Chapter 57: The turbulent world (Part 2)

First, Clemenceau promoted to suppress the Martinique uprising and served as the governor of French Sultan and Madagascar. General Joseph Gallieni, who was unanimously supported by French public opinion, became the Minister of the Army.

This 56-year-old veteran but still energetic veteran waved his sword as soon as he took office, and "killed and killed a group of "military mystic" officers in the French General Staff. Xia Fei, who had been dissatisfied with him, was transferred from the General Staff to serve as the commander of the 12th Army. Bornar was sent to Russia to "inspection of military affairs". Duber, Durand and others gradually lost their power.

Immediately, Galieni and Michel and others collaborated to propose a preliminary plan for French military reform, namely the so-called "Gallieni**", whose principle is "We must have what the Germans have, and we must have more." This simplified principle stimulated the French's national self-esteem to the greatest extent.

Gallieni believes that in order to cope with the "oppression of the German-led military group", France must have at least one and two million permanent army, four million reserve personnel, and a fleet of no less than nine hundred thousand tons, and also need to vigorously strengthen its air combat power to "deter all military adventures of hostile neighbors."

Gallieni's plan to expand the army shocked the entire French politics and made the French military happy. The new army minister's prestige in the army suddenly rose to its extreme, and Clemenceau became a new idol in the eyes of French nationalists.

However, the French parliament is worthy of being a "free-market parliament". The members of the various party groups of the Senate and House of Representatives tried their best to seize this opportunity to show themselves, but they encountered many obstacles to the entire military expansion plan. Some people think it is "far from enough", some people think it is "overloaded", some people say "motorization is purely a fantasy", and some people simply propose "abolition of the standing army and adopt all the militia system". The reserve plan has been criticized by many people. Racists oppose African-Americans and Jews, but require them to issue "duty exemption", and some radical left-wing oppose military service, believing that "the proletariat has no obligation to defend the bourgeois motherland". French-style boastful talks made it difficult for Gallieni and Clemenceau to take steps.

After more than a month of quarrels, revisions, exchange of interests, and countless intrigues in secret, even President Falier had to stand up and call for "for France" to support the cabinet. The French Senate and House of Representatives finally passed the military reform plan and began to reform the tax system to increase income, especially expanding the income of the central government (the income of French local governments exceeds that of the central government), and cooperating with the expansion of the army.

In order to accelerate the expansion of the army and strengthen cooperation with the United States and avoid the emergence of the "China, Germany and the United States axis", the French Army Department, with the support of the President and the Prime Minister, decided to launch a "large procurement of the United States" and sent a large military procurement delegation to Pittsburgh and Detroit in the United States to "investigate business."

The results of the inspection made the French military "very satisfied", but also proposed to the United States that France's military orders were "sized" and hoped that the United States would adjust its production capacity as soon as possible. Faced with such a huge pie, companies from various industries in the United States formed a "consortium" to bid for France's military equipment purchases at preferential prices. From various military supplies, to trucks, armored cars, motorcycles, and even using American crawler tractor chassis to develop imitation Chinese-style combat vehicles, artillery tractors, heavy artillery, airships, aircrafts, and the French's huge procurement list made the entire American business community excited.

French engineers were ordered to share technical information with the United States, and many American companies also accepted French investment in the face of such as astronomical orders. The establishment of the US-France military industrial cooperation system has gradually had an increasingly direct impact on the diplomatic tone of the US government and the opposition.

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Faced with the increasingly severe international situation, the British government and the opposition gradually realized that with the rise of China and the collapse of Russia, China and Germany have gradually begun to establish connections not only in terms of ideology, national interests, but also in terms of regional conditions, which is gradually collapsing the traditional world order based on naval fleets, money and military and political alliances of Britain.

Faced with this trend, Britain "either passively or actively fight", and the result of the struggle was "almost certainly a decisive war."

"Morse Molian", which has become the focus of attention of the British government and the opposition, once again published a high-profile article: "The New World and Britain".

"...The gentlemen of England must be clear that the era when we can drink afternoon tea leisurely every day waiting for the influx of colonial wealth is over. The New World is a world composed of steel and oil, and it is also a world where mainland countries develop huge industrial production capacity and build huge fleets. In this new world, countries with vast land and large populations are rising, and their commodities are pouring into every corner of the world with their military boots, horses and merchant ships..."

"...The situation is obvious. Every time these countries go further, Britain has to take a step back, and not retreat, and faces war. But has Britain prepared for war to defend the glory of St. George? Gentlemen, are you ready to ride on horses and board warships, and fight the warriors of the military power for the sake of the king and Britain to the end?"

