I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 763 Love someone

Everyone knows that Russia will never sit idly by if the interests of the Grand Duchy of Yuriev are damaged.

But to what extent, no one can be sure.

If Austria-Hungary could have foreseen that revenge for Archduke Ferdinand would lead to its demise, would it still have declared war on the Kingdom of Serbia?
If Wilhelm II had been less arrogant and chosen to ally with Russia instead of Austria-Hungary, would the outcome of the World War have been the same?
if--

History has no ifs.

A fist is most intimidating when it's not thrown.

Therefore, Russia, which has not made a statement, is the most dangerous.

Russia does not lack iron ore.

However, 10 billion tons of iron ore with an iron content of more than 60% is also very tempting to Russia.

What's more, it is not 10 billion tons, but more than 500 billion tons.

Although Russia has not made any statement, after the British Parliament passed the Steel Act, Russia directly increased its standing army from 60 to 70.

The addition of 10 standing troops is actually not a big deal for a country with an area of ​​more than 2350 million square kilometers and a total population of over 1.8 million.

Given Russia's size, the standing army should be maintained at at least 150 million people to suit Russia's national conditions.

Today's Russia has undergone a qualitative improvement compared to the Russia of the imperial era.

When the World War broke out, the Russian Empire had 465 million rifles, 9500 machine guns, 8085 artillery pieces, 900 armored vehicles, and more than 600 aircraft of various types.

As of 1924, Russia had about 400 million rifles, the number of machine guns increased to about 2.9, the number of artillery pieces was 1.2, there were 2500 armored vehicles, and 1500 aircraft of various types.

步枪的数量虽然减少，但是相当一部分步枪已经从栓动步枪提升为半自动步枪；重炮（100毫米口径以上）数量从260门，增加到2100门；装甲战车的平均吨位从15吨增加到20吨；轰炸机的载弹量从800千克增加到2.5吨，航程也从600公里增加到1500公里。

Such a Russia is intimidating.

Of Russia's new 10 standing troops, half are marines and half are rapid reaction forces.

The so-called rapid reaction force refers to a combat force that can be deployed quickly in a very short period of time.

Before the World War, an important indicator to measure the combat effectiveness of each country was the mobilization speed. Among the major participating countries, Germany had the fastest mobilization speed. It took only 80 months to expand its army from 382 to 4 million.

In contrast, Kitchener's plan for a million-man army was not completed until the end of the world war.

George's requirement for the rapid reaction force is that the rapid reaction force should be able to reach East India within 30 days starting from Crimea.

A month seems like a long time.

But the journey from Crimea to East India, without passing through the Suez Canal, would take at least 29 days.

This means that there are only 24 hours from the time the order is issued to the time the troops set out.

Russia's military expansion plan caused strong concerns in Britain and France. Chamberlain accused Russia of deliberately provoking an arms race in the League of Nations.

Little Nicholas said calmly: If Britain reduces the size of the Royal Navy to 1 people, Russia will reduce the size of its army to 10 people.

The reason is that the mainland area of ​​the United Kingdom is 24.4 square kilometers.

Chamberlain was furious: Britain has huge overseas interests that need to be maintained.

Young Nicholas retorted: Russia has a land area of ​​2350 million square kilometers, and 70 troops are not enough for defense. If it really wants to deliberately provoke an arms race, it should expand the size of its standing army to at least 270 million.

"Any person or country that wants to harm Russia's interests will be subjected to Russia's brutal revenge!" Little Nicholas was furious.

Chamberlain could only be thankful that this was a standing committee meeting, not a plenary meeting, so he was not too embarrassed.

Stanley Bruce, who was elected Prime Minister of Australia just last year, felt humiliated.

The Western Australian government's statement put the Australian government in an unprecedented embarrassing situation. Stanley Bruce summoned John Monash, the commander-in-chief of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during the World War, to discuss the possibility of using force.

"You want to plunge Australia into civil war? That's ridiculous. No way!"

John Monash flatly refused.

If it was just Western Australia, then maybe give it a try.

It is now clear that Theo has the Grand Duchy of Yuriev and Russia behind him, so how can we fight him?

The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and the Canadian Army were the few bright spots of the British Army during the world war.

The so-called "highlights" only apply to the British Indian troops within the British Army. If compared with the Russian army, it is not good enough.

The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps took part in the battle against the Ottoman Empire, but was badly defeated, suffering nearly 100,000 casualties, and had to retreat in a panic from the Anatolian Peninsula.

Russia defeated the Ottoman Empire as easily as an adult beating a child. It only sent a small army and a vassal army, and defeated the Ottoman Empire into a situation where it had to seek peace.

After the end of the World War, Britain praised the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps to the skies.

As the commander-in-chief of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, John Monash was well aware of the combat effectiveness of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

After the end of the crucial world war, Britain went back on its word and not only did it not give Australia greater autonomy, but it also delayed paying the pensions and retirement benefits to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, causing the officers and soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps to complain about the Australian government.

In other words, it is no longer possible for Australia, with a total population of 550 million, to form an army of 50 people to participate in the war.

"I have no intention of dragging Australia into civil war, but the Yuriev family is taking advantage of information disparity to cause serious damage to Australia's interests. We cannot sit idly by."

Stanley Bruce's eyes turned red. That was 10 billion tons of iron ore, not ten kilograms.

John Monash did not respond. He was no longer the commander-in-chief of the Anzac Corps, but just an electrical engineer.

"Does it make any difference to us whether the iron ore in Western Austria is mined by the Yuriev family or by Rio Tinto?"

Former Prime Minister Billy Hughes came from the Labor Party and not only had no prejudice against the Yuriev family, but had a favorable impression of it.

Hughes is different from those Labor MPs in the UK who are actually working class. He comes from a working-class background and actively participates in workers' activities to fight for their interests. He has been a member of parliament since 1901 and is the oldest member of the Australian Parliament with great influence.

The British Labour Party is in a mess over building houses for poor workers, and the British Parliament is still discussing it.

The Russian government has implemented a series of welfare policies to ensure that the interests of Russian workers are effectively protected and to the delight of workers around the world. This is a real good thing.

"Of course, if we give the iron ore mining rights to Rio Tinto, it will be more conducive to the interests of the British Empire."

Stanley Bruce was a royalist.

"You love the British Empire, does the British Empire love you?"

Billy Hughes was deafening.

(End of this chapter)