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The current US government urgently needs a victory to divert the attention of the domestic people and enhance the confidence of the people. After being defeated by China last year, although the William McKinley administration has taken many measures to arouse people's anger towards China
.However, many Americans still have great doubts about whether they should embark on the path of external expansion. If they can win a victory, then there will be great benefits for the United States. Of course, if
If it fails again, the United States' outward expansion path will probably have to be completely closed. Therefore, the goal this time is to choose the weak Spain.
Although, hundreds of years ago, Spain was still the world's number one power. However, after the Invincible Armada was defeated by the British, Spain quickly fell. A large number of colonies were in full swing, and the domestic economic and industrial development was also very good.
The slowness of this country has made Spain become a weak country. Therefore, the US government has the courage to challenge this old colonial country.
After obtaining the consent of President William McKinley, the US Army and Navy quickly prepared. However, they still needed an excuse, an excuse to start a war with Spain that all Americans could accept. However, such excuses were always
It's very easy to find.
The Maine is an old-fashioned armored cruiser that was in service in 1886. However, today, the Maine is completely behind and cannot play any role in naval battles. Because Cuba
The warship broke out against Spain and was sent to Cuba to carry out a mission to protect overseas Chinese.
In January 1898, the Maine was sailed from Key West, Florida, USA to Havana. Three weeks later, at 9:40 pm on February 15, an explosion occurred at the Maine parked in the Port of Havana. The power of the explosion
The huge, almost blown up one-third of the hull on the front side, and the rest of the wreckage quickly sank into the sea, killing 266 people, most of whom were soldiers. When the explosion, the officers of the ship were almost on the land, with only two officers.
On the ship. The US accused the Maine explosion was the result of Spain's first-hand planning. On March 27, the US ambassador to Spain requested a ceasefire in Cuba and the cancellation of concentration camp laws. In order to avoid fighting against the United States, Spain in April
The truce was announced on the 9th. However, the US Congress issued a resolution: declared that Cuba has the right to **, demanded that Spain withdraw from Cuba, authorize the president to use force, and declared that the United States has no intention of annexing Cuba. On April 22, the US Navy blocked Cuba ports. April
On the 24th, Spain declared war on the United States, and the next day, the United States also declared war on Spain.
After the "Maine" incident, the Western government sent a fleet (6 warships, commanded by P. Severa) to defend Puerto Rico and entered the Port of Santiago on May 19. The North Atlantic Squadron of the United States (7 combat ships)
The commander was W.T. Sampson) immediately blocked the port and asked the army to cooperate with the annihilation of the western fleet in the port. However, after the 5th Army of the US Army (about 17,000 people, commanded by W. Shaft) landed east of San Diego,
Adhere to the goal of capturing Santiago City; 1,700 casualties were killed and killed in the battle to capture the commanding heights in the east of the city. On July 3, the Western Fleet was ordered to withdraw from the Port of Santiago and was annihilated by the US fleet outside the port, killing 160 people and capturing 1,800 people (
Including Severa). The United States only suffered one casualties. On the 16th, Santiago City was out of food under the siege of Cuban rebels and US troops, and about 23,000 defenders inside and outside the city surrendered. On the 25th, US Army Commander N.A. Myers led
The expeditionary force landed in Puerto Rico. The Western government sought peace. On August 12, the United States and the West agreed to stop military operations. In Cuba, the US team also won steadily, defeating a unit of Spanish army in Cuba, thus causing the war
The onshore situation is beneficial to the United States.
In Asia, when the United States declared war on Spain, China also threatened Spain with war. On April 27, the Chinese Empire’s Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang gave a note to Li Mei, the Spanish Minister to China, for the Chinese who were caught in the Philippines by Spanish colonists.
and the indigenous massacres expressed great indignation.
Li Mei was shocked. Spain is now going to war with the United States. Where can we have the strength to face a stronger China? The murder of Chinese in the Philippines is a common occurrence. China will do this matter later.
The intention can also be imagined.
"His Excellency Wu Tingfang, I don't know about this. I will respond to the country and ask the Philippine Governor Basilio Augustine to give China a satisfactory reply!" Li Mei said immediately. Now, Spain has decided to do its best to the United States and the United States.
After a war, if China takes the opportunity to invade the Philippines, Spain will not be able to resist it. The Chinese defeated the Americans last year, and it was not something that the declining Spain could deal with.
"Okay, three days, I'll give you three days. If the empire cannot satisfy it, the empire will use all means to protect the lives and property of the empire's people outside!" Wu Tingfang said firmly.
