Chapter 1177: Roosevelt's Persistence
"Your Excellency, the Pacific Fleet has suffered such heavy losses? Do we still have the strength to guarantee security in the eastern Pacific Ocean? Will it be possible to hold the Hawaiian Islands? Or will it be able to keep the West Coast safe? If the Chinese attack the western coast, it will inevitably cause panic among the people. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info When the time comes, the government will be under a lot of pressure. Secretary of State Kirdell Hull asked. He also did not expect that the US Navy would suffer such heavy losses just after the war began, which was tantamount to giving the United States a hard turn and knocking the United States unconscious.
"The War Department has ordered the army and army aviation to assemble on the west coast, and if the Chinese dare to come, we will definitely make them pay a heavy price." Secretary of War Harry H. Woodlin said.
But the people don't think so. As long as Chinese planes travel on the western coast, or Chinese warships appear in the waters off the coast of the United States, they will be terrified and panic. I'm sure that soon there will be a massive migration in the western region. I don't know how many Americans will leave their homes and flee to the central interior or the east. Interior Minister Hadro L. Icks said.
"The government should try to do a good job of ideological work among the people, and make them understand that although the United States is temporarily at a disadvantage, with our strong industrial strength, we will definitely not be at a disadvantage forever. We will soon defeat our enemies. President Roosevelt said.
"Your Excellency President, the size of the Chinese Navy is very large, if even the Pacific Fleet, which we have painstakingly managed, is easily defeated by the Chinese, how much more money do we need to build an even larger fleet to defeat the Chinese?" Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr. asked. Of course, many conglomerates in the United States want to go to war. In this way, the military-industrial complex under their control will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to transfer to a large number of profits. However, there is a premise for this, that is, the United States can win the war. If the United States is not able to win the war, but is likely to lose it, the consequences will be catastrophic. These consortia will also be wiped out.
"The Chinese deceived us before. In fact, the Chinese have always attached great importance to the development and use of aircraft carriers. However, on the surface, they developed battleships, which eventually led us to this point of no return. At the time of their surprise attack on Oahu's military port, twelve large aircraft carriers and twenty-four small aircraft carriers were dispatched. With the shipbuilding strength of the United States, we can also vigorously develop aircraft carriers. This time, we will not be deceived by the Chinese again. It's going to be very easy for us to beat them. Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson said.
"Since the Chinese already have so many aircraft carriers, no matter how much we develop, I'm afraid it will be useless." We can build aircraft carriers on a large scale, and the Chinese can also build aircraft carriers vigorously. Let's not forget that the industrial strength and shipbuilding strength of the Chinese are not weaker than ours, or even stronger. Henry Morgenthau Jr. said.
President Roosevelt's brows were tightly furrowed, and he knew that everyone was frightened by the heavy losses of the Pacific Fleet, and also by the great strength of the Chinese Navy. That's why they don't want to keep fighting. However, if he bowed to the Chinese in this way, Roosevelt was too unwilling. He finally led the American people out of the economic crisis, and he also wanted to further lead the United States to develop into the world's largest power. It would be a shame to give up like that.
"Ladies and gentlemen, do you think that the United States is unwilling to defeat China?" President Roosevelt asked.
The senior cabinet officials kept silent one by one. However, you can tell from their expressions that they think exactly that.
President Roosevelt smiled and said, "Do you think I'll be able to stand up?" ”
"Your Excellency, are you kidding? Everybody knows your situation. Secretary of State Kirdell Hull said.
"No, I'm going to tell you that miracles are not impossible. As everyone thinks, I'll never get up. But now I'm going to show you how the miracle happens. President Roosevelt said.
With that, he moved the wheelchair backwards, and then propped his hands on the armrests, trying to stand up from the wheelchair on his own strength.
"Your Excellency, your body is important, don't be so reckless." Commerce Secretary Hopkins advised.
"It's okay, I'll show you the miracle." Roosevelt said stubbornly, he stopped the secretary from coming to help him, and his two hands continued to exert force, and finally stood up on his own strength. Of course, when he did all this, his forehead was already covered with beads of sweat, and there was a piercing pain in both feet. However, in order to convince these high-ranking cabinet officials, he could only grit his teeth and struggle to support it.
