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Even though the U.S. military adopted despicable means of undeclared war last year, gained the initiative on the battlefield, and almost wiped out the troops deployed by the Sixth Army of the Chinese Army in Mexico. In the end, because of the timely arrival of the Chinese Navy, it fell short. The reason why the United States is doing this is precisely because it sees the gap between it and China, and wants to buy more time for the United States. Because the United States knows that once China completes its preparations for war and then launches the first attack on the United States, the US military will not be able to resist it. Therefore, they can only strike first.

The U.S. government was full of expectations that their front-line troops would be able to hold out for a long time, but they did not expect that it would only be a month since China launched its attack, and the Sierra Madre do Sur, which the U.S. military had painstakingly built, was about to be breached. However, the US military's current war preparations have not yet been completely completed, and the US military's greatest war potential has not yet been brought into full play.

That's why President Taft asked Admiral Pershing to drag the squadron in Mexico as much as possible to buy more time for the United States. It takes time to train recruits, it takes time to train normal rifles and artillery, and it takes time to develop fighters jointly with Britain and France! And these time, it is possible to gain only by dragging the squadron on the battlefield.

"Yes, Your Excellency, I will explain the situation to Admiral Pershing. The War Department will also give Admiral Pershing the greatest support! Secretary of War Jacob M Dickinson said.

"Also, Your Excellency, I hope that the Navy will cooperate with us. Why has the West Coast Fleet not launched a strike on the sea lines of communication of the Chinese until now? A steady stream of squadrons and various combat materials are still arriving in Mexico, which puts a lot of pressure on the front line. If the West Coast Fleet can cut off the sea lines of communication of the Chinese, even if it cannot do so, even if it severely damages the sea lines of communication of the Chinese. The pressure on the front line will also be much less! Secretary of War Jacob M. Dickinson said with some displeasure. He had already raised the issue at the last meeting, and with the intervention of President Taft, Secretary of the Navy George von Lengelkemeyer personally promised that arrangements would be made. But so far, it seems that the West Coast Fleet has not played a role at all!

All eyes were on Secretary of the Navy Meyer's face, and after Secretary of War Dickinson said this, everyone seemed to think that the Army's failure in Mexico also seemed to have a lot to do with the Navy's inaction. President Taft frowned even more. Although there are also great contradictions between the US Army and Navy. Before the start of the war, the main military expenditure of the United States was spent on the construction of the navy, which was mainly inseparable from the geographical conditions of the United States. There are no powerful countries around the United States, and as long as there is a strong navy to defend the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the security of the United States will be guaranteed. It's just that China occupied Hawaii. And only after the stationing of troops in Mexico did the United States begin to strengthen the construction of the army. As a result, the funds that had been tilted towards the navy were slowly restored to balance. But if there are irreconcilable contradictions between the army and navy for such reasons, and even affect the progress of the war, then President Taft will not agree.

"Your Excellency, Secretary Dickinson, I have long given the order to Vice Admiral Robert Koontz, commander of the West Coast Fleet. And the West Coast Fleet has already made several attempts. Minister Meyer said with an ugly face.

"Then why are the Chinese's sea lines of communication still unimpeded?" Minister Dickinson said contemptuously.

"Now the Chinese's Turkish Fleet and Pacific Fleet are all gathered in the waters of the East Pacific, which means that the Chinese have invested 80 percent of their main naval forces in the East Pacific. And the largest warships of our West Coast Fleet are only a few 'Philadelphia-class' heavy cruisers that have just been commissioned. The remaining warplanes were all light cruisers and destroyers, albeit in large numbers. But in the face of the main fleet of the Chinese Navy, Gen had no power to fight back. Now the main fleet of the Chinese Navy has blocked the San Diego Naval Base on the west coast, as well as major ports such as San Francisco, if our warships go to sea. They will be besieged. In order to raid the sea lines of communication of the Chinese, the West Coast Fleet has already made three attempts. But none of them succeeded. By now, the West Coast Fleet has lost five light cruisers and seven destroyers. How many officers and soldiers were killed in battle! Minister Meyer said angrily.

President Taft's frown furrowed slightly, and 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 strong, and they can't do anything about it!

