Just as Ayres and Li Junhao were receiving the German Consul General and Military Attache respectively, on the same day (September 5), in the United States, the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, made a radio speech, announcing in a helpless tone: The US government will strictly implement the revised version of the Neutrality Act in May 1937, abide by the principle of neutrality, and will not intervene in the war in Europe.

The U.S. Neutrality Act, amended in May 1937, stipulates that, in addition to prohibiting the government and the military from participating in wars that do not involve the fundamental interests of the country, it also prohibits U.S. companies and individuals from assisting the participating countries, and even prohibits U.S. citizens from traveling abroad on ships of the participating countries. (The biggest loophole, or deliberate loophole, in this version of the legislation is that it does not prohibit government assistance to the belligerents.) ）

The United States issued a declaration of neutrality in the European war, and the countries represented by the United Kingdom expressed regret, and the countries led by Germany and Japan expressed their appreciation. Other countries and forces have reacted differently.

——

On the Huhai side, it was not until the evening that the US Consulate General received a message from China, and everyone could only smile bitterly at each other, helpless about this - the mountain of isolationism is not so easy to move.

Ayres called Kerton and Li Junhao to the office for a small meeting and asked them what they thought about the European competition, and Li Junhao of course still insisted on his previous judgment - Germany won quickly, and it will be clear within a month!

Kerton also insisted on his opinion, believing that after all, Poland had more than 1 million regular troops, more than 800 light tanks, more than 4,000 artillery pieces, and more than 400 aircraft, and even if it could not fight, it would be able to hold out for a while, and it would take at least half a year for the German army to fully occupy Poland; Moreover, he also communicated with his comrades-in-arms at home, and several generals and friends also had this opinion.

Li Junhao didn't bother to refute, but instead diverted his attention, because in the intelligence briefing he had just picked up, there was a piece of information that put away his interest - the Nomenkan incident.

——

As early as 12 May, the Japanese Kwantung Army instructed the "Manchurian Army" to attack the garrison of the Mongolian People's Republic near Nomenkan and provoke the Nomenkan incident. Subsequently, the armies of Japan and the Soviet Union fought on behalf of the "puppet state of Manchukuo" and the "state of Mongolia" respectively, but neither the Japanese nor the Soviet Union formally declared war on the other.

The large-scale battle lasted from July to the end of August, and the Japanese army suffered heavy losses again, with more than 17,000 dead and wounded, and the 23rd Division was almost completely annihilated, and finally only more than 2,000 soldiers were left to break through.

On August 29, the Japanese army was unwilling to accept defeat and wanted to mobilize the strength of nearly six divisions to counterattack (the 5th Division stationed in Qingdao, the 14th Division stationed in Kaifeng, the 2nd Division, the 4th Division, the 7th Division and two heavy artillery wings of the Kwantung Army, 9 rapid-fire artillery squadrons, 16 field antiaircraft artillery squadrons, 1 flying squadron, 22 automobile squadrons, etc.).

Unexpectedly, the European war broke out on September 1, and then on September 3, the Japanese army base camp called off the follow-up operation.

Li Junhao knew that the Nomenkan incident would be over, and that in the next few days, Japan and the Soviet Union would sign a formal ceasefire agreement; Since then, there has been no large-scale fighting between the two sides until the end of World War II and the surrender of Japan.

Speaking of which, although this battle ended with the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army, the losses of the Japanese army were not big for a war at the national level, but the impact of this war was extremely far-reaching!

The Japanese Kwantung Army, which had been discouraged by the Soviet army, completely gave up its attempt to invade westward, which in turn prompted the Japanese army as a whole to abandon the "northward strategy" and choose to "advance south" - to attack Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands and seize the colonies of the United States and the Netherlands.

In order to fear the active attack of the United States, the Japanese navy took the initiative to attack Pearl Harbor, prompting all political forces in the United States to reach a consensus, abandon the isolationist policy, declare war on Japan, Germany, Italy and other fascist countries, and officially join the Allied camp, resulting in the reversal of the situation in World War II, the collapse of the Axis system, and the collapse of the fascist camp.

Later generations of Japanese historians called this war "the biggest defeat in the history of the Japanese Army", while scholars from other countries believe that the Japanese repeatedly picked the wrong opponent in World War II, always tried to make a big deal with a small one, and finally ruined by arrogance and madness!

——

Ayres agreed with Kelton's point of view in his heart, but vaguely felt that Little Og's prophecy was always magically verified, and he didn't want to be slapped in the face in the future, so he changed the topic and asked what the two of them thought about the neutrality declaration issued by the president of the country?

Kerton is a typical military character, although he has been a military attache abroad for several years, his temper is still army-like, and he immediately said: "I think the president is too soft, and those 'old men' on Capitol Hill don't agree, so I will try to force them to agree!" What a big deal is to use the prerogative of the president, first send all the marines to the war, and after a few battles, wait for Germany to declare war on us first, and see if those parliamentarians agree? ”

Ayers shook his head, feeling that his words were very unreliable, but he didn't comment on it.

"Rick, you're doing a good job!" Li Junhao agreed, "It's just that the current strength of the Marine Corps is too weak, if it is pulled out to the battlefield, especially the European battlefield, it is estimated that it will be wiped out!" Well, it's the same with the Army! ”

There is a basis for what he said, now the total number of US troops is only 174,000, 3/4 of which are deployed on the mainland, and the other 1/4 are in Hawaii, the Philippines and the Panama Canal Zone.

In comparison, the British Army has 1.1 million men, the French Army has more than 1 million men, and the German Army has more than 2 million men.

At this time, the equipment of the US military was also seriously backward, and here is an example to know its dilemma:

Army Chief of Staff General MacArthur had lobbied Congress for modern equipment since 1932, and Congress had spent more money on mules, horses, and animal-powered vehicles than on armored vehicles until 1938!

And the super irony is that the United States has long entered the automobile society, with more than 31 million motor vehicles in 1939, while the Army is still mainly driven by hooves instead of wheels, and fodder rather than oil, isn't it ridiculous?

At this time, the only thing the United States could handle was the navy, with 110,800 men, 15 battleships, 5 aircraft carriers, 36 cruisers, 185 destroyers and 64 submarines, plus 394 other ships;

During the same period, the Royal Navy had 15 battleships, 7 aircraft carriers, 66 cruisers, 184 destroyers, and 60 submarines;

The Japanese Navy had 6 aircraft carriers, 10 battleships, 33 cruisers, and about 100 destroyers.

In comparison, the U.S. Marine Corps at this time only had 18,325 people, and the weak ones could be ignored!

(End of chapter)