Chapter 108 Heading to New Zealand (please subscribe!)
If the logistics and weapons supply of the First Division are a little luxurious, then the Guards Division after adaptation and mixing is even more luxurious.
The Guards Division consists of the Guards Infantry Regiment, the Guards Cavalry Regiment and the Guards Artillery Regiment, with a total number of more than 8,000 people.
Although the number of people is only half that of the First National Defense Division, its firepower and weapons and equipment are more luxurious.
Like the First National Defense Division, the Guards Infantry Regiment has only more than 3,000 people, but the heavy machine gun company has more people and is naturally equipped with more heavy machine guns.
Although there is only one regiment of the Guards Infantry Regiment, the number of heavy machine guns equipped has reached 13, which is fully half of a conventional German division.
The cavalry regiment not only has three replaceable horses, but each person also has weapons and equipment such as long spears, short spears and long knives.
In an era before tanks were born, the cavalry was still a more lethal force. Although the Guards Cavalry Regiment was not equipped with high-power firearms such as heavy machine guns, it had two cavalry artillery companies.
Although the cavalry artillery company is planned to be equipped with slightly smaller caliber artillery such as CA-1 cannon and M1987 automatic artillery, in terms of firepower, because they are all automatic artillery, the firepower is not weak.
Not to mention the artillery regiment. The Guards Artillery Regiment has four artillery battalions, each of which is equipped with 10 CA-1 machine guns, five M1987 automatic cannons and five 105mm howitzers. One artillery regiment has 80 artillery pieces, and its firepower has exceeded to the level of existing European conventional divisions.
The training ground of the Guards Division is near Sydney, not far from Sydney. This is actually for the reason of guarding the capital and protecting the royal family.
Of course, one advantage of having the training venue nearby is that the logistics supply is not so tight.
Even if the entire Guards Division is trained, less than two thousand natives can easily complete their material delivery.
Of course, in addition to weapons and equipment, the soldiers of the Guards Division are better treated than the soldiers of the First Division in terms of salary and logistics.
This is largely due to the fact that the royal family is responsible for the expenses of the Guards Division and the Ministry of Defense is responsible for the expenses of the 1st Division.
If the food of the First Division is selective while ensuring the supply of meat, then the food supply of the soldiers of the Guards Division is optional.
That’s right, it’s optional. Each meal in the Guards Division generally consists of more than ten kinds of food, and soldiers are free to choose the food they want to eat.
And every holiday, soldiers can order meals freely. As long as the price is within a reasonable range, gourmet meals can be made specifically for soldiers.
This kind of logistical supply directly crushed most armies in the world, and also allowed Arthur to successfully gain the favor and loyalty of all Guards Division soldiers.
In addition to regular logistics supplies, the salary of soldiers in the Guards Division is also very attractive, generally reaching about twenty pounds.
Although this income level is still far behind the European military, it is already considered a high-income group in Australia.
And whether it is the Guards or the First Division, their salary levels are not static.
As Australia's per capita income rises, so will soldiers' incomes. Keeping the income of soldiers above the per capita income, the income of the Guards Division is twice the per capita income, which is also the guarantee for Arthur to gain the favorability and loyalty of these soldiers.
After all, joining the army involves certain risks. If you want to win the loyalty of these soldiers, you must not only do a good job in logistics and supply, but also receive preferential treatment and pay them on time.
Arthur attached great importance to the salary payment of these soldiers and gave full authority to the Royal Bank.
Soldiers are paid twice a year, in the spring and autumn. On the day when military pay is issued, the royal bank will hand over the checks that have been prepared to all soldiers. They can exchange the equivalent amount of pounds or other currencies from the royal bank with a check issued by the royal bank.
Of course, when Arthur issues new currency in the future, they can also be exchanged for new currency.
The Ministry of National Defense is responsible for the salary payment of the soldiers of the First Division, but Arthur still gave a few very solemn instructions.
For a country, no soldier's salary can be deducted or delayed under any circumstances.
After all, the military is an important means to maintain the stability of a country and political power. Everyone, including Arthur, needs the military to maintain their power.
While the army was building, Arthur was also planning other actions.
On March 27, 1902, the Australian Relief Committee set foot on New Zealand for the first time and came to Wellington, the capital of British New Zealand.
Officials of the Crown Relief Commission received a warm welcome from New Zealanders.
Of course, this is a matter of course. After all, the reason why the officials of the Relief Committee came to New Zealand was to relieve the poor in New Zealand and to formulate relief policies in New Zealand similar to those in Australia.
If New Zealanders don't welcome people who come to send them money and food, doesn't it mean they are out of their minds?
Speaking of the history of British New Zealand, it actually has a lot of connections with Australia.
As early as 60 years ago, New Zealand was still under the colonial rule of Australia and did not establish an independent colony.
It was not until 1841 that the British colony of New Zealand was separated from Australia and established.
But this has not erased the relationship between Australia and New Zealand.
In the original history, when Australia established an autonomous territory, New Zealand also tried to join, but in the end it was to no avail.
Although New Zealand was discouraged from joining Australia by the United Kingdom, this also confirmed the recognition of Australia by New Zealanders.
Although Australia today has not developed in the same way as in history, it has become a new principality territory.
However, New Zealand still proposed to join, but was rejected by the British government headed by Crown Prince Edward at the time.
At that time, Victoria, the de facto Queen of the British Empire, had already gone to the Isle of Wight to recuperate.
By the time Queen Victoria found out about it, it was already too late. But Queen Victoria still used new means to bring New Zealand into Arthur's rule, although it was only nominally for a short twenty years.
Also traveling to New Zealand with the Royal Relief Committee was Arthur and a guard.
After setting foot on the land of New Zealand, Arthur was filled with emotion.
The last time I came to New Zealand, Queen Victoria was still alive. But now that he has come to New Zealand again, everything has changed, and even Arthur's identity has changed.
If Arthur was the guest last time he came to New Zealand, then this time he came as the governor, Arthur was the host.
In fact, Australia and New Zealand are very similar. New Zealand even belonged to Australia for a period of time. Therefore, there is still great hope for the protagonist to annex New Zealand. Do you want to see a dual empire similar to the Austro-Hungarian Empire or a federation? (Third update, please support!)
(End of this chapter)