After instructing the New Zealand officials, Arthur returned his gaze to the scene of the military parade.

Although Australia's army combined is just over 10,000, the parade was adequate, with four soldiers and two weapons parades.

The four soldiers' platoons consisted of the Guards infantry cavalry and the Wehrmacht's infantry cavalry division.

The two weapons parade teams transported the two most heavily armed weapons of the Australian army to date, the CA-1 machine gun and the MA-96 Maxim machine gun, in horse-drawn carriages.

In order to maintain the solemnity of the parade, the horses that transported these weapons and equipment were also carefully selected Australian wild horses.

The white military horses slowly walked from the other side of the street with weapons one by one, and the shock they brought to the Australians was definitely not inferior to the previous soldiers.

These two heavy weapons, along with the M1897 gun being studied, will be the most reliable source of firepower for the Australian Army.

Such a large-scale military parade was not without purpose. Not only to strengthen Australians' sense of nationhood, but to convince Australians that they have a strong military to protect the country and their security.

It is also to increase the enthusiasm of some young Australians to join the army. The number of Australian troops is still too small to even be reorganized into a full division.

Coupled with the fact that Australia also has overseas colonies such as New Guinea, it is very necessary to expand the size of the army.

Under Arthur's preliminary estimates, Australia will start a conscription program in the new year. Not only to expand the size of the army, but also to prepare for the expansion of the navy.

On the naval side, there is hope that within a year it will master the technology of the Braunschweig-class battleships.

As of now, Australian and German specialists have been working together on this battleship for more than half a year.

Because of the dedication of German experts, Arthur's shipyard and Australian experts mastered it very quickly.

It was hoped that by 1902 it would be able to master the construction of the Braunschweig-class battleships, so that Australia would have the ability to build its own battleships.

Although Arthur had no plans to build the capital battleship right now, some cruisers and frigates could still be built.

The establishment of the navy is not something that can be completed with warships, and the training of naval soldiers may take longer than the construction of warships.

In the future, after the birth of dreadnoughts, Australia will inevitably build its own dreadnoughts.

Although it may take some time, it does not prevent the training program of naval soldiers from starting now.

In Arthur's mental expectation, Australia would build an army of at least 50,000 men before World War I, as well as a sizable navy with five capital battleships and dozens of small and medium-sized warships.

Of course, this is also a relatively large plan. Not only do you have to pay a lot of money for it, but you also have to master a lot of technology that Australia doesn't have.

But Australia's target is definitely not a small Oceania. Whether it is the Dutch East Indies in the north or New Zealand in the east, and the Indian Ocean in the west, it will be the land of Australia's next plan.

After the parade, the cheers and shouts of the crowd did not stop. If it weren't for seeing Arthur step forward and stand next to the microphone, I'm afraid the noise in the square would have continued.

After waiting for the crowd to fall silent, Arthur said, "All people, today is a day to celebrate. I declare that the seven-day period from 10 January to 16 January is Australia's National Day Week. National Day Week is an official holiday in Australia, and all businesses and factories should generally be given a holiday. If there is a major situation that requires overtime, double the usual salary shall be paid. ”

Arthur's words still caused a big reaction in the crowd. In an era where the 12-hour workday was common in factories, it was not easy to have a statutory holiday with double pay for overtime.

Being able to spend an extra week of time a year resting, or earning an extra seven days, is more than acceptable to these Australians.

Of course, it all depends on the policy promulgated by His Royal Highness the Duke, whom they love.

"In addition, in order to commemorate the contribution of the great Queen Victoria to the establishment of the Principality of Australia, and to recognise the contribution of all future citizens to Australia, the Royal Family and the Government will establish three types of decorations, namely the Victoria Medal of Remembrance, the Royal Knight Medal, and the Australian National Order. The specific rules for the promulgation of these three medals will be announced by the government as a reward for any meritorious service to the Australian government and the royal family. Each medal has a different incentive policy, but the same thing is that each medal recipient receives ten times Australia's per capita annual income as a bonus each year. This fund can be received indefinitely, even if the recipient of the medal is no longer there, it can be received by his designated relatives and family members, up to the third generation of relatives. If no relatives are designated to receive the funds, the funds will be divided equally among all of their immediate family members. Arthur said solemnly.

For monarchies, medals are also a way to reward meritorious heroes. In particular, the Victoria Medal created by Queen Victoria is an extremely precious medal even in later generations.

The Victorian Medal mentioned by Arthur actually has a similar meaning to the Victorian Medal.

While commemorating Queen Victoria, it is also honoring those who have made significant contributions to the royal family and the country, and even saved the country.

This also means that it will be very difficult to obtain the Victorian Medal. As an important means for the royal family to reward citizens, Arthur did not intend to make the medal too cheap, at least the Victorian Medal of Remembrance.

Hearing Arthur's words, and the three medals and awards that followed, most Australians were visibly moved.

If nothing else, if you get any one of the three medals, you can receive 10 times Australia's per capita income every year, and you can receive it all the way to the third generation of relatives, what a crazy policy?

As long as you can get any medal, you can directly lie at home and get money without working. And even this money can feed not only himself, but also all his family.

Almost everyone has an idea in their minds, that is, what if they can get this medal?

People all have certain beautiful illusions about their future, and they all fantasize that they are the luckiest one.

Many Australians can't wait for the government's latest news on the three medals after the National Day celebrations.

As long as any one is easy to obtain, I believe that many people will take practical action.

The second more, ask for support!

(End of chapter)