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Text Chapter 958: Delaying the Chinese

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    Even though the US military adopted the despicable method of undeclared war last year and gained the initiative on the battlefield, it almost wiped out all the troops deployed by the Chinese Army's Sixth Group Army in Mexico.  In the end, the success fell short because of the timely arrival of the Chinese Navy.  The reason why the United States did this was because it saw the gap with China and wanted to buy more time for the United States.

    Because the United States knows that once China completes its war preparations and then launches an attack on the United States first, the U.S. military will simply not be able to resist it.  Therefore, they can only strike first.

    The U.S. government fully believed that their frontline troops could hold on for a long time, but they did not expect that just one month after China launched its attack, the Sierra Madre del Sur that the U.S. military had painstakingly constructed was about to be breached.  The U.S. military's current war preparations have not yet been fully completed, and the U.S. military's greatest war potential has not yet reached its peak.

    Therefore, President Taft asked General Pershing to drag the Chinese army in Mexico as much as possible to buy more time for the United States.  It takes time to train new recruits, it takes time to use normal rifles and cannons, and it also takes time to jointly develop fighter jets with Britain and France!  This time can only be obtained by holding back the Chinese army on the battlefield.

    "Yes, Mr. President, I will explain the situation to General Pershing. The Department of War will also give General Pershing its greatest support!" said Secretary of War Jacob Mt. Dickinson.

    "In addition, Your Excellency, I hope the Navy can cooperate with us. Why hasn't the West Coast Fleet launched an attack on the Chinese sea lines of communication so far? A steady stream of Chinese troops and various combat supplies are still arriving in Mexico. This gives  There is a lot of pressure on the front line. If the West Coast Fleet can cut off the Chinese's sea lines of communication, even if it cannot cut off, even if it severely damages the Chinese's sea lines of communication, the pressure on the front line will be much less!" Secretary of War Jacob Mt Dickinson said some  He said displeasedly.  He had raised this issue at the previous meeting, and with the intervention of President Taft, Secretary of the Navy George.  Feng.  Lengerke.  Meyer personally promised that arrangements would be made.  But so far, the West Coast Fleet seems to have not played any role at all!

    Everyone¡¯s eyes were focused on the face of Navy Secretary Meyer. After Secretary of War Dickinson said this, everyone seemed to think that the Army¡¯s failure in Mexico seemed to have a lot to do with the Navy¡¯s inaction.  President Taft even frowned. Although there are also great conflicts between the U.S. Army and Navy.  Before the war began, the main military expenditures of the United States were spent on the construction of the navy. This was mainly due to the geographical conditions of the United States.  There are no powerful countries around the United States. As long as there is a powerful navy guarding the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the security of the United States will be guaranteed.  It was only after China occupied Hawaii and stationed troops in Mexico that the United States began to strengthen its army.  This has allowed the funds originally tilted towards the navy to slowly return to balance.  But if such reasons cause irreconcilable conflicts between the army and the navy, and even affect the progress of the war, then President Taft will not agree.

    "Your Excellency, Secretary Dickinson, I have already given orders to the commander of the West Coast Fleet, Lieutenant General Robert Koontz, and the West Coast Fleet has already made several attempts." Minister Meyer said with an ugly expression.

    "Then why are the Chinese maritime lines of communication still open?" Minister Dickinson said contemptuously.

    "Now the Chinese Home Fleet and Pacific Fleet are all gathered in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. This is equivalent to the Chinese having invested 80% of their main naval force in the Eastern Pacific. As for our West Coast Fleet, the largest warships are only a few dozen  A newly commissioned Philadelphia-class heavy cruiser. The remaining fighters are all light cruisers and destroyers. Although they are large in number, they have no power to fight back in front of the Chinese Navy's main fleet. Now, the Chinese Navy's main fleet  It has blocked the San Diego Naval Base on the West Coast and major ports such as San Francisco.

    If our warships go to sea, they will be besieged.  In order to raid the Chinese sea lines of communication, the West Coast Fleet has made three attempts but none of them succeeded.  So far, the West Coast Fleet has lost five light cruisers and seven destroyers.  There were thousands of officers and soldiers killed in battle!  Minister Meyer said angrily.

    President Taft¡¯s frown relaxed a little. Secretary Meyer¡¯s words at least proved that the U.S. Navy¡¯s West Coast Fleet was not inactive.  It's just that the enemy is too powerful and there's nothing they can do!

