"The Japanese main fleet appeared in Lima?"

On the evening of October 13, the day after Hori Teiki set out, a explosive news came back to Washington, shocking everyone. .

"Didn't it mean that Panama often has planes to investigate and spy on the past two days?"

"I'm fooled, it's just a land-based reconnaissance plane deployed by the Japanese army on Galapagos Island."

Nimitz frowned and asked, "The main forces of the joint fleet are there, including the missing two days ago?"

"This, our military officer said that he saw two huge super battleships, Nagamon and several aircraft carriers, but because it was too late, it would be unclear if it was detailed..."

"Can the Japanese let our diplomats see their warships?" Dewey was surprised. "This is wrong."

To be honest, even Secretary Hull, who came to inform the news, felt that there were many doubts here. According to the ambassador and military officer, they received news from the arrival of the Japanese fleet half a day in advance. The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told them not to worry, what Japan would not do with them, and safety was guaranteed. As for Peru, it was a neutral country, which was just a supplement to Japan, and it did not mean that Peru had a change in attitude towards the war.

In fact, everyone knows that Peru's attitude has changed. Not only did the officer group successfully take office in the coup, but he also joined the La Plata group. Now he is a quasi-ally allied country in the axis. He is nothing more than scruples about the past reputation of the United States and dare not take Americans against what to do with Americans.

American diplomats were used to being arrogant in Peru. The self-feeling ambassador Collins and military officer Major Walker knew that this kind of thing would not be condemned, and protests were also in vain. His eyes turned and his head heated up, and he made a request to welcome the crowd to watch. The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed after being embarrassed for a while, on the condition that he had to attend positively and not make small moves. If the Japanese did not welcome them, they had to go back to the embassy immediately, and the two of them naturally agreed.

Unexpectedly, the two met Tsukahara himself at the dock. Then the Japanese ambassador immediately ran over nervously, whispered to tell Tsukahara that the US ambassador and military officer in the welcome team were also there, and asked the fleet if they wanted to drive them away. Tsukahara smiled strangely. Instead, he did not order someone to drive them away, he said to the ambassador: "How can the Joint Fleet be a guest in Peru now? How can he speak ill of other guests in Peru? This does not conform to the principle of treating each other with courtesy, so let's take me to see it."

The Japanese ambassador with a shocked face brought Tsukahara, Kusato and others to the US ambassador. Both sides shook hands politely and exchanged greetings. Tsukahara still said seriously in English: "I feel deeply saddened by the relationship between the two countries and hope to be peaceful as soon as possible."

Ambassador Collins immediately protested, believing that the Joint Fleet should not attack non-military targets on the West Coast.

Tsukahara smiled and said, "Mr. Ambassador, you are right. I am hesitating about this matter, but how should your country bombing Tokyo?"

"Your country has attacked Pearl Harbor."

“Pearl Harbor is a military goal!”

The bold military officer Major Walker stood up and smoothed out the situation and flattered Tsukahara for a few words, meaning that the Yamato-class battleship was too "shocking" and he wanted to see it.

Tsukahara laughed: "It's not impossible for you to see it. I'll have someone to visit you later."

The ambassador also came to his senses and made a request to meet his country's prisoners of war.

"Prisons of the prisoners of war... were sent back to their country, and the rest were placed on Galapagos Island, with special guards. If your country wants to visit, you can delegate diplomats from Ecuador."

So in the end, the ambassador and military officers accompanied them to visit the Yamato. In addition to being unable to take photos, they could see everything they should not see. Even the ammunition depot was full of experience. In the end, the two of them were enjoying British afternoon tea inside and took photos with a group of officers.

"Tzukahara is a man who is interesting and is very good at fighting against the heart." Nimitz suddenly recalled that Halsey and him reported that Japan sent a group of wounded and several uninjured crew members back, and he gave back a batch of medicines.

"How did it happen later?"

"What else can it be? Of course it's not ideal!" Nimitz sighed, "The Japanese strategy has worked partly. I heard that the wounded were released, and a bunch of crews and officers went to visit and inquire about the combat situation. Then several good pilots also exaggerated the terror of Japan's super battleship, saying that the reality they saw with their own eyes was nothing more than how thick the muzzle was and how thick the armor was. They also knew that the giant ship was called Yamato, which was the flagship of the joint fleet... By the way, there was also a greedy man who impressed the most. The food was very good, and there was ice cream! The Japanese used to call this giant ship Yamato Hotel."

Due to the Yamato's repeated battles, the United States has a basic understanding of its appearance characteristics and the estimated data are relatively accurate, which is nothing more than the 18-inch cannon, 70,000 tons of water displacement, and the fastest speed of 27-28 knots. This kind of visit by ordinary soldiers cannot form a deeper impression. The ship engineers or designers will probably be able to understand the essence soon.

Dewey frowned dissatisfiedly: "If this kind of disturbing the morale of the army should not flow out."

