After Arthur's speech, there was a routine raising of the national flag and the playing of the national anthem.

During this period, although some countries already have national anthems representing the royal family and the state, most countries still have a vague impression of the national anthem, and the songs used in large ceremonies and celebrations are not the same.

However, the song used by the British Empire on official occasions and ceremonies is "God Save the King", which is also the only song that can represent the British royal family.

As a member of the royal family born in the British Empire, Arthur naturally also has the right to play "God Save the King".

For now, the only song designated for Australia's major celebrations is also "God Save the King".

Accompanied by solemn songs throughout the shipyard, a large Australian flag was slowly brought to the flagpole and then fixed to the drawstring of the raised and lowered flag, escorted by a team of guards.

"Long live Australia!"

As the national flag was slowly raised on the flagpole, enthusiastic cheers once again rang out over the nearby open space.

For Australians today, being able to see the flag representing their country and the royal family fluttering slowly in the sky is the best news for those who love their country.

After watching the flag rise from the base of the flagpole to the top of the flagpole and then gradually spread out and flutter over the field, Prime Minister Evan stepped forward to continue to preside over the National Day ceremony.

"Next, it will be the most important event of the entire National Day ceremony, that is, under the orders of His Royal Highness the Duke, to review the Australian naval fleet!" Prime Minister Evan said slowly.

After Prime Minister Evan finished speaking, the people in the venue were already looking into the distance of the port with anticipation.

They could dimly see that in the distance of the harbor, at the midpoint of the horizon, there were several small black dots that were gradually getting bigger, and that was the Australian warship they had in mind.

The Navy's military parade, the main event of the National Day ceremony, is also what people are looking forward to.

Although it is known that the Australian Navy fleet does not have large warships, the largest is only an armored cruiser of more than 5,000 tons.

But that doesn't stop Australians from seeing their country's warships.

Since colonial times, the navy has been one of the most important branches of the military in a country. Even in some island nations, the importance of the navy has surpassed that of the army, and the financial investment in the navy is much greater than that of the army, such as the British Empire, which is now the world's largest power.

The British Empire has invested a lot in the navy, which is why the Royal Navy of the British Empire has been able to maintain the first level in the world and even crush the second and third levels.

The famous two-power policy also revealed how much the British valued their naval investment, and it can be said that maintaining the superiority of the Royal Navy was one of the most important policies of the British Empire.

At present, the vast majority of Australians are immigrants from the British Empire, and they naturally inherit the British tradition of valuing the navy.

As immigrants from the colonies, even if they have some sense of identity with their current home Australia, they have no way of expecting Australia's investment in the navy.

Although Australia had a large land area, its population at the time was just over three million.

Despite this, Australia was divided into six colonies, each of which operated in isolation and did not interfere with each other.

Under such circumstances, how can one expect an Australian navy? You know, at that time, the six colonies of Australia could not even afford the expenditure of 6,000 men in the army, and the construction of the navy was even mobilized from the Royal Navy's partially retired warships and small warships.

Now it has finally been combined into a complete principality, and it has indeed achieved a certain amount of investment and results in the navy.

That's why Australians value the Navy so much. After decades of silence, they finally see hope for the rise of the Australian Navy, although it is only hope and a small sprout.

Seeing that everyone was looking forward to the arrival of the Navy, Arthur did not hesitate, stepped forward, and solemnly announced into the loudspeaker: "Now, under the witness of the Australian flag and all the people, I announce that the 1903 Australian Navy Parade has officially begun!" ”

With Arthur's order, some of the officials on the field also began to prepare.

The shore defense cannon next to it fired three shots at the uninhabited coast, symbolizing the third year of the Principality of Australia.

At the same time, it is also a signal to the Australian fleet in the distance. The sound of coastal defense artillery also represents the official start of the navy's military parade.

At the head of the fleet were the armoured cruisers HMS Australia and Duke Arthur, which had just been launched.

The launch of these two new warships just before the National Day is just in time for Australians to see Australia's latest warships.

The fleet in the distance looked like a few black dots, large and small, and although they were slowly approaching, they seemed to be only the size of a sesame seed.

Australians are expectant, attentive and staring intently off the coast.

As one warship after another gradually approached the port, people gradually saw the full picture of the warship.

At this time, the sesame dots in the distance have gradually become larger, slowly turning into the size of soybeans, and then into the size of broad beans.

Because the port could not accommodate all the warships, the review of the navy was carried out by two ships.

The first to dock in port were, of course, two new warships, the USS Australia and the Duke Arthur.

After the warship was completely docked in port, the Australian people clearly saw the full picture and true size of the warship.

Although the Duke-class armored cruiser is only a medium-sized warship, it is far inferior to the current mainstream battleships in terms of cost and performance.

But in the face of tiny human beings, just an armored cruiser is already a behemoth.

The Duke-class armored cruisers are 93.5 meters in length, 17.63 meters in width and 7.01 meters in height, making them look almost like a building up close.

The port where the two armored cruisers docked, it was as if two buildings had been built on the coast.

"Gentlemen and ladies. The two warships you have seen so far are the two newest Duke-class armored cruisers to be launched by our Navy. The one on the left is called the Australia, and the other is the Duke Arthur. "Underneath the review stand, two officials from the Department of Defense were introducing the two warships to everyone in another place where there was a megaphone.

The first is to ask for support!

(End of chapter)