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"Look at these." The new Prime Minister Chamberlain threw a stack of photos to the Secretary of the Navy Churchill. The photos were scattered on the table, but Churchill knew at a glance that these photos were after the return of the U-211 submarine.
There are group photos of a group of submarine soldiers, frontal photos of several major officers and fun photos during dinner, two close-up photos of the U-211 submarine, and some newspapers and document analysis. Churchill's most troublesome copy.
Churchill also read this document before he came to the prime minister's mansion today, and it is a report-like summary. In 5 days, Britain lost 9 transport ships, and the loss of more than 70,000 tons made him, the Minister of the Navy, almost vomit blood and faint. On the long British sea transportation line, it seems that there are always German submarines ambushing British transport ships. This kind of loss is more chilling than battleships, because if Britain is compared to a person, then compared with chopping fingers, cutting off Arterial damage is greater for a person.
"To be honest, Mr. Xiang, it seems that we have been suppressed by the Germans so far. Our navy has suffered heavy losses from the German sneak attack and has almost lost the command of the sea on which we rely for survival; our air force has suffered heavy losses and can no longer maintain The safety of the skies over Europe, and now our transport fleet has also suffered losses, and the speed of the losses is astounding... All of these make it impossible for us to see the hope of winning." Churchill weighed for a long time, frowning and said. While speaking, he glanced at the secretary-like man standing behind Chamberlain. Churchill, who had been on the battlefield, felt that this man was very dangerous.
But what he went on to say was his real thought: "However, the most intolerable thing is that the sea power and hegemony of our British Empire have been provoked, and we have to make a choice whether to bow our heads to die or continue to be the masters of the world." The choice - I guess it's not hard to choose, we have to fight to the death! Give the Germans a hard blow and then show them how naive they are."
Churchill was one of the core members of the main combat faction, and Chamberlain was obviously not keen on fighting the Germans to the end. He hoped to use a victory to conclude a peace treaty, and then limit the development of the German army as he did after World War I. So he brought Churchill this time just to put pressure on this hardliner, so that the soldiers on the front line could quickly make a decent victory to force the Germans back to the negotiating table.
"Just this month, we lost tens of thousands of tons of steel raw materials, and even a ship full of agricultural products from Canada was sunk. This is not good news for our island country. On the other hand, the After you took over the Royal Navy, we had more than 70,000 tons of warships sunk. His Majesty the King is already very disturbed by this war, so I called you here to hear you tell the truth, not you Shout slogans to me." Chamberlain's face was very unfriendly, his eyebrows moved, and he said with anger.
He pointed to the map behind him, stared at Churchill and continued: "Just a few days ago,
Japan invaded Shanghai, China. This terrible war destroyed our financial investment in Shanghai, and destroyed our concession there. Last British were killed, and we couldn't spare any troops to put pressure on Japan. They Up to now, I haven't even given me an apology statement! "
"Mr. Xiang! The Far East issue is only a matter of interests! We have indeed suffered losses, but it will not affect our international status in the slightest! But on the European continent, Germany is destroying the European order we have established! This devastating blow to Britain I can't bear it, and you will naturally understand which is more important, so I don't need to say more, right?" Churchill said helplessly.
"Then let's talk about some topics that are really related to the destiny of the country." Chamberlain nodded his finger on the table and said with some annoyance: "Mr. Churchill! Would you like to tell me when your naval fleet can solve the problem?" The German Navy, like in World War I, blockading them in the port so that they can no longer pose a threat to our supply lines?"
Churchill knew that he couldn't answer this question, and Chamberlain would definitely ask this very embarrassing question in order to make him speechless. But he had to answer, so Churchill had to carefully consider the language, and replied: "Mr. Xiang, the combat effectiveness of the Royal Navy has not recovered now, and we cannot guarantee victory in offensive operations. Therefore, I suggest that we should shift our focus to Escort this issue up."
"That's right! You have allocated a full 3 million pounds, enough to build a new battleship, to renovate existing battleships. It turned out to be to add some small-caliber artillery to these battleships! For this modification plan, you actually decided to suspend it. The construction of four new cruisers." Chamberlain said indignantly: "Is the German aircraft carrier fleet more terrifying than their submarines?"
