Chapter 754: U.S. Interference

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In the battle of El Salto, the squadron inflicted heavy losses on Mexican government forces at a small cost. Mexican War Minister Cal Perez fled for his life with tens of thousands of remnants of the Mexican government army.

After learning the combat effectiveness of the Mexican government army, the commanders of the squadron were relieved. If the Mexican government forces only have such a small amount of combat effectiveness, it will not be difficult to defeat them.

On 10 January, the squadron advanced eastward, capturing Durango. After that, head south along the road and quickly approach Mexico City. And the rebel army led by Pancho Villa also followed behind the squadron to pick up the bargain. Many of the captured government soldiers joined the rebels. At the same time, with the Chinese side providing weapons, the number of rebels is also rising sharply.

By the time the squadron captured San Luis Potosí on 22 January, the rebel army had grown to 120,000 men. Of course, these rebel armies are extremely wasted in combat, and at most they can only deal with some cavalry patrols. The strength of the Mexican government army has also been almost exhausted in the wars one after another. It was only a matter of time before the Díaz government was overthrown.

The Mexican bourgeoisie, as well as the fact that the Díaz government was doomed, took the initiative to approach the Chinese side and was willing to help the squadron march to Mexico City. Hope for a bourgeois government in Mexico! The Chinese side is also very happy about the Mexican bourgeoisie's initiative to move closer. China does not mind whether the bourgeoisie will rule or the leaders of the peasant insurrectionary armies will rule in the future.

Internationally, most countries are blaming China for sending troops into Mexico. Only a handful of countries have expressed opposition to the wanton massacre of civilians by Mexican government forces. The United States, on which Díaz has always pinned high hopes, has been silent except for some accusations against China, which is a bit confusing. Are the Americans really going to watch China get Mexico? Once China occupies Mexico, the Americans should be very clear about what kind of threat it will pose to the United States.

On January 23, Mexican Foreign Minister Curtis, who had been in the United States, finally met with US Secretary of State John Hay. The United States does not have the post of foreign minister. Foreign affairs have always been the direct responsibility of the Secretary of State.

"Your Excellency, the Chinese are invading Mexico, and we are about to run out of ideas, if the United States does not help us. Then we will definitely be overthrown by the Chinese! Mexican Foreign Minister Curtis said anxiously. These days, Mexican President Díaz has been sending him telegrams, urging him to quickly persuade the Americans to send troops to Mexico to help Mexico resist the invasion of the Chinese. However, these days he has not seen the top of the United States, and the Americans seem to be deliberately avoiding him.

"Your Excellency Curtis, for this kind of behavior of the Chinese invasion of Mexico. The United States is very dissatisfied. However, you should be very aware that China is a world power, even if it is the United States. There is no guarantee that China will be defeated. Therefore, we must be cautious! U.S. Secretary of State John Hay said. In fact, the U.S. Cabinet is critical on whether to send troops to help Mexico. There was also no agreement. The United States has been defeated twice by China, which has made the top level of the United States have a certain fear of China. Quite a few members of the U.S. Cabinet. They all do not agree to fight China for the sake of a Mexico.

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt advocated that the U.S. should defend Mexico with all its might, but many members of the cabinet were against it, and he needed to convince everyone to do so. So, it has been so many days since China invaded Mexico, and the US government has not yet agreed!

"So, Your Excellency, when will the U.S. government be able to send troops to help Mexico? The Chinese and the rebels have colluded and are marching on our capital, and we can resist for a month at most. I also ask the U.S. government to send troops to help us as much as possible. Your Excellency the Secretary of State also knows that if Mexico falls to China, the vast fortress complex that the United States has built on the West Coast will be completely useless. The Chinese can drive straight from Mexico and attack the hinterland of the United States! Curtis said. His meaning is very obvious, if the Díaz government is overthrown, then the United States will also be unlucky.

"Don't worry, Mr. Curtis, the Chinese's conspiracy will not succeed!" U.S. Secretary of State John Hay affirmed.

After listening to John Hay's words, Curtis smiled happily.

That evening, US President Theodore Roosevelt convened an emergency meeting at the White House to deal with the current complex and dangerous situation!

