It is indeed too far to launch a direct-aiming torpedo at a distance of ten kilometers, and in addition to attacking three different targets, even though the torpedoes were operated by professionals specially hired by the Spanish government with high salaries from the Bofors Company, in the end there was only one
Hits.
But it was this one that hit, completely destroying the Maine, a second-class battleship imitated by the Dingyuan, which was torn open by two hundred kilograms of antimony under the waterline. The battleship at this time did not have
It has a somewhat decent watertight design. To put it bluntly, it is just an iron can. The hatch arrangement inside is difficult to effectively prevent the influx of seawater. Although it did not sink as simply as the Oregon, it was also tilted and was about to capsize. More importantly,
What's more, the power system was also damaged and the navigation ability was lost.
Up to this point in the battle, Admiral Cervera's goal has been achieved. The transport fleet escorted by several old warships has sailed into the port of Santiago. Since he has no interest in continuing the fight, he immediately issued an order to retreat.
The Empress Theresa and Toskaya, covered with bruises, withdrew from the battlefield. Sampson did not dare to pursue them under the threat of distant destroyers. Besides, he still had to figure out how to save the Maine if it sank again.
, then I guess he could just write a resignation report after returning. Unfortunately, he did not sail the Maine back to Key West in the end. The battleship sank ten kilometers outside his home port, and countless Americans on the shore witnessed it with their own eyes.
This tragic scene has also become the best advertisement for Yang's Shipyard.
When the Cervera fleet, covered in gunpowder smoke and scars, sailed into the port of San Diego, the Battle of the Spanish-American Sea. The news that the United States lost one first-class battleship and one second-class battleship, and that Spain lost one large armored cruiser immediately spread throughout the world.
.
More importantly, the two American battleships were sunk by destroyers from the Young Shipyard using Bofors torpedoes. For a time, the Viper-class destroyers became the objects of crazy pursuit by various countries, especially those who hoped to curb the great powers' attacks on them.
Countries with great ambitions but lack of funds regard this kind of warship as a savior. Turkey, which originally had an order for four ships, immediately added six more. Its enemy Greece also ordered six ships, and even Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, and Austria
The Hungarian Empire bought these items in large quantities that they had not originally ordered. For a while, Yang Feng was so profitable that his hands almost cramped.
However, this kind of good news could not make Prince Yang happy, because he felt that the United States was hit too hard. What if they retreated? Americans are very timid. After the failure of the naval battle, rumors spread along the coast.
Many people began to spread rumors that the Spanish fleet was coming to bombard the port, which frightened many people and began to move inland. What's more important is that the two sides have not declared war yet!
However, he was obviously overly worried about this. Just two days after the naval battle, after a heated debate among congressmen, the U.S. Congress finally passed the authorization to declare war on Spain. U.S. President McKinley officially declared that the United States of America would declare war on the Kingdom of Spain.
Entering a state of war, the Spanish government also declared war on the United States.
American capitalists are not stupid. The war is not fought with one or two weapons. It is fought with a country's industrial strength and money. Neither of these two things are comparable to the United States, not to mention that the Americans are fighting at home.
, they really can't find a reason for failure. If they fail by default without declaring war, not only will President McKinley have to step down, but it will also affect the American businessmen in Cuba. The Spaniards have not been happy with them for a day. They were just worried about what happened before.
The United States cannot be defeated in the war, so it dare not touch them. If the United States admits defeat, it will be equivalent to leaving the sugar industry with an annual output value of more than 100 million US dollars to the Spaniards. Therefore, this war must be fought, regardless of political needs or economic needs.
Fighting, what is the loss of two battleships? The United States produces more than 10 million tons of steel a year, and Spain may not be able to reach even one million tons. How can we fight?
Moreover, at this time, the United States was experiencing many internal conflicts and was in urgent need of transferring them to the outside world. This war was what everyone was looking forward to.
After receiving the news that the United States had declared war on Spain, Yang Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief, so that he could take advantage of the situation with confidence and boldness. The first was Wake Island. Deng Shichang's fleet had arrived in Hawaii, and he was very kind to the U.S. Minister in Hawaii.
He reported how a tsunami occurred on Wake Island and the American soldiers stationed there were unfortunately killed and then picked up at sea by his fleet, and showed him Captain Collins and his men who were placed in the cold storage.
The U.S. Minister in Hawaii was not a fool. He understood what was going on at a glance. His telegram was immediately sent to Washington, and he received a reply immediately, asking him to thank the Chinese for their friendship. At this time, the U.S. Congress was already preparing to pass the abolition of platoon emissions.
