Chapter 198: Open and Covert Wars
The Spanish fleet successfully carried out tactical maneuvers, evaded the blockade of the US ships, and arrived at the Santiago naval port. The Spanish fleet, which had not appeared before, appeared and successfully broke through the blockade of the US Navy, proving that it still has some skills as a veteran maritime power. Now it depends on the outcome of the next naval battle.
Once the Spanish fleet was destroyed, the armed forces that were about to grow hair in Haiti would be dispatched to attack Cuba together with the US Army. Citizens of the entire United States were eagerly awaiting news of the victory of the US Navy fleet, except Sheffield.
"Aunt Padra!" Sheffield stood in front of the woman a little stiffly, but he was not at a loss like a child who had done something wrong, but there was one thing. Padra had always been by Annabelle's side and rarely left Arlington. I wonder why she left Oak Manor this time?
"Why are you so nervous? I watched you grow up. I even gave you a bath when you were a child. I guess you have forgotten." Padella covered her mouth and smiled softly as she mentioned Sheffield's growing up experience.
This is why I am so reserved, Sheffield sighed in his heart, he couldn't say that he remembered everything.
"Madam asked me to help you with Mexico's debt problem." Padela twisted his body and sat down directly. "Don't look at me like that. You are the heir of the United Company. Some of your actions will naturally be reported. So this time I am here to help you. Don't feel dissatisfied."
"Of course not. We are all family." Sheffield did not hide anything. He explained in detail how to operate the matter, how to win over the Germans as foreign aid, and how to avoid Morgan's discovery. He even planned to use his connections in northern Mexico to persuade the Mexican government to do this.
Padella nodded frequently, appreciating Sheffield's thoughtfulness. However, after hearing about using his connections, he shook his head and said, "It doesn't have to be that complicated. We can just go to Dias himself."
Diaz? The President of Mexico. Sheffield was stunned for a moment and stammered, "United Company has a close relationship with this person?"
"Not very closely, but there was contact. When he launched the military coup, he came to Texas to recruit soldiers and buy arms. He took the initiative to come to us, and it was not the United Company that took the initiative to help. It's just that no one thought he would succeed!" Padella recalled the situation at that time and sighed, "I can only say that some people are really amazing. There are geniuses among ordinary people, and God also favors such people. You didn't know this because you were not born at that time. When you were born, he was already the president of Mexico."
Padella told Sheffield that there was such a connection that could be used, but also pointed out that it was just a channel, and such a person could not be controlled by a company, so the United Company had never used this connection to ask Dias to do anything. But this time, since Sheffield found this opportunity, he told him about the previous communication.
The political situation in Mexico is indeed very chaotic. The government changes frequently, but the president does not. This is what Padela told Sheffield. Conservatives and liberals take turns to appear in power, but Diaz has made a comeback except for one time in the middle. He constantly causes changes in the parliament, but this chaos is orderly chaos and is intentional. Only in this way can Diaz's position be stable.
Sheffield opened his eyes wide and recalled a similar figure from his memory, the Ming Dynasty Emperor Jiajing. Diaz's move was indeed politically very smart, but for the country, to put it nicely, it was just to maintain the status quo. If he wanted to lead the country to a new height, he couldn't even think about it.
For example, the Juárez faction, the Ledo faction, the Porfirio faction, etc. in Mexico before. Because of Diaz's discord, they were at odds with each other and often had conflicts. The factional struggle not only weakened their own strength, but also diverted attention from Diaz. For their own interests, each faction wanted to rely on Diaz, and Diaz just sat back and reaped the benefits.
With Palad's reminder, Sheffield was more confident about the Mexican debt. His connections in Mexico turned out to be a president who seemed to do nothing but was actually strong. Internationally, there was the involvement of German capital, the headquarters of the United Company was in Texas, and there was also the United States and Standard Oil named after Morgan. It was almost a foregone conclusion that he would succeed in snatching food from Morgan.
"Is Aunt Padela planning to go to Mexico in person?" Sheffield no longer took the matter seriously and asked in a relaxed manner.
"No, I still have to go back to take care of my wife. The United Company has been handed over to you. My wife will only assist and not interfere, so I will naturally not do that." Parad said with a smile, "It's just to increase the success rate of your operation. I will return to Arlington tomorrow. Now you just need to tell the negotiation team that is already on the way."
