Chapter 188: Big explosion

The lives of the soldiers are so simple and happy. As an armed force of a country, how suffocated they felt when facing the British, how arrogantly they appeared in front of the Spaniards at this time.
To protect the sense of responsibility of the overseas Chinese of the United States, more than 300 officers and soldiers on each battleship Maine stood with their heads up and participated enthusiastically in this operation.
The battleship Maine has not been in service for more than three years. Although it is not the most advanced warship in the United States in this era of naval technology, it is still a very threatening option compared to the Spanish fleet in Cuba. It is most appropriate for Spain to show off its force.
On January 24, the battleship Maine appeared in the port of Havana. In the eyes of the Spanish resentment, it slowly entered the port. In contrast to the Spanish who dare to speak out, they are waiting for the United States of America in Havana. The expatriates, waving the stars and stripes in their hands, warmly welcomed the arrival of the warships of their own country.
The battleship Maine just arrived in Havana and was warmly welcomed. Obviously the local expatriates had been waiting for a long time. This welcome made the officers and men on the battleship stand up and looked at Havana with contempt. The emigrants of the United States and The contrast of the Spaniards is in stark contrast. One side is in the sky, and the other side is already sunset. The glorious global empire Spain, its glory has gone away. Compared with the new United States of America, the Spanish empire is like a place. The old man in the twilight years has little time for it.
The four ten-inch 35-caliber Markii main guns on the foreside are facing the downtown area of ​​Havana. The slightly elevated angle indicates that these main guns also very much agree with the ideas of the warship officers and soldiers.
In the warm welcome of the expatriates of the United States, the battleship Maine stopped at the Cuban capital Hava.
For other countries in the world, this kind of behavior that tramples on the dignity of the old imperialism is not pitiful, and only the Spanish government may be concerned about it. And other countries are more concerned about things in southern Africa.
Although the war will not begin until a year later, the impending tension in southern Africa has been enough to attract the attention of various countries. After all, one is the world ’s hegemony and giant gold mines, while the Americas are just a decline in Spain and a talent. The United States of America began to emerge.
Although some self-proclaimed sober newspapers reminded the United States of America of the huge apology, the result is the same as the dissemination of the Republic's threat theory in the 1990s. It is okay to listen, but it is not worthy of serious treatment. Obviously, the combination of world hegemony and giant gold mines is even more playful.
The British Expeditionary Force and diplomats are acting at the same time. Although they may not necessarily fight, the troops transported to southern Africa can at least play a role when they are under pressure. British diplomats are visiting countries in order to obtain the understanding of each country, at least on the surface.
The Maine's docking was naturally to protect the expatriates from returning home. From this time on, the expatriates of the United States began ordering tickets for the return to the United States to say goodbye to the land.
Berzin, like most expatriates in the United States, just happened to have his camera on this day, placed it next to the battleship Maine docked in the port, and then went out to buy food. He happened to meet his neighbor. He is a neighbor of a US citizen who happened to be picking up a boat in Jintai and was packing up.
"Why are you still here, the federal government has called the expatriates to return home, and now the atmosphere in Havana is more tense, and those Spanish people look at us wrong, although they may not be able to fight, but still return to the country to avoid comparison Okay.
When the neighbor saw Berzin with a relaxed look, when he saw that he did n’t look nervous, he chattered out and persuaded,
I ’ve already booked the ferry ticket, so hurry up, if you ca n’t fight Get up and come back when the time comes, don't save this little money. "
Berzin put his hands in his trousers pockets, smiled and listened to the neighbor's persuasion, and then slowly said, "My family is in Texas. There is only me here, and I think there may be no war. An ordinary expatriate, I believe that the Spanish will not treat me well, but it makes sense for you to return to your country. Then I will think about it again, maybe I will go back in two days. "
When he went out to take food with him, the neighboring residents had left, and apparently someone had gone to the empty building. Berzin shook his head slightly and went back to his room to take off his shirt. His eyes were still on the battleship outside the window. In the sun, the black and white shield tattoo on Berzim's arm is clearly visible.
At various angles in the port of Havana, it is not just him who observes the movement of the port like Berzin. As for why this is done, the people watching here do not know, just obey the orders of the two companies.