"Okay, Mr. Wu Tingfang, I will give your country an answer as soon as possible!" Li Mei replied bitterly. From Wu Tingfang's attitude, he could tell that China was preparing to swallow the fat piece of Philippines in one bite.
Li Mei contacted Spain at the first time, and Spain was also shocked. Spanish King Alfonso XIII instructed Li Mei to reach an agreement with the Chinese and to protect Spain's colonies in Asia as much as possible.
The Spanish ambassador to Britain and France also urgently asked for the foreign ministers and foreign ministers of the two countries to request support from both countries. The two countries expressed their support for Spain.
The British Minister to China Jurden and French Minister to China Pierre asked Wu Tingfang to mediate the conflict between China and Spain. However, Wu Tingfang refused sternly, indicating that this was a matter between China and Spain, and hoped that Britain and France would
Don't interfere in both countries.
Seeing Wu Tingfang so tough, Britain and France naturally knew that China must swallow up the Asian colonies of Spain. And they had just decided to go to war against China in two years, and it is difficult to change their decision now. In addition, this time
The United States first provoked the war against Spain, so they were even more difficult to say. So they had to show Spain that the mediation failed and then ignore the matter.
At the same time, a fleet consisting of heavy cruisers "Xi'an", light cruisers "Mianyang" and "Deyang", destroyers "Dujiangyan", "Pengzhou", "Qionglai" and "Chongzhou", have already
Going out from Zhanjiang Port, Guangdong, to cross the South China Sea, and launch an attack on the Spanish fleet in the Philippines. In addition, a large number of transport ships have been loaded with the 5th Marine Brigade and set off with the fleet. The 8th Marine Brigade and 9th Marine Corps
, will follow up later. This fleet is led by Major General Li Haitao, chief of staff of the Royal Navy's local fleet.
On April 30, Spanish Minister to China Li Mei submitted a solution to the persecution of Chinese in the Philippines to Wu Tingfang. In the plan, the Spanish government proposed that it would improve the status of Chinese in Spain and protect their personal and property safety.
At the same time, compensation will be given to the families of the victim Chinese, and it will be guaranteed that such a situation will not happen again.
To be honest, this plan is already very good, and Spain has made great concessions. However, China does not agree with the solution proposed by the Spanish government.
On the afternoon of April 30, Wu Tingfang officially declared war on Spain on behalf of China. Li Mei, the Spanish ambassador to China, who had long guessed that this would be the result, also declared war on China on behalf of Spain. The war between China and Spain officially broke out.
.
The Western world accuses China of taking advantage of the situation. However, China ignores these things at all. In the eyes of the Western world, China is their enemy. Naturally, China does not have to take into account their views.
On May 1, the fleet led by Major General Li Haitao appeared near the Philippines. Faced with the arrival of the Chinese Navy, the Spanish Navy, who had been prepared, did not hide, but chose to fight fiercely with the Chinese Navy. That morning, the two
The Navy encountered a fierce battle outside the Bay of Manila. As early as after China declared war on Spain, Major General Don Patricio Montojo, the commander of the Spanish fleet, was already waiting for the war. Even though Spain was already serious
The declining, but Spain also has its own dignity and glory. The Spanish navy he led fought to defend Spain's last glory.
The Spanish Navy has only seven warships, and the most advanced warship is the cruiser Reina Christina with a displacement of 3,500 tons. The main gun is 155 mm. The rest is a wooden cruiser.
The Tillia, and there are five destroyers and gunboats with displacements of 500 to 1,100 tons. The Chinese Navy's squadron has an overwhelming advantage over them. Even the displacement of the heavy cruiser of the Xi'an is
Beyond the entire Spanish fleet.
The naval battle broke out at 11 a.m. on May 1. Major General Don Patricio Montojo knew the disadvantages of the Spanish fleet. He commanded the fleet and launched an attack on the Chinese Navy, hoping to bring the distance between the two sides closer.
At 11:20, when the distance between the two sides was still 6 kilometers, Admiral Li Haitian ordered the fleet to open fire. The two double-mounted 280mm main guns of the heavy cruiser Xi'an were immediately targeted at Reina Christina.
The cruiser ' fired. Other warships also chose targets one by one, basically taking a one-on-one approach to attack the Spanish fleet.
The old Spanish fleet was obviously not an opponent of the Chinese Navy. However, they launched an attack on the Chinese Navy like sea knights.
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