Of course he would tell them. Wouldn't it be stupid not to use his connections? Sheffield immediately prepared to contact the joint negotiation team that had already set out.
The secret war between Standard Oil, Sheffield United, Thyssen United and Morgan and his sons was still brewing before the negotiations on the Mexican bonds began. In the unpredictable Caribbean Sea, the US Navy's fleet was gathering. Although the blockade operation was a lesson for the old naval power Spain, the new US Navy was not depressed.
The navy is the service that best reflects industrial capabilities. A strong navy is a strong navy, and a weak navy is a weak navy. Once the gap in hard power is too great, no matter how the other side makes up for it, no matter how experienced or how rich in naval traditions it has, it will be useless.
Although the Spanish fleet had shaken off the blockading U.S. Navy fleet, it was also planning to rely on fortresses for resistance and had no intention of going out to sea to fight.
The U.S. Atlantic Fleet, which had been carrying out the blockade mission, continued to blockade the Spanish fleet entering the San Diego naval port under the command of Commander Thompson. Later, another fleet moved south from the east coast and joined the blockade. Whether in terms of warship tonnage or the number of artillery, the U.S. Navy had an absolute advantage and blocked the Spanish fleet in the port.
At this time, Theodore Roosevelt was also preparing to leave New Orleans with the recruited armed forces, which surprised Sheffield, who had been busy trying to intercept him recently. It must be said that he knew nothing about naval battles and only knew about the Spanish-American War, but he was not clear about the course of the war.
"The Spanish fleet is blockaded in the port, and the control of the sea is gone. It is safe to go out to sea now!" Theodore Roosevelt, who put on his military uniform again, said goodbye before leaving. He also taught Sheffield some knowledge about sea power and told his host who had been entertaining him that it was time to go out.
"Then I wish Mr. Roosevelt all the best!" Sheffield was taught a lesson, but he was not embarrassed. This news had a greater positive effect.
Although he had little knowledge of sea power, Sheffield was much more adept at matters on land. Seeing that Roosevelt's private army dared to go out to sea, he had nothing to fear.
"Jesla, send a telegram to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, John, Brown and others can go out." Sheffield didn't think there was anything wrong with learning and applying what he had learned. Chang Gong's military tactics did come in handy at the critical moment.
With this invisible telegram, Port-au-Prince, which had been dormant and waiting for orders, became boiling instantly like a spark falling into an oil barrel. This armed force of more than 12,000 people, almost half of the number of the American Expeditionary Force that was being assembled, began to move.
In the port, fully armed personnel, carrying their weapons, boarded the ships that had been waiting for a long time. The heads of major companies were also leading their own private armed forces in an orderly manner, looking like a mob. However, they were also organized in this way during the Civil War thirty years ago, but in the subsequent war, these mobs taught the Yankees a lesson.
Since the Spanish fleet was gone from the sea, it meant there was no danger at sea. With the sound of whistles, led by two protected cruisers, this team of nearly thirty ships set out from Port-au-Prince in a mighty manner, ready to demonstrate with practical actions the value of their long stay in Port-au-Prince.
"At least half of Cuba's land is now controlled by Cuban rebels. We have no problem finding a place to land, but after comprehensive consideration, the most suitable place to land is Guantanamo Port in southeastern Cuba." In the Port-au-Prince protected cruiser, John Connor pointed out the most suitable location as the waves rose and fell. "The advantage is that the Santiago Port where the Spanish fleet is located is not far from Guantanamo. We have two powerful warships, and after we reveal our identities, the American fleet can help us. The disadvantage is that there may be a certain degree of danger."
However, this danger can be ignored. The entire Spanish fleet is blocked in the port and cannot break out of the encirclement of the US Navy fleet. The two protected cruisers in their hands are already a great combat force. Now the flags on the two protected cruisers have been replaced with the Stars and Stripes.
Although many people wanted to change the flag to the Southern Cross, it was better not to make such jokes too much during the war. On the way to the waters of Cuba, they encountered the blockade fleet of the US Navy and made their intentions known without any danger.
(End of this chapter)
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