Chapter 197: A Journey to Europe
Arthur was somewhat surprised that Australia had gotten involved in the "German-Russian Alliance Treaty," which nearly changed the world order before World War I. Even more surprising was that the treaty, unlike in history, did not face repeated setbacks. Instead, the negotiations went smoothly, and Tsar Nicholas II had established a relatively good relationship with Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Regardless, this European trip was inevitable. If Australia wanted to gain more benefits in the upcoming World War I, and even gain more international standing after the war, it had to frequently engage with Europe and prove the close relationship between Australia and Europe.
On June 9, 1905, after receiving an invitation from Kaiser Wilhelm II to visit Germany, Arthur readily agreed. The next day, accompanied by some attendants and guards, he boarded a naval escort fleet and set off on a journey to Germany, and even to the whole of Europe.
Of course, to avoid disappointing the British and damaging the reputation Arthur had worked so hard to build in Britain, this visit was officially termed a tour of Europe. The itinerary covered Britain, Germany, and Russia, lasting at least four months.
After deducting the two months needed for the round-trip journey, Arthur would only stay in each of the three countries for no more than half a month.
Although the other two countries on his visit were Britain's primary rival and a longtime competitor, Arthur had a familial relationship with Kaiser Wilhelm II, and their personal friendship was quite good. As for Russia, although not a close relative, Tsar Nicholas II had married Queen Victoria's most beloved granddaughter, and Nicholas II was also Arthur's cousin-in-law.
Moreover, Russia had established a good arms trade partnership with Australia during the previous war, and as the ruler of Australia, Arthur's visit to a country with good cooperation at the national level was entirely normal.
To openly show recognition to Britain and satisfy British vanity, Arthur's first stop was the British Empire, where he stayed for half a month.
Starting from July 3, when he arrived in London, until his departure on July 19, Arthur stayed for a few days at Buckingham Palace, visited several estates that had once belonged to Queen Victoria, and spent some time at Queen Victoria's tomb.
After all, Arthur owed much of his current position to Queen Victoria, who was responsible for at least ninety percent of his success. To Arthur, Queen Victoria had always been a kind and loving grandmother, offering warmth during his most difficult times.
This sincere gesture of Arthur won him more affection from the British public. Even though Queen Victoria had passed away more than five years ago, the British had not forgotten her contributions and the glory of the British Empire during her reign.
Now, with the greatest challenger on the rise, many Britons reminisced about the times when they had no rivals. Arthur's visit reminded many Britons of the golden age of the Victorian era, and they started to take notice of Australia's situation. As the grandson whom Queen Victoria had cared for deeply before her death, Arthur gained significant attention in Britain, and both his and Australia's names were featured prominently in British newspapers.
It had been a year and a half since Australia's name last appeared in British newspapers, when the British people had learned that Australia, together with New Zealand, had formed a Federation. The reaction of most people was one of blessings and recognition, as this was part of Queen Victoria's will, and even though the process had moved faster than expected, the result remained unchanged.
After hearing that Arthur's first stop was the British Empire, the British people were even more pleased with the independent Duke who had been granted his title by the British Royal Family. Even though Arthur would later visit Britain's biggest rival, Germany, and a long-standing competitor, Russia, his first stop was Britain, wasn't it?
During his half-month stay, Arthur also visited several of the British Empire's major shipyards and automobile factories.
As the world's leading power and the top naval force, Australia sent over a hundred naval academy students and more than a dozen shipyard experts to the British Empire every year to study the advanced shipbuilding and naval expertise there.
Australians and Britons shared common roots, and thanks to Queen Victoria's will, Australian sailors and shipbuilding experts were welcomed in Britain, where the British generously imparted their knowledge.
These preparations were all meant for Australia's future construction of dreadnoughts. Australia not only wanted the ability to independently produce dreadnoughts but also to have enough trained soldiers to operate them once the ships were launched. Sending naval soldiers to study in Britain would accelerate the process of forming Australia's navy and significantly improve the military's combat power.
