Toronto, British Pri Minister's Office. Sir Edward Gray, the British Foreign Secretary, was briefing Churchill on the Arican proposal.
"Your Excellency, the United States has already concluded that the military coup in Portugal was caused by the Germans. It is expected that the Portuguese governnt will soon sell the Azores to the Germans. Once the Germans occupy the Azores, This is probably not a good thing for our two countries. At that ti, the German navy can use the Azores as a base and pose a direct threat to us." Sir Edward Gray said with a serious face.
The expression on Churchill's face was also very serious. As the British Pri Minister and forr Secretary of the Navy, he certainly knew the important strategic position of the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean. At the beginning, when the British Empire dominated the world, the strategic position of the Azores was not high. At that ti, no country could stand against the Royal Navy of the British Empire. However, it is completely different now. The British mainland fell, and the British governnt could only hide in Canada. Although the U.S. Navy has been vigorously developing its navy, their naval strength is still much worse than that of the German Navy. If Germany builds the Azores into a naval base, then the navies of the United Kingdom and the United States may be compressed in the Western Atlantic. At that ti, let alone counterattacking the European continent, it will be very difficult to even enter the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.
"If you think about it with your toes, you can imagine that the military coup in Portugal was done by the Germans. But even if we know, what can we do? We have nothing to do with the Germans!" Churchill said. So helpless. The British Empire is now in decline. God bless if Germany doesn't cross the sea to attack them.
"Your Excellency, the Aricans proposed to take the first step to capture the Azores. Before the Germans react, it will beco a fait accompli. In this case, we may occupy the Azores." Sir Edward Gray said.
"The Germans will allow us to occupy the Azores? This is almost impossible!" Churchill frowned tightly.
"If the Germans don't want to go to war with the United States, they will suffer from being dumb. But if the Germans do not hesitate to go to war with the United States, then we may not be able to defend the Azores. However, the United States believes that even if the Germans They also have the ability to control the battle around the Azores if they launch an attack. In this case, even if the plan fails, the damage will not be large." Sir Edward Gray said.
Churchill nodded: "It is indeed possible to succeed, but the possibility is very small. Moreover, the risk is very high."
"Yes, Your Excellency Pri Minister. But the Aricans still plan to try it! After all, if it succeeds, the benefits will be amazing."
"So, what do the Aricans want us to do?" Churchill asked.
"The Aricans want us to send a part of the Marine Corps to assist them in landing on the Azores."
Churchill knew that it was the Aricans who wanted to drag them into the water. However, they couldn't refuse. Otherwise, it will definitely damage the current relationship between the two countries.
"Well, tell the Aricans that we can send so small and dium-sized warships to join the attack on the Azores. In addition, we can also send a brigade of marines to participate in landing operations on the island." Churchill said.
The current British Empire is not as good as it was before. Sending these warships and a brigade of marines is already their greatest ability.
"Yes, Your Excellency the Pri Minister." Sir Edward Gray nodded.
"However, Pri Minister, do you think the Aricans' plan will be successful this ti?" Sir Edward Gray asked.
"It's very difficult! The Germans have worked so hard to get the Azores, how could they lose it so easily? The Aricans want to pull out their teeth this ti! I guess the attitude of the Germans will be very tough. When the ti cos , the Germans and the Aricans will start a fierce battle around the Azores. In the end, the Aricans will definitely lose. However, the Germans will not launch an attack on the Arican mainland. After all, with Germany’s current strength, it is still very difficult to attack the continental United States across the Atlantic.” Churchill analyzed.
Sir Edward Gray nodded, and he also agreed with Churchill's point of view.
"This ti, we only need to invest very little force. For the rest, let the Aricans and Germans fight to the death!" Churchill said. Although the United Kingdom and the United States have secretly ford an alliance, there are no permanent friends between countries, only permanent interests.
Britain's response satisfied the U.S. governnt. Although so people think that the power invested by the British is too small, but without the British governnt, the power is already very weak, and being able to invest these powers has already shown their attitude.
President Woodrow Wilson issued an order requiring the Departnt of the Navy and the Departnt of War to launch operations to seize the Azores.
On February 9, 1919, the day after the military coup in Portugal, the US fleet secretly left the military port. At the sa ti, the 1st Division of the US Marine Corps also boarded the ship and headed for the Azores under the **** of the fleet.
Subsequently, the U.S. governnt determined that the German governnt had signed an agreent with the Portuguese governnt to purchase the Azores, which made the Aricans firr in their determination to send troops to occupy the Azores by force.
Although Germany bought the Azores from Portugal, it did not imdiately send troops to the island. The Admiralty is inviting tenders to build a naval base and airfield on the Azores. At that ti, the Atlantic Fleet will **** the ships full of machinery and workers to the Azores. As for the design plan, it has already been in place, and it is just waiting for implentation.
I have to admit that it is precisely because of this negligence on the German side that the Aricans easily occupied the Azores.
On the morning of February 15, the US fleet escorted the 1st Marine Division to the Azores. There is no Portuguese garrison on the island, only the police.
When the US Marines began to land, those Portuguese police sent a telegram ho. After the U.S. Marines ca ashore, they imdiately raised their hands and surrendered to the U.S. Marines. The Aricans occupied the entire Azores without bloodshed.
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