Chapter 133, Peacemaker (Part 1)
At the same time, thousands of miles away in Washington, there was joy. From the Pentagon to the White House to Capitol Hill, everyone was talking about the glorious victory in the Galapagos Islands naval battle. Everyone was smiling, beaming, and as excited as if they had won the lottery jackpot.
——It’s really not easy! Since the outbreak of World War III, the U.S. military on all fronts around the world has been experiencing one bad news after another. They have lost count of how many battles they have fought and how many times they have "turned in front of the enemy"! But there was basically no good news! Millions of frontline troops moved from Europe to North Africa, from North Africa to West Asia, and then from West Asia to East Africa. They could no longer stand in Africa and could only retreat to the New World in despair with their tail between their legs. The number of troops, territory, and allies was decreasing as the battle continued, and morale became lower and lower... In this atmosphere of silence, a glimmer of victory suddenly appeared that could refresh people's spirits. In the Galapagos Islands How can it not make people feel ecstatic when it appears?
Especially since the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Japanese Yamato-class battleships have brought countless nightmares to the U.S. Navy, but have been unable to sink them. This time, three ships were sunk and one was seriously damaged in the Galapagos Islands. , achieved zero breakthrough, which is really exciting!
However, while toasting to celebrate the glorious victory in the Battle of the Galapagos Islands, Truman also had to worry about the destruction of the Panama Canal - as a key channel connecting the two oceans, the Panama Canal's strategic significance to the United States There is no doubt about it. Especially when Argentina and Chile jumped ship at the same time, and the routes of the Strait of Magellan and the Drake Strait have been cut off, this canal has become the only channel for the United States to dispatch ships between the two oceans.
However, this only sea channel has now been destroyed by the Soviet atomic bomb. The U.S. Navy has since been separated by two oceans and can no longer be flexibly dispatched. But if you want to repair the Panama Canal, it is hopelessly difficult.
——Unlike the "classical" Suez Canal, where both ends directly enter the sea and the ship can travel the entire distance on its own, the Panama Canal is a "stepped" canal that needs to be connected by locks. Different river sections and the height of the sea at both ends are different. There are differences, so there is no direct connection.
First, the water level is about half a meter higher on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal than on the Atlantic side. There are two main reasons for the water level difference: one is the effect of thermal expansion that changes the density of seawater, and the difference in salt concentration; the other is the interference of trade winds and ocean currents on the water level.
On the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, the moist atmosphere in the lower troposphere known as the tropical convergence zone forms an east-west convergence zone. In this area, rainfall is abundant. Therefore, the salt concentration on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal is lower than that on the Atlantic side, the density of seawater becomes smaller, and the water level will relatively increase. Then, the Intertropical Convergence Zone, which extends toward the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, often blows from the south (trade winds), which also contribute to rising water levels. Due to the need to maintain balance with the stress of the trade wind, the water level tilts on the ocean surface - imagine if you blow the water in the cup in one direction with your mouth, can you see that the water in the cup becomes no longer level? Right?
In this way, the sea level on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal is maintained at a high level. At the same time, on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal, the Guyana Current flows along the waters north of Panama toward the Gulf of Mexico, that is, westward. The water level tilt caused by this current causes the water level in the coastal waters on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal to decrease, while the water level in the offshore waters farther offshore increases.
Secondly, in addition to the different heights of the ocean surface at both ends of the Panama Canal, in order to reduce the amount of excavation work, the water surface of most sections of the Panama Canal is not flush with the sea surface like the Suez Canal, but is substantially higher than the sea surface. Twenty-six meters. In order to fill the river section above sea level with water, the Gatun Dam was built on the Chagres River to impound it and form Gatun Lake, which serves as the main water source for the Panama Canal.
But even so, it only connected the canals with water on the map, and the problem of height differences between the various river sections was still not solved.
In order to adjust the water level difference and allow ships to pass through the canal, construction workers built six locks on the Panama Canal. When importing from the Pacific side, the ship passes through the Miraflores double locks, Miraflores Lake and Pedro Miguel single locks, raising the ship 26 meters from sea level to entering Canada. Through the lake, the other end passes through the three-level Gatun Lock to lower the boat to the level of the Atlantic Ocean.
