Chapter 203 Military Integration and Expansion
In early October, after a month-long voyage, Arthur successfully returned to Sydney, the federal capital, and returned to the busy work of government affairs.
During the four months that Arthur was away, most government affairs were handled by the cabinet.
There are still some more important things that need to be reviewed by Arthur. After all, telegrams are not very safe.
Fortunately, Australia's current domestic situation is very stable, and most government affairs are only minor problems facing the country's development, and the cabinet can easily handle them.
This also made Arthur relatively relaxed. After all, the people in the cabinet were appointed by Arthur, and they were not yet capable of disobeying Arthur's orders.
After all government affairs were handled, the elite German soldiers promised by William II officially arrived in Australia.
These German soldiers will live in Australia for a period of time to help the Australian army better train and expand.
Yes, that's right. Australia's military will usher in another round of expansion.
In fact, this is inevitable. At present, the size of the Australian army is still too small. Even if the 3,000 New Zealand army is included, the total number is only 28,000.
Such a large-scale military deployment in federal areas is somewhat insignificant, let alone going abroad to fight overseas wars.
After a meeting between Arthur and the Ministry of National Defense, the Federal Ministry of Defense of Australia and New Zealand officially issued an announcement to Australia and New Zealand. The Federation officially expanded its military. This time, the number of conscripts reached 35,000. After the expansion is completed, the total number of federal troops will be The number will also reach 63,000.
Of course, this military expansion is mainly to expand the conventional divisions.
This time there will be two additional conventional divisions, the 2nd and 3rd Bundeswehr divisions.
These two divisions also follow the organization of the previous First National Defense Division. Three infantry regiments plus an artillery regiment and a cavalry battalion form a regular division. The total number of each division is as high as 16,000.
Thanks to the recruitment of an additional thousand people as a reserve of veterans and officers during the previous expansion of the First Division, there were enough veterans and reserve officers during this expansion.
After the expansion is completed, Australia's conventional forces will have three divisions of 48,000 troops, plus 12,000 troops after adding one regiment to the Guards, and more than 3,000 troops stationed in the New Guinea colony ( a regiment), with a total number of approximately 63,000 people.
In order to solve the problem of insufficient officer reserves caused by the expansion of the army, Arthur started training soldiers in the Australian army very early, and even established a small-scale officer school to select people who can become officers from the vast number of soldiers, and to nourish.
This conscription caused a great sensation in Australia and New Zealand, and recruitment offices in various places also attracted a large number of federal citizens to participate.
Of course, although the current population of the entire Australian Federation is only more than six million, the recruitment requirements this time are still very strict.
First of all, you must be a legal citizen who has lived in the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand for at least five years.
Secondly, if you have not participated in any illegal activities and passed a simple test of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, you can officially sign up to participate in the military conscription.
Of course, just signing up does not mean you will be successfully selected. In addition to simple background tests, this time's recruits also need to undergo dual physical and mental tests to ensure not only the soldiers' combat capabilities, but also their loyalty. Australia's population has now reached 4.91 million, making it one of the most important areas for this recruitment.
New Zealand's population is currently only 1.1 million, and the recruitment target this time is only 5,000.
Not to mention the New Guinea colony, the loyalty of the indigenous people is not reliable at all, and the federal residents of the New Guinea colony are only more than 40,000, so there is no recruitment quota.
For more than a month after the announcement of the military recruitment was announced, recruitment offices across Australia were full.
This time's conscription has been welcomed by the majority of federal residents. After all, even if the Australian army is just an ordinary soldier, its welfare benefits are definitely rare in Australia.
Australia's current per capita total income has reached 35 Australian dollars, which is equivalent to a little more than 17 pounds in pounds.
The annual income of ordinary Australian soldiers has reached about 38 Australian dollars, not to mention the annual income of soldiers in the Guards Division, which has even exceeded 45 Australian dollars.
This does not include various benefits and subsidies for soldiers during holidays. If these are included, the annual income of ordinary soldiers has even exceeded 40 Australian dollars.
This is why Australia's repeated conscriptions have been welcomed by all.
In addition to Arthur's reputation and popularity in Australia and New Zealand, the good treatment of all Australian soldiers is also an important reason why people are willing to join the army.
Of course, in addition to the daily welfare benefits of soldiers, compensation and pensions for fallen and injured soldiers are also issues that Arthur and the Ministry of National Defense attach great importance to.
Families of fallen soldiers can generally receive a one-time compensation of fifty times the per capita annual income in the area where they live, and the government will fund their children's education until they reach adulthood or graduate from high school.
Although there is no right to enter university directly, high school education is still very good these days.
And during the annual college admissions process, the children and family members of fallen soldiers often receive better preferential treatment. Under the same conditions, they will also be given priority during admissions.
This is equivalent to that as long as you become a soldier of the country, not only will you be arranged now, but even if you accidentally die in the future, your family will receive funds and compensation.
This kind of complete pension system is rare even in Europe. After all, the number of casualties in Europe's repeated wars is very large, and even the victorious countries cannot withstand such intense consumption.
Not to mention the later First and Second World Wars, the number of deaths in European countries even reached millions. If the pension system was fully implemented, the country would directly go bankrupt. This is why until after World War II, the world The fundamental reason for the proper establishment of pension systems in various countries within the scope.
Australia's relatively complete pension system also gives many soldiers no worries.
Of course, the fact that Australia currently has no threat of war is also a very important reason. Aside from injuries sustained during routine training, Australia's soldiers are currently not in any danger.
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(End of chapter)