"...Britain is not ready for this new world yet. He is still sleeping, intoxicated by the rolling torrent of wealth. He realizes what he must do, but does not know what to do. His glory belongs to the old world, but the new world has already appeared, completely submerging the old world in the shadow of history with his huge body..."

"...The exercise of diplomatic skills depends on the strength of the country, and the strength of the country must be reflected in warships and cannons. The new world has long sounded the horn of military power. The Russian giant has fallen, and an axis from Berlin to the East is forming... Please connect on the map according to the following locations: Berlin-Vienna-Rome-Warsaw-Bucharest-Constantinople-Tashkent-Asia city. This new alliance is covering the entire world island, its power covers the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, and may penetrate the Indian Ocean at any time."

"...This one-line snake formation under St. George is from London to Gibraltar, Cape Town and Suez, then to India, Malaya, Australia and New Zealand, Canada and British Guiana, Newfoundland... There are 450 million people living on the 35 million square kilometers of land, but only 500,000 troops, and it is outdated, with almost no air force, and lacks trucks, motorcycles, armored cars and tanks. Somewhere in Europe, there are 66 million people living on the 540,000 square kilometers of land, but 800,000 permanent troops stationed. Another country of similar size, although only 40 million people, is planning to expand the permanent troops to one.2 million. They are rapidly modernizing their troops, and their navy is also expanding at an astonishing speed."

"...This is the new world, a world where the country rises and determines its status with guns and warships. The gentleman will take off his top hat and put on his steel helmet, and the people will take off their casual clothes and put on military uniforms and work clothes. This is an era of steel and oil, an era where powerful nations would rather end their quarrels with iron and blood. Rich Britain, glorious Britain, great Britain, facing the new world, survival or destruction, is a problem."

Morse Molian's article "shocked the whole of London again". Almost two days later, British imperialists and the Scouts who imitated the Chinese Youth League and Youth League launched a large-scale demonstration, demanding "immediate action and restore the glory of Britain." Britain has always adopted a recruitment system. Soon, from Aberdeen, Scotland to Portmouth, the southernmost to Northern Ireland, a fanatical patriotic boom was set off across the UK. Countless young people of appropriate age went to the recruitment centers and took the initiative to "voluntarily enlist in the army."

The British Cabinet, which was prepared in advance, quickly submitted the "Imperial Defense Plan Outline" jointly formulated by the Ministry of Army and the Ministry of Navy to the lower house of parliament for deliberation.

When Prime Minister Bannerman walked onto the podium, the entire House of Commons stirred up long-lasting applause, and all the members of parliament were eagerly watching the "good man Henry" who once lacked a "feeling of existence".

In this confused and subtle era, the British gentlemen need a strong will to tell them: the course is where

Prime Minister Benerman's health is getting worse and worse.

This British politician who will die of a heart disease in another time and space in another time and space has been in trouble since taking office. The internal and external difficulties, political chaos, colonial affairs and expansion of power, and industrial and commercial difficulties have been mixed up, and the wave of British proletarian movement is rising, and every day it consumes the energy left by the old man.

But on this day, Sir Bennerman's expression was serious, his eyes were bright, and his whole body exuded some indescribable temperament.

"Dear gentlemen, dear MPs: What I want to bring to you today is determination, the will of Britain. He is invisible, but can influence the entire tangible world; he is kind, but has the power of thunder; he is great, but not afraid to use all means to destroy his enemies - From today on, Great Britain will be willing to pay the last pound for its honor and interests, and shed the last drop of blood when necessary."

After a brief silence, the responding MPs gave deafening cheers, "almost overturning the roof."

Prime Minister Bannerman is now completely indifferent to the image of a "good person" he used to be. His eyes were majestic, looking around the audience, waiting for the cheers to gradually become silent.

"...British is a peace-loving nation and a trustworthy gentleman. For many years, they liked to trade with merchant scales instead of warrior spears. They liked to brave the wind and waves and travel across the ocean to bring fire of civilization to the indigenous peoples in the wilderness. They believed that business behavior was the essence of this world, and they maintained the operation of this world through contract rather than violence."

"In this new century, more and more new forces are beginning to rise, and some ancient civilizations are beginning to restore their glory in another way... The original world is being hit harder and violently, and the stormy world is heading towards an unknown future. The peace of Britain requires the power of Britain, and this power comes from you, the great British people, forty million people of the entire British Empire..."

"In a turbulent world, Britain must become the ark of mankind. He needs to stand forever and guide the light of the world. Faced with the new world, Britain will happily announce the following policy: the number of British standing army personnel will be increased to one.2 million in the next five years, of which 600,000 are located in the local land. Britain's local defense forces will be expanded, and at the necessary moment, he will be expanded to two million in one month. Britain's navy will unswervingly implement the two strong standards. He has enough confidence and enough ability to ensure his dominant position on the ocean, and will be willing to fight to the last man for the legitimate rights and interests of the British Empire."

