"Although I don't understand the navy, but from the experience of the Battle of Malta, a large number of dreadnoughts can still play a certain role in the case of the main fleet. The Huaxia Navy must also know this, and they also have to think about their own situation. President Nelson retorted.

"It will take quite a long time, not to mention how long it will take us to assemble and mobilize all the fleets in the past, simply saying that there is no port in the entire Pacific Ocean that can accommodate such a large fleet, Hawaii was originally a good choice, but now it is recognized as a permanent neutral country by the world, even if the British hand over all the port facilities in Australia and New Zealand to us, it is still impossible to maintain such a powerful fleet. We do not have a forward base. All warships had to return to their homeland for maintenance and upkeep after months at sea. This kind of war simply cannot be fought. Benson, who couldn't stand it, finally spoke, and it was clear that as the head of the Naval Operations Department, he didn't think that this war could be fought.

"Then we will allow the islands that should belong to the United States to be seized by China? We are now a big country! We have to show our muscles like our opponents! The Congress has agreed to our request to send a stronger fleet to the Far East, and we need to let the other side know our attitude. Wilson once again emphasized that it was necessary to have a contest with China on the issue of the Far East, and now it was only a question of degree and intensity, and how to end it, and I have to say that the Americans were still much stronger than the Japanese, and they thought about their purpose and how to end it before the film opened.

Wilson knew very well that it was obviously impossible to fight a big war with China for a distance of tens of thousands of kilometers. The United States is preparing for war, but isn't it ready now? The Navy can pull it up and fight, but the Army obviously can't. It is even more difficult to transport the army thousands of miles away to fight with the Chinese army to seize the island! Moreover, this army was looking for an opportunity to join the European war to draw the Germans, and compared with China, the German-Austrian-Italian alliance was a greater threat to the United States, and it was unthinkable for the United States after the Central Powers occupied the whole of Europe. As a result, Wilson is now thinking about whether he can show the toughness of the United States through a deterrent action, and by the way, hold the islands he now controls.

The United States has always adhered to the strategy of Europe first and then Asia, although the United States has a great industrial advantage. But running tens of thousands of miles and wrestling with a big country is obviously not a rational thing. Long before the start of the European war, the Americans believed that if the Entente could win this battleship, then the international situation of the United States would be very good. Financial and trade ties between Britain, France and the United States will be the basis of trilateral cooperation, and the conflict of interests between Britain, France and China in the Far East is the goal of trilateral cooperation. And the national strength of the United States, Britain and France is the guarantee of cooperation, that is, as long as the Entente wins. Then the Chinese Republic will face the squeeze of the three great powers. Maybe Russia.

After some discussion, Secretary of Operations Benson will work with the president to develop a "limited" plan for confrontation. As for Magifin? He will sail to Europe to discuss future Allied naval operations with the Allied naval leadership. The French navy was badly damaged, the situation was not good, and when the spring of 1915 came, the Allies were bound to launch a new offensive. Winter is the last chance to prepare.

"Our three New Mexico-class battleships do not have an advantage, and the Huaxia Navy has four capital ships in service alone, and they are equipped with the largest caliber guns at present. 9 15-inch naval guns. I need the Admiralty to come up with a new plan. Wilson said in general.

"Our fleet of 2 New York-class, 2 Pennsylvania-class and 2 Nevada-class warships and their auxiliary warships will go to Australia. At present, although the Huaxia Navy occupies most of the area, it has not immediately launched the next step. They also need to mobilize their forces, and at the moment, their remaining capital ships are coming from the north. They will arrive a little earlier than us. In the end, we will have 9 super-dreadnought battleships in the Far East, and the other side will have 12, although the number is about the same, but considering the superiority of our auxiliary warships, I think it should be the balance of power. Benson thought for a moment and said.

"There's also the Florida class and the South Carolina class, so we're going to have a landslide." President Wilson thought for a moment and said. Before convening this internal meeting, the president also went through a special look at the list of the main US fleet.

"They need to maintain deterrence in the Atlantic, while the South Dakota class is being repaired, we can't send all the warships, logistics supply is one aspect, whether Australia can provide maintenance for so many warships is another question, in short, 9 super dreadnoughts plus almost the same number of armored cruisers should be enough, we are just deterring and not really going to war." Benson shook his head and rejected the president's suggestion. "In order to prepare the British, I think we should give the Britisha head up first. Otherwise our fleet will have to be anchored at sea. ”

"We will, now I think, the Admiralty should be up and running at once, and I will send a telegram to the British later this day. Let them prepare. President Wilson said confidently.