Arthur's arrival greatly surprised the Australian soldiers and experts. A large number of them were actually descendants of the previous generation of British immigrants in Australia. They had grown up in Australia and were more deeply recognized by the country than ordinary immigrants.
After giving a speech to the crowd and warmly encouraging all the soldiers and experts, Arthur set off for Germany.
Arthur's European trip would take him to three major European powers. Whether it was Britain, Germany, or Russia, all three were current hegemons in Europe, clearly holding more advantages compared to other countries.
The only European country that could rival these three was France, which had just concluded an agreement with Britain. However, France was a republic, and there were no significant interests between Australia and France. Additionally, Australia had a better relationship with its historic rival, Germany, and thus, France was not part of Arthur's itinerary. He had no intention of seeking closer ties with France.
France, having been significantly affected by both World Wars, had gone from being Europe's former hegemon and Napoleon's empire to a country that, in the aftermath, was ridiculed as one whose flag could easily be turned into a symbol of surrender—the white flag. In particular, World War I had a huge toll on France, and the gap between fighting to the bitter end and quickly surrendering was only about 20-30 years.
If the Germans after World War I were driven by a desire for revenge, the French were left with a fear of war. To make up for the huge loss of population during the war, France imported large numbers of African workers to fill in the labor shortage. This led to a dramatic increase in the black population in France, even changing the racial makeup of the country.
On July 23, Arthur successfully arrived in Berlin, the capital of the German Empire. It had been a long time since he had last visited the city, so long that Arthur could hardly recall the details.
However, the changes in Berlin were noticeable to Arthur.
With the widespread success of the Benzone worldwide, automobiles were now quite common across Europe and the Americas. In Berlin, the capital of the German Empire, cars had become commonplace.
Given the numerous states in the German region and countless wealthy nobles, owning a more luxurious car had become one of the ways to show off aristocratic status.
Of course, Benz's automobile factory also undertook car modifications, not only for interior and exterior decoration but also for upgrading the body configuration and protection.
Arthur's arrival in Germany attracted significant attention. Of course, this was also because the German-Russian negotiations required Australia's involvement.
Kaiser Wilhelm II had specifically prepared an honor guard and music for Arthur's arrival, and many Germans lined the streets to welcome him.
Leaving aside whether these Germans were there voluntarily, the scale of the honor guard and the treatment Arthur received made it clear that Wilhelm II regarded him as the leader of an important nation.
Upon seeing Wilhelm II again, Arthur noticed that the Kaiser seemed in a very good mood. Upon seeing Arthur, he was clearly pleased and greeted him with a smile.
"Long time no see, Arthur!" Wilhelm II spoke first.
"Long time no see, Your Majesty," Arthur replied.
"Come, I've prepared a welcome banquet for you at the Berlin Palace. You should rest well first, and we can discuss business another day," Wilhelm II said with a smile.
Currently, the German-Russian negotiations were progressing smoothly, with only Australia's support still needed for a final push.
Arthur's arrival in Europe brought great joy to Wilhelm II. The Kaiser saw the hope of the German-Russian alliance, and the prospect of Germany, freed from the Eastern front, focusing its main forces on the Western front, quickly dealing with France, and becoming the new world hegemon.
Arthur readily accepted. Travel across the sea was still done by ship during this time, and most ships were quite slow. Even the shortest journey required a long time.
From Australia to Europe, it took over a month, and even from Britain to Germany, it would take several days. With few entertainment options in this era and no TV programs or newfangled things to distract him, most of Arthur's time on the ship was spent with private tutors, ensuring his knowledge in politics, psychology, history, and military affairs was rich enough.
Of course, military knowledge could not be confined to theory. Arthur knew this well, which is why Australia's military was largely managed by trusted specialists, with Arthur refraining from direct military command.
Arthur did not want to experience the awkwardness of leading experts in a field he was not experienced in, as poor leadership could cause the soldiers to lose faith in their ruler and commander.
This is also why Arthur frequently sent students to major European military academies—to cultivate military talent in Australia to fill the gap in high-end military personnel.
Currently, this effort had been quite successful, with the first batch of graduates from European military academies already entering the Australian military and taking up important roles.
(End of Chapter)
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