"This is impossible. The Japanese put people back with great fanfare and asked us to send medical ships to pick them up. If they were isolated or even prohibited from contact, they were afraid that there would be more rumors. This is the case with the super battleship. It was nothing more than larger, heavier, thicker muzzles, thicker armor, and not a monster that was invulnerable to swords and guns..." Nimitz complained, "Luhang suffered a high casualty, just to the point of death. General Arnold focused on comfort and patriotic education. Everyone gritted their teeth and could not be too demanding of ordinary soldiers."

"Okay, OK, let's put this topic first, let's talk about what the Japanese fleet means in Lima?" Truman was a little impatient. "It is impossible for the Japanese to let our diplomats visit the warships for no reason. There must be a conspiracy."

"There are two situations that are clear. First, the person who came was indeed Tsukahara himself. He had one arm injured and no one could pretend to be an objection. Second, the United Fleet had replenished fuel and supplies, and then launched an attack. There are two suspicious points. First, the bag that came this time did not include the fleet that broke the diplomatic relations at Pearl Harbor? Second, where is the next direction of this fleet's next action?"

The members of the Joint Association were recently distracted by the dazzling actions of the Japanese army. They agreed to attack the West Coast but were delayed. They ran to Lima inadvertently. They were so disgusting.

"It is actually beneficial to us for the Japanese army to go to Lima. Regardless of whether they are all the fleets or not, it means that the main force of the Japanese army is not between Pearl Harbor and the West Coast, which creates a favorable opportunity for the next step of transportation." Nimitz pondered, "The material fleet is being prepared near California. The Hornet will be repaired and put into use in another 10 days. The Japanese army has not been able to return from Lima to the west coast in 10 days. Therefore, at least our army's supply tactics can be successful, which lays a good foundation for long-term persistence in Hawaii."

Spruenz agreed with Nimitz, but he considered the problem more: "Based on our intelligence, the Japanese fleet has two strategies. First, cooperate with the German fleet to attack our army in Recife; second, attack the Panama Canal line from both the Atlantic and Pacific directions."

"Is there any evidence?"

"Yes! The German fleet in the Mediterranean has gathered again, and we estimate that the reinforcements will set out soon."

MacArthur asked Mitchell: "How is the Atlantic Fleet?"

The latter said: "We can barely fight, but our army is far inferior to our opponents in terms of fleet size and personnel quality. We have more defense and insufficient progress."

Seeing Dewey's unhappy face, Nimitz sighed and didn't want to argue: Mitchell was talking about the truth. There were only two aircraft carriers in the Atlantic Fleet, but the Germans had at least four, and two of them were very precious armored aircraft carriers. In terms of pilot quality, it was far behind.

Spruenz's view is more positive: "At the end of October, our army will have three Essex-class ships to be put into use, and it is expected to form combat effectiveness by Christmas Eve. By then, the Atlantic Fleet will have 5 aircraft carriers and 3 other battleships (New Jersey + 2 Alaska-class ships), which can be used to fight the German army."

Mitcher nodded and was about to say something, but Nimitz winked at him and immediately shut up.

Mitchell wanted to say something Nimitz knew very well: it was just that there were too few skilled pilots, and these three Essex-class ships were almost delivered, and more than half of the pilots had not yet been settled, but they could only overcome this. Don't let it go in this situation today.

Clark, who had not spoken, interjected and asked Spruins: "So what do you think are most of the two possibilities?"

"I think the possibility of attacking Panama is greater!" Spruins made a judgment without hesitation. "Attacking Recife, the Japanese army not only had to circumvent the entire South America, but also had no fundamental change in its strategic situation, so it was completely a loss for Japan. But attacking Panama is different. I am now very worried about the German raid and landing in Panama!"

"Is this possible?" Truman asked nervously

"I think there is!" MacArthur looked at the map, frowned and thought about it carefully, "Panama currently has more than 1,000 aircraft, about 30,000 ground troops, and several bases around it also support 600-800 aircraft; if the main Japanese and German fleets attack together, the total number of aircraft they can get is..."

"You calculate it based on 500 Japanese aircraft and 700 German aircraft."

"That's 1,200. Considering that Japanese and German pilots are more qualified, they can really gather 1,200 aircraft, which has an advantage on our aviation power, especially Panama is not big. If Germany comes with a wave of rockets first, there will be more trouble and it will be impossible to hide; there are also naval guns, and they have a total of battleships..."

Spruins added: "You count on 4 ships in Japan and you count on 8 ships in Germany."

"The enemy has 12 battleships alone, all of which are thick tubes above 15 inches. Any one can hold up to 10 army howitzers..." MacArthur smiled bitterly, "There are 1,200 aircraft, invincible rockets, and 12 battleships' large-caliber naval guns. Not to mention the 30,000 army, 130,000 can't defend it!"

The meeting scene fell into a dead silence...
Chapter completed!