Chapter 0948: The American Stance

Washington, the capital of the United States—inside the White House, President Woodrow Wilson was receiving a briefing. Having secured re-election, he felt the weight of time pressing upon him. His tenure was finite, and he had to realize his ambitions before it ended.

In last year's election, Wilson had only narrowly defeated the Republican candidate, Charles Evans Hughes. This was a clear indication that the electorate was dissatisfied with his performance during his previous term.

Woodrow Wilson was a president of grand aspirations. He envisioned leading the United States to become a true global power, not merely a regional hegemon.

Indeed, America at this moment was far from the superpower of later years—one that could wage war at will. It was, at best, the dominant force in the Americas, largely due to the absence of formidable rivals on the continent. Had geography not so greatly favored the United States, its rise to prominence might have been far less certain.

"Mr. President, the situation in Europe has grown exceedingly tense. Austria-Hungary has formally announced its withdrawal from the Central Powers, much to Germany's displeasure. The Kaiser has personally issued a warning, demanding that Austria-Hungary reverse its decision within three days. Otherwise, the Germans may resort to military action," Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan reported.

Wilson nodded, a trace of satisfaction in his expression. "Excellent. Chaos in Europe presents us with a significant advantage. Our adversaries are too powerful; defeating them head-on would be an arduous task. Our best course of action is to buy ourselves as much time as possible for development."

The president was acutely aware of America's disadvantages. Though the U.S. had a larger population than Germany and, for the moment, a superior industrial output, it lagged significantly in cutting-edge technology and innovation. Even with Britain's exile to Canada bringing a wealth of advanced scientific knowledge, it would take time for America to absorb, refine, and build upon those advancements. And time was precisely what the United States lacked most.

Meanwhile, Germany was consolidating its hold over Britain's former colonies, assimilating northern France, Belgium, and the vast eastern plains ceded by Russia. With each passing day, German strength grew, widening the gap between the two nations. Unless obstacles were placed in Germany's path to slow its expansion, America's chances of surpassing it—let alone defeating it in war—would be virtually nonexistent. Thus, Wilson actively sought to lure Austria-Hungary into conflict with Germany, ensuring the Reich became entangled in a war that would drain its resources and grant the U.S. the time it so desperately needed.

"Mr. President, war between Germany and Austria-Hungary is likely to break out imminently. When the time comes, shall we honor our agreement and deploy troops to Europe?" Secretary of War Lindley Garrison inquired.

"That depends on the circumstances," Wilson replied. "We assured Austria-Hungary that if they could hold out for a month, our forces would arrive. But if they crumble under Germany's assault, what point is there in sending our young men to die in vain?" He chuckled.

His promise to Emperor Karl I had been nothing more than a strategic ploy—to offer reassurance and draw Austria-Hungary into the conflict. Without such assurances, Karl would never have dared to challenge Germany. In reality, Wilson had simply led him into a carefully laid trap.

Of course, should the Austro-Hungarian military perform unexpectedly well and manage to stall the German advance, the United States would not hesitate to seize the opportunity to declare war on Germany. Not only could American forces then vie for newly occupied German territories, but they might also intervene directly in Europe, bolstering Austria-Hungary in its struggle against the Reich.

Yet Wilson considered such an outcome highly improbable. Given Austria-Hungary's military capabilities, there was little reason to believe it could triumph over the German Empire.

"Mr. President, if Germany does attack Austria-Hungary, their army is unlikely to withstand the assault. However, the Austro-Hungarian navy holds considerable advantages in the Mediterranean. They currently possess sixteen capital ships, including four domestically built Tegetthoff-class battleships and four Radetzky-class pre-dreadnoughts. Additionally, they acquired eight battleships when Germany sold off its older vessels. This force surpasses Germany's Mediterranean squadron. However, should the German navy redeploy assets to reinforce the theater, Austria-Hungary's fleet would struggle to maintain superiority. Such a move, however, would weaken Germany's naval strength elsewhere—particularly in the Atlantic. If their home fleet moves into the Mediterranean, only their Atlantic Squadron would remain, which consists of a mere seven capital ships. In contrast, our naval strength in the Atlantic far exceeds theirs. If the opportunity presents itself, we might be able to eliminate Germany's Atlantic fleet in one decisive stroke, securing dominance over the ocean," the Secretary of the Navy suggested.

Wilson pondered for a moment before nodding. "We'll see how events unfold. If Austria-Hungary puts up a strong fight, we'll seize the chance to strike at Germany. But if they collapse under pressure, then it would be unwise for us to provoke the Germans prematurely. Their navy still far outmatches ours, and until our new capital ships are fully operational, engaging them directly would be reckless."

If the opportunity arose, Wilson certainly hoped to cripple a portion of the German navy. A successful engagement would ease America's strategic burden in the Atlantic. Otherwise, the U.S. would be forced into a prolonged naval buildup to match Germany's formidable fleet.

"Mr. President, breaking news—Germany has declared war on Austria-Hungary. Their forces have already crossed the border and entered Austro-Hungarian territory," a secretary reported.

Wilson's lips curled into a smile. "Gentlemen, the curtain has risen—the show has begun!"