Chapter two hundred and seventy-eight is war or peace
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"Gentlemen, Mr. Stevens has sent back the military power of the Chinese fleet arriving in the Pacific, including two battleships, four second-class battleships, four light cruisers, 16 destroyers, and 20 transport ships.
Supply ships. Mainly include two 'Plateau' battleships, 'Plateau' and 'Qinghai'. Four 'Chengdu's' second-class battleships, 'Chengdu', 'Chongqing', 'Kangding' and '
Lhasa. Four "Leshan-class" light cruisers, "Panzhihua", "Guangyuan", "Bazhong" and "Zigong". So, does our navy have the ability to defeat this fleet of China?"
President William McKinley asked.
After receiving a telegram from the US Minister to Hawaii John Stevens, William McKinley urgently summoned Vice President Garrett Hobart, Secretary of State John Sherman, and Secretary of Treasury Lehman J. Gage,
Minister of War Russell A. Alger, Deputy Minister of the Admiralty Theodore Roosevelt, and Colonel Mahan, the author of "Theory of the Sea Power", were also invited.
After President William McKinley asked, everyone's eyes were staring at Theodore Roosevelt, the actual head of the U.S. Admiralty.
"His Excellency the President, gentlemen, I have to admit that the fleet sent by the Chinese Navy to Hawaii is very powerful. Their 'Plateau' battleships are actually improved by the British 'monarchy' battleships, with a displacement of 14,000 tons.
The main scale waterline is 115.8 meters long, 125 meters long, and 22.9 meters wide; the average draft is 8.4 meters, and the maximum draft is 8.84 meters. The maximum speed is 17.5 knots and the endurance is 4,700 nautical miles/10 knots.
The military equipment is two dual-mounted 305mm 50-caliber naval guns, and the secondary guns are 10 105mm caliber single-load guns; 10 88mm single-load guns; 12 37mm machine guns; 6 450mm water torpedo launch tubes
. And our latest battleship, the Indiana-class battleship, has a displacement of 4,000 tons lighter than theirs, and is more than two knots slower, and its firepower is quite good. Therefore, if it is one-to-one, the Indiana-class battleship is not.
The opponent of the Plateau-class battleship. Fortunately, we have four Indiana-class battleships, and China only sent two battleships to Hawaii, and the other two more powerful "Sichuan-class battleships must stay at home to defend Japan
In addition, the four "Chengdu-class" armored cruisers of the Chinese are also very powerful. Apart from the four "Indiana-class" battleships, we have no battleships that can defeat them!" said Theodore Roosevelt. The U.S. Navy and
The gap between the Chinese navy is too big. Even if the United States plans to catch up now, it will take a long time to catch up.
"His Excellency Roosevelt, do you mean that our navy cannot defeat the Chinese Pacific Fleet?" said Vice President Garrett Hobart. Obviously, this is an answer that the senior U.S. government officials present are reluctant to accept.
.
"If the war starts, we may be able to win. However, this possibility is not very high, but not without it. From my personal perspective, I hope that even if we want to go to war with the Chinese, we will wait until three years later.
At that time, we will have a large number of new warships to serve. Our strong industrial strength is enough to make up for the strength gap between us and Chinese naval warships!" said Theodore Roosevelt.
"Col. Mahan, what is your point of view?" asked President William McKinley. Mahan is a very well-known person in the United States. It was his "Theory of the Sea Power" that aroused the Americans' ambition to expand outwardly.
In addition, Ma Han served as the dean of the Naval Academy and went to the Far East to observe the battles between the Japanese Joint Fleet and the Beiyang Navy, as well as the Japanese Joint Fleet and the Chinese Navy, with rich experience.
"His Excellency President, gentlemen. I have to admit that the Chinese Navy is very strong, and they are also very strong in the Pacific Fleet stationed in Hawaii. However, I think that if the US Navy goes all out, we are not without victory over the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet.
Opportunity. The strength of our 'Indian-class' battleships is slightly inferior to the 'Plateau' class of the Chinese, but the gap is not big. As for the four Chinese armored cruisers, we use two 'Indian-class' battleships to the UK
It can be dealt with. In addition, if we dispatch more cruisers and lightning ships, we will also have the potential to win if we form a military advantage on these two warships!" said Colonel Mahan. Like Theodore Roosevelt, he also tried his best.
The support for the United States' outward expansion has played a great role in the United States' outward expansion.
"So, Colonel Mahan, what you mean is that if we go to war with China, if the Chinese do not send more reinforcements, we might be able to win?" Secretary of State John Sherman also asked.
