Chapter 278: War or Peace (Ask for Subscription)

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"Gentlemen, Mr. Stevens has sent home the forces of the Chinese Fleet that have arrived in the Pacific, including two battleships, four capital ships of the second class, four light cruisers, six destroyers, and 20 transport and supply ships. It mainly includes two 'plateau-class' battleships, 'Plateau' and 'Qinghai'. Four 'Chengdu-class' second-class capital ships, 'Chengdu', 'Chongqing', 'Kangding' and 'Lhasa'. Four "Leshan-class" light cruisers 'Panzhihua', 'Guangyuan', 'Bazhong' and 'Zigong'. So, does our Navy have the ability to defeat this Chinese fleet? "William? President McKinley asked.

After receiving the U.S. Minister to Hawaii, John? After Stevens' telegram, William? McKinley urgently summoned Vice President Garrett? Hobart, Secretary of State John? Sherman, Treasury Secretary Lehmann? j？ Gage, Secretary of War Russell? a？ Alger and Deputy Admiralty Theodore? Roosevelt, and Colonel Mahan, author of "On Sea Power," were also invited.

In William? After President McKinley asked, everyone's eyes were on Theodore? Roosevelt, the de facto head of the US Department of the Navy.

"Your Excellency, gentlemen, I have to admit that the fleet of the Chinese Navy stationed in Hawaii is very powerful, and their 'plateau-class' battleships are actually an improved version of the British 'Sovereign-class' battleships, with a displacement of 4,000 tons, a main scale waterline of 5 meters long, a total length of 25 meters, a width of 229 meters, an average draft of 4 meters, and a maximum draft of 4 meters. The maximum speed is 75 knots, and the cruising range is 4700 nautical miles / 0 knots. The armament is two twin 05 mm 50 times caliber naval guns, and the secondary guns are 0 05 mm caliber single guns; 0 mm single-mounted guns; 2 7-mm machine guns; 6 x 450 mm water torpedo tubes. And our newest battleship, the Indiana-class battleship, has a displacement of four thousand tons lighter than theirs, and its speed is more than two knots slower, but the firepower is comparable. Therefore, if it is one-on-one, the 'Indiana-class' battleships are no match for the 'Plateau'-class battleships. Fortunately, we had four Indiana-class battleships, while China only sent two to Hawaii, and the other two more powerful Sichuan-class battleships had to stay at home to defend against the Japanese. In addition, the four "Chengdu-class" armored cruisers of the Chinese are also very powerful, except for the four "Indiana-class" battleships, we have no battleships that have been able to defeat them! "Theodore? Roosevelt said. The gap between the U.S. Navy and the Chinese Navy is so great that even if the U.S. tries to catch up now, it will take a long time to catch up.

"Your Excellency Roosevelt, do you mean that our navy cannot defeat the Chinese Pacific Fleet?" Vice President Garrett? Clearly, Hobart said, this is an answer that the top U.S. government leaders in the room are unwilling to accept.

"If we go to war, we might be able to win. However, this probability is not very high, but it is not impossible. From my personal point of view, I hope that even if there is a war with the Chinese, it will end up waiting until three years later. At that time, we will have a large number of cutting-edge warships in service, and our strong industrial strength will be enough to make up for the gap between the strength of our warships and that of the Chinese Navy! "Theodore? Roosevelt said.

"Colonel Mahan, what is your opinion?" William? President McKinley asked. Mahan is a very well-known person in the United States, and it is his "Theory of Sea Power" that arouses the Americans' ambition to expand outward; in addition, Mahan has served as the dean of the Naval Academy, and has personally gone to the Far East to observe the battles between the Japanese Combined Fleet and the Beiyang Naval Division, as well as the Japanese Combined Fleet and the Chinese Navy, and has very rich experience.

"Your Excellency, Gentlemen. I have to admit that the Chinese Navy is very strong, and the Pacific Fleet they are stationed in Hawaii is also very strong. However, I believe that if the US Navy goes all out, we will not be without a chance to defeat the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy. The strength of our "Indiana-class" battleships is slightly inferior to the Chinese' "Plateau" class, but the gap is not large. As for the four armored cruisers of the Chinese, we can deal with the British with two 'Indiana-class' battleships. In addition, if we send more cruisers and mine-striking ships, and if we form a superiority in forces on these two types of warships, we will also be able to win! Colonel Mahan said. He and Theodore? Roosevelt, like Roosevelt, was also a strong supporter of the expansion of the United States, and played a great role in the expansion of the United States.

"So, Colonel Mahan, do you mean that if we go to war with China, if the Chinese don't send more reinforcements, we might be able to win?" Secretary of State, John? Sherman also asked.

