The Rise Of Australasia

In order to make good military preparations, Arthur had been quite busy recently.

First was the military equipment meeting with the navy, army, and air force, which Arthur had to attend, to present his insights and suggestions based on experience from later generations.

Of course, for the navy, army, and air force, Arthur's suggestions were not merely recommendations, but commands they must execute.

Of course, Arthur wouldn't issue orders recklessly. Before any command was given, it needed to be thought through with the Ministry of Defense and his trusted confidants, ensuring that the effect of the order, once given, was beneficial rather than detrimental, unlike the previous command that had adversely affected the navy's construction.

For the army, Arthur didn't have too many suggestions.

After all, Australasia's air force was already extremely powerful, and with air superiority, the pressure on the army would be greatly reduced.

Moreover, with tanks and missiles among various advanced weapons, plus the cannon fodder from two vassal states, Arthur was confident he could face any enemy.

Thus, Arthur's focus on the army was actually on some of the auxiliary military units, like battlefield doctors.

The casualty rate for soldiers in large-scale wars goes without saying. Whether soldiers can receive effective and timely treatment also concerns their safety and the casualty figures of Australasia in the war.

From any perspective, Arthur definitely wanted to reduce the casualty figures of Australasia in the war.

Especially the death toll, which certainly needed to be reduced as much as possible, to lessen the harm of war on Australasia.

It was with this thought that Arthur had certain requirements for the number of military doctors within the army, or battlefield doctors, to be precise.

After military reform, the numbers of battlefield doctors in various units had already increased. What Arthur wanted to do now was to ensure that battlefield doctors could be assigned to even more basic combat units, to the extent that each squad could have a soldier with good emergency aid and battlefield nursing knowledge.

Beyond that was another aspect, the number of field hospitals. Field hospitals are rather rudimentary outdoor hospitals that can provide a first step in treating injuries, before deciding whether to transport the injured to the rear for treatment.

The military currently had several suitable ideas for field hospitals.

The first was the field hospital similar to an ambulance. A series of emergency aid equipment would be installed in large trucks, which could even perform surgeries right there on the truck.

The second was to quickly set up a rudimentary field hospital through airdrops.

Both methods had their advantages. The first, truck-style field hospital, could ensure mobility with the troops.

The second, airdropped field hospitals, could ensure that a rudimentary hospital could be established wherever planes could reach.

Arthur's attitude was to proceed with both methods simultaneously, to ensure that the combat troops of Australasia could receive good care in the face of casualties.

Of course, the most important method, after achieving air superiority, was to transport a large number of casualties to safer rear areas by plane, to use hospital-grade operating theaters for safer and more effective surgeries.

Combining these methods, Arthur believed that casualties of Australasia in World War II would decrease significantly. Even a little effect was much better than no action at all.

As time passed, Arthur received some good news, which was that Princess Anna Miller was pregnant.

Because of this news, the engagement ceremony between Princess Anna Miller and Prince Juan proceeded quickly, and their wedding ceremony would also begin in two months.

As Arthur's only daughter, Princess Anna Miller's dowry was indeed very generous. 190.99 million Australian dollars in funds, representing her birth date, September 1909.

As to why it wasn't 1909.9 million Australian dollars, it was principally to avoid provoking envy and criticism among the common people.

After all, nearly 20 million Australian dollars in funds is the annual income of 200,000 Australasians.

Although Arthur's action would not much affect the status of the Royal Family, if a bad precedent were set for the Royal Family, what would future Monarchs do?

Being too extravagant, the Royal Family's status among the people would eventually decline. Rather than drawing public attention with too much money, Arthur preferred to discreetly enhance the richness of the dowry through the transfer of corporate equity.

An Australasian jewelry company of medium size (market value 5 million Australian dollars), a rubber company in Southeast Asia (market value 12 million Australian dollars), plus a newly built Red Wine Estate, estimated to be worth 189,100 Australian dollars—these, in an unnoticed corner, neatly made up Princess Anna Miller's birth date, 1909.9 million Australian dollars.

These were just the funds and enterprises in the dowry, which also included a large amount of jewelry, diamonds, and gold and silver wares, the value of which was likewise inestimable.