"No, Your Excellency Secretary of State. In addition to the performance of warships, naval combat is more of a human factor. Our naval soldiers have no energy to fight in practice and cannot be compared with the Chinese navy that has undergone actual combat in this regard. Therefore, if we can
To avoid war, it is better for us not to go directly with the Chinese Navy for the time being!" Colonel Ma Han also said.
President William McKinley nodded: "Okay, let's do it first! We should resolve the dispute through diplomatic means as much as possible. In addition, we ask for help from Britain and France, hoping that they can help us. Finally, contact the Japanese,
We can provide them with another loan so that they can continue to develop their arms and compete with the Chinese for leadership in East Asia!”
"Okay, Your Excellency President! I will contact the British Ambassador to the United States and the Japanese Ambassador to the United States!" Secretary of State John Sherman said.
Nowadays, although the main naval forces of the Atlantic Fleet have all gone to the Pacific Ocean, they have not been able to make the best efforts to go to war with China. They can only rely on diplomatic means and try their best to avoid going to war with China when they are not ready.
In the United States, although outward expansionism has risen, most conservative forces still do not agree with outward expansion. In addition, people do not have much confidence in whether they can defeat their opponents, so this makes William
?The McKinley government has to be careful of the situation.
After the meeting ended, Secretary of State John Sherman immediately met with the British ambassador to the United States and the French ambassador to the United States, expressing them the anger of the United States' rough and rude interference in Hawaii's internal affairs in China, and hoped that they could give the United States support. In this regard,
The interests of Britain, France and the United States are completely consistent. Both ambassadors to the United States said they would convey their opinions to the country and demand that domestically take strict measures against China.
That night, US Secretary of State John Sherman also met with the Japanese ambassador to the United States. John Sherman reiterated the United States' support for Japan and said that the United States can further help Japan reorganize its arms. For Japan, Japan is naturally a big deal.
In the war two years ago, Japan lost completely and owed huge foreign debts. This made the Japanese very difficult, but even so, they gritted their teeth and reorganized their military
. However, because of military expenditure, they were not very fast to reorganize their arms. Now that the Americans are willing to provide help, it is naturally better. After all, they want to avenge their previous shame and regain their losses in the war.
Everything that is lost can only be defeated by defeating China. The olive branch the Americans throw out is exactly what they need. Although they know that the Americans are using them as guns, Japan now has no other choice
The next day, they signed an agreement, and the United States will once again provide Japan with a loan of 20 million US dollars to purchase steel, machinery and equipment from the United States, etc.
On the evening of the 19th, Wang Yuze's study in Xinhua Palace, Beijing. Chief of Staff Xiong Wu and Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang came together.
"You two, don't you have to stay at home with your wife recently? Come to me whenever you have time!" Wang Yuze said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, who said there have been too many things recently? We have no choice!" Xiong Wu said with a smile.
"Okay! What's the matter? Could it be that the Americans react?" Wang Yuze asked. If China has taken Hawaii into his pocket like this, Americans will definitely not give up. Wang Yuze has been waiting for the Americans to come out.
trick.
"The news came from the Admiralty that the main force of the American Atlantic Fleet has set off from the Norfolk Naval Base, including three 'Indiana-class' battleships, more than ten cruisers and more than ten destroyers. It can be said that the main force has come out in full swing!
"Xiong Wu said.
"What? Are the Americans really planning to fight with us? Are the Pacific Fleet confident of defeating the US Navy?" Wang Yuze asked. This battle is crucial for both China and the United States.
"The Secretary Zhang of the Admiralty is organizing wargame deductions, and it is not over yet. However, the information revealed from him is that if the Americans want to fight, the Pacific Fleet should be able to win!" Xiong Wu said.
"That's good!" Wang Yuze said.
"Master, I don't think the fight can be fought." Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang said.
"Oh? What's the reason?" Wang Yuze asked.
"I believe everyone knows the gap between the navy between the two sides. In addition, today, the US ambassador to China Sherlock brought the ambassadors to China from Britain and France to protest, saying that our rough behavior of interfering in the internal affairs of Hawaii is like this.
It is illegal and we are asked to withdraw from Hawaii immediately. But I ignored them!" Wu Tingfang said.
"Don't worry about them! If the United States wants to regain Hawaii, then send the army! Diplomacy must be tough. Actually, I hope the Americans will fight with us in Hawaii, not to mention a total war, even if it is a
The low-intensity naval battle is also very good!" Wang Yuze said.
PS: The fourth update is here! The third update will be tomorrow, and there will be no update in the early morning! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to Piaotian. Registered members of the literature recommend this work. Your support is my greatest motivation.)