Chapter 973： 2 puzzles (1/2)
”General Groves, how is our Manhattan project progressing?” At the White House, Roosevelt said to the old general who hurriedly arrived.
In the United States, the study of atomic energy is also a very confidential project, the Manhattan Project, which only a few people know about.
After being reminded by the scientists, Roosevelt set up a uranium advisory committee and began to implement a huge research plan.
This work formed the Supreme Policy Leadership Group, consisting of the President himself, Vice President Henry Agard Wallace, Secretary of the Army Henry Lewis Stimson, Army Chief of Staff George Cartlett Marshall, Van Nivar Bush and James Connant et al.
When the research and practice of atomic energy led the US government and scientists to conclude that it is possible to create a nuclear weapon that can definitely be used in war. Therefore, President Roosevelt approved the nuclear program report submitted by Bush and decided to form a new engineering area to perform the task. At this time, Groves, who was the deputy secretary of the Department of Construction, participated. Now, he has become the Manhattan engineering area. Commander.
Groves came this time, of course, to report on the progress of the Manhattan Project.
”We have established a secret base in Oak Ridge. Various projects and supporting facilities are in perfection. Our project will be launched soon.” Groves said, ”However, now we have encountered two A difficult problem.”
Groves deeply recognized the importance of the Manhattan Project and was meticulous about the entire project. Now, he is here to report important situations to Roosevelt.
”Go ahead,” Roosevelt said.
”The first is that our project requires a large amount of uranium ore.” Groves said: ”This is the raw material for nuclear weapons, and we have not yet found uranium ore in the United States.”
”Where is it?” Roosevelt asked.
”Congo.” Groves said: ”Congo is the main source of uranium mines. Now, in our country, there is a Belgian businessman Edgar Sengil who came to take refuge. We have investigated it. Sengil has More than 1,250 tons of rich ore are stored in our cargo terminal on Staten Island.”
Roosevelt patted his thigh immediately, although there was no sense there for a long time: ”Okay, this is too convenient. Trade with him immediately. No matter what the cost, you must get this batch of ore. If If he refuses, then we will expropriate it directly!”
It is already a state of war. In this case, personal interests must be subordinated to national interests!
”We have found him.” Groves said: ”Nichols has successfully traded with Sengir. Sengir agreed to give us the ore in the cargo station, but this is still far from enough. We still need Ship all the uranium ore mined in the Belgian Congo to the United States.”
To make an atomic bomb, the uranium needed is highly enriched, and a large amount of uranium ore can only extract a small amount of uranium. It can be said that this thing is definitely hundreds of times that of gold.
The 1,000 tons of uranium ore is only enough for the initial use, and more uranium ore must be shipped in the later stage!
Transportation from Congo is not that simple. This involves, for example, transportation at sea.
Now that the Germans have occupied Europe, the German fleet is constantly showing their presence on the Atlantic. The United States and Germany may enter a state of war on the Atlantic at any time.
Originally, it was relatively safer to walk the Indian Ocean and then circumnavigate the Pacific Ocean. However, now that the Pacific War has broken out, it is no longer safe.