Chapter 343 Military Expansion and Loans

On March 27, 1913, under the witness of Arthur, Minister Grey and Prime Minister Kent signed the agreement respectively, which also officially represented the signing and implementation of the Anglo-Australian Agreement, which had been negotiated for more than a month.

This is an agreement on comprehensive cooperation in diplomacy, economy, military and other aspects. Australasia has officially become an ally of the British and joined the Allied camp.

On the day the Anglo-Australian Agreement was signed, it caused a great sensation in Australasia and Europe.

This also means that Australasia will officially join the Allied Powers, and the number of powers owned by the Allied Powers has reached four, ahead of the three of the Allied Powers.

Although Australasia's status as a great power has only been recognized by European governments and media in recent years, and it also has competitors such as island countries.

But no one can deny Australasia's status as a great power. Even if it is the eighth great power, it is much stronger than non-great powers.

If we look at the current paper strength of the Allied Powers and the Allied Powers, the advantage of the Allied Powers is even greater.

Italy and Australasia are both bottom powers, and Australasia's military strength is even stronger than Italy to a certain extent. (Mainly reflected in the army, the navy of both sides is balanced)

And Russia is also stronger than the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The combined strength of Britain and France is also greater than that of Germany.

Coupled with the advantages of land area and population, the balance of the war seems to have tilted towards the Allies.

On the day when Australasia announced the signing of the Allied Powers with Britain, William II sent a telegram to Arthur to inquire about the situation.

During the reign of Edward VII, the relationship between Arthur and William II was obviously better.

But there is no way, the relationship between countries is not maintained by Arthur's personal relationship. For Australasia, joining the Allied Powers can gain more benefits and status, and can make itself one of the top five powers.

But if Australasia joins the Allies, unless Australasia exhausts the last drop of blood in the country and plays all its cards, there is no hope of winning at all.

But exhausting Australasia's potential and efforts for Germany's victory was unacceptable to Arthur and Australasia.

Therefore, joining the Allies was the best outcome, at least for Arthur and Australasia.

Although doing so was somewhat immoral for the relationship between Arthur and William II, the development of the country was like this, and it was up to the matter, not the people.

For William II's inquiry, Arthur could only explain it with the thoughts of the majority of the British population.

However, Arthur also assured William II that Australasia would never use any illegal weapons to fight in the war.

You know, there were many illegal weapons on the battlefield of World War I. Both sides used various tricks to win the war.

In addition to the Maxim heavy machine gun, one of the weapons that caused the most casualties in World War I, chemical weapons, flamethrowers, etc. were also emergency weapons that made all soldiers shudder in World War I.

Needless to say, chemical weapons, various poisonous gases, blinded, suffocated, infected and even killed soldiers.

The flamethrower, which seems to have low lethality, is actually very cruel when it causes damage.

Although the flamethrower has no effect on a solid fortress, the extremely high temperature flame can enter the fortress from the observation port and ventilation port of the fortress, causing painful burns to the enemy at close range.

If you are unlucky, you may even be directly burned to charcoal by the flamethrower, which is much more cruel than other ways of death.

Even if you are lucky and are far away from the observation port, you will suffocate and lack water because of the rapid consumption of oxygen and water by the high temperature.

Moreover, the extremely high temperature can easily ignite the ammunition and shells inside the fortress. For those who are inside the fortress without any shelter, this is facing death at close range.

Although because Australasia joined the Allied Powers, it directly became a potential enemy of Germany in terms of position.

But at least the relationship between Arthur and William II has not changed much, and the two can still talk happily in the telegram.

However, William II is also proud of being a monarch of the top powers. For Arthur, it is considered a betrayal, and William II will not try to retain him.

In William II's view, he should use the victory on the battlefield to tell Arthur that the Anglo-French ally was just an empty shell and could not withstand a single blow in front of the powerful German Empire army.

It must be said that many Germans were still quite arrogant during this period.