"God bless my king." Prime Minister Benerman devoutly drew a cross, with a majestic and peaceful expression, "In the name of St. George, God will be with Britain."

This short speech completely ignited the imperialist sentiment that the British Parliament has been "at the critical point" recently, and the enthusiastic MPs even jumped onto the table to "chew in love".

The passage of the defense outline is no suspense, and the subsequent tax increase bill has made the British business community, especially the colonial business community, suffer. But this situation has come to this point, few people have dared to risk the "traitor" to take the lead in opposing tax increases.

Morse Molian pointed out the problem: "... From a hundred years ago to now, the amount of the empire's nominal government debt has tripled, but the population has increased four times, and industrial output has increased twelve times. In the past four decades, government debt has been on a downward trend... The tax and government debt burden of the empire's citizens is at a relatively low level all over the world. For the United Kingdom itself alone, regardless of overseas colonies, the budget revenue for the fiscal years 1903-1904 was 150 million pounds, while Germany reached 3 billion marks..."

Britain in this era is still shrouded in a strong imperialist mood. The British elite who were used to British peace, saw that the glory of the sun was challenged, and even the entire empire was in danger of being dismembered, finally began to let go of its usual reserve and temporarily put aside its fear of tax increases.

For the new fiscal year 1906-1907 budget, the budget revenue of the United Kingdom alone jumped to 2.2 billion pounds, and it was announced that the issuance of as much as 200 million pounds of government bonds would be "supplemented for national construction expenditures."

France on the other side of the strait was rejoicing, and Prime Minister Clemenceau praised the British Empire for "taking a visionary step" and had "increasing confidence" in the "Comprehensive Cooperation Mechanism for Britain and France".

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Faced with the strong British and French forces, the army expansion frenzy was launched, and the German Emperor William II was not willing to be outdone and immediately ordered the cabinet and military headquarters to formulate a new military expansion plan.

Although the German Emperor was still cautious about the "intersecting into the army" of Social Democrats and constitutional liberals, Prince William, who was still stranded in China to visit various places, obviously moved his self-represented father: "...China's victory stems from the comprehensive mobilization of national power. Germany's current strategic situation seems to be beneficial, but it is fundamentally whether Germany can first achieve a decisive victory and be able to achieve a long-term war victory on the basis of self-sufficiency... The launch of the people depends on strong social organizations and nationalist public opinion propaganda. If Germany wants to break the blockade of Britain and France and ensure that it remains victorious in the face of British, French and American military offensives, it is necessary to expand its military strength and potential, and further strengthen cooperation with China..."

"...It is necessary to fully mobilize the country and tap the war potential of the whole nation. As for the left-wing socialist party, I believe that His Majesty has enough command and power to prevent them from doing evil. The Chinese have created a route of total war, and Germany can definitely perform more excitingly in its own way..."

The revised "Outline of Military Defense of the German Empire" was soon released, which caused widespread controversy within Germany. Members led by the left-wing Social Democratic Party generally questioned its necessity, but when German public opinion began to hype the expansion of Britain and France's military and listed many anti-German remarks from the British and French media, the left's doubts became the target of cynicism.

The final defense outline proposed that the German Empire's standing army would reach 1.3 million (just as the plans of the British and French) and further expand the reserve construction. The German Army would accelerate the realization of motorization, synthesis, and heavy firepower, with the goal of "maintaining European peace without being destroyed by some Western powers."

The Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy were not willing to be lonely and announced ambitious military expansion plans. Even the Turkish Sultan announced the "military modernization" plan, and even announced the "reduction of intra-palace expenses" to "revitalize the country." Some old concubines, palace maids and even eunuchs left the luxurious Sultan's palace. Sultan Hamid II, who tasted the sweetness of Russian military operations, was determined to "imitate China and Germany and make a strong country with iron-blooded strength", and actually looked a bit hard-working.

This military competition smelled an unknown smell throughout the world.

Pessimistic political critics predict that when the five-year military expansion plan of various countries is completed, starting from the New Year of 1911, "a decisive war that swept the East and the West" will enter the countdown.

In later generations, when describing this history, many people like to quote Winston Churchill's "Iron Blood World": "... Like the last century, the beginning of the new century began with the military victory of a super powerful country, and was accompanied by the personal legend of an emperor. The only difference is that the last time this powerful country is located in Europe, this time this time it is located in Asia. This difference seems to indicate the transformation of the world's political and economic center..."
Chapter completed!