After all the people who were beaten up were taken to the police station, the Asians who were watching also came to the police station.

They want to see what Australasia's official attitude towards this matter is, in fact, also determines Australasia's attitude towards the island nation.

In less than two hours, all the Australasian people involved in the beating walked out of the police station with smiles on their faces, which also surprised the onlookers.

Being able to walk out of the police station so happily means that these Australasian people will not be punished in any way.

And the two island people have not yet left the police station for treatment, and the disparity in attitude also determines that Australasia's attitude towards the island country will definitely not be very good.

Several people glanced at each other, and they saw ecstasy. It is equivalent to deciding that Australasia will never unite with the island country, and even become the enemy of the island country.

The fact that the enemy of their enemy is their ally means that they may be able to get some support from Australasia, albeit at a great cost. (There is only interest between countries, and there is no support in vain.) ）

Later, several guards from the palace also conveyed Arthur's attitude to the police station: "No matter who tramples on the national flag, it is a provocation to the country and the royal family. Those who repeatedly trample on the national flag and do not change their ways shall be sentenced to heavy sentences to set an example. ”

Arthur's attitude is the highest order in Australasia, and after sending off the guards, the police department immediately decided to sentence the two island students: for the crime of repeatedly trampling the national flag, they were sentenced to 20 years in prison, plus 15 years of labor reform; He was sentenced to 5 years in prison with an additional 2 years of re-education through labor for the crime of repeatedly trampling on the national flag.

This is a serious sentence, at least it is the first felony sentence in the history of Australasia for the most serious crime of trampling on the national flag.

Moreover, because the other party is a student from an island country, it will definitely lead to diplomatic protests from the island countries.

But Arthur didn't care in the slightest. Australasia is not a weak country, if the crime of trampling on the national flag can be easily forgiven, doesn't this mean that as long as the students of the great powers can step on the national flag of Australasia?

In the face of such a severe punishment, the people of the island nation will definitely protest. Arthur directly ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take the lead in initiating criticism of the island countries and seize the initiative in this incident.

As for reducing the penalties for students studying in the two island countries, it is impossible.

With everything in order, Arthur focused on the three R108 battleships currently under construction at the Sydney shipyard.

The government attaches great importance to the construction of the R108 battleship, and has mobilized many technical experts from the other two major shipyards, which has also made the construction of the R108 battleship very fast, and the total construction progress is estimated to be 17% complete.

Although it seems that it is less than a fifth, after all, the time has only passed about two months, and the overall progress is still quite rapid.

Because the size far exceeds all the previous capital warships in Australasia, the visual effect of these three battleships is also quite shocking, and the keel laid so far alone is enough to make people praise a behemoth.

"What is the current progress of artillery research? Can the development of the 18-inch gun be completed before the construction of the battleship is completed? Arthur asked curiously.

Looking at the huge guy in front of him, Arthur's ambition became even bigger. I said that before Arthur was only satisfied with the world's mainstream 16-inch guns, now Arthur even wants to equip these three battleships with the most powerful 18-inch guns.

"Our cooperation with the British is still ongoing, and there are no breakthroughs in the research on the 18-inch gun. Coupled with the long testing phase, it is estimated that there will be no results for the time being within a year. Defense Secretary Raul replied.

This kind of military research is basically led by the Ministry of National Defense. Therefore, Raul, as Minister of National Defense, is definitely the most aware of the research situation of the 18-inch gun.

"Try to speed things up. If you can equip the E108 battleship with an 18-inch gun, this is the most powerful battleship in the world! Arthur said expectantly.

The world's top battleship in armor, power and firepower, which is also a crushing for the battleships of other countries with 16-inch guns.

Although it is not up to the level of crushing the dreadnoughts of the previous dreadnoughts, it is definitely a large part ahead in terms of the actual combat effectiveness of the warships.

"The British were also interested in the 18-inch guns, and it was believed that the battleship Nagato was also under pressure for the British. If nothing else, the British Empire should have built powerful battleships with 18-inch guns, and they should also want to see the birth of 18-inch guns as soon as possible. Minister Raul said with a smile.

Australasia is not the only country with such ambitions in terms of naval expansion, basically all countries will have ambitions.

As the British Empire with the most powerful navy, it naturally wanted to maintain its naval superiority and keep the title of the strongest battleship in the Royal Navy, rather than the island nation, which was reluctantly raised by Britain and the United States.

Arthur nodded, not surprised by Raul's statement.

The island nation had huge ambitions to build the battleship Nagato, which is known as the most powerful battleship in the world, and the British did not react at all.

Even if the Treaty of Naval Limitation was near, the battleships built before the treaty were not considered a violation, and this was the last chance for the British Empire and Australasia.

"Whether or not it can be mounted on a battleship, the 18-inch gun technology is very important for the development of the Navy. It is not possible to use it on battleships, but we must use it. Arthur instructed Minister Raul.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will urge the artillery research and development department to increase cooperation with the British to develop an 18-inch main gun as soon as possible. Minister Raul nodded and assured.

"The construction of the warship also needs to be kept strictly confidential, and I don't want any data about the R108 battleship to leak out before the treaty is signed." Arthur continued.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Rest assured, all technicians and workers involved in the construction of the R108 battleship have signed confidentiality agreements and will live near the shipyard throughout the construction period, ensuring that information is not leaked. At the same time, the security around the Royal Shipyard has also been upgraded in all aspects, and no outsiders are allowed to enter the Royal Dockyard, so as to eliminate the possibility of warship information being revealed. When it came to the secrecy of the construction of battleships, Minister Raul did not dare to be careless, and hurriedly gave out all the work he had arranged.

