Honolulu, April 11, 1913. ※※※※※ I ※ I ※ ※

(At the beginning of the blockbuster, a line of green words flashed on the screen of Dididi, Pacific Fleet Headquarters!) The camera turned to N hens, NN speed BB, and then the subtitles "Haha, just kidding, it's not that advanced, the code words are hard so make fun of yourself." ）

Seventy nautical miles northwest of Niihau, the slender frigate USS Maui leaped out of the sea.

Standing in the high bridge, Tan Renguang kept searching around with a telescope, in fact, it was not only him, but the watchmen on the various observation points on the deck were looking around vigilantly.

The reason why everyone is extra vigilant today is because after nearly ten years, the army will return to Honolulu again, and in order to protect the safety of the fleet, the coast guard has sent ten frigates of the same type to search for threats around.

As the name suggests, this kind of warship is mainly used to protect overseas territories, patrol shipping lanes, and combat smuggling, so it belongs to the powerful Imperial Royal Coast State Civil Guard "belongs to the reserve establishment."

This is a patrol ship that has been built in large quantities since three years ago, and due to the large number of ships, the Prime Minister's Office and the Parliament at that time demanded strict cost control, for which the design department revised the design several times.

Unlike the navy, which is armed to the teeth, "this small warship with a displacement of 1,000 tons has only one single-barreled 76-mm rapid-fire gun in the bow, two 37-mm twin-mounted machine guns and four single-barreled rice machine guns", but when designed, it is reserved for depth charges and minelaying rails.

There is neither armor, nor torpedoes and other weapons, and the power has also abandoned the expensive turbo boiler" just used an ordinary small water-tube oil-fired boiler and two small steam turbines with gearboxes, but because of the shallow draft and slender hull, it can still reach a speed of 23 knots, the main thing is that this small warship has a range of up to 10 knots / 3000 nautical miles.

However, this small frigate with a single chimney is not without any highlights, the "slender hull" is different from the navy's standard bell gray paint, and the blue and white striped paint makes it look very beautiful, and its large technology is much taller than the destroyer, and the single bridge design "not only makes the patrol officers have a wider field of vision, but also the entire bridge is made of cheap pot alloy, which not only reduces the weight, but also saves 10,000 blue coins on this bridge alone."

Because of the cost savings, the Navy was also able to equip each ship with a Osprey seaplane, so that the Coast Guard really has an over-the-horizon reconnaissance and tracking capability, and in escort and patrol missions, "the efficiency is more than 10 times that of the current small torpedo ships in European countries."

In the end, after the success of this frigate costing 500,000 blue coins after sea trials, "the Ministry of Defense ordered 24 ships in the first batch, and the second batch of 24 ships has been started, because it is a major domestic shipyard, so it not only drives the development of the shipbuilding industry" but also greatly improves the technology of the civilian shipyard.

Of course, Tan Renguang didn't know about these things, but he happened to meet his cousin when he went home to visit relatives during the Chinese New Year last year, and the current Hua **** official Tan Sitong learned from him.

However, he knows the benefits of this kind of frigate, "because it takes over the daily patrol tasks of the navy in the coastal waters", so the main force of the navy does not need to build too many more expensive destroyers to escort the escort, and can concentrate on the construction of war and ocean protection. (Full text reading, all in. (.i. Want. Wen. Learning Network)

Although the fleet will definitely be protected by destroyers and cruisers, Tan Renguang and his partners are still conscientious and meticulous, because the coast guard is a second-line unit of the navy, which belongs to the reserve, and is faced with the possibility of being transferred to the naval combat unit at any time, and needs to rely on the usual escort to polish themselves.

Half an hour later, "a dark cloud appeared on the horizon", and "two ospreys quickly flew over the deck of the Maui" Looking at these Navy pilots soaring in the blue sky, the Coast Guard sailors on the deck waved their arms vigorously.

