Not all bright sunshine can make people feel happy. Even the warm sunshine at noon on a warm spring day may make people feel dazzling and hot. This is not to say that the sunshine itself is like this, but the feeling of the sunshine. People themselves are not in a good mood, at least the American general sitting at his office desk holding a newly arrived telegram has a depressed look on his face.
"You look bad, General."
The person speaking next to him was Colonel Max, who was responsible for sending telegrams and making relevant situation reports. He was also the chief deputy responsible for handling daily affairs. Basically, he was the kind of person who just looked for things to do and took care of everything. He had a high position. The general must have such a person beside him.
"I am always worried that Washington will send me such a telegram. To be honest, I even worry about this in my dreams. But the world is often so wonderful and indescribable. Sometimes the more you worry about something, the more Things come faster, just like this telegram."
Colonel Max had no right to know what was said in this top-secret telegram. From the moment the telegram was received, it remained sealed until it was opened in front of his immediate superior.
So even if Colonel Max had vaguely guessed something, he could only ask questions in a tentative tone.
"Did Mr. President take the photo? Are you urging us to hurry up and take action again?"
The man sitting behind the desk put the telegram in his hand into the drawer of the desk. Without making a sound, he stood up and walked to the window and gently opened the corner of the curtain, looking at the bright and warm midday sun outside the window with complicated eyes. He glanced at it twice, thinking deeply, and then without looking back he spoke to Colonel Max behind him.
"It is indeed a very suitable day to launch an attack, but our troops are not ready at this time."
Although the general's words did not give a direct answer, they actually confirmed that Colonel Max's guess was accurate, and the contents of the telegram were exactly as he thought.
As the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces personally appointed by Roosevelt, Eisenhower, who was standing in front of the window at this moment, had too much anxiety in his heart.
Most of the troops planned to participate in this unprecedented large-scale amphibious landing operation have now arrived. But there is still a key issue before Eisenhower that cannot be ignored: the troops involved in this landing operation. The number of ships is far from enough, at least far from the total number of ships required by the headquarters as originally planned.
It is easier to talk about various types of large, medium and small combat ships. Mr. Churchill, the British Prime Minister who was born in the navy, is very easy to talk to. He personally promised Eisenhower that all the large, medium and small combat ships needed to participate in the war in the plan will definitely arrive in place, even if it is If you Americans don't have enough warships, we in the Royal Navy can share the load for you.
After all, the current British Royal Navy has not yet reached the unsightly level that it will be in the 21st century. The pot-bellied Churchill has no other confidence. There are still as many large, medium and small combat ships with various calibers and large tubes as there are.
Except for the 460-meter giant cannon like the Japanese Monkey, we don't have any. Among the remaining warships, whether they are Nelson, Lao Luo, or the reputation of the maid chief, you can take your pick of wives. As long as they are not inseparable positions, I will transfer them to you.
The idea is good. With the Royal Navy as its back, it seems that all problems can be easily solved.
Eisenhower thought so at first, but when the actual preparation plan came to an end, Eisenhower and his command members began to pay more and more attention to an increasingly serious problem: the speed of assembly of landing ships and the current situation.
The quantity fell far short of the planned expectations.
The scale of this unprecedented amphibious landing operation is so large that the number of landing ships required is also frightening.
Realizing that continuing at this speed would definitely lead to bad things, Eisenhower did not sit still and waited for death. He immediately went to find the man who promised to take care of everything for him: Mr. Churchill, the Prime Minister, and wanted to get the help he needed from him.
"If you want battleships, the Royal Navy has as many as you want. We have the most powerful capital ship fleet in the world."
"But now you're asking me for those mobile bathtubs with open bellies floating in the Atlantic Ocean? God, at this time, where can I find for you that can transport tens of thousands of people, thousands of trucks and tanks across the Atlantic Ocean in one go?
The landing ship in the Strait? We created a world miracle on the beach at Dunkirk, but even a world miracle cannot transport so many of your troops there in one go."
"President Roosevelt told me that your navy has more proficient experience in amphibious landing operations, and there are many landing ships specially built for this purpose. You Americans have begun preparing these for a long time. I heard that it is to beat them.
What did those Japanese monkeys prepare? It’s not important anyway. I’ll use it to beat up the Germans first, and then I’ll test the equipment for you.”
Churchill, who was known as the "politician with a thousand faces", kicked the ball back to Eisenhower calmly. Eisenhower was really too lazy to talk nonsense with the John Bull politician, so he could only look helpless and spread his hands.
"But it takes time, it takes longer."
"If we wait for all the landing ships to be assembled at the current speed, then the start of the operation will have to wait until at least June. And our current plan is in early May. Today is April 27, and there are only a few days left.
Yes, Mr. Prime Minister. You know what I want to express, right?"
The war started late. Don’t blame me for not reminding you. Politicians like you have always been brothers to the soldiers when the meat was stewed. When it came out of the pot and started to eat, you kicked us aside as if it had nothing to do with the meat stew.
If it's not delicious, you have to blame us cooks. If it's cooked well, it's because the recipe you gave us is a credit. How can there be such a good thing in the world?
Want to kick the ball to us?
Sorry, I, Eisenhower, don't accept this.
Originally, Churchill planned to nominate one of the British troops as Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces. After all, the starting point of this unprecedented amphibious landing was in his own homeland.
However, forms are stronger than people. The Yankees are ahead of the United States in terms of money, effort and troops. In addition, Roosevelt has his own ideas and strongly recommends Eisenhower to be the commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces. Churchill
In the end, I could only compromise and accept the matter with the overall situation in mind.
But now, Eisenhower actually used soft-spoken tactics on himself. For a moment, he even choked himself. This made Churchill, who was already holding back some opinions, quite unhappy.