Chapter 284 New Warship Order
After the trip to Germany, Arthur went to Russia and visited Tsar Nicholas II and Grand Duke Sergei, and also visited Crown Prince Alexei who was still in bed.
There was no way, maybe this was the trouble of having too many relatives. Both Germany and Russia were close relatives of Arthur, and the relationship between the countries was also very friendly, which meant that Arthur had to move around.
What's more, both Germany and Russia could provide a lot of help to Australasia. Their status as great powers also made them very scarce allies of Australasia.
Of course, there was not much substantive help that Russia could provide to Australasia now. Perhaps the most useful thing was the continuous flow of Russian immigrants.
During the few days in Russia, Arthur signed an immigration treaty with Nicholas II again.
The treaty stipulated that Australasia would pay the Russian government 5 million rubles in compensation each year in exchange for the Russian government's support for the export of immigrants to Australasia.
Of course, because he paid more money, Arthur also made a request, that is, when screening immigrants, they must meet the corresponding conditions of Australasia.
Although 5 million rubles is not too much for Arthur, it is naturally not too little for the Russian government's finances.
Under the witness of Nicholas II and Arthur, the two governments quickly signed an agreement.
Nicholas II even smiled and said that if Australasia needs it, he can mobilize the government to export millions of immigrants to Australasia every year.
To be honest, for the Russian Empire, exporting millions of immigrants every year is completely possible.
You know, as of 1910, Russia's population is as high as 160 million. In recent years, the annual increase in the Russian population has fluctuated between 3 million and 5 million, and exporting 1 million people every year is not a big deal for the Russian Empire.
But the problem is that if Australasia accepts one million Russian immigrants every year, although it can quickly increase the population of Australasia in a short period of time, it may even have the hope of breaking through 15 million before World War I.
But the consequence may be an imbalance in the proportion of ethnic groups in the country, and the number of Russian immigrants will even approach the British immigrants of the main ethnic group, affecting the unity and stability of the country.
According to the new immigration treaty signed by Arthur and Nicholas II, this immigration treaty is for five years. Australasia pays 5 million rubles every year, and Russia exports 400,000 selected immigrants to Australasia.
The five-year validity period of the treaty will allow Australia to have about 2 million Russian immigrants, which is also the maximum number of Russian immigrants that Australasia can absorb.
Together with immigrants from Britain, Germany and other parts of Europe, Australasia has the hope of breaking through 13 million in population around 1915, of which the British population can still maintain a qualified line of more than 60%.
After the end of World War I, accepting a large wave of refugees, it should be possible to increase the population to 17 million before 1920.
Although it is uncertain whether there will be another World War II in this world, within five years after the end of World War I, the population of Australasia will have the hope of breaking through 20 million, completely confirming the strength and status of the great powers.
During these few days in Russia, the Russian Navy Department frequently sought to see Arthur, and finally, with the nod of Nicholas II, a new warship purchase order was agreed.
The two previous Monarch-class battleships, the Petropavlovsk and the Poltava, both showed good combat effectiveness and performance, and their actual performance in training far exceeded all the old battleships of the Pacific Fleet before.
The performance of the two dreadnoughts made General Makarov, who was far away in Lushun Port, report the news to the Navy Department and Nicholas II overnight, asking the Russian government to order more Monarch-class battleships.
According to General Makarov's original words, if the Pacific Fleet could be equipped with two more dreadnoughts, then even if the island country had the support of Britain, it would be destined to be no match for Russia.
Unfortunately, Britain compromised some of its interests and reached an agreement with Russia. Russia could not act in the Far East in a short time, so General Makarov's plan was also ruined.
However, the strength of the Monarch-class battleships also came into the sight of the Russian high-level officials.
Russia has a very strange characteristic. The high-level officials are willing to spend a lot of money to buy majestic cannons and warships, but are reluctant to provide fresh meat and food, as well as corresponding fresh-keeping and refrigeration equipment for the naval officers and soldiers on the warships.
The officers in charge of procurement would rather risk being killed by the rebellious naval soldiers than buy fresh ingredients for the naval soldiers, and even regard this as the norm in the daily life of the navy.
In 1905, the Eagle battleship was rioted because the officers brought the dead cows to the kitchen to make lunch and distributed them to the naval soldiers. In June, the Potemkin battleship was controlled by the rebellious naval soldiers because the procurement officers made borscht with maggots and distributed it to the officers and soldiers, and fled to Romania.
In May 1907, some naval officers and soldiers of the Black Sea Fleet were preparing to revolt on four battleships, but the uprising ultimately failed because the plan was leaked.