Very, a huge fleet appeared on the sea, even Tan Renguang, who was accustomed to seeing the majesty of the First Fleet, was still stunned by the scene in front of him, only to see more than 60 ships of all sizes scattered on the sea, especially the twelve ro-ro wheels in the middle with a round shape and a displacement of tens of thousands of tons.

When the tiny Maui and the fleet staggered past," Tan Renguang immediately ordered the whistle to sound three times, and at the same time walked to the hatch and saluted the other party.

"Woo woo woo", all the ships were noisy with three whistles, and at that moment all the officers and men of the Navy and the Coast Guard saluted each other "Although there is no verbal exchange" Although there is no sound, this is the etiquette of the Navy, it is the tradition of the Navy, and it is the high respect of every sailor for those partners who have been away for a long time.

Only when you see these majestic warships sailing by, "You can understand the strength of the motherland, how important it is for the Chinese living abroad!" Until he watched the fleet leave, Tan Renguang led the Maui to the deep blue in the distance, and the maritime frontier of the motherland still needs them to guard.

Sitting in his office and reading the Navy report, President Wilson, who had just been sworn in, rubbed his swollen head, and after the joy of his election victory had passed, he was faced with a mess left by Taft.

The economy is still growing, but at a much slower pace, and the run on the stock market a few years ago deeply hurt the United States, and the US economy has maintained a very low growth rate for two consecutive years, and even experienced negative growth.

Although from the current point of view, this kind of confrontation has brought a lot of jobs to the United States, but if the war really starts, then the countries will definitely adopt a strict wartime economic strategy, which will curb the growth of consumption, which will make foreign exports suffer another disaster.

"It's a pleasant season" for domestic trusts and arms dealers, but it's still a big bane on the whole, because America's major exports are not arms but civilian goods, and it is mainly the United States that is gradually getting caught up in it, and although the rapid expansion of the US Navy appears to be an imaginary enemy in the Far East, in fact the growing Germany and Great Britain are also worrying the United States.

Whoever wins this race in the Atlantic will have a super-naval hegemon, and that is, the already small and pitiful interests of the United States in the Atlantic will be wiped out.

From the current point of view, in order to defuse the emergence of European strongmen, it is necessary to prolong this war that is destined to be fought, "depleting the power of Europe, and the United States can gain enough benefits."

But if there is a quick solution, then the United States will face a dilemma of being forever crushed on the North American continent.

At present, Britain and the United States are in a honeymoon period, but the British are not out of good intentions, and a large amount of loans to the United States is actually a disguised strategy to kidnap the United States, once a war breaks out, the United States may become the target of the Allies, and after their naval supremacy is under the dual pressure of Germany and China, they in turn actively promote relations with the United States, and take the initiative to mortgage their colonies in the Pacific to the United States.

This was a sinister ploy, and when Asquith visited the United States last October, he had already discussed with President Taft about drawing the United States into the Entente, but Taft was under election pressure at that time, and did not agree to such an alliance, but only promised to help Britain share the pressure in the Pacific.

Taft, a Republican who has always advocated for active outward advocacy, was still fascinated by those colonial islands, "not only agreed to exchange the islands for loans" but also signed an agreement to help Britain maintain stability in the Pacific, which brought the United States into the whirlpool, although he also believed that the United States should step into the Pacific Ocean as soon as possible, but joining forces with Britain undoubtedly stimulated China, "making them more and more hostile to the United States."

The damned Republicans patted their ass and left, leaving themselves with a lot of trouble, first their participation in the World Naval Race, "leaving behind a high naval budget of 10 percent a year, and contributing to the rapid proximity to Britain, all of which made the Pacific increasingly tense."

"It is impossible for him to completely veto the policy of proximity to Britain, whether it is real or external pressure, because then the United States will face tremendous European pressure, and it may also cause Britain to be ruthless in negotiating with China, which will make it more and more impossible for the United States to participate in the ranks of world leaders."

He shook his head and smiled wryly at the thought of the warships that now covered the shores of the United States, and successive Republicans used various external factors to "incite domestic racism and push the United States into a dangerous situation.

