Shadow Spy

Chapter 440 The status of the new military service is determined

The next day, Roosevelt summoned Holcomb and Lee Junhao in the newly built Oval Office to specifically seek their opinions on the Marine Corps issue. The conversation lasted for three and a half hours.
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  On September 9, the Allied Mediterranean Theater Command and the Italian Badoglio government broadcast armistice declarations respectively, announcing Italy's unconditional surrender. The fascist alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan collapsed. Allied forces then landed in the southern part of the Italian peninsula. Italy's unconditional surrender marked the disintegration of the "Berlin-Rome" axis and was a major victory for the anti-fascist alliance.
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  On September 9, at the weekend joint meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress, Li Junhao, who applied to speak on behalf of the Marine Corps, made a special speech on the current status of the navy and land forces and the war missions they undertake after taking the stage, denouncing Congress's defense, finance, and The unfair attitude of appropriations and other relevant committees clearly stated: "Congress and the government have owed the Marine Corps a hundred and sixty years, and it is time to make amends!"

When he returned to the Admiralty Building, 927 officers and soldiers from the Marine Corps Command lined up downstairs to greet him. Thousands of naval officers and soldiers who listened to the live broadcast on the radio also applauded in support...

Subsequently, his words were displayed as headlines in major newspapers across the United States, arousing resonance among the public, and a wave of public opinion took shape...
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  On September 9, President Roosevelt, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, signed a special promotion order: promoting Ognyan Lee Panson to Lieutenant General of the United States Marine Corps!

After the news was announced, ordinary people didn't realize anything. They talked about Lieutenant General Panson's military resume printed in the newspaper. The common meaning was: this general is a rare genius and should be a general!

In the eyes of people in the military and political circles, the record-breaking rank of "Lieutenant General" is highly symbolic. In addition, General Panson's previous speech in Congress has led many "knowledgeable" people to believe that The Marine Corps is about to rise! ——
  On October 10, Lieutenant General Thomas Holcomb, commander of the U.S. Marine Corps, officially submitted his resignation to President Roosevelt and applied for retirement. - He subsequently served as special adviser to Secretary of the Navy Knox.

After accepting his resignation, Roosevelt immediately announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Panson as the 18th Commander of the United States Marine Corps.
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  On October 10, Lieutenant General Panson, the newly appointed commander of the Navy and Land Forces, sent a report to the White House:
  "In view of the fact that the current salary of officers and soldiers of the navy and army is quite different from that of the navy and army, after re-calculation, the Finance Department of the Navy and Land Command has re-assessed the salary according to the average salary standard of the navy and army...

“Due to the special positioning of the sea and land, it has been reported to the president for approval!

"Remarks: The first batch of September salaries have been paid in accordance with the new standards. If there is anything wrong, the difference will be lost by the Maritime and Land Command, which will contact domestic friendly companies for sponsorship, so as not to increase the burden on the country!"

Seeing this report, Roosevelt was both angry and happy - could this matter be solved by soliciting sponsorship? This Ogg is really capable of causing problems! But that’s okay. If Congress doesn’t agree to include navy and military expenses in the budget, just wait until it becomes a private army! Who will be anxious then? ——
  From October 10th to 15th, the Joint Defense Committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate held several special meetings to discuss the issue of the Marine Corps. After some debates and confrontations, a "Composition and Operation of the U.S. Marine Corps in the War Phase" was finally issued. Temporary Bill.

The bill stipulates: “Due to the progress of the war and the need for the U.S. Marine Corps to perform overseas combat missions, the total strength of the force needs to be expanded to 100 million. The required personnel recruitment, training, equipment, logistics and other matters shall be the responsibility of the force headquarters. Implementation, funding is guaranteed by temporary appropriations from Congress.

"Therefore, this force is confirmed to be the third largest branch of the United States Armed Forces. Its command authority is directly responsible to the President during the war, and after the war is jointly responsible to the President and Congress." For Li Junhao, the introduction of the temporary bill of Congress is of course Good news, but the last one made him smile. Now, Mr. President must be unhappy!
  But it doesn't matter, his main goal has been achieved - he is now the chief officer of the sea and land, so of course he has to think about himself and his subordinates. Is the president important?
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  On the 18th, Roosevelt rowed his wheelchair to Li Junhao's White House office and said: "Oger, you are so good at this, even I got in! Don't you need to explain it to me?"

Regarding this stubborn old man's question, Li Junhao could only say harsh words, "Mr. President, as a junior, I shouldn't have said this, but since you have said it here, I can only answer: 'The geometry of life is like morning dew. "The days are numbered! Sir, do you understand?"

This last sentence is more troublesome to say in English, but the meaning is very clear. The president has a term of office, and others will naturally have to worry about future matters. Roosevelt does not need to think too much now!
  Of course Roosevelt knew this. He didn't really come to him to accuse him, but he was a little dissatisfied that he had hidden it from him beforehand!

In fact, the president had wronged him. Li Junhao never expected that Congress would approve the new bill so quickly!

This bill was jointly submitted by senators from six New England states a month ago. Although Lester Rockefeller said that there were enough lobby groups to help lobby, the speed was still beyond his expectation.

After the president left, he asked specifically, and Rist told him that in addition to the efforts of the Rockefeller Foundation, other major arms dealers, aircraft manufacturing, automobile manufacturing and other forces participated in the lobbying. In addition, the Stuart family also The Congressional Joint Defense Committee is so efficient because of its efforts.

Without thinking about it, Li Junhao knew the reason. These forces should have seen the "money scene" of the Marine Corps' expansion! Of course, the Rockefeller Foundation is also involved.

For the members of Congress, they naturally do not want to offend so many large consortiums and companies. Anyway, the US military is expanding now, and the share is almost the same for any army. Although it is a bit uncomfortable to give so much to the navy and land... No, the "smart" among the members "People" thought of a "cool trick": using this bill, you can try to wrest the command power of land and sea from the president!

What role the Stuart family played was beyond his ability to guess, and he didn't bother to think about it. He just knew that with the joint efforts of all parties, this bill was passed so quickly.

In any case, the passage of the new bill allows him to have a free hand!
  (End of this chapter)