Chapter 465: The wind rises from the Pacific Ocean
On June 13, a huge fleet was sailing westward in the vast Eastern Pacific Ocean. The thick black smoke sent from the chimneys of the warships covered the sky and the sun, like a huge cloud. The warship passed by
The sea leaves traces of water.
This fleet is the US West Coast Fleet. The fleet set off from the San Diego Naval Base yesterday and was preparing to go to Hawaii to fight the Chinese Navy Pacific Fleet. Almost all the US Navy officers and soldiers hope to defeat the Chinese Navy Pacific Fleet this time.
The former shame. However, the actual situation is not very optimistic. Even though the strength of the US Navy has been greatly enhanced, the strength of the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet has also been strengthened. Under such circumstances, can the US Navy still win?
?At least, General Mahan, the commander of the US Navy's West Coast Fleet, cannot guarantee it. The failure two years ago is still vivid in my mind.
On the US Navy's West Coast Fleet's flagship battleship, the West Coast Fleet Commander Admiral Mahan stood by the side of the ship, looking at the huge fleet that was riding the wind and waves, his heart was filled with sighs. He didn't know that after the war was over,
How many of these warships can be left? Although, as the commander of the fleet, his idea was a bit wrong. But General Ma Han had to think about it this way.
In the view of Admiral Ma Han, now is not the best time to fight the decisive battle with the Chinese Navy Pacific Fleet. Or it is earlier, and the decisive battle with the Chinese Navy Pacific Fleet before the strength of the Chinese Navy Pacific Fleet was strengthened. At that time, the United States was the first to fight the decisive battle with the Chinese Navy Pacific Fleet before its strength was strengthened.
The Navy's West Coast Fleet can still have a great advantage. But now, the Chinese Navy has dispatched some warships from its local fleet to strengthen the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet. Even some old warships that have been in service for several years, the performance of these warships is still
Much better than the warships equipped by the US Navy. Not to mention, the performance of the "Sichuan-class" battleships and "Chengdu-class" heavy cruisers equipped by the Chinese Navy is better than the "Illinois-class" battleships and "New York-class" armors of the US Navy
The cruiser is much stronger. Therefore, Admiral Mahan does not have the confidence to win.
If possible, General Mahan would rather fight the Chinese Navy and the combined fleets of Britain, France and Russia before the victory or defeat was decided by the Chinese Navy and the Pacific Fleet. However, sadly, the military must obey politics. Britain put pressure on the United States.
If the US Navy remains unmoved, then Britain will cut off all the aid from the United States. And after defeating China, the United States will be excluded from the ranks of victorious countries. This is absolutely not allowed to happen to the United States.
.So, after discussion, the US government decided to send the West Coast Fleet to the decisive battle against the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet. The US Navy's West Coast Fleet concentrated all the battleships and armored cruisers of the US Navy, as well as half of the cruisers and destroyers. If the West Coast Fleet is defeated again
If the war is probably going to burn to the United States. Admiral Ma Han knows that China has deployed nearly 200,000 troops on Hawaii. If the West Coast fleet is defeated and these troops are killed to the United States, the United States will be weak.
How can the army withstand the attack of the powerful Chinese army? The Chinese army has verified their strength on the battlefield.
"General, are you still in a dilemma? Since Minister Theodore Roosevelt has issued an order on behalf of the government, we can only obey it. And we must find a way to win. Otherwise, for the United States, it will be
A huge disaster!" Lieutenant General Benson, deputy commander of the U.S. Navy's West Coast Fleet, came to Admiral Mahan and said. There is no doubt that if he was defeated again this time, I am afraid that this U.S. government will resign in addition to resigning.
There is no other way. After the defeat of the last war, the United States not only gave up Hawaii, but also compensated China for 80 million pounds, which hit the US economy hard. If the United States continues to lose this time, it will definitely make more efforts.
It's a heavy price.
"Benson, what do you think of this war?" General Ma Han asked.
"General, although China has shown extremely strong combat power in this war. A country fights five powerful countries at the same time and has an advantage. However, China, both in military and economic terms,
It has reached its limit. With one failure, the momentum that China has finally accumulated will collapse. At that time, it will be very easy for us to win the war!" Lieutenant General Benson said.
"Let China fail? Do you think this is possible? Are we, or the British, French and Russian?" A sarcastic smile flashed across Admiral Mahan's face. He was very dissatisfied with the government's orders.
