Chapter 1010 Tooth extraction

Toronto, British Prime Minister's Office. Sir Edward Gray, the British Foreign Secretary, was briefing Churchill on the American 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 government 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 time, 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 Prime Minister and former 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 time, 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 government 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 time, 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. Some helpless. The British Empire is now in decline. God bless if Germany doesn't cross the sea to attack them.

"Your Excellency, the Americans proposed to take the first step to occupy the Azores. Before the Germans react, it will become a fait accompli. In this case, we may occupy the Azores." Sir Edward Gray said.

"Will the Germans allow us to occupy the Azores? It's 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 Prime Minister. But the Americans still plan to give it a try! After all, if it succeeds, the benefits will be amazing."

"So what do the Americans want us to do?" Churchill asked.

"The Americans want us to send some marines to help them land in the Azores."

Churchill knew that it was the Americans 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 Americans that we can send some small and medium-sized warships to join the attack on the Azores. In addition, we can also send a brigade of marines to participate in the landing operations on the islands." Churchill said.

The British Empire is not what it used to be. Sending these warships and a brigade of marines is already their greatest ability.

"Yes, Your Excellency." Sir Edward Gray nodded.

"However, Prime Minister, do you think the American plan will be successful this time?" 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 Americans want to pull out their teeth this time! I guess the attitude of the Germans will be very tough. When the time comes , the Germans and the Americans will start a fierce battle around the Azores. In the end, the Americans will definitely lose. However, the Germans will not launch an attack on the American 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, agreeing with Churchill's point of view.

"This time, we only need to invest very little force. For the rest, let the Americans and Germans fight!" Churchill said. Although the United Kingdom and the United States have secretly formed an alliance, there are no permanent friends between countries, only permanent interests.

The British response satisfied the U.S. government. Although some people think that the power invested by the British is too small, but without the British government, the power is already very weak, and being able to invest these powers has already shown their attitude.

President Woodrow Wilson issued an order directing the Department of the Navy and the Department 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 same time, the 1st Division of the US Marine Corps also boarded the ship and headed for the Azores under the escort of the fleet.

Subsequently, the U.S. government determined that the German government had signed an agreement with the Portuguese government to purchase the Azores, which further strengthened the Americans' determination to send troops to occupy the Azores by force.

Although Germany bought the Azores from Portugal, it did not immediately send troops to land on the island. The Admiralty is inviting tenders to build a naval base and airfield on the Azores. At that time, the Atlantic Fleet will escort 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 implementation.

I have to admit that it is precisely because of this negligence on the German side that the Americans 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 American Marines began to land, those Portuguese police sent a telegram back home. After the U.S. Marines came ashore, they immediately raised their hands and surrendered to the U.S. Marines. The Americans occupied the entire Azores without bloodshed.