Chapter 21: World War 1 - (2)
Getting approval for the country's entry into the war wasn't easy for the executive, but it wasn't hard either as many in congress also wanted to take the back the islands Manila administered back when it was a Spanish colony.
Initially, the pro-war faction wanted to take The Caroline Islands, Guam, and the rest of the Marianas, but the Defense department strongly argued against it.
First they don't have the resources to invade and garrison a huge number of islands.
Second is that The United States will not relinquish their ownership of Guam and forcefully taking it is the dumbest thing they will do.
Leading the opposition alongside the Department of Defense are the Department of Public Welfare and the Department of Trade. Their arguments are primarily centered around the deaths war will inevitable cause and the succeeding economic ruin it may bring to the nation.
Going to war with a global power like Germany will indeed lead to numbers greater than the recent war with the Americans, which killed around 40,000 Filipino soldiers and an estimated 600,000 civilians, memories of which is still fresh in the minds of the people.
On the other hand, the Pro War faction led by the Department of Industry, the Department of Public Works, and the Department of Finance argued that this will be a boon to the country's industry as they will be needed to produce materials, and supplies for the men on the front, and the construction of infrastructure, thus creating more jobs which will boost the economy.
They assured that deaths will be minimal, or none at best as they can provide aid in some way to the British and their allies without sending men to Europe.
Germany will be too preoccupied with its war against the Entente that they will definitely ignore a small nation like the Philippines.
What's more is that the German Navy will be very busy battling against the British Navy around the British Isles, and the Atlantic to even consider sailing around the world to attack Manila.
The Pro War faction is confident that the country will be untouched during the war, and that sending men to Europe and Africa will not be the administration's priority.
The argument and assurances of getting the benefits of using the country's industry for war without the cost of death and destruction swayed the Congress into entering the war against Germany.
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The German cruiser attack on Manila Bay had the President, and the pro war cabinet members summoned to Congress for answers. In exchange for joining the Entente they had been assured that Germany cannot attack the country, but the unchallenged attack proved otherwise.
It is found that the cruiser is indeed part of Germany's East Asia squadron and its presence made congress and the public fear of an invasion. Congress also feared that the fleet en route to Palau will be intercepted and and sunk sending thousands of men to their deaths.
The Pro war faction assured that it was probably a decoy sent to harass their enemies and the main body of the fleet is probably heading to the Americas. Any competent naval commander would see it is as suicide staying in an area teeming with enemy warships, especially from nations they see as rivals.
By the end, congress allowed the country to continue its participation in the war with a very stern warning that they will immediately begin peace talks as soon as enemy ships, with enough numbers to stage an invasion, appeared anywhere near Philippine shores.
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Fortunately for the Philippines just as their fleet neared Palau, Germany's Pacific Fleet has already finished harassing French and British territories near Australia and New Zealand and is now heading East.
This gave them enough assurance that they can go and land on the island without fear of their ships being sunk rendering them isolated, or be captured as prisoners of war.
As the Germans focused on developing the islands for extraction of minerals and copra plantations, there wasn't any fortification on the island. There is no visible, if any, signs of defensive structures in the area where the Filipinos landed thus they were able to secure the area without taking casualties.
After a few days of marching inland, they found out that the few foreigners on the island were civilians and merchants who are only on the island for trading purposes.
Once the army settled, they ordered all men to stop working and declared that the Philippines will take over the administration of the island.
They seized all German owned properties on the island excluding the personal properties of any German national left on the island. They then had them deported to Australia as they didn't they really know what to do with them.
After a few days, the army announced that Palau will be incorporated as one of the states of The Philippines if the people choose to do so.
They highlighted that they will have complete autonomy while the federal government will assist in the creation of their state government, and the development of the economy of the island.
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While the part of the army is getting its foothold in Palau, the president has been approached by the British to ask him to assist them in the African campaign.
Although the president and the pro war cabinet can be swayed with the promise of being given the western half of the Caroline islands, they know that the hesitancy comes from Congress. Their business connections to various congressmen allowed them to have some influence in the legislature to prevent a sizeable resistance against deploying the army to another continent.
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