"Minister Meyer, what about the Navy's submarines? Why didn't the submarine forces go out? The Chinese have too many surface ships, and the surface ships of the West Coast Fleet cannot break through the blockade of the Chinese, but submarines can always break through from under the water, right? Secretary Dickinson asked.

"Secretary Dickinson, we have submarines, but due to technical limitations, these submarines are just offshore submarines, and they can go out to fight in the sea area at most three or four hundred nautical miles. And the Chinese's sea lines of communication are thousands of nautical miles from the coast. Our submarines will not be able to sail to such a far sea, let alone fight! Minister Meyer said. Although, the U.S. military has also thought of many other methods, converting some merchant ships into ships that can supply submarines, and then letting these merchant ships fly the flag of neutral countries and cruise in the eastern Pacific Ocean to provide supplies for the U.S. Navy's submarines. However, the modification of these merchant ships also takes time, and it cannot be completed in a short time. Therefore, Dickinson's attempt to put the responsibility for the defeat on the battlefield in Mexico on the head of the Navy is absolutely unacceptable to Secretary Meyer!

President Taft was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Well, that's the end of it!" However, Secretary Meyer, although it is very difficult for the West Coast Fleet to attack the Chinese's sea lines of communication, I hope that they will be able to overcome these difficulties. After all, this war in Mexico will be directly related to the survival of the United States. If we can't keep the Chinese in Mexico, the Chinese will go to American soil. This would be a disaster for us. Therefore, I hope that the West Coast Fleet will be able to launch an attack on the Chinese sea lines of communication as much as possible, which is the main task of the West Coast Fleet and even the significance of its existence. Also, tell Vice Admiral Robert Koontz that if he can't lead the West Coast Fleet to accomplish this task, I think there are other generals in the U.S. Navy who can accomplish this task! ”

U.S. Secretary of the Navy Meyer's face froze, but he still nodded, although President Taft did not hold the Navy responsible, he was obviously very dissatisfied with the inaction of the Navy, especially the West Coast Fleet. If the West Coast Fleet is unable to produce results in a short period of time, President Taft will certainly take appropriate measures. Replacing the commander of the West Coast Fleet is undoubtedly a good idea. Moreover, President Taft's meaning is also very obvious, attacking the sea lines of communication of the Chinese is already the meaning of the West Coast Fleet. This shows that even if the West Coast Fleet is completely exhausted, as long as it can pose a threat to the Chinese's sea lines of communication, it will be worth it.

"Your Excellency, please rest assured, I will communicate with Lieutenant General Robert Koontz. The U.S. Navy will not disappoint the government once it comes! Minister Meyer said. In this situation, he had no other choice.

"That's good! How are our 'Pennsylvania-class' battleships being built? President Taft said. He was most concerned about the construction of advanced battleships of this class. Now the United States already knows that the Chinese Navy has only four 'Tang-class' battleships, which means that once the six 'Pennsylvania-class' battleships of the US Navy are commissioned, the US fleet will have a very good chance of defeating the Chinese Navy. This is where the hope lies for the United States.

"Your Excellency the President, the progress of the 'Pennsylvania-class' battleships is very smooth, the first ship 'Pennsylvania' will undergo sea trials in April, and the next five battleships will also complete the route in the first half of this year, start sea trials, and by September or October in the second half of the year, they will all be able to be put into service!" Minister Meyer said.

"Very good, but what about the movements of the Chinese? How long will it take for them to be able 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 U.S. Navy.

"Your Excellency, according to the information we have received, the Chinese should not want to repair the Panama Canal before the beginning of next year, so we still have enough time!" Minister Meyer said. By the second half of next year, the subsequent improved fighters of the Pennsylvania-class battleships will be able to enter service. Therefore, Minister Meyer is still very confident in defeating the Chinese Navy.

President Taft was very pleased with Secretary Meyer's answer. The reason why it took the lead in launching an attack on China in the first place was to buy enough time for the navy. Now, although there are some errors, the overall situation is still as expected by the US government. As long as the U.S. Navy can defeat the Chinese Navy, then there will be no doubt that the United States will defeat China and win the war.

Of course, this qiē has a premise, that is, the U.S. Army can keep the squadron out of the territory of the United States, and if the squadron invades the United States, the United States will not be so easy to win the war, or it will need to pay a greater price!