded as fat sheep!¡± President McKinley¡¯s worries also  Not without reason.  In fact, China has exactly this plan.  It's just that taking into account the opposition of the Western powers, a relatively low bottom line was set.  Of course, in Wang Yuze's mind, this was only the first war with the United States.  China is unable to fully reap the benefits due to its national strength.  However, when China's strength rises next time, if the United States is defeated again in the next war, China will not be merciful.

    "Your Excellency, we can pay an appropriate price, but not too much!" Secretary of War Russell?  A?  Alger also said.

    "Your Excellency, we can contact Britain and France. They will not sit back and watch us be weakened. Now in the entire Far East and Pacific region, China has become the target of public criticism. No country with huge interests in the Far East and Pacific region will watch.  China is getting stronger and stronger! So, we still have a chance!" Secretary of State John?  Sherman said.

    "Okay! Let the Ambassador to China, Mr. Tian Bei, contact the Chinese side! Please invite the British and French ambassadors to China to participate. If the Chinese conditions are not too harsh, we will agree to them!" William?  President McKinley said.

    "Your Excellency, we cannot place all hope on negotiations. We must strengthen our own defense. The Army has begun recruiting troops and plans to expand the size of the Army to 200,000 people so that if the Chinese attempt to land in the United States, we will also  Will you be able to protect yourself!" Secretary of War Russell?  A?  Alger said.

    "Okay!" William?  President McKinley nodded.

    "However, I need financial funding, sufficient financial funding. The Army lacks rifles, machine guns, artillery, everything!" Secretary of War Russell?  A?  Alger said.

    "Okay, I will talk to Congress and do my best to meet your requirements!" William?  President McKinley promised.

    "Your Excellency, the Navy also plans to build 'Maine-class' and 'Virginia-class' battleships, including three 'Maine-class' and five 'Virginia'-class battleships. If funding is timely, it would be best to start construction this year.  In this case, with accelerated construction, our eight warships will be able to serve in two to three years!" Theodore?  Roosevelt said.  During the naval battle with the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet, he deeply realized that the performance of naval warships was too poor, which was the most important reason why the U.S. Navy lost the war.

    William?  President McKinley hesitated. Eight new battleships would cost at least tens of millions of dollars, which was a huge sum for the United States.  Moreover, at this time, we are facing blackmail from China again, and our finances are really overwhelmed.  But William?  McKinley also knew that if the Navy did not build new battleships, the United States would never have a chance to avenge its shame.

    "I will make a statement to Congress and try to get funding!" William?  President McKinley said.

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