"Oh God! How is this possible? How is it possible for His Excellency the President to stand up on his own? The cabinet ministers were stunned.
"Look, that's a miracle. Just as everyone thinks that it is impossible for the United States to defeat China, I would like to tell you that miracles are absolutely possible. As long as we firmly grasp this opportunity, do not give up, and work hard, we will succeed one day. Roosevelt said with a smile.
The cabinet ministers, who had originally held opposing views, were speechless one by one.
"Since there is no objection, then, I declare that from now on, the United States will enter a state of war. American industry was transferred to a wartime system. The War Department and the Admiralty will place more orders to ensure that we win this war. Gentlemen, I will say that our enemies are strong. However, the United States is just as strong. Although they relied on underhanded means to gain the upper hand. However, this advantage obtained by means of underweight means cannot be long-lasting. In the future, victory will surely belong to the United States of America. President Roosevelt said.
"Yes, Your Excellency." This was stated by the US ministers.
"Alright, now the meeting is adjourned, let's all go back and prepare. The Secretaries of War, the Navy, and the Secretaries of Commerce stay for a moment. President Roosevelt said.
When the cabinet ministers had left, President Roosevelt sat back in his chair, his suit soaked with sweat, and he was about to collapse as if he had been fished out of the water.
"Your Excellency, how are you? Nothing serious, right? You're taking a lot of risk. Hopkins and the others looked concerned.
"I'm fine, I'm fine now. Although a little tired. But it's a great feeling to get back on my feet on my own. President Roosevelt said with a smile.
"Your Excellency, those guys are stunned, it's funny." Minister Harry H. Woodlin said.
"Well, gentlemen, there is no one to stop us from going to wartime now. From now on, the United States of America will fight our enemies with all its might. We must defeat a strong enemy and win the final victory. You two are military experts, and you should know very well how we can defeat the Chinese. You can ask as much as you want, and as long as I can meet it, I will do my best to meet it. President Roosevelt said.
"Your Excellency, we want to keep the West Coast safe first and foremost. Once the Hawaiian Islands were lost, the West Coast was exposed to the attacks of the carrier-based aircraft of the Chinese Navy. We need to build as many radar stations as possible on the West Coast, deploy as many fighters, bombers and Army soldiers as possible, and build a steel defense line on the West Coast to prevent Chinese landings on the West Coast. If the Chinese landed on the West Coast, it would be a disaster for the United States of America. Minister Harry H. Woodlin said.
Roosevelt nodded, if the West Coast is attacked by the Chinese, or if the Chinese * army lands directly on the West Coast, the impact will indeed be too great.
"What about the Navy?" President Roosevelt asked.
"Your Excellency, we were guided by the Chinese and took a detour in naval construction. Now, we're going to make it right. At the shipyard, two more aircraft carriers are being built, the USS Wasp and the USS Hornet. I will ask the shipyard to expedite the construction period as much as possible so that these two aircraft carriers can be commissioned as soon as possible. In addition, the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier fleet is very large, and if we want to defeat them, we must not be inferior to them in this regard. Therefore, the Navy will place orders with shipyards to build aircraft carriers of the first class capable of mass production, in order to shorten the gap with the number of aircraft carriers of the Chinese, and even eventually surpass them. Claude A. Swanson said.
Roosevelt nodded, if the Navy wants to defeat the Chinese, it is indeed unrealistic if there is no strong aircraft carrier fleet.
"In terms of carrier-based aircraft, the gap between us and the Chinese is also very large. The SBD Dreadnought dive bomber and the TBD Devastator torpedo attack aircraft are still sufficient. However, the gap between carrier-based fighters and the Chinese is very large. Buffalo fighters are completely suppressed by Chinese fighters in air combat, and we need to purchase more advanced fighters. Claude A. Swanson continued.
"Okay, you can do it in this regard, I will give you the greatest support." President Roosevelt said.
"Your Excellency, we gave so much support to Soviet Russia before the outbreak of the war, and now it is time for them to fulfill their promises. If Soviet Russia can launch an attack on the Chinese Empire, it can also relieve our pressure. Hopkins said.
"That's right, contact the Russians, it's time for them to fulfill their promises." Roosevelt nodded. (To be continued.) )