The next day, Roosevelt summoned Holcomb and Lee to the newly built Oval Office and consulted them on the issue of the Marines for three and a half hours.

——

On 8 September, the Allied Mediterranean Theater Command and the Italian government of Badogglio respectively broadcast an armistice declaration announcing Italy's unconditional surrender. The fascist alliance between Germany, Italy and Japan thus collapsed. This was followed by a landing of Allied forces in the southern part of the Italian peninsula. The unconditional surrender of Italy, which marked the disintegration of the "Berlin-Rome" axis, was a great victory for the anti-fascist coalition.

——

On 10 September, at a weekend joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives of the US Congress, Li Junhao, who had applied to speak on behalf of the Marine Corps, made a special speech on the current situation of the Navy and the Army Corps and the war tasks it undertook, denouncing the unfair attitude of the Congressional defense, finance, appropriations, and other relevant committees, and clearly stated: "Congress and the government owe the Marine Corps 160 years, and it is time to make amends!" ”

When he returned to the Admiralty building, he was greeted by 927 officers and men of the Marine Corps Command downstairs, and the thousands of officers and men of the Navy who had listened to the live radio broadcast also applauded and cheered......

Subsequently, in major newspapers across the United States, this passage of his remarks was displayed in large headlines, which resonated with the general public, and the tide of public opinion initially took shape......

——

On September 23, President Roosevelt, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, signed a special promotion order: to promote Ognyan J. Roosevelt. Lee Panson is a U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General!

After the news was announced, the general public did not realize anything, and they relished the military resume of Lieutenant General Pan Sen printed in the newspaper, with the common meaning: this general is a rare genius, and he should be a general!

In the eyes of the military and political circles, the record-breaking rank of "Lieutenant General of the Sea and Land" itself is very symbolic, and the previous speech of General Panson in Congress made many "insightful" people think that the Marine Corps is about to rise! ——

On October 1, Vice Admiral Thomas Holcombe, commander of the U.S. Marine Corps, formally submitted his resignation to President Roosevelt and requested retirement. - He then became a special adviser to Secretary of the Navy Knox.

Immediately after accepting his resignation, Roosevelt announced the appointment of Vice Admiral Panson as the 18th commander of the U.S. Marine Corps.

——

On October 5, Lieutenant General Pan Sen, the new commander of the sea and land, reported to the White House:

"In view of the fact that the salaries of officers and men of the Navy and the Army are quite different from those of the Navy and the Army, after recalculation, the Finance Department of the Navy and Army Command has re-approved the salaries in accordance with the average salary standards of the Navy and the Army......

"Because of the special positioning of the sea and land, it is hereby reported to the president for instructions!

"Note: The first batch of salaries for September has been paid in accordance with the new standard, if there is anything wrong, the difference will be sponsored by the Navy and Land Command will contact domestic friendly enterprises to sponsor it, so as not to increase the burden on the country!"

Seeing this report, Roosevelt was angry and happy - could this matter be solved by soliciting sponsorship? This Ogy, what a problem! But that's fine, if Congress doesn't agree to include the Navy and Army in the budget, just wait for it to become a private army! Who's in a hurry? ——

From 15 to 17 October, the Joint Defense Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives held several special meetings to discuss the issue of the Marine Corps.

The bill stipulates: "Because of the progress of the war and the need for the United States Marine Corps to carry out overseas combat missions, the total number of personnel in the unit needs to be expanded to 1 million, and the personnel recruitment, training, equipment, logistics, and other matters required for it shall be carried out by the headquarters of the unit, and the funds shall be guaranteed by the temporary appropriation of Congress."

"Accordingly, it is recognized that this force is the third largest branch of the U.S. armed forces, and that its command is under the direct responsibility of the President during the war and by the President and Congress after the war."

For Li Junhao, the introduction of the temporary bill of the National Assembly is of course good news, but the last one made him laugh, and now, Mr. President should be unhappy!

However, it doesn't matter, his main purpose has been achieved - he is now the chief officer of the sea and land, of course, he has to think about himself and his subordinates, the president or something, does it matter?

——

On the 18th, Roosevelt rowed his wheelchair to Li Junhao's White House office and said: "Oge, you have a good hand, even I put it in!" Don't you need to explain it to me? ”

Regarding this stubborn old man's question, Li Junhao could only say something cruel, "Mr. President, as a junior, I shouldn't have said it, but since you have said it here, I can only answer: 'The geometry of life, such as the morning dew, is not long'!" Do you understand, sir? ”

The last sentence is more troublesome to say in English, but the meaning is very clear, the president has a term of office, and others will naturally worry about the future, Roosevelt doesn't need to think too much now!

Of course, Roosevelt knew this truth, and he didn't really come to him to ask about his guilt, but was a little angry that he actually hid it from himself beforehand!

In fact, the president wronged him a little, Li Junhao didn't expect Congress to approve the new bill so quickly!

The bill was co-sponsored by senators from six states in the New England region a month ago, and although Lister Rockefeller said that there was enough outside the group to help lobby, the speed was still beyond his expectations.

After the president left, he specifically inquired, and Rist told him that in addition to the efforts of the Rockefeller consortium, other major arms dealers, aircraft manufacturers, automobile manufacturers and other forces were involved in lobbying, and the Stuart family also contributed, which is why the Congressional Joint Defense Committee would be so effective.

Don't think about it, Li Junhao knows the reason, these forces should have seen the "money scene" of the Marine Corps' expansion! Of course, there is also the face of the Rockefeller consortium.

For congressmen, they naturally don't want to offend so many big conglomerates and big enterprises, anyway, now that the US military is expanding, the share is about the same for any army, although it is a little unpleasant to give so much to the sea and land...... No, the "smart people" in the parliament came up with a "clever trick": using this bill, they can try to wrest the command of the sea and land from the president!

What role the Stuart family played, but it was not something he could guess, and he didn't bother to think about it. He just knew that with the joint efforts of all parties, this bill was passed so quickly.

In any case, the passage of the new bill allows him to let go of his hands and feet!

(End of chapter)