MTL - Napoleon II Reborn-Chapter 553 US Navy's Choice
"Damn it! Is the gap between the two sides that big?" Davis slammed the battle report sent by Godfrey on the table. Devouring the novel, he grabbed his hair vigorously. After Godfrey and the others escaped, they immediately sent a telegram to the Admiralty, reporting the details of the naval battle to Davis.
The entire United Fleet suffered heavy losses. Hundreds of warships were lost in less than a day. Only 5 capital ships escaped, and it is not known whether they can quickly escape back to the mainland. At the same time, this caused the strength of the US Navy to suffer a very heavy loss.
From the beginning of the war to the present, in just a few months, the huge US Navy has lost 5 fleets. There are only the last 7 fleets left, and the warships that were originally sufficient have suddenly become insufficient. [bsp;Similarly, it also posed a problem for Davis, whether the fleet going south from the mainland needs to continue going south. The United Fleet has been destroyed, and there is no point in going south.
But if you don't go south and choose to return, then the initiative of the entire naval battle will completely fall into the hands of the French navy. Moreover, if they retreat, the entire Caribbean region will be exposed to the muzzle of the French fleet. The French fleet can break through here, and then directly threaten the continental United States. The United States paid a lot of money to build a complete base and supply network in the Caribbean. Once it is occupied and used by the French, it will undoubtedly be a very huge disaster for the United States. It is even possible to use this place as a base, and then offset the adverse effects of long-distance expeditions. Completely burn the flames of war to the mainland of the United States.
In this case, the United States and Canada will have no chance of winning.
"Come on!" Davis shouted to the outside.
His adjutant immediately opened the door and walked in. "General, what are your orders?"
"Prepare the carriage and go to the White House! Also, inform General Zominsk to go to the White House as well." Davis began to organize the documents on the table.
"Okay, General!" The adjutant quickly went to prepare. This scene is so similar to when the 7th Fleet was killed by the French South Atlantic Fleet. But Davis's temper has completely changed completely. Perhaps, he is exhausted physically and mentally. Despite his efforts to fight, the powerful French navy is still an insurmountable mountain for the United States.
Regarding the next step, it is a strategic issue. He can't make his own decisions, and needs to discuss with the president and the chief of staff, which is related to the future of the United States.
The White House is still brightly lit. It's just that, slightly different from uploading, the time now is past dinner time. Davis no longer has to fear interrupting the meal with the president and his family.
Led by Adams' secretary, Carter, Davis entered Adams' office. To his surprise, both Henry and Brian were there. It turned out that Henry was preparing a homeland defense plan, which required the cooperation of other ministries. For example, relocate some important strategic enterprises to the U.S. region, so that the region can form a complete industrial system, so that the coastal cities will not lose their combat effectiveness after the fall of the coastal cities.
As early as a year ago, the United States was already preparing for it. However, the hastily established industrial system is still relatively weak. Not enough to support the United States to continue the war.
"Davis, you came just in time. The homeland defense plan formulated by the Ministry of War just needs the close cooperation of the Navy." Adams said.
"Oh? However, the army's plan will be discussed later. I have an important battle report to report to you." Davis said with a serious face.
Seeing Davis' face, Adams intuitively thought that it must be bad news again. However, he still pretended to be relaxed and asked: "Could it be that the naval fleet suffered another defeat? Is the loss big this time?"
Davis nodded, and then said: "Just received the battle report, the battle between us and the French Channel Fleet in the waters near the mouth of the Amazon River is over. The combined fleet suffered a disastrous defeat. All cruisers and destroyers were lost, and half of the battleship sank The rest of the battleships are all wounded and are on their way back home after breaking through the siege!"
As soon as Davis finished speaking, the three people present all stared at him dumbfounded. Henry was hanging a cigar in his mouth, was lighting a match, and was about to light the cigarette, but he froze there. Knowing that the match had burned his hand, he hurriedly threw it away in pain.
Everyone did not expect that the navy would suffer such a miserable defeat. Originally, in their expectation, it might be enough to lose another fleet. But I didn't expect that almost all of the huge combined fleet was lost. It directly caused the US naval strength to lose a lot.
"How could this be?" Adams' face darkened.
"Hmph! Hundreds of warships were lost in one day. The navy is really good! If these resources are given to the army, it will be enough for the army to have thousands of extra cannons." Henry said bitterly.