In the Panama Canal, each set of locks is paired so that ships can pass through them in both directions at the same time. Each gate has two doors, twenty meters wide and two meters thick, fixed on hinges. The height of the doors ranges from 14 to 25 meters; the door leaves are driven by electric motors installed in the recesses of the gate wall. The opening and closing of the door leaves is controlled by a control tower located on the walls of the paired ship locks, and the water filling and discharging of the lock chambers is also controlled by the control tower. The lock chamber itself is three hundred meters long.
However, these ship locks have now been blown open by the shock wave of the nuclear explosion. The water of Lake Gatun, which has been accumulated by artificial dams, is flowing like a waterfall in both directions of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It is expected that it will not be long before it completely drains out and exposes the bottom of the lake...
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So, ten days after the nuclear explosion in Panama, sitting in the Oval Office of the White House, looking at the aerial photos of the disaster after the nuclear explosion in the Panama Canal locks taken by a reconnaissance aircraft, President Truman couldn't help but take a breath, and then raised his head blankly. At first, I asked the specially invited engineering expert on the other side of the desk: "...Have the results of the on-site assessment come out? How long will it take us to repair the Panama Canal?"
"...Uh... Unfortunately, Mr. President, after conducting on-site surveys and assessments, the expert group agreed that even according to the most optimistic estimates, it will take about four years to restore the canal to navigation..." That person The expert replied while wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
"...What? Four years?!" Upon hearing this number, President Truman instinctively frowned: "...This time is really too long and will bring great trouble to the United States. What can be done in one Is there any way to resume navigation within this year? It doesn’t matter if there are more casualties.”
"...This...Mr. President, your request is really impossible to fulfill!"
The expert said with a grimace, "...First of all, the canal has just suffered a nuclear explosion, and the radiation level in the coastal areas is still very high. It is impossible to organize personnel to enter the radiation area to start construction in a short time. Secondly, the Soviets have sent all six The locks have exploded, and the water pouring into Lake Gatun cannot be stopped at all. , I’m afraid that the water in the lake will have dried up before we can block it... Finally, even if we repair the Panama Canal’s dams and locks as quickly as possible, there is not enough water in the dry Gatun Lake, and the canal will It turned into a dry trench and the boat still couldn't be sailed
Even if other factors are not considered, just waiting for Lake Gatun to refill under natural conditions, based on the average precipitation in the area near the Panama Canal and the general flow of the Chagres River, would take at least two days under normal circumstances. Years or so..."
"...God! Maybe we should find another place to dig the canal, like Nicaragua?" Truman asked tentatively.
"...The Grand Canal of Nicaragua? Mr. President, this is even more utopian! According to previous calculations, the amount of earthwork required to excavate this canal is several times that of the Panama Canal! Even if we work overtime to increase manpower, we can construct it as quickly as possible It won’t be possible without five or six years of construction.”
Regarding the idea of the Nicaragua Grand Canal, the expert shook his head like a rattle: "...and since the Soviets were able to drop an atomic bomb on the Panama Canal last week, they can naturally bomb the Panama Canal a second time. , the third time. As long as the threat of Soviet aircraft and atomic bombs to the Panama region cannot be completely eliminated, any attempt by us to repair the Panama Canal will be in vain."
"...Well, in that case, the matter of repairing the Panama Canal will be put on hold for the time being." President Truman sighed helplessly, "... Let's study the war situation in South America first! Chief of Staff, call General MacArthur as soon as possible Come over and prepare for an informal combat meeting.”
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Then, before the people participating in this combat meeting could arrive one after another, new bad news came from the South American front - after the pro-US government of the Republic of Ecuador was overturned, it was being joined by Peru, Chile, and Paraguay. Bolivia, which was besieged and bombed by the Soviet aid air force, also stopped resisting after receiving a promise from the Soviet Union to ensure the integrity of its territory, announced that it would change sides, and withdraw from the Allied camp.
At this point, the only allies of the United States in South America, apart from the Guyana colonies of Britain, France and the Netherlands, were Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. Moreover, both Brazil and Colombia are in a state of civil war, and it was only through the massive intervention of the US military that the original pro-American governments were prevented from being overthrown. Despite this, various anti-American guerrilla groups are still surging, causing the US military to be beaten everywhere in Brazil and Colombia, as if they are in an enemy country.