The naval officers and soldiers on the battleship Maine had a lot of leisure time. During the first few days, they were still vigilant. After all, this is the place of the Spaniards. In case the Spaniards are suddenly in trouble, they are not in trouble. For play.
But with the passage of time, the Spaniards kept the general restraint of bearing humiliation and weight, which caused the navy officers and soldiers to begin to hang their hearts. Although the United States of America is not an old imperialism, there is not much experience of bullying compared with Britain and France. , But also know what it is like now, the Spaniards won't go far.
The vigilance gradually dissipated, and the officers and men who had stayed on the battleship disembarked, purchased supplies, or took a walk around. When they first got off, they laughed at the embarrassment of the first sunless empire. It is a routine task of evacuating overseas Chinese, and there is nothing special about it.
The observation of the battleship Maine ’s house from all angles is still continuing. Berzin and his companions did not relax their vigilance for a moment. The orders of the joint company headquarters were simple and direct, and they also told them these Observer, there are companions nearby, but no one knows how many companions there are.
Knowing a certain truth but not all knows it. This makes all observers dare not slack off. If someone else sees something but does n’t see it, it is the biggest negligence.
Berzin, who was leaning on the bed, looked bored at the port. He had maintained this state for more than half a month. In fact, from the battleship Maine to Havana, all the diasporas who decided to leave have boarded the ship and left Cuba. It is a bit strange to return to the land of the United States, and this battleship has been docked here.
Borz, who was very boring, opened a banana. It seems that today is a boring day again. I have already thought about how to write today's diary. After all, the United Corporation's telegram is so demanding.
"On the night of February 15th, Berzin, a mid-level employee of the United Company Black Gold Transportation Company, was in the southwest corner of the port of Havana. Everything was normal during the day today!" Berzin wrote today's observation report with a pen under the oil lamp. Just before closing the diary, a tremendous loud noise suddenly sounded, and then the window of the room touched, and the glass above shattered suddenly.
All of this sudden change made Berzin suddenly blinded, and after a few seconds, it suddenly reacted, and Berzin with a buzzing sound in his ears took three steps and two steps to the edge of the bed. A pair of eyes stared straight at the direction of the firelight, and quickly took the already placed camera to take pictures of the explosion site.
On the night of February 15, the battleship Maine at Havana suddenly exploded. The explosion was so powerful that almost a third of the hull on the front side was blown away, and the rest of the wreckage quickly sank into the sea. This explosion awakened all the residents near the port, and everyone looked at the explosion site with a panic. .
Soon the streets of Havana, the Spanish military police were all dispatched, anxiously rushed to the port where the explosion occurred. Everything that happened in Havana quickly spread everywhere with radio signals.
"Boss, Havana Telegram!" Inside the Oak Manor in New Orleans, Sheffield, who had fallen asleep, was pushed into the door by Jesla and performed a difficult movement directly in front of this bodyguard investment, sitting up in shock!
With one hand holding his forehead in a paste state, Sheffield held out the other hand with a voice not far from death, "Take it here!" He took the telegram from Jessra and seemed to be awake Sheffield stared directly at the content above, "The battleship Maine exploded for unknown reasons?"
unknown reason? After staying in Havana for half a month, the expatriates have long since evacuated and have to leave. The domestic belligerence and public opinion are one after another. The Admiralty even formulated a battle plan to attack Cuba last year. Now is it an unknown reason?
The boss made Jesra look uncomfortable with a weird grin, but soon Sheffield returned the telegram to Jesra, and said unhurriedly, "All of its newspapers will report the Maine tomorrow morning. The news that the battleship was sunk by the Spaniards, all, no newspaper will report anything else tomorrow, how to process the content is easy. "
Sheffield did not care how many officers and soldiers on the battleship Maine died. This did not delay him. A capitalist ate some blood buns to eat. I believe the news that the battleship Maine was sunk in Havana tomorrow morning as the newsboys shouted. Will spread throughout the United States, which will form a public opinion that no one can stop.
Sure enough, in the early morning of the next day, almost all the newspapers published this explosive news. Citizens who did not believe it were fake news, and then bought another newspaper, or the news of the Maine, the entire United States. Citizens are at a loss, and then there is great anger.