    "Minister Meyer, where are the Navy's submarines? Why aren't the submarine forces dispatched? The Chinese have too many surface ships. The surface ships of the West Coast Fleet cannot break through the Chinese blockade, but submarines can always break through from underwater, right?"  Minister Kanamori asked.  Minister Dison, we do have submarines, but due to technical limitations, these submarinesThey are all just offshore submarines, capable of operating up to three to four hundred nautical miles away.  The Chinese sea lines of communication are thousands of nautical miles away from the coast.  Our submarines simply cannot sail to such far seas, let alone fight!  "Secretary Meyer said. Although, the US military has also thought of many other ways to convert some merchant ships into ships that can supply submarines, and then let these merchant ships fly the flag of a neutral country and cruise in the Eastern Pacific to provide support for the U.S. Navy.  Submarines provide supplies. However, the modification of these merchant ships also takes time and cannot be completed in a short time. Therefore, Dickinson¡¯s attempt to shift the responsibility for the defeat in the Mexican battlefield to the Navy is a problem for Secretary Meyer  Absolutely unacceptable!

    President Taft was silent for a few seconds, and then said: "Well, let's end this matter! However, Secretary Meyer, although it is very difficult for the West Coast Fleet to attack the Chinese sea lines of communication, I hope  They can overcome these difficulties. After all, this war in Mexico will be directly related to the life and death of the United States. If we cannot keep the Chinese in Mexico, the Chinese will enter the United States. This is for us  , will be a disaster. Therefore, I hope that the West Coast Fleet can launch an attack on the Chinese sea lines of communication as soon as possible. This is the main mission and even the meaning of existence of the West Coast Fleet. In addition, tell Lieutenant General Robert Koontz that if he  If you are unable to lead the West Coast Fleet to complete this task, I think there are other generals in the U.S. Navy who can complete this task!"

    U.S. Navy Secretary Meyer¡¯s face froze, but he still nodded. Although President Taft did not hold the Navy accountable, he was obviously very dissatisfied with the inaction of the Navy, especially the West Coast Fleet.  If the West Coast Fleet cannot achieve results in a short period of time, President Taft will definitely take corresponding measures.  Replacing the commander of the West Coast Fleet is undoubtedly a good way.  Moreover, President Taft's intention is also very obvious. Attacking the Chinese sea lines of communication is the meaning of the existence of the West Coast Fleet.  This shows that even if all the west coast fleet is exhausted, as long as it can pose a threat to the Chinese sea lines of communication, it will be worthwhile.

    "Don't worry, President, I will communicate with Lieutenant General Robert Koontz. The U.S. Navy will not let the government down!" Secretary Meyer said.  In this situation, he had no other choice.

    "That's great! How is the construction of our Pennsylvania-class battleships going?" President Taft said.  What he is most concerned about is the construction of this class of advanced battleships.  Now the United States already knows that the Chinese Navy has only four Tang-class battleships. This means that once the six Pennsylvania-class battleships of the U.S. Navy enter service, the U.S. fleet will have a great chance of defeating the Chinese Navy.  This is also where America's hope lies.

    "Your Excellency, the progress of the Pennsylvania class battleship is very smooth. The first ship, Pennsylvania, will undergo sea trials in April. The subsequent five battleships will also be completed in the first half of this year and begin sea trials.  All of them can be put into service in September or October half a year!" Minister Meyer said.

    "Very good, but what about the Chinese people's movements? How long will it take for them to repair the Panama Canal?" President Taft asked.  Once China repairs the Panama Canal, it will be time for the main fleet of the Chinese Navy to enter the Atlantic Ocean and engage in a decisive battle with the US Navy.

    "Your Excellency, based on the intelligence we have received, the Chinese will not repair the Panama Canal before the beginning of next year, so we still have enough time!" Secretary Meyer said.  By the second half of next year, the 'Pennsylvania class' and subsequent improved fighters of the battleship will be able to enter service.  Therefore, Secretary Meyer is still very confident in defeating the Chinese Navy.

    President Taft was very satisfied with Secretary Meyer¡¯s answer.  The reason why we took the lead in launching the attack on China was to buy enough time for the navy.  Now, although there are some errors, the overall progress is still in accordance with the original expectations of the US government.  As long as the U.S. Navy can defeat the Chinese Navy, there will be no doubt that the United States will defeat China and win this war.

    Of course, all this has a premise, that is, the U.S. Army can keep the Chinese army out of the United States. If the Chinese army invades the United States, it may not be that easy for the United States to win the war, or  You need to pay a higher price!
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