"Gentlemen, the situation is now very critical, the Chinese are marching towards Mexico City, and our old friend Dias cannot resist the attack of the Chinese. Once the Chinese overthrow Diaz's rule, it is predictable that they will inevitably prop up a pro-Chinese government. When the time comes, we in the United States will be under a very big threat! We, the United States, can't sit idly by! The Chinese have always wanted to destroy us, and from the very beginning, they occupied the Hawaiian Islands, which were originally ours, and then fought two wars, defeated us, and made us pay a terrible price. After thinking about it for a while, I finally knew the intentions of the Chinese. The intention of the Chinese is to constantly weaken us, hinder our development, and eventually destroy us. The Chinese emperor, that young man, was very powerful. He has long seen that the United States is China's biggest enemy in world hegemony. Now, by invading Mexico, they are preparing for the destruction of the United States. Therefore, we must defend Mexico, and this is also the defense of the United States! President Theodore Roosevelt said heavily.

"Your Excellency, you are too alarmist! The Chinese emperor is only in his early thirties. Was he able to start laying out a few years ago? Although the Chinese have great ambitions, it is impossible to destroy the United States. The industrial power of the United States is now growing rapidly. We need to seize this golden time to accelerate the development of American industry, and once American industry reaches a new level, we will be able to easily resist the invasion of the Chinese, and even destroy China! Said the Minister of Commerce and Labor, George B. Kotliu. He is the spokesman of the big American capitalists in the cabinet, and the American capitalists are not willing to go to war now. In the years since the end of the war, the US economy has been in a state of rapid development, and if a war breaks out with the Chinese, whether it is won or lost, it will have a severe impact on the US economy. Therefore, the capitalists did not agree to confront China in Mexico. And the Minister of Commerce and Labor, George B. Kotlieu, faithfully carried out the orders of the big bourgeoisie.

"Mr. Kotliu, once the Chinese occupy Mexico, they will be able to attack our hinterland directly from northern Mexico, and the fortifications we built on the west coast at great cost will all become decorations!" This was stated by the Minister of War Eli Huruth.

"Is it not enough for the mighty army of the United States of America to defend his safety? If this is the case, how can this reassure the majority of taxpayers? Agriculture Secretary James Wilson said.

"Mr. Wilson, though he doesn't want to admit it. However, I have to say that both in the navy and in the army, the Chinese are far stronger than us. If Mexico falls into the hands of the Chinese. Well, we in the United States are in danger! Secretary of the Navy William Henry Moody also said. The U.S. Navy is already frantically building new battleships, albeit in number, even surpassing the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet. However, a naval battle in the Mediterranean once again made the Americans understand that even if they have a numerical advantage, the gap with the Chinese Navy in terms of quality is still very large. If the U.S. Navy wants to defeat the Chinese Navy, it must build more and better new battleships!

"Gentlemen, for the sake of the United States, we must curb the ambitions of the Chinese in the Americas. We are speeding up the construction of the Panama Canal, but the Chinese have built a naval base in Colombia, apparently to guard against us. I am sure that the next time a war breaks out, the Chinese will be the first to attack. Therefore, we must defend the United States to the best of our ability! To defend Mexico is to encircle the United States. Now, I need everyone's support! President Theodore Roosevelt said sincerely.

"Your Excellency, I support your decision. China is the great enemy of the United States, and we must guard against China! Secretary of State John Hay was the first to agree.

"I support the rescue of Mexico!" This was also stated by the Minister of War Eli Hurut.

"I agree with Your Excellency the President!" Secretary of the Navy William Henry Moody also said.

Subsequently, Treasury Secretary L.M. Shaw, Attorney General Filand C Knox, Postmaster Henry C. Payne, and Interior Secretary Ethan A. Hichcock, all expressed their support for President Theodore Roosevelt. Only Secretary of Commerce and Labor George B Cottlieu and Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson were left in the hard top.

It's just that the vast majority of the cabinet members have already supported President Theodore Roosevelt's decision, and if the two of them oppose it again, it will be a bit too much to say. Therefore, at the last moment, the two men nevertheless expressed their support for Theodore Roosevelt's decision.

Theodore Roosevelt, who had received the approval of the entire cabinet, immediately ordered the War Department to come up with a battle plan and prepare to enter Mexico to help the Mexican government quell the rebellion!