Of course, Alfonso XIII also fulfilled his promise to have his first two sons renounce their rights to the throne.

The current Alfonso XIII, still bearing the title of the exiled Monarch of the Kingdom of Spain, saw his daughter's fiancé, Prince Juan of Spain, become the first in line to the Spanish throne.

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This also means that the child Princess Anna Miller bears, whether a son or daughter, will become the heir to the Spanish throne, following right after Prince Juan.

This was also Arthur's purpose. Why would he help restore the Spanish royal family to the throne if the heir wasn't closely related to him?

Especially after Princess Anna Miller became pregnant, Arthur looked forward to his future grandchild, whether a boy or a girl, with great anticipation.

In July 1934, during the winter of the Southern Hemisphere, the wedding of Princess Anna Miller and Prince Juan was officially held.

Because they were unable to go to Spain, the wedding took place in Australasia.

Although one party to the wedding was the exiled Spanish royal family, many European royal families still showed up, in deference to the Australasian Royal Family.

Even many royal families couldn't help but speculate whether the Spanish royal family's close ties with the Australasian Royal Family meant that their restoration was imminent?

In addition to these European royal families, leaders from various European countries also paid attention to Prince Juan's and Princess Anna Miller's wedding.

After all, Spain's position in Europe is not low, and apart from the Powers, Spain could be considered a first-class Non-Great Power Country in Europe.

Moreover, Spain has a glorious history, being one of the oldest and most renowned Monarchical countries in Europe.

The renowned Age of Great Navigation, the Iberian Twins, namely the Kingdom of Portugal and Spain, were the protagonists of this era.

Unlike Britain and France, which rose later, Spain and Portugal squandered most of the immense wealth they acquired during the Age of Great Navigation on the royal family and the upper Nobility.

Simply put, although they earned enough wealth during the Age of Great Navigation, all these riches were squandered by the upper class.

To the lower classes and the entire country, there wasn't much improvement. This led to the inevitable decline of Spain and Portugal, despite their momentary splendor.

In contrast, countries like Britain and France that rose later placed more emphasis on Native Land construction than on the acquisition of wealth.

Especially after the Industrial Revolution, traditional Powers like the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal were already surpassed by the British, and by a considerable margin.

Present-day Spain may seem to have a large area of land, but compared to the European powers, the gap is already vast.

According to Spanish population data, as of 1934, Spain's Population was only about 24.7 million, far behind Poland's 33 million.

Whereas countries at the great power level already had populations exceeding 40 million. Even Australasia, which had a significant disadvantage in terms of population, now has over 40 million inhabitants.

Spain is destined not to become a Power simply based on this Population gap, and the disparity in strength between it and the Powers will only continue to widen.

Because of Spain's unique geographical location, European Countries do not allow Spain to rise.

Spain, being the largest country on the Iberian Peninsula, is located at the westernmost edge of Europe. More perilously, Spain's geography grants it significant control over one of the Mediterranean outlets to the Atlantic Ocean, the Strait of Gibraltar.

If Spain rose to great power level, control of the Strait of Gibraltar would return to Spanish hands, something the British were not willing to see happen.

After all, from later generations, it's clear that the British valued Gibraltar highly, even to the point of risking relations with Spain.

Even in later times, the Strait of Gibraltar remains British territory, desired but unattained by Spain.

Although Gibraltar is a small region, it plays an extremely important role for the Strait of Gibraltar, the exit from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean.

The British were able to indirectly control the entire Mediterranean and have a say there because they held Gibraltar and the Suez Canal.

Imagine, if the British fleet couldn't enter the Mediterranean, what deterrent would the British have against the coastal countries of the Mediterranean?

There's a saying that reflects this well, "The local official has more clout than the central one." The British Empire, no matter how powerful, relies on the ocean and a strong navy to influence these coastal countries.

For some inland countries, the deterrent power of the British Empire is not as significant.

This also made Spain's strategic importance incredibly high, and the British could never allow themselves to lose Gibraltar.

Arthur's decision to make an agreement with Alfonso XIII was based exactly on these reasons. Of course, Arthur had no plans to control the Strait of Gibraltar.

Arthur's greater purpose was simply to employ the future Kingdom of Spain to enhance Australasia's influence in Europe.

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