War is like this, it's always easier to make a decision, but in practice, there will inevitably be problems of one kind or another.

After the decision of the American side to form an aircraft carrier battle group in Rabaul, there will be a problem with the supply of ammunition...... The troops stationed on Rabaul have at least one Chinese division, plus fighter planes, warships, etc., and these supplies are not a small amount.

As the U.S. front continues to move northward, the U.S. military's logistical supply lines are getting longer and longer, and it is becoming more and more difficult to transport ammunition from the rear to the front line, or more and more transport ships are needed.

More importantly, the next round of the US counteroffensive will be based in Rabaul...... This is determined by the fact that Rabaul is a natural port and an airfield, and the area is large enough, it has enough conditions and space to accommodate the navy, land and air forces, and is an important strategic base, which is one of the reasons why the Allied forces have always targeted Rabaul in the direction of the Solomon Islands. It's just that in history, because they found that the cost of beating Rabaul was too great, they "skipped" it as a last resort.

Therefore, it is conceivable that in the future, Rabaul will definitely be stationed with more troops, more planes and more warships. And these troops, planes, and warships all need ammunition, food, and fuel, if all of this is carried by transport ships...... The U.S. Navy calculated that it would have to take several months to organize an attack.

"That's a problem, gentlemen!" "And it's a huge waste, we have to consume an average of two barrels of oil to get one barrel to Rabaul!" What is even more serious is that the situation will not only not improve, but will continue to worsen as the front continues to move north! ”

Halsey certainly had a point, because if they continued like this, they would only get their supply lines longer and longer, unless the American forces retreated after losing the battle.

"And we don't have enough transports!" Halsey continued: "There are even quite a few of these transports that are civilian, and we have to find a way to reduce the burden of transport!" ”

Of course, the admirals knew this, and they also understood that if there were insufficient supplies, it would mean for the navy and aviation.

After a long silence, a staff officer suggested: "Maybe we can build an arsenal in Rabaul, so that we can produce ammunition in Rabaul without having to ship it from distant Australia!" ”

"Great idea!" "This obviously reduces our supply burden to a great extent," Halsey said. On the other hand, there are still a large number of captives and laborers on Rabaul, which can be put to good use! ”

However, the other generals did not speak.

Halsey couldn't help but ask strangely, "What's wrong?" ”

"General!" Kincaid replied, "But now it is the Chinese army stationed on Rabaul, and the arsenal is ......"

"Please!" Halsey smiled: "Not to mention that China is our ally, even if they are not our allies, what technology and military secrets can they learn from us when they are still in the agricultural period?" ”

The naval officers in the conference room burst into laughter.

The reality is that China is too far behind the United States in industrialization, and even if some technologies are stolen by the Chinese side, they are afraid that they will be eliminated by the United States when they are used in China, so this worry seems to be unnecessary at all.

Obviously, Washington thought the same way, so they quickly agreed to Halsey's proposal.

As a result, Zhang Chi watched in astonishment as the three arsenals of the US military moved into Rabaul one after another, and in order to ensure the safety of these arsenals, they were all built in underground tunnels.

What surprised Zhang Chi even more was ...... These arsenals are also managed by the new 1st Division, that is, guarded by the new 1st Division, security checks, etc., and do not shy away from suspicion at all, and the Americans only send a few technicians and supervisors to guide and supervise in the arsenal.

Later, Zhang Chi felt that it was understandable, because with the current situation in China, it was completely blocked by the devil and couldn't take care of himself, where would he have the heart and ability to steal any military secrets of the US military, even if he did, there was no place to use it.

Even the U.S. military may have the idea that it would be better if they could learn it...... Anyway, the production of these rifles, machine guns, artillery shells, etc., is not high-tech, Chinese learned, and with this production capacity, it will only help the war, as for catching up with and surpassing the United States...... That's still a long way off!

This is the same reason that the United States will be willing to sell some advanced technology and equipment to Japan after the war.

Zhang Chi didn't think too much about it at this time, anyway, this is a good thing for the Chinese army, guns and ammunition can be produced on the island, and the lack of ammunition like Kuah Island is unlikely to happen again.

Another advantage is that the problem of labor employment on the island has been properly solved.

Of course, jobs like the arsenal were not allowed to be handed over to prisoners of war, and the labor force was different, those from Thailand, Burma, the Philippines and other countries...... To be honest, it would be a big waste to let them only grow food on the island. Because the work of growing grain is very seasonal, that is, it is busy for a few days during sowing and autumn harvest, and at other times it is just watching, so if you just grow food, then you spend a lot of time doing nothing.

Now with the arsenal, it's different, and there is still a salary for working in the factory...... The Yankees had money, and they were not at all ambiguous in paying their workers, and they paid each of them about 15 pounds a month. Of course, there is also a set of standards of "more work and more reward" to stimulate workers to work hard.

The reason why the British pound is used is because many of these laborers came to the British colonies, and they know the British pound but not the US dollar, so it is easier to understand and accept the British pound. (Note: At this time, the exchange rate of the British pound to the US dollar is 4.03 US dollars per 1 British pound)

This coke has ruined the laborers, because if they had worked in their own country, they would have been paid a single digit or even less, and now it has multiplied several times in one fell swoop.

Their salary level is about 160 rupees for the captain of the new 1st Division, and Zhang Chi doesn't know whether this salary is high or low, so he asks Pete when he is idle and bored.

Pitt's answer is that the salary level in the United States is about $3,000 per capita per year, which is about $250 a month......

Hearing this, Zhang Chi couldn't help but sigh, the wages received by laborers were only a fraction of the wages of Americans, but it was still like discovering a treasure.

I'm afraid that the standard of living in China at this time is similar to that of these laborers. (To be continued.) )