"Mr. Xiang, if I can't ensure the air safety of the entire fleet, then I can't make up my mind to carry out a fleet decisive battle. This makes it possible for the German naval fleet, that is, the aircraft carrier fleet to attack our transportation line. This risk is very huge. Yes, once the opponent’s aircraft carrier appears on the North Atlantic route, our transportation line will collapse.” Churchill obviously understands war better than someone who has never fought a war like Chamberlain, especially when he is the Secretary of the Navy, he understands the difficulties of the navy better. .
"Then how long is it estimated that your renovation plan will be completed?" Chamberlain also knew that he could not take advantage of professional issues, so he immediately changed the subject and asked about other aspects.
"Most of the navy's anti-aircraft weapons are very old, because to keep the local waters safe, I can only arrange for a few warships to be refitted at a time, so it will take at least 6 months or 9 months to complete." Churchill has put The speed that could have been guaranteed has increased by one year, but I still feel a little guilty.
Sure enough, even Chamberlain is a military idiot and knows that time waits for no one. In half a year, he will lose tens of thousands of tons of transport ships. This kind of disaster is enough to completely collapse the United Kingdom.
"We can't wait that long, we must fight back immediately! If the navy can't do it! Then we can only rely on the army. You must have known the loss report of the air force. They shame me even more than the navy. Lost 410 fighter jets in one breath." Chamberlain seemed to be a bit dizzy when he mentioned these losses, and now he felt like crying without tears.
Why is it that when other people became the Prime Minister of the British Empire, the world was peaceful, and there was good news of successful expansion everywhere, but after I became a prime minister, the news I received every day was that there was another defeat here, and there was a loss there. He took the throne of the most unlucky British Prime Minister of the year.
"What kind of dollar is that in Germany? Is it really a gift from God to Germany? How did the weak Germany become so difficult in just a few years?" Chamberlain said angrily as he slapped the table. Hearing this, the eyes of the man standing behind him focused, but still did not move.
"I don't believe that this shit Akado has anything to do with God, he's just a speculator who runs errands for that old guy Sickert!" Churchill can be said to be one of the people who has studied Akado most in the UK Yes, because the intelligence from Smith gave him a deeper understanding of Germany's preparations for war.
So he said to Chamberlain: "They didn't rise in just a few years. Under Sickert's auspices, Akado participated in the German army's secret development plan very early. We got "Pluto Project" The copy is half-true and half-false, missing a lot of core content, which makes us give up our guard against German ambitions."
"If Colonel Smith's analysis is correct, the Germans began secretly arming themselves again in late 1919, accelerated their pace in 1925 because of our blind support, and by 1930 their armed forces had surpassed the World War I." Churchill narrowed his eyes and said, "So they give people the illusion of rapid rise, but it's actually just a ridiculous blindfold."
Hearing what Churchill said, the man standing behind Chamberlain raised his eyebrows, glanced at Churchill, and then stood there silently. It seems that the conversation with the Secretary of the Navy has nothing to do with him.
"It is useless to say anything now," said Chamberlain with a sigh. "Either we must look to the Army to win the war, or we shall be compelled to accept the terms of the Germans and make ourselves their lackeys. "
"There is another way! Mr. Xiang." Churchill thought for a while, and then said with a tone full of sorrow: "We sell part of our overseas interests, get some warships from the Americans, and enrich our navy."
"American? Are you sure you can do it?" Chamberlain seemed very interested in this proposal and asked hastily.
"That depends on whether we have enough chips." Churchill said helplessly.
"In this way, this plan cannot be easily implemented." Chamberlain shook his head and said, "His Majesty the King and the cabinet will not agree to the surrender of many benefits. We have to find another way."
"If, I mean if, Mr. Xiang, we seem to be able to use some extraordinary means to change our passive situation." The man who had been silent behind Chamberlain finally spoke.
"You? Are you sure?" Chamberlain looked at the man and asked back.
"I want to use my people, and even if it fails, Britain will have no loss." The man said in a low voice.
Chamberlain stared at the man for a few seconds, then nodded with satisfaction: "Okay! I approve this operation! The Secretary of the Navy will fully assist you."
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