At this time, Zominsk also arrived. Seeing the tense atmosphere in the room, he quickly asked what happened.
After Davis repeated the Navy's losses, Zominsk also fell silent. The fiasco of the navy really shocked them, and they couldn't help but think, is the gap between the United States and France really that big? At the same time, this war casts a shadow on the dream.
"Why is the loss so big this time? I need a reason!" Adams stared at Davis and said, as if he wanted to see through him.
"After the United Fleet returned, it was intercepted by the French Channel Fleet in the waters near the mouth of the Amazon River. During the battle, the United Fleet was unable to defeat the French Channel Fleet. At the same time, the French South Atlantic Fleet arrived and pinched the United Fleet. Therefore, the United Fleet It was a fiasco. In the end, all the cruisers and destroyers had to be abandoned, and they were used to entangle the French fleet, and the remaining five capital ships were able to escape." Davis said indifferently.
"What about the loss to the French?" Bryan asked. Last time, the 7th Fleet lost its combat effectiveness, but failed to cause much damage to the French, which made the United States very dissatisfied.
"The French had two capital ships sunk, the 'Paris' and the 'Marseille', and many other capital ships were damaged. The loss of cruisers and destroyers was at least 80 or more." Dai Weiss replied that the loss of cruisers and destroyers of the French Navy is just a rough guess and not very accurate. But compared with the real casualties of the French fleet, it is indeed not much different.
Hearing Davis' answer, everyone looked better.
"Now, the question before us is whether it is necessary to continue to go south after transferring the five fleets from the mainland. In comparison, the combined fleet no longer exists, and they naturally have no meaning to continue going south. However, if we retreat If this is the case, the French will inevitably occupy the entire Caribbean region. Moreover, it is very likely that they will use this region to cause danger to our mainland. Over the years, we have established a complete base and supporting facilities in the Caribbean region. Once it falls into the French It would be unimaginable if it was in human hands." Davis continued, clearly listing the impact of whether the local southward fleet continued to go south.
"What does the Admiralty mean? However, in my personal opinion, the Caribbean Sea region is very important to our country. Once it is occupied by the French, even if we continue to persist, I am afraid we will not be able to win this war. asked Zominsk. The people present are basically laymen. But it can also be felt that the Caribbean is important to the United States. Since the strength of the French navy was driven out of the western Atlantic region, the Caribbean Sea has become the back garden of the US Navy.
"The Ministry of the Navy means that instead of waiting for the French to attack and let the French eat up our fleet one by one, we simply have a life-and-death decisive battle with the French. The battlefield is in the Caribbean. "Davis said firmly. The more it drags on, the worse it will be for the U.S. Navy.
"Can we win?" Adams asked.
Davis shook his head: "There are only five fleets currently in the Caribbean from the mainland. If these five fleets face the French Navy, we will definitely lose. In addition, the 1st and 2nd Fleets are also In the rapid southward move, with Canada's 4th and 6th Fleets, we will have a half chance of winning. But at the same time, if this battle is lost, the Navy will lose all chips!"
To fight, or not to fight! bothered those present.
"What's your opinion?" Adams asked ~www.novelbuddy.com~ He also hesitated.
Bryan took off his glasses, wiped them, and said, "The Caribbean, it's so important to us, we can't just give it up."
"I am in favor of fighting a battle. With the addition of the two Canadian fleets, we have mobilized a total of nine fleets, and we may not lose to the French." Zominsk said firmly.
"Let's fight, even if the navy loses, we still have the army. The army will be able to fully take on the important task of defending the American homeland." Henry said firmly.
"Since everyone agrees to fight this battle, then, General Davis, you will be fully responsible for preparing for this decisive battle. In addition, the five capital ships that have been withdrawn from South America will also be repaired in China as soon as possible, and equipped with Go to other fleets to restore combat effectiveness as soon as possible," Adams said. Since everyone agreed to a showdown with France, he also agreed smoothly.
After reaching an agreement, Davis immediately issued an order. The five native southward fleets stopped going south and returned to the Lesser Antilles, preparing to join the 1st and 2nd Fleets that continued southward, as well as the Canadian 4th and 6th Fleets, for a final decisive battle with the French Navy.