As for Argentina’s ambitious President Peron, he suddenly became the anti-American leader of the New World. Just like Bolivar and San Martin more than a century ago, relying on the support and solidarity of the socialist camp, they have An anti-American frenzy started throughout Latin America!
"...God! What the hell! Why are our allies in South America so lacking in fighting spirit and loyalty?!"
Seeing each of the South American allies giving in without much fighting, President Truman became increasingly angry, "...Why on earth is this?! When did they have such friendship with the Soviet Union and the Bolsheviks? In such a short period of time Did everyone rebel? ”
“...Because the Soviet Union is far away on the other side of the world, it has no interest in the resources, minerals, land or even reparations of South American countries. It does not ask for special tariff treatment or extraterritoriality in these countries. It does not even ask South American countries to declare war on us. , we simply asked South American countries to leave our camp and no longer participate in this world war, and they also acquiesced in South American The governments of various countries took this opportunity to confiscate our various assets in South America... On the contrary, if they continue to stand on our side, they will have to endure our country's repeated conscription and various forced expropriations of materials - although the United States is not without its consequences. paid, but forced them to buy more of our country’s war bonds, and overall they suffered a loss.”
Secretary Hull explained his diplomatic failure in South America with a grimace, "...In the past two years, in order to support the huge consumption of the world war, the United States has made more and more demanding demands on its South American allies. And the Soviet Union People only ask them to do nothing... Comparing the two sides, it is natural to imagine what choices South American countries will make - if they still have the ability to choose the fate of their own countries..."
"...In other words, is it difficult for us to continue to tie the South American allies to the chariot of the United States by using bribery methods?"
President Truman silently took off his glasses, lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then asked Secretary Hull.
"...Unfortunately, this is the situation, Mr. President. Unless our military intervenes directly, the South American allies have little enthusiasm to continue participating in the war. In their view, this is a war that does not belong to them at all, and they are completely coaxed into entering by us. The pirate ship..."
Secretary of State Hull spread his hands helplessly, "... Moreover, under the current situation, it is difficult for us to provide much assistance to South American countries... On the contrary, what the Soviets are willing to provide them is far more than what we can give. There is no need to pay any price - just confiscating the various mines, plantations and other assets of our major companies in their countries is enough for the governments of South America to make a lot of money in an instant..."
"...Humph? Do they actually think so? They actually regard our country as a delicious piece of fat at this time? Damn it, then it is necessary for the United States to immediately take out the most severe revenge methods to let them understand the traitors What will happen!”
President Truman seemed to be furious for a moment, and he slapped the table with an extremely ferocious expression, causing teacups and vases to jingle, "...Although I am very reluctant to use such drastic measures of revenge against my former allies, now I Still have to say... Now that the carrot is no longer working, let's bring out the stick! The latest batch of sixty from the Oak Ridge factory! Four atomic bombs have been assembled and debugged and are ready to go into battle - we need to make these stupid Latin Americans realize as soon as possible that although the United States cannot provide them with assistance, it can punish them. I would rather kill one! We don’t want to leave South America to God, and we don’t want to leave a complete South America to the Bolsheviks.”
These harsh words, like those of the devil from hell, seemed to have silenced everyone gathered in the conference room. After a while, Secretary of State Hull frowned and spoke first, "... Mr. President, do you mean... to prepare for a nuclear attack on South America? However, if nuclear bombs are transported to South America by sea in advance, there may be The danger of being intercepted mid-flight is the B-29' Super Sky Fortress if flying directly from the mainland. I'm afraid the base's range is not enough? Is it just planning to nuclear bomb Ecuador and Peru in the north? To be honest, this does not seem to have much strategic significance..." In response, President Truman just turned to the person in charge of the Strategic Air Force. Admiral Arnold winked, and Admiral Arnold stood up from the sofa. , said confidently, "...let me explain the situation, everyone. At present, we already have a strategic long-range bomber that is better than the B-29! The first batch of twelve B-36 'Peacemaker' intercontinental strategic bombers , just officially put into service at the end of August, its maximum combat radius can reach 6,000 Kilometers. Currently, these B-36 'Peacemakers' have been urgently mobilized to the front-line air force base in Florida. They can take off from there at any time carrying atomic bombs, conduct air strikes in Argentina and Chile, and then land and refuel at front-line airfields in Brazil. Return to China..."