Sometimes he was really envious of the Far Eastern, according to intelligence, "for five consecutive years, the proportion of China's annual financial expenditure in military expenditure has only been 2%, which means that they have only paid soldiers' salaries and ordinary maintenance expenses!"

But the question is, "with so little military spending", they still built nearly 100 warships of all kinds in five years, I really don't know how they operated, "Could it be that His Majesty the Emperor, who is said to be rich enough to buy the whole of the United States, has paid for it himself?"

Oh, God! It's a huge joke.

President Wilson raised his head, looked at his Secretary of the Navy William Benson and National Security Adviser, and shook his head: "William, I can't agree with this budget. "Why? Benson looked at Wilson and said eagerly: "Your Majesty, the Hebei-class battleships of the Chinese are eight, not the four they announced before!" In addition, their parliament has passed a bill to increase military spending last month, and from now on they will restore the annual military budget of 10 percent, and they have also passed a plan to purchase the next 12 Yangtze River class light cruisers at one time, "which means that in two years they will have 32 large light cruisers, and the sea power will be strengthened again" So I need more warships! ”

"No!"

Wilson stroked his forehead and said with a wry smile: "Benson, including the ones under construction, we already have 52 capital ships (including the former Dreadnought and Heavy Cruisers), and President Taft has approved 10 Omaha-class cruisers that are about the same size as the Chinese when he was in office, so we already have enough warships, do you really want to fight a century war?" ”

"But President, the Omaha class is too small, it can't compare to the Yangtze River class of the Chinese people!"

"Benson, I know you are a man who loves the navy, but we can't build warships without moderation" The Chinese built 12 cruisers because our relationship with Britain stimulated them" And the sea area of the Chinese country is much larger than ours, and they need cruisers to protect their interests, and don't forget, in the Far East, Britain, France and Russia all have borders on China and are not friendly, so they are afraid that they will be affected by Europe, and they will build so many warships, and there are no enemies around us! If we continue to build warships, then they will definitely increase again! ”

Wilson handed the plan back to Benson and said, "We have 52 ships, and even if we leave out 16 old battleships, we still have 36," and according to the standards of your navy, there are only 23 capital ships in the known construction, and 3 of them are in a semi-retired state! So we've got an advantage and we can't continue to build.

"But the president, the Chinese people are very advanced in power technology, and if they can't get the speed advantage, we must ensure the quantity." , Benson was also ready to fight for it again", but was immediately met with Wilson's eyes: "Guaranteed quantity? Like the British? Germany builds one, and they build two? ”

"God, that's going to bankrupt America!" Wilson waved his hand, but he didn't want to hit himself too badly, the secretary of the navy, thought for a while and said: "Bensen" I promise you, if it really comes to the time when the contradiction between us and the Chinese people cannot be reconciled, Lou will fully support you! ”

"But now, there's only so much I can do."

Hearing Wilson so resolute, Benson could only sigh: "Okay, Your Majesty, then I'll take my leave." ”

After saying that, Benson walked out of the president's office, and when he just left the White House, his aides suddenly rushed in front of him and shouted: "Your Majesty, the Chinese have sent an additional 10,000 troops to Hawaii, and it is said that they will add 50,000!" ”

"Damn it!" Benson scolded, thought about it and prepared to return to the White House to persuade the president, but before he could turn around, he was pulled by his assistant" "Wait, there is one more thing, a Chinese cruiser and another large warship arrived in Buenaventura, Colombia two days ago, and we suspect that the Chinese want to win over Colombia. ”

"What!"

Benson's face changed slightly, "I just sent a fleet to Fiji and Australia to prepare for a trip to the British defense of the Pacific agreement, and the Panama Canal was also opened, and the Chinese people over there will be Colombia!"

The short-term advantage that has just been achieved seems to be reversed in the blink of an eye!

"Order the Virginia and the Georgia to leave for Panama Bay, and ask the Army when their troops to Panama will be ready to go, and inform our Marines in Nicaragua to be ready, and if the Army is too late, they must leave at once." ”

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