The government is too optimistic and believes that the combined fleet of the British, French and Russian countries will definitely win. If the United States does not take action now, it will be in vain in the end. Therefore, the government can't wait to order the West Coast fleet to defeat the Chinese naval local fleet before the Chinese Navy was defeated by the combined fleet of the British, French and Russian countries.
The Chinese Navy Pacific Fleet, to show the United States' contribution to this war.
"General, we are not incapable of defeating the Chinese Navy Pacific Fleet. Although the Chinese Navy Pacific Fleet has been strengthened, we are not bad either. Moreover, the current US Navy soldiers have been transformed from two years ago.
It has changed. This time, we will definitely let the Chinese know our awesomeness!" Lieutenant General Benson said confidently.
"So, what about the decisive battle between the British, French and Russian joint fleet and the Chinese naval local fleet? Who do you think will win?" General Ma Han asked.
"General, is there any doubt about this? The combined fleet of Britain, France and Russia has twenty-nine battleships and ten armored cruisers. The Chinese have only eight battleships and eight heavy cruisers. The British, France and Russia have overwhelming
Advantages. Even if the Chinese warships are more advanced, I believe that in the face of overwhelming numerical advantages, the advantages of warship performance can be compensated!" Lieutenant General Benson said with great affirmation.
Admiral Mahan smiled and said nothing. He knew that Lieutenant General Benson's view was the mainstream view of the United States. The US government and the military believed that the United Kingdom, France and Russia's joint fleet would win, but Ma
The Han general didn't think so. He believed that the result of this naval battle would probably be beyond everyone's expectations. Even as an American, he really hoped that China would be defeated. However, he could not restrain himself.
This thought deep in his heart. General Ma Han was a little sad. He proposed the "Sea Power Theory", but his motherland could not become the overlord of the sea, which was indeed a very sad thing.
"Don't worry, Benson, for the sake of the United States, I will try my best to win this victory!" Admiral Ma Han showed a smile on his face, patted Lieutenant General Benson on the shoulder, and said with a smile.
At this moment, the Chinese Navy Pacific Fleet also went to sea from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The huge fleet left the military port and sailed to the east to win another victory for the empire. The strengthened Pacific Fleet has five battleships
, Eight heavy cruisers, 14 light cruisers and 20 destroyers. The combat power of the fleet is twice as powerful as before it was strengthened. This makes the fleet commander General Li Dingxin and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gao Yihai full of this battle
Confidence. Although the strength of the US Navy's West Coast Fleet has also been greatly enhanced, they still believe that the victory of this war must belong to the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet!
Washington, the United States, has focused all the attention of the US government on the upcoming naval war. For the US government, this battle is also crucial. If it fails, including President William McKinley,
No one can bear the anger of the people.
On the evening of June 13, Washington time, US President William McKinley asked Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt and Secretary of War Russell A. Alger to have dinner together, and then the discussion on the battle situation began. Although, the United States
It has been three months since the election, but this is the first time the United States has taken military action against China. To be honest, US President William McKinley has no idea whether this war can be won.
"His Excellency President, the Chinese have achieved great victory in this war. On land, Russia was beaten and retreated step by step, and the Russians lost the Far East, East Siberia and Central Asia, which made Russia at least
Almost half of the territory was lost. Although these territory were barren lands. However, in terms of the Russians' love and desire for land, this was something that Tsar Nicholas II was absolutely unwilling to accept. It can be foreseeable that China and
The Russian war will continue for a long time. Tsar Nicholas II, the stubborn emperor, will definitely not let it go. The British and French lost the South China Sea. Now, the Chinese are about to win the Nanyang region.
The Japanese lost all their navy and are now trapped on several small islands. With China's blockade of Japan, it is said that Japan has begun to experience famine and the situation is very critical. The British, French and Russian joint fleet is expeditioning to China, which is almost
It is everyone's last hope! Of course, I am very optimistic that the British, French and Russian joint fleet will definitely win. After all, their advantages are too obvious!" Minister of War Russell Ah Alger took a sip
After coffee, analyze.
After hearing Russell A. Alger's analysis, US President William McKinley nodded. He himself was inclined to this view. Otherwise, he would not have sent the US Navy West Coast Fleet to the Chinese Navy Pacific Fleet.
The decision to initiate the decisive battle! (To be continued.)
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