Chapter 975 Two Problems

"General Groves, how is our Manhattan project going?" Roosevelt said to the hurried old general at the White House.

In the United States, the study of atomic energy is also a very secret project, the Manhattan Project, which only a very few people know about.

After being reminded by scientists, Roosevelt established a uranium advisory committee and began to implement a huge research program.

This work has formed a top policy leadership group consisting of the President himself, Vice President Henry Agard Wallace, Secretary of the Army Henry Lewis Stimson, Army Chief of Staff George Cartwright Marshall, Van Nivard Bush and James? Conant et al.

When the practice of atomic energy research led both the U.S. government and scientists to the conclusion that it was possible to create a nuclear weapon that could certainly be used in war. As a result, President Roosevelt approved the nuclear program report submitted by Bush and decided to form a new engineering district to carry out the task. At this time, Groves, the deputy secretary of the construction department, participated, and now he became the Manhattan engineering district. the commander.

Groves is here, of course, to report on the progress of the Manhattan Project.

"We have established a secret base in Oak Ridge. Various projects and supporting facilities are being improved. Our project will be launched soon." Groves said: "However, now we have encountered two a problem."

Groves deeply recognized the importance of the Manhattan Project and was meticulous about the entire project. Now, he is coming to Roosevelt to report the important situation.

"Go ahead," Roosevelt said.

"The first is that our project requires a large amount of uranium ore." Groves said: "This is the raw material for making nuclear weapons, and we have not found uranium ore in the United States for the time being."

"Where?" Roosevelt asked.

"Congo." Groves said: "Congo is the main source of uranium ore. Now, in our country, there is a Belgian businessman Edgar Senger who came to take refuge. We have investigated and found that Senger has More than 1,250 tons of rich ore are stored in our Staten Island cargo terminal.”

Roosevelt immediately patted his thigh, although there was no consciousness there for a long time: "Okay, this is simply too convenient, I will trade with him immediately, no matter how much the price is, I will get this batch of ore. If If he refuses, then we will directly requisition!"

It is already a state of war. In this case, personal interests must be subordinated to national interests!

"We've got him," Groves said. "Nichols has made a deal with Senger. Senger has agreed to give us the ore in the depot, but it's not enough. We still need Ship all the uranium ore mined in Belgian Congo to the United States."

To make an atomic bomb, the uranium needed is highly enriched, and a large amount of uranium ore can only extract a tiny bit of uranium. It can be said that this thing is definitely hundreds of thousands of times that of gold.

The more than 1,000 tons of uranium ore is only enough for the initial use. In the later stage, more uranium ore must be shipped!

Shipping from Congo is not that simple. This concerns, for example, transport at sea.

Now that the Germans have occupied Europe, the German fleet is constantly showing their presence in the Atlantic, where the United States and Germany are at war with the possibility of war at any time.

Originally, it was relatively safe to go to the Indian Ocean and then go around the Pacific Ocean, although it was farther away, but now that the Pacific War has broken out, it is no longer safe here.

So, when Groves came to report to Roosevelt, he asked the president for a decision.

"Let's go to the Atlantic Ocean." Roosevelt said: "Do a good job of keeping secrets, and the Germans should not notice. At the same time, let our fleet guard nearby. If we encounter German warships, we will not hesitate to fight."

Just from the Congo, it was in the South Atlantic, walking around the Germans' area, that's all right, right?

Roosevelt was confident in this, and his own Atlantic fleet had not suffered any losses. How difficult would it be to complete an escort mission?

Groves nodded: "Okay, that requires the cooperation of the navy. The second thing is that we have noticed that Germany has transported a large amount of heavy water from the Norwegian Wemok chemical plant. Heisenberg is very concerned about these Heavy water is very important.”

These words of Groves made Roosevelt's eyelids twitch wildly.

The United States has determined that Germany is developing nuclear weapons, but the United States is powerless and beyond its reach. How can the United States prevent the Germans from making nuclear weapons in the first place?

Now, there is a good way! Heavy water plant in Norway!

Germany is quite secretive, and the United States can’t get involved at all. However, outside Germany, the Germans will not pay so much attention, especially Norway. Although they have already joined Germany, there is no direct German garrison, and neither does the Gestapo. Activities in Norway.

Getting there is easy!

"Let Churchill do this. Their subordinates should have a lot of Norwegians fleeing." Roosevelt said, "It's time for Churchill to share some of the pressure for us."

Up to now, the United States has been helping Churchill, and it has even become a free aid. However, the British government-in-exile led by Churchill is still losing ground. Now, Rommel has been driven away from the Middle East, and they only have Continue to the fate of exile in India.

However, Churchill has always insisted, which made some people in other occupying countries who were dissatisfied with Germany found a savior and went to defect one after another. Among Churchill's troops, it was simply a Western European coalition.

There must be a lot of Norwegians among them, let them act once! It is enough for the United States to provide support behind.

Let Churchill find someone to do it? Is this appropriate? Groves frowned, already aware of Roosevelt's political considerations. Maybe now in Congress, there are people who are against continuing to support Churchill, thinking that this is a bottomless pit.

Now, it's time for Churchill to show his presence.

Now that the president has made arrangements, he doesn't need to say anything, he is only responsible for reminding him anyway.

Of course, Churchill would not know the inside story of his own Manhattan project. As long as Churchill knew that he was going to send someone to blow up the heavy water plant in Norway, that was enough.

Sure enough, when Eisenhower relayed the news to Churchill, he immediately agreed with excitement.