Chapter 107: Chapter One Hundred and Seven: Going to New Zealand (Subscribe!)

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If the logistical supply and weaponry provision of the First Division could be considered luxurious, then the mixed and reorganized Guard Division would be even more extravagant.

The Guard Division was comprised of the Guard Infantry Group, Guard Cavalry Group, and Guard Artillery Group, with a total of over 8,000 personnel.

Although their numbers were only half of the First Defense Division, their firepower and weaponry were even more luxurious.

Like the First Defense Division, the Guard Infantry Group also had more than 3,000 personnel, only having more heavy machine gun platoons and naturally more heavy machine guns available.

Although there was only one Guard Infantry Regiment, they had already equipped with thirteen heavy machine guns, which was half of a typical German Regular Division.

The Cavalry Corps not only had three horses for each soldier to exchange, but they were also equipped with long guns, short guns, and long knives for their weaponry.

In an era before tanks existed, cavalry remained a powerful force. Although the Guard Cavalry Corps did not have heavy machine guns, they did have two full cavalry artillery platoons.

While the cavalry artillery platoons planned to equip somewhat smaller caliber CA-i machine guns and M1987 automatic cannons, their firepower was not weak due to the fact that they were all automatic cannons.

And there is no need to mention the artillery regiments. The Guard Artillery Regiment had four artillery battalions, each of which were equipped with ten CA-i machine guns, five M1987 automatic cannons, and five 105mm howitzers. With a total of eighty cannons in one artillery brigade, the firepower exceeded the level of existing European regular divisions.

The training ground of the Guard Division was located near Sydney and not far from the city. This was actually for the purpose of guarding the capital and protecting the royal family.

Of course, having a nearby training ground also had its benefits, as the logistical supply was not so tense.

Even when the entire Guard Division was engaged in training, less than 2,000 indigenous people were needed to easily complete their supply transportation.

Aside from weaponry and equipment, the soldiers of the Guard Division had better treatment than those in the First Division in terms of salary and logistical support.

This was largely due to the fact that the royal family covered the expenses of the Guard Division, while the Ministry of Defense was responsible for the expenses of the First Division.

If the food supply for the First Division was about ensuring a certain amount of meat with some selections, then the food supply for the Guard Division soldiers was free choice.

Yes, truly free choice. Every meal of the Guard Division usually consisted of more than ten different dishes, and the soldiers could freely choose the foods they wanted to eat.

And on holidays, soldiers could also order meals freely. As long as the price was within a reasonable range, gourmet meals could be specially made for the soldiers.

This level of logistical supply directly crushed most of the world’s armies, winning the loyalty and goodwill of all the Guard Division soldiers for Arthur.

Apart from the regular logistical supplies, the salary of the Guard Division soldiers was also very attractive, generally reaching around twenty pounds.

Although this income level was still a bit behind compared to European armies, it was already considered high-income in Australia.

And whether it was the Guards or the First Division, their salary levels were not fixed.

As the average Australian income increased, soldiers’ incomes would also increase accordingly. To maintain the soldiers’ income above the average, the Guard Division soldiers earned twice the average income, ensuring their loyalty and affection towards Arthur.

After all, military service was always somewhat risky. To win over these soldiers, not only did they have to provide good logistical support, but they also had to offer preferential salaries and pay them on time.

Arthur paid great attention to the payment of these soldiers’ salaries, entrusting full responsibility to the Royal Bank.

The soldiers’ salaries were paid out twice a year, in spring and autumn. On the day their military salaries were paid, the Royal Bank would hand out the already prepared checks to all the soldiers.

They could use the checks issued by the Royal Bank to exchange for an equal amount of pounds or other currencies.

Of course, once Arthur began issuing new currency in the future, they could also exchange it for the new currency to use.

Responsibility for the salary distribution of the First Division soldiers lay with the Ministry of Defense. Nonetheless, Arthur still urged them earnestly.

For any country, it was important not to deduct or delay soldiers’ salaries, no matter what.

After all, the military was an essential means of maintaining national stability and political stability. It included Arthur himself, who relied on the military to maintain his power.

While building up the military, Arthur was also plotting other moves.

On March 27,1902, the Australian Relief Committee set foot on New Zealand soil for the first time, arriving in Wellington, the capital of British New Zealand.

The Royal Relief Committee’s officials received a warm welcome from New Zealanders.

Of course, this was also a matter of course. After all, the reason the Relief Committee’s officials came to New Zealand was to provide relief to the poor of New Zealand and to implement similar relief policies as in Australia.

As they were delivering money and food supplies, if the New Zealanders did not welcome them, wouldn’t it mean their brains had a hole?

Speaking of the history of British New Zealand, it was closely related to Australia.

More than 60 years before, New Zealand had been under Australian colonial rule and had not established a separate colony.

It was not until 1841 that New Zealand was separated from Australia and the British New Zealand Colony was established.

But this did not erase the relationship between Australia and New Zealand.

In the original history, when Australia established an autonomous territory, New Zealand had also attempted to join, but ultimately abandoned the idea.

Although New Zealand’s attempt to join Australia was discouraged by Britain, it also confirmed the extent to which New Zealanders recognized Australia.

Although present-day Australia did not develop like history and instead became a new duchy, New Zealand still proposed to join at first. However, the British government, then under the control of Crown Prince Edward, refused the proposal.

And the actual queen of the British Empire at that time, Victoria, had already gone into retirement on White Island.

By the time Queen Victoria learned of the matter, it was already too late. However, she used new means to bring New Zealand under Arthur’s rule, albeit nominally for only twenty years.

Accompanying the Royal Relief Committee for the trip to New Zealand was also Arthur and a bodyguard.

As Arthur set foot in New Zealand, he was filled with emotion.

The last time he visited New Zealand, Queen Victoria was still alive. But now, returning again to New Zealand, much had changed, and even Arthur’s own status had shifted.

If Arthur had been a guest visiting New Zealand the last time, then as a governor this time, he was now in the role of a host.