"Well, the secrecy must not be negligent, and all personnel involved in the construction of the warship are not allowed to leave Sydney until the construction of the warship is completed. For the sake of the state, restricting the freedom of people is also a last resort. As compensation, after the construction of the warship is completed, everyone will receive a reward, and the merit of everyone will also be recorded. I hope everyone can strictly abide by the confidentiality agreement, and on behalf of the country and the royal family, I thank you for your dedication! After deciding on the secrecy work, Arthur looked at the workers and technical experts around him, and said with a very sincere attitude.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, we will never reveal any news, and we will never go out until the construction of the warship is completed." The surrounding construction workers and technical experts also hurriedly said.

Dedication to the country is something they are willing to do, and with Arthur's personal explanation and reward, they are naturally more willing, eager to eat, drink, and Lazar in the shipyard.

Seeing that no one objected, Arthur nodded with great satisfaction and said with a smile: "You are all heroes of the country!" Ladies and gentlemen, I am waiting for the day when the construction of the warship will be completed, and I will personally celebrate your achievements! ”

Arthur's visit to the shipyard ended with laughter.

In order to take care of the mood of the shipyard's technical experts and workers, the shipyard also provides a very rich meal, not only a variety of beef and mutton is oversupplied, but also a daily limited amount of fruit can be selected.

Every once in a while, there will also be a small banquet to help these skilled workers relieve their boredom and keep them from feeling irritable when they stay in one place for a long time.

Under these policies, skilled workers and specialists do not feel bored to stay in shipyards for long periods of time, but they are full of energy and feel that they are contributing to the country.

In fact, it was also true, because of the long hours of hard work and dedication and strict secrecy of these people, Australasian Diesel was given the opportunity to acquire a powerful battleship before the Treaty of Naval Limitation came into force.

Sydney, 1 February 1921.

Twenty days have passed since the National Day, and Australasia's industries have once again returned to a state of steady growth.

Arthur has been bored for the last few days, so he decided to take a look at the farm outside Sydney to learn about agricultural production outside of Sydney.

The suburbs of Sydney today are not the same as the suburbs of Sydney 20 years ago. After 20 years of development, the scale of Sydney has already expanded several times, and the suburbs of 20 years ago have developed into new urban areas, and now the suburbs are dozens of kilometers away from the center of Sydney.

Arthur was accompanied by the Security Guards, the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Robert Swift.

Looking at the farms all over the outskirts of Sydney, Arthur was still very satisfied. It also represents agricultural production in Australasia, and grain is the most important thing in a country's strategic reserves.

"What is our current agricultural population?" As he walked, Arthur suddenly asked a very interesting question.

As the basic population division of a country, the proportion of the agricultural population is more or less, but it will definitely exist.

The agricultural population refers to the population engaged in agriculture, which is an indispensable group of people for a country and an important guarantee for the country's grain reserves.

Arthur asked this question without any discrimination or prejudice, but simply wanted to understand the number of people engaged in agriculture in Australasia, so that he could make corresponding policy arrangements and plans.

"In recent years, our agricultural population accounts for about one-seventh of the total population, totaling more than 3.21 million people." The Minister of Agriculture, Robert, carefully recalled the data he had memorized and made sure that it was correct.

"3.21 million people? Do we have so many agricultural populations? Arthur frowned slightly, and asked in surprise.

With the acceleration of industrialization, the agricultural population of developed countries in Europe and the United States is significantly decreasing.

In 1840, the British accounted for 22% of the total population in agriculture, and by 1900 the proportion of the agricultural population had fallen to less than 8.5%.

While there is no definite intelligence on the UK's agricultural population, it is certainly lower than 8.5%.

One in seven in Australasia is 14.3 per cent, which is equivalent to the level of the United Kingdom forty or fifty years ago.

Based on the 8.5% of the British population in agriculture in 1900, Australasia wasted at least 1.3 million people.

If all of this agricultural population were to be used in other industries, it would bring vitality to other industries in Australasia.

You must know that the total population of Australasia is 22.57 million, which can save 1.3 million manpower, which is equivalent to hundreds of thousands of additional reserve soldiers.

"At present, there are still some areas due to various reasons such as topography, agricultural machinery has not yet been popularized. One is that agricultural machinery is too expensive, and the other is that people's agricultural land has become somewhat scattered due to urban development. Minister Robert quickly explained.

Australasia is much larger than the United Kingdom, and the land that can be used for cultivation is larger than the entire land area of the United Kingdom, which also makes the agricultural environment of Australasia far superior to that of the United Kingdom.

However, it is precisely because of the vast land area that the arable land environment in Australasia is too complex, and some areas are not suitable for mechanization, or the cost of mechanization is too expensive.

"The mechanization of agriculture will continue to advance, and our agricultural population will be further reduced." Arthur thought carefully for a moment before speaking.

"Australasia has a vast land area, and because it is a new country of immigrants, it should be easier to mechanize agriculture. The current development of the Murray River Basin Plain is an opportunity to reduce the agricultural population in Australasia and save at least one million people to invest in other industries. Where machinery can be used, strive to use machinery, and waste manpower in such places is not worth the loss. Minister Robert, I hope that the Ministry of Agriculture will soon develop a programme for further mechanization of agriculture and encourage people to buy machinery for agricultural production to free up manpower. Arthur commanded.

"For agricultural producers who lack funds, certain subsidies can be carried out, or agricultural machinery can be lent to the people in the form of interest-free loans, loans and mortgages, and the mechanization of the entire agricultural production can be promoted in the form of use first and pay later. Although we have caught up with the great powers in some aspects, we still have a lot to do, including mechanization and so on. Once the plan is formulated, it will be submitted to the Cabinet for deliberation, and I will ask the Ministry of Finance to support your plan and move forward with further mechanization in Australasia as soon as possible. ”

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The doubling of the monthly pass has begun, kneel and beg for the monthly pass!

(End of chapter)