Huafa came to restore their relationship with Yang Feng in exchange for him providing military diesel engines to the United States. Naturally, they would not fall out with him again over an island that did not yet belong to the United States and the lives of more than a dozen soldiers.
The poor minister had to hold a small welcome banquet to thank the Chinese Navy for protecting the remains of the dead American soldiers, knowing full well that one of his own people was killed. While he was drinking and drinking, he did not know that the ground beneath his feet was
Yang Feng’s next goal.
But how to get Hawaii, I'm afraid it will take a lot of trouble. At this time, the governments of the United States and the Republic of Hawaii are actually holding merger negotiations in Washington. Of course, the so-called Republic of Hawaii is just a puppet of the United States. To put it bluntly, it is a group of people.
The immigrants in the United States overthrew the original Queen of Hawaii through a coup, and then created a president of their own.
"First of all, the United States annexed Hawaii, which is absolutely unacceptable to me and our government." Yang Feng, who had just returned to Fuzhou, said with a serious face to Tian Bei, who came to inform him that the United States was about to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act.
"Your Highness, I hope you can understand that it is the government of the Republic of Hawaii that wants to be incorporated into the United States, not the U.S. government's annexation of Hawaii. This is the will of the Hawaiian people and not the request of the U.S. government." Tabei said warily.
"The Republic of Hawaii, I remember Hawaii is a kingdom? Why is there another republic?" Yang Feng said pretentiously.
"Your Highness, the people of Hawaii are opposed to autocracy and yearn for freedom, so they overthrew their king with a revolution three years ago and established a free republic. This is recognized by your government. It may be too far away. You
I haven’t heard of it,” Tian Bei said with a smile.
"That's right, but our government's recognition of the Republic of Hawaii does not mean that we accept Hawaii's annexation to the United States. You should be well aware that there are a large number of Chinese there, and there are also many Japanese. I think they are definitely not willing to become American citizens." And
I am also very doubtful about the legitimacy of President Dole. With the current electoral system, I feel that the government under his leadership may not be able to represent the interests of all Hawaiian people. How about we hold a referendum in Hawaii? Under international supervision.
, let every Hawaiian vote and decide whether they want to join the United States or remain independent, or of course they want to join other countries or something." Yang Feng said seriously.
Tian Bei's heart trembled. This was definitely not a good idea. Although there were many Americans in Hawaii, they would never exceed one-third. In fact, apart from the indigenous people, the largest number of people in Hawaii should be Japanese, and the number of Chinese was also small.
Quite a few, and there are also some people from other countries. If they really follow Yang Feng's method, then the water in Hawaii will be completely muddied.
Yang Feng likes to do this kind of thing the most. It can be imagined that the United Kingdom and Germany are indispensable in the world he mentioned. The British have shown ambitions for Hawaii before. Of course, the distance is too far and the British Empire has no interest in Hawaii.
He didn't care where he planted the plant, so he didn't take action in the end. The Germans are currently scrambling for territory all over the world. William will definitely be interested in Hawaii, and Russia is also unscrupulous. As long as it is beneficial, they don't care about anything else.
Well, if we really recruit these guys, Hawaii may become the Philippines. The United States is currently struggling with Spain, let alone confronting such a top power.
"So who is eligible to participate in the referendum?" Tian Bei asked cautiously.
"This is very simple. All people who have lived in Hawaii for more than five years have this right. As far as I know, the proportion of indigenous residents there is not large. If you simply let them vote, it will be difficult to represent the voice of the entire Hawaii. Of course, if you think the five
If it's a little younger, ten years would be good, but the proportion that agrees to be annexed to the United States must exceed 60%, otherwise it cannot truly be regarded as representing the vast majority of people." Yang Feng said with a smile.
Absolutely not! As soon as Tian Bei heard this, he knew that this referendum was absolutely not possible. He pondered for a while and decided not to go around in circles with Yang Feng and simply go directly.
"Your Highness, I think you must have other solutions, right?" He said calmly.
"Others, ah, this is also simple. Your country will stop the ongoing merger negotiations and promise not to accept similar demands and continue to retain Hawaii's independent status. Anyway, it is what they asked for. There is nothing you can do if you don't accept them, right?
?" Yang Feng said with a smile.
"What if we accept it?"
"Ah, that would be difficult. Hawaii is too far away from China. It is difficult for us to protect the overseas Chinese there, and as China's Foreign Minister, I must be responsible for them. So if the United States accepts Hawaii's annexation request,
Then I must station an army there that can provide them with protection, including a naval fleet of course, or simply set aside an island large enough for the Chinese to use as an autonomous region." Yang Feng said with a smile.