"No, no, Your Excellency, Secretary of State. In addition to the performance of the battleship, naval warfare is more about the human factor. Our naval soldiers do not have the energy to fight in real combat, and in this respect they cannot be compared with the Chinese Navy that has gone through actual combat. Therefore, if war can be avoided, then it is better for us not to go to war directly with the Chinese Navy for the time being! Colonel Mahan also said.

William? President McKinley nodded: "Okay, let's do it for now!" We try to resolve disputes diplomatically whenever possible. Also, turn to countries like Britain and France for help, hoping they can help us. Finally, contact the Japanese, we can provide them with another loan, so that they can continue to develop armaments, and when the time comes, we will compete with the Chinese for the leadership of East Asia! ”

"Yes, Your Excellency! I will be in contact with the British Ambassador to the United States and the Japanese Minister to the United States! "Secretary of State, John? Sherman said.

At present, although the main naval force of the Atlantic Fleet has gone to the Pacific Ocean, the United States does not have the strength to prepare for a war with China, and can only hope for diplomatic means and try their best to avoid a war with China when it is not ready. At present, although expansionism has risen in the United States, the majority of conservative forces still do not approve of outward expansion. In addition, everyone does not have too much confidence in whether they can defeat their opponents, so this makes William? The McKinley government had to be careful.

After the meeting adjourned, Secretary of State John ? Sherman immediately met with the British and French envoys to the United States, and expressed to them the anger of the United States at China's rude interference in Hawaii's internal affairs, and hoped that they would give the United States support. In this regard, the interests of Britain, France, and the United States are completely identical, and the ambassadors of the two countries to the United States have indicated that they will convey their views to China and demand that China take severe measures against China.

That evening, U.S. Secretary of State John ? Sherman also met with the Japanese ambassador to the United States, John? Sherman reaffirmed U.S. support for Japan and said that the U.S. could further help Japan rearmament. Naturally, the Japanese side is very pleased with Japan. In the war two years ago, Japan lost everything and owed a huge amount of foreign debt. This made life very difficult for the Japanese, but even so, they gritted their teeth and rearmament. It's just that, because of military spending, the speed of their rearmament is not very fast. Now that the Americans are willing to help, it would be even better. After all, if they want to regain the loss of the war, the only way to do this is to defeat China. The olive branch thrown by the Americans is exactly what they need. Although they know that the Americans are using them as gunmen, there is no other choice for Japan now. The next day, they signed an agreement under which the United States would once again provide Japan with a loan of $20 million for Japan's purchase of steel, machinery, equipment, and so on from the United States.

On the evening of the 9th, Beijing, Xinhua Palace, Wang Yuze's study. Xiong Wu, chief of the General Staff, and Wu Dinh Fang, foreign minister, came together.

"Neither of you, don't you have to stay at home with your wife lately? Come to me whenever you have time! Wang Yuze said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, who said that there have been too many recent events? We can't help it! Xiong Wu said with a smile.

"Alright! What's the matter? Could it be that the Americans reacted? Wang Yuze asked. China has taken Hawaii into its pocket like this, and the Americans will certainly not give up, and Wang Yuze has been waiting for the American to make a move.

"There was news from the Admiralty that the main forces of the Americans' Atlantic Fleet had departed from the Norfolk Naval Base, including three 'Indiana-class' battleships, more than a dozen cruisers, and more than a dozen destroyers. It can be said that the main force is pouring out! Xiong Wu said.

"What? Are the Americans really going to fight us? Is the Pacific Fleet sure to defeat the US Navy? Wang Yuze asked. This war is crucial for both China and the United States.

"Minister Zhang of the Admiralty is organizing a war game deduction, and it is not over yet. However, the information revealed from him is that if the Americans want to fight, the Pacific Fleet should be able to win! Xiong Wu said.

"That's good!" Wang Yuze said.

"Your Majesty, I don't think we can fight." Foreign Minister Ng Dinh Fong said.

"Oh? What is the reason? Wang Yuze asked.

"I believe that everyone is very clear about the gap between the two navies. In addition, today the US Minister to China, Sherlock, dragged the British and French envoys to China to protest, saying that our gross interference in Hawaii's internal affairs is illegal, and demanding that we withdraw from Hawaii immediately. But I didn't bother with them! Wu Tingfang said.

"Leave them alone! If the United States wants to take back Hawaii, then send troops! On the diplomatic front, it is necessary to be tough. Actually, I would like the Americans to fight with us in Hawaii, not to mention a full-scale war, even a low-intensity naval battle is very good! Wang Yuze said.

PS: The fourth update is here! Tomorrow's three watches, no update in the early morning! (To be continued.)