Start 1861: I just inherited the Dutch throne

Chapter 1171: Recruiting Soldiers

On May 1883, 5, the world continued to move towards turmoil, and countries were preparing for it.

A group of junior high school students from Adelaide, a southern Australian port city more than 700 kilometers away from Melbourne, the current capital of the Netherlands, participated in a one-month training program in a closed military area to experience military life in advance.

Smith, a student who participated in the summer camp, was one of the best military trainees. He often said, "Putting on this military uniform makes me feel proud. There are so many things happening in the world today. I am very happy to be able to participate in such a training camp."

The Dutch military organized a summer camp to allow thousands of Dutch middle school students to experience military life in advance, hoping to attract more young people to join the army and become fresh blood for the Dutch military's renewal.

"The Austro-Hungarian invasion of Mexico cruelly reminded the Dutch people of the potential threat posed by Europe's old powers to countries around the world. The Netherlands used to be a European country, but now it has taken root in other parts of the world, especially in the Far East. Powerful countries such as Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Austria are all potential threats to the Netherlands in the future. How can we deal with such threats?"

"The most fundamental way for us to deal with potential threats from the other side is to increase our vigilance and build a more solid foundation to meet the threats from the other side.

Now, you are the most important way for us in the Netherlands to deal with future threats. In the future, you will be the main force to fight against the enemy.

So, everyone here, you have a great responsibility in the future. And as the Crown Prince of the Netherlands, I, like everyone here, will strike hard at the enemy, cut off their claws and teeth, and safeguard the security and interests of the people. "

Prince Albert's words excited the faces of thousands of high school students present.

This is the Crown Prince of the Netherlands!
The future king of the Netherlands, his instructions, symbolizing the language of the instructors, were a reward for them all.

Yes, at least they think they can brag to others in the future that they are the cute gods of the future king.

Albert: “The Austro-Hungarian invasion of Mexico reminds us that we must be prepared to prevent harm from invaders.

What I can tell you is that in response to the chaos in the world, Latin American countries have been actively recruiting new soldiers and retaining old soldiers, but they have not been able to achieve their recruitment goals and have difficulty maintaining the number of troops, resulting in insufficient manpower and an inability to reach combat readiness. "

“Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and other five Central American countries near the Gulf of Mexico are expanding their military forces under the imminent threat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but because of their small overall population, they are facing an expansion of conscription.

Governments are therefore launching various recruitment campaigns and introducing a number of measures, including increasing enlistment pay, in an effort to attract new recruits.

"Our Dutch Royal Ministry of Defense has also announced that starting from April this year, the physical requirements for professional soldiers, reservists and recruits will be lowered. Our military has even launched a publicity campaign, including the release of military-themed leaflets, in an effort to change the social status and image of soldiers in the Netherlands."

"We believe that it is possible that old European powers such as Austria-Hungary could invade us within a year," said Dutch Deputy Defense Minister Pekschini in an interview. "If these powers launch an invasion against Dutch interests around the world, then we need to know that we can rely on a certain number of soldiers and capabilities."

Further, he pointed out: "Without people, we can do nothing. If we make the most advanced military equipment in the world but do not have enough capable and motivated people to join the army, then the money will be wasted.

He further pointed out the gap between the recruitment and recruitment of soldiers in Latin America. For example, the Netherlands has a low unemployment rate, and it would be a huge challenge to convince young people to join the Dutch army with a salary lower than that of working.

Like most of the countries currently part of the Latin American Union, Peru has failed to meet its recruitment targets for many years. The latest recruitment data from the Peruvian military shows that in 1882, Peru only reached 55 percent of its recruitment target, with only 400 people. This is definitely a very low figure for the current total population of .

Ecuador didn't have that many soldiers either, recruiting 1882 new soldiers in 934. It has to be said that the population base of these small Latin countries is still too small, with less than one million people. Even Ecuador has only 80 people. For large countries like the Netherlands, which have a population of to million, their population determines the size of their national strength and the weight of their international influence.

Currently, Argentina has only 700 million people, Brazil has 1000 million, the United States has only 3500 million, and Mexico, which is in the midst of a war, has only about 900 million people. Originally, it was similar to Brazil, but the war in the past one or two years, the loss of population, the decline in birth rate, and the exodus of population have put Mexico at a disadvantage in population development.

"We want to deter any potential adversary in the future and if we don't take steps to address the manpower shortfalls in our military ... that could mean our country will not be able to keep the peace and we will not be able to deter any potential enemy," Mr Abbott said at the camp in Adelaide.

Although conscription in the Netherlands is not as difficult as in these countries, it is just as difficult.

This was a problem that had previously troubled the top officials of the Ministry of Defense.

In order to attract young people's interest in military service, William IV came up with a solution.

The Netherlands broke history by establishing the world's first summer camp, organizing a summer camp for thousands of middle school students, allowing them to gather in a closed military area in Adelaide to participate in a four-week training and experience military life in advance.

When William IV expressed his ideas to the members of the Dutch Military Committee, everyone was shocked.

Only His Majesty the King could come up with such a wild idea.

His Majesty's thoughts have always been difficult to understand over the years, but one cannot help but admire his wisdom.

Just like the conscription problem this time, others couldn't figure out the solution even though they racked their brains, but he solved it easily.

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This made William IV's position in the Dutch military even more unshakable.

In addition, with the outstanding performance of Crown Prince Albert, he has also established a firm foothold in the military.

The senior military officials have tacitly accepted the heir to the throne, and are no longer supporting him out of routine.

Many countries were puzzled by the Netherlands' summer camp move, but by the time they reacted, more fresh military blood had appeared in the Netherlands. This is a story for later.

Started in June 1883.

The German Empire seemed to be competing with the Netherlands. When the Netherlands was suppressing the German Empire in technology, when the Netherlands had already implemented nine-year compulsory education, and when the Netherlands was far ahead of Germany in the electrical age, Germany finally implemented the first shot of the famous welfare society in history.

1883年6月6日，德意志帝国上议院下议院正式通过义务医疗保险制度，并在1883年6月15日正式引入实施。

As a result, the German Empire became the first country in the world's history where all citizens purchased medical insurance, and it was compulsory.

(End of this chapter)