Because the founding history of the German Empire was established by stepping on France, the then Western European hegemon, and now facing France and Britain again, this feeling of facing a defeated general made the German military and many senior officials gradually confident and did not take the French army seriously.

The news that Australasia joined the Allied Powers also caused a lot of repercussions in China.

The crowd of supporters. Naturally, they are immigrants from Britain and Russia. Because of the basic proportion of British immigrants and the high growth of Russian immigrants in recent years, the total number of British and Russian immigrants combined accounts for more than 85% of the total population of Australasia.

Therefore, in the eyes of the Australasia people, Australasia's joining the Allied Powers is actually what the people want.

As for the German population, which accounts for less than 10%, they naturally don't want to see this scene.

However, the proportion of German immigrants was not high to begin with, and Arthur had the foresight to break them up among the large number of British and Russian immigrants, so they were destined to not make any waves.

Moreover, most of those who can immigrate are those who cannot make a living in their original countries or whose lives are not good.

If they live well in their original countries, who would be willing to travel thousands of miles to a foreign country just to make a living?

These German immigrants think they live well in Australasia. Asking them to stand up and oppose the government's decision regardless of their current stable life is a bit overestimating their feelings for their original countries.

Unless someone deliberately gathers these Germans together and incites them, the German immigrants in Australasia will not be able to affect the situation in Australasia at all.

Moreover, with the Royal Security Intelligence Agency monitoring the domestic situation, even with the support of other countries, it is difficult to gather these already scattered German immigrants together.

Arthur spared no effort to maintain the domestic order in Australasia.

Arthur also strongly supports the expansion of the Royal Security Intelligence Agency and attaches great importance to it.

So far, the total number of intelligence personnel of the Royal Security Intelligence Agency has exceeded tens of thousands.

If we count those lurking in other countries and some spies, this number may be several times higher.

In Australasia alone, the Royal Security Intelligence Service has more than 5,000 intelligence personnel, buried in cities and villages of all sizes in Australasia.

This also allows Arthur to grasp the first-line intelligence in Australasia at any time, and Arthur can also grasp the movements of his officials and subordinates at any time.

The Royal Security Intelligence Service's layout of foreign intelligence is mainly concentrated in Europe, the United States, East Asia and other places.

The largest number of intelligence personnel is sent to Europe, a full 4,000 people. In addition to the local hired and recruited spies, etc., the number of intelligence personnel in Europe is as high as more than 10,000.

The number of intelligence personnel in the United States is slightly less, but with various spies, the total number is also more than 4,000.

There are about 3,000 intelligence personnel in East Asia and Southeast Asia, about 1,000 in South America, and about 1,000 in Africa and other regions. This is the current distribution and layout of intelligence personnel of the Royal Security Intelligence Service.

The first benefit of joining the Allied Powers is to directly ally with the three major powers of Britain, France and Russia.

Because Australasia has promised to send a large combat force in the future European war, Arthur can also shamelessly ask for more benefits and assistance from Britain, France and Russia.

Of course, the aid from the Allies mainly comes from Britain and France, and Russia is also the party being assisted.

On the day when the government publicly announced its joining the Allies, Arthur signaled the government to contact the French government to establish good diplomatic relations first.

The French also welcomed Australasia's joining, because the combat troops sent by Australasia will relieve some of the pressure on the French army.

While contacting the French, Arthur also put forward his own request, that is, he wanted to buy French submarine technology.

Although Australasia already has Germany's mature submarine technology, the development of German submarine technology is still one step behind Britain and France.

Of course, even if Germany's submarine technology is on par with Britain and France, knowing more about additional submarine technology will be beneficial to the development of Australasia's submarines.

In addition, Arthur also instructed the Australasian government to seek a large number of low-interest and interest-free loans from the British and French governments and the public.

The excuse was that in order to reserve enough military forces, Australasian needed to invest more budget in the military.

After World War I, all currencies would depreciate, and whether it was an interest-free loan or a low-interest loan, it was a sure win for Australasian.