The various uprisings made Nicholas II lose confidence in the Baltic and Black Sea fleets, which were frequently in mutiny. If it were not for the fact that the navy was indeed very important, and if General Makarov's Pacific Fleet gave Nicholas II hope, the navy would probably be like in history. The Baltic Fleet, which was responsible for protecting the safety of the capital St. Petersburg, was directly assigned to the army for management, which also made the Baltic Fleet, which was not very strong in combat, lose its combat capability.
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It has to be admitted that the Russian Empire has become extremely corrupt so far.
The upper and even middle levels of the empire have become extremely corrupt and extravagant, the combat effectiveness of the lower-level army is dilapidated, the soldiers lack training, and the discipline is chaotic. It is no longer the appearance of a powerful country.
However, Arthur was powerless to do so. After all, he was not a member of the Russian royal family. Even if Arthur put forward his opinions, it was unlikely to be adopted by Nicholas II.
We can only pray that the future Russian Empire will collapse more slowly in the war and see if there is any hope to save the Russian royal family.
The new warship procurement order can be said to be a big deal, and it should be Russia's last procurement order in five years.
This purchase order includes two Monarch-class battleships and two Unity-class battlecruisers, a total of four powerful main battleships.
Arthur was surprised at the Russians' generosity at first, but when he heard that all four battleships would be equipped in the Baltic Sea, he also understood that this should be supported by Britain and France.
After all, the stronger the Russians' naval power in the Baltic Sea, the greater the Russian high seas fleet will be restrained.
If the French were a little more powerful in dreadnoughts, they could even unite with Britain to encircle the high seas fleet in the Baltic and North Seas.
Unfortunately, the French's actions on dreadnoughts were as slow as in history, and perhaps, as in history, the north and west coasts of France would have to rely on the protection of the British.
The two Monarch-class battleships were named Empress Maria and Catherine the Great, and the two Unity-class battlecruisers were named Gangut and Sevastopol.
According to the agreement reached between the Russian Navy and Australasia, Australasia needs to deliver half of the four main battleships by the end of 1913 and complete the delivery of the entire order by the end of 1914.
Arthur made a rough estimate and found that there was enough time.
Australasia is currently building two unified-class cruisers, which will be completed in early 1911.
In nearly three years from the beginning of 1911 to the end of 1913, it is possible to complete the construction and testing of two of the four battleships.
The cost of the Monarch-class battleship is about 1.9 million pounds, and the selling price to Russia is 2.4 million pounds.
The cost of the unified-class cruiser is slightly cheaper, about 1.72 million pounds, and the selling price to Russia is 2.1 million pounds.
Because of the good relationship between Russia and Australasia, the selling price of the two warships to Russia is a little cheaper than the selling price to foreign countries, but the shipyard's profit is definitely not small, with a net profit of more than 400,000 pounds for each ship.
The total cost of the Russian order for four warships was as high as 81 million rubles, which is equivalent to 18 million Australian dollars.
Arthur's Royal Dockyard is expected to earn 3.52 million Australian dollars in this trade. After deducting taxes to the government, the shipyard should be able to earn at least 3 million Australian dollars.
It has to be said that the profit from exporting arms, especially selling warships, is really high. This order for warships, which is only four warships, will allow Arthur to build another battlecruiser.
As time entered the second decade of the 20th century, various competitions in Europe became more intense.
As long as the countries are in the two major military groups, they cannot be spared in this arms race.
According to the Royal Intelligence Agency, the Austro-Hungarian Empire has also been secretly building dreadnoughts and named them the United Power-class battleships.
However, among the major European powers, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's dreadnought road can be regarded as more difficult.
It has been several years since the birth of the dreadnought. Countries like Britain and Germany have innovated on the basis of dreadnoughts, designing and building more powerful dreadnoughts.
However, great powers like the Austro-Hungarian Empire have not even started the most basic dreadnoughts, and are even still at the stage of arguing with the parliament.
If the Ministry of the Navy had not raised funds on its own without obtaining the approval of the parliament to build two dreadnoughts, I am afraid that the first dreadnought of the Austro-Hungarian Empire would have to wait until the end of 1915.
Britain and Germany, the two countries that are most capable of exporting dreadnoughts, are currently in a state of naval competition, and it is basically impossible to absorb too many warship orders from abroad.
In other words, the next few years should be the best opportunity for Australasia to sell warships abroad.
You know, in addition to the naval competition in Europe, there is also a naval competition in the small region of South America in this era, which is also an opportunity for Australasia.
After all, making money is not shabby. If the money earned from the sale of the Monarch-class battleships can be used to build more St. Vincent-class battleships, it will be of great significance to the Australasia Navy.
After finalizing the final order and delivery time with the Russian Navy, Arthur hurriedly embarked on his journey back to Australasia.
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