Wilson was confident that the British would help him. But what is the reality? When the British received this telegram, their first reaction was not to make the Australian authorities immediately prepare, but to be taken aback! They thought that the Americans would not give in easily, but they did not expect that this was a preparation for war. And you said that you and Huaxia should start a film, what is the matter of pulling Britain up? Although the British authorities thought that Wilson was unlikely to go to war directly for this place, the build-up of such a large fleet would definitely make both sides nervous! What should I do if I misfire?

And you say you have gone off the rails, what is it that you are pulling the British in the midst of an eventful time? The next day, the British Foreign Office pointed out in a telegram to the Americans: "There is no problem with the stationing of the American fleet, and there is no problem with purchasing all kinds of supplies, but it cannot be used as an operating base for the American fleet in Australia." Moreover, the British government hopes that the US government will refrain from it, and this is not the time for a head-on conflict with China! ”

"Damn the British! They are a bunch of mercenary merchants who want to use the power of the United States without wanting to fulfill their obligations! I don't want to be paid! President Wilson's ambition only lasted for one night, and although he did not intend to go to war, he really hoped that the American fleet would be able to suppress Huaxia, a maritime power that had experienced many naval battles, but who knew that he had not yet made a move. The British, who have become quasi-allies, will dismantle the stage first! What a shame this makes Americans embarrassed!

If Xu Jie was present, I am afraid that he would have to praise Wilson: "You have finally recognized the essence of the British." "It's good that the British belong to the kind of people who are good when they are good, and when it is almost over, they will prepare the lord of the yin people. Historically, the United States and France, the two iron buddies who were once with the British imperialists, were hacked by the British imperialists, first of all, the United States did not get due remuneration in this war, and did not have much say in the League of Nations, which was completely controlled by Britain and France. And the United States did not acquire many German colonies. At the same time, the British also cheated France, France originally wanted the Rhine-Ruhr area, but the British thought that if you had this place, wouldn't Europe be up to you? Then decisively made this matter yellow!

But even so. President Wilson is still determined to continue according to the plan, at least to keep the islands that he is still in control! Of course, he gave the order before that that the Navy should not open fire without permission. You can hit and block, but the artillery must not be used!

And after receiving President Wilson's order, Vice Admiral Sisim, commander of the Atlantic Fleet, felt a trace of doubt, first of all, he wanted to demonstrate in China, but at the same time he couldn't really fight, if the Huaxia government was timid, it would be okay, but if people were really ready to do it, wouldn't their side suffer? It will take time for the 6 Super Dreadnoughts far behind to come over, and the other side now has 4 new Super Dreadnoughts. Even if he goes head-to-head, Sims doesn't think his ships can beat his opponents, even though the New Mexico-class is currently the most elite ship in the United States. They were armed with 12 14-inch L50 guns, while the opposing side had 9 15-inch L45 guns. Maybe the difference in the power of the artillery of the two sides is not very large, but Sims knows that his artillery walk is very bad, even if it is a half-salvo or delayed fire, the effect is not very good. (Don't ask the author why, I don't know the road, only the way the road fights.) So much so that for the American Navy, accustomed to twin main guns, this kind of artillery can simply be called a shotgun!

While Sims was still thinking about how to do it, the operation of the Huaxia Republic had already begun, and Yang Yonglin officially took over the command of the First Battleship Detachment and the auxiliary fleet of the Huaxia Navy on November 7, 1914. (4 Ryumu-class battleships) and left Longtai City for the former German colony on the same day, and in addition to the naval fleet, they were accompanied by about 3,000 marines, who were to occupy certain remote islands. Although Yang Yonglin had received Xu Jie's instructions on "accompanying him to the end" before, it was obvious that he also did not have the right to go to war, and large-caliber naval guns were absolutely forbidden to be used first in battle, but there were not so many restrictions on light weapons. And if the American fleet dares to fire the first shot, then it will absolutely resolutely counterattack!

In order to prevent the other side from really making a big fuss, the follow-up fleet and submarine formation of the Huaxia Navy will also arrive soon and set up a submarine cordon. And when the two sides mobilized their fleets with great fanfare to prepare for confrontation, the British suddenly jumped out, and they decided to "mediate" in this matter.

Thanks to the book friend zhouyu1976 for the tip~~~. (To be continued......)