Even with the large amount of mineral resources and food supplies sold to Britain and France during the war, these loans could be easily repaid.

Perhaps because of the importance attached to the new ally, the French readily agreed to Australasian's request to purchase submarine technology.

Of course, the French did not object to Australasian's loan request. After all, they had been a major lending country for decades, and one more Australasian was not too much.

With the diplomatic ambassadors sent by both sides, Australasian quickly signed a loan agreement with the French government.

The agreement stipulates that Australasia will borrow a total of 500 million francs (20 million pounds, 40 million Australian dollars) from the French government and private sector, of which 150 million francs will come from the French government and are interest-free loans. 350 million francs will come from the French private sector and are low-interest loans.

The total term of this loan is 10 years. After 10 years, the Australasia government needs to repay a total of 535 million francs, including principal and interest.

Of course, the 500 million francs will not be paid in one lump sum. According to the financial situation of the French, the government's 150 million francs will be paid in two batches, in the middle of this year and at the end of this year.

As for the 350 million francs from the French private sector, it depends on the specific situation of the negotiations between the Australasia government and the French private banks.

France is a big country in terms of loans, and the loan procedures are handled very quickly. This loan agreement will also be signed and take effect soon.

If nothing unexpected happens, about 150 million francs will be received in the first half of this year, and 250 million will be received in the second half of this year. The remaining 100 million francs may have to wait until next year to be paid.

With the support of this funding, the Australasian government can also expand its military armaments on a large scale.

Even when the naval orders from Russia and Chile are completed, it will be the turn of Australasia to produce warships.

Since the future target and enemy has been regarded as the United States, it is necessary to quickly improve the naval strength.

Arthur plans to expand Australasia's naval armaments starting in 1914.

In the five years from 1914 to 1918, Australasia's next five-year naval shipbuilding plan will be officially implemented.

In this five-year naval shipbuilding plan, Australasia will build at least one aircraft carrier, seven main warships above super dreadnoughts, four battlecruisers, dozens of frigates and armored cruisers, etc., to thoroughly enrich Australasia's naval reserves.

The aircraft carrier is a test product of the navy, and whether it can be successfully built has no effect on the expansion of the navy.

The real highlight is the absolute main warships above the seven super dreadnoughts, and at least three advanced battlecruisers.

If this new five-year naval shipbuilding plan can be completed, the size of Australasia's navy will reach seven super dreadnoughts, three dreadnoughts, six battlecruisers, and a total of sixteen main battleships after the end of World War I.

By then, if nothing unexpected happens, the Allied navies should also have accidents.

By then, Australasia's navy will be guaranteed to be among the top five in the world, and there is even hope that it will be directly ranked third in the world after Britain and the United States.

In fact, from the attitudes of Britain and France, it can be seen that Britain and France actually attach great importance to Australasia, a new ally joining the Allied Powers.

France not only agreed to exchange with Australasia in some military technology, but also agreed to Australasia's request for a loan.

As for the United Kingdom, the aid promised in the previous negotiations was already being prepared by the British government after the signing of the Anglo-Australian Agreement.

Because the original work contains a variety of things, even various technologies, drawings and materials, and talents, it takes some time to prepare.

But the British did not intend to wait. After the first batch of aid was well prepared, they were already on the British Empire's transport ship, under the protection of a fleet, heading towards Australasia thousands of miles away.

This batch of aid included a large amount of industrial equipment and information, as well as talents in various fields required by Arthur.

Of course, the British government did not directly require these talents to immigrate to Australasia, but changed the concept to send experts to allow these people and their families to live in Australasia for a long time.

Although on the surface, these experts only need to stay in Australasia for a few years before they can apply to return to the UK.

But the problem is that when they went to Australasia, they had already taken their families and most of their property.

After living in Australasia for several years or even more than ten years, are their families really willing to travel thousands of miles to return to the UK?

If they are willing, Arthur will only admire their love for their motherland and let them go back.

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