Post by Diarist on Jan 22, 2017 0:28:43 GMT 1
I dropped off my three passengers at the hotel and a few moments later Sally told me that Winston wasn't there yet so I drove to TRADOC HQ and found him talking to John Gort and COL Hardy. "Everything taken care of in Cambridge, Bob?" Winston asked.
"All is fine, thank you. So what have I missed?"
"Winston has been telling me about the SMG demonstration this morning."
"Did he also tell you that he could only hit the 10 yard targets?"
"I can't remember you firing..."
"I have already purchased a Thompson. That's all I need." Then to COL Hardy, "do you have a list of project managers with phone numbers, please. Quite a few people have left and new points of contact here would be appreciated."
"I'll prepare you a list," COL Hardy replied and left the room.
"So what were you and Tizard concocting in Cambridge?"
"We're plotting to eliminate Lindemann," I answered smiling.
"He doesn't like you either, Bob."
"Then he should quit messing around in military strategy. That's not his area of expertise. Actually my meeting was related to Bletchley and how I could help out."
"I'm listening, Bob."
"Our investment bank, Morgan Mitchell in New York, owns a controlling stake in a firm called International Business Machines and they have a product called IBM 405 which is a an electric calculating machine. I'm thinking about donating a couple to Cambridge and Bletchley in order to expedite their work there."
"And what do you get out of it?"
"The Cambridge people work on a privately funded project and I get the patents. It's post-war related but may have a wartime application. Since I'm working during most of my private time I thought that I could take care of some private business during working hours. Any questions about Thursday, John? You ready?"
"I am. We have French translations of everything apparently."
"Yes, I prepared them during my free time on Saturday, hint. On Sunday I found some time for the German versions."
"I've already received the message, Bob."
"Then do you realize that if we are successful with Germany we shall need to change our entire military strategy."
"That has occurred to me. Any suggestions?"
"Nothing concrete but I would propose we place more emphasis on the Near and Far East. Did you read the intelligence reports about Germany's attempt to create an anti-Soviet pact but it fell apart because of Germany's support for the Chinese Republic?"
"It was in a briefing paper I got from Louis."
"Well, if we have Germany as a partner maybe we should consider an anti-Soviet pact with China. That would peeve both Russia and Japan. Germany really does have good contacts with China and that would be a huge market for our arms industry."
"Is that Vickers or MoD speaking?" John asked.
"Both. Winston, Chinese exports would help fund the expansion of our production capacity and help their defences against Japan and the Soviets. We have to consider the economics of this conflict too. Britain is barely treading water financially. Forget what the Chancellor in Nr. 11 is telling the cabinet. It's cheaper to sell aircraft to the Chinese and have them fight our enemy than for us to send RAF squadrons there."
"It's like against Napoleon, We fought to the last Russian and Prussian."
"Along those lines, yes. We should train and equip indigenous forces. That's what the Germans are doing in China."
"And with success?"
"The Japanese are upset..."
"There are a lot of issues we shall need to address, Bob. Let's finish for the day."
"Can you take BG Adam and SSG Hargreaves back to London, Winston."
"Of course."
Next stop is the club.
"All is fine, thank you. So what have I missed?"
"Winston has been telling me about the SMG demonstration this morning."
"Did he also tell you that he could only hit the 10 yard targets?"
"I can't remember you firing..."
"I have already purchased a Thompson. That's all I need." Then to COL Hardy, "do you have a list of project managers with phone numbers, please. Quite a few people have left and new points of contact here would be appreciated."
"I'll prepare you a list," COL Hardy replied and left the room.
"So what were you and Tizard concocting in Cambridge?"
"We're plotting to eliminate Lindemann," I answered smiling.
"He doesn't like you either, Bob."
"Then he should quit messing around in military strategy. That's not his area of expertise. Actually my meeting was related to Bletchley and how I could help out."
"I'm listening, Bob."
"Our investment bank, Morgan Mitchell in New York, owns a controlling stake in a firm called International Business Machines and they have a product called IBM 405 which is a an electric calculating machine. I'm thinking about donating a couple to Cambridge and Bletchley in order to expedite their work there."
"And what do you get out of it?"
"The Cambridge people work on a privately funded project and I get the patents. It's post-war related but may have a wartime application. Since I'm working during most of my private time I thought that I could take care of some private business during working hours. Any questions about Thursday, John? You ready?"
"I am. We have French translations of everything apparently."
"Yes, I prepared them during my free time on Saturday, hint. On Sunday I found some time for the German versions."
"I've already received the message, Bob."
"Then do you realize that if we are successful with Germany we shall need to change our entire military strategy."
"That has occurred to me. Any suggestions?"
"Nothing concrete but I would propose we place more emphasis on the Near and Far East. Did you read the intelligence reports about Germany's attempt to create an anti-Soviet pact but it fell apart because of Germany's support for the Chinese Republic?"
"It was in a briefing paper I got from Louis."
"Well, if we have Germany as a partner maybe we should consider an anti-Soviet pact with China. That would peeve both Russia and Japan. Germany really does have good contacts with China and that would be a huge market for our arms industry."
"Is that Vickers or MoD speaking?" John asked.
"Both. Winston, Chinese exports would help fund the expansion of our production capacity and help their defences against Japan and the Soviets. We have to consider the economics of this conflict too. Britain is barely treading water financially. Forget what the Chancellor in Nr. 11 is telling the cabinet. It's cheaper to sell aircraft to the Chinese and have them fight our enemy than for us to send RAF squadrons there."
"It's like against Napoleon, We fought to the last Russian and Prussian."
"Along those lines, yes. We should train and equip indigenous forces. That's what the Germans are doing in China."
"And with success?"
"The Japanese are upset..."
"There are a lot of issues we shall need to address, Bob. Let's finish for the day."
"Can you take BG Adam and SSG Hargreaves back to London, Winston."
"Of course."
Next stop is the club.