Vol 4 Chapter 53: , The dragged arms race

"Your Majesty, the Germans announced their new shipbuilding plan. From 1912 to 1917, three more dreadnoughts will be added, plus their existing two, and the previous three that have already started construction, and the four planned to start. , By 1917, the number of dreadnoughts in the German Navy will reach 12!" Foreign Minister Metjeev said cautiously
Ferdinand received this good news just after returning from St. Petersburg. Yes, for Bulgaria, this is undoubtedly good news!
The more the Germans invest in the navy, it means that Bulgaria will have less pressure on the western front in the future. As for the German navy, it is John Bull’s trouble, so Ferdinand will not bother.
Well, Romania in the north was automatically ignored by Ferdinand. In fact, even if the Germans are willing to help, Romania's strategic position is also very disadvantageous, being caught between Bulgaria and Russia.
If you want to launch an offensive from Romania, it is estimated that the enemy commander's mind is flooded! Obviously, Romania will be attacked by the two fronts of Russia as soon as the war breaks out. It is difficult for every 1.8 million army to defend!
"How did the British do it? Do you want to build six?" Ferdinand asked without even thinking about it.
"Every time the Germans build a warship, the British build two!" This sentence was a domineering declaration when the British Secretary of the Army Haldane visited Germany.
Oh, and Ferdinand was still in London earlier, and he called this to the Ottoman Empire. It's just that the Ottomans are really poor, and after ordering two dreadnoughts from Germany, they expressed their silence!
But the Germans are now clearly demonstrating against the British. Aren’t you going to build twice as many warships? Well, come on, who counsels who is the grandson!
The Foreign Secretary Metjeev directly replied: "Your Majesty, yes! In March 1912, the British Secretary of the Navy Churchill submitted the naval bill to Parliament. Now it has been passed. According to the law, the Germans did not build a warship. , The British built two ships, and the London government has announced the addition of 6 dreadnought ships in the next five years!
And just now the British and the French reached an agreement. The British transferred the Mediterranean fleet to the North Sea to suppress the Germans. The French transferred the Atlantic navy to the Mediterranean to take over defense. The two countries have reached an agreement! "
Ferdinand smiled slightly. Obviously this is in the data. It seems that the next step is to watch the dumplings performed by Britain and Germany.
As for the Bulgarian navy plan? Oh, that's just a plan. Although the momentum is huge, basically all cruisers and destroyers are built now. They are used to deal with submarines. They are not bad enough. Let's forget the main battle!
"What about the army? I remember the French domineeringly announced that they would expand by 500,000. Where are they now? What is the reaction of the Allies?" Ferdinand asked concerned.
Obviously, the situation of the Russians needless to say. Ferdinand has just returned from St. Petersburg, and Teddy Bear is already preparing to expand his army by 450,000. With their standing army of one million, this figure is already astonishing.
Metjeev thought for a while and said: "The French government has submitted to the National Assembly an amendment to the military service law, raising the compulsory military service system from two years to three years.
In addition, the enlistment age of soldiers has been relaxed from 21 to 45 years old to 20 to 48 years old.
At present, the atmosphere of the French civil war is very strong. Judging from the current situation, it is only a matter of time before it is passed in Congress. It is estimated that after the amendment to the military service bill, the French army expansion will begin.
The Germans are now tit-for-tat announcing an expansion of 500,000, but they have a mature reserve mechanism and can complete the expansion at any time as long as they need it.
The expansion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire has begun, but the Vienna government is still worrying about the composition of the 300,000 troops. The Hungarians are unwilling to allocate additional funds, and the two sides are still arguing.
By the way, the Austro-Hungarian Empire also plans to build two dreadnought ships. The Hungarians requested that one be named after Budapest. The Vienna government agreed. However, the Hungarian government has to bear 70% of the construction cost of this warship. This time the Hungarian government is very happy. Agreed.
The Italians have also been very active in this army expansion. According to their announced plan, not only will the army be expanded by 300,000, but the navy will be expanded by 30,000, and three new dreadnoughts will be built in the next five years. "
Ferdinand was taken aback for a moment. The French were behaving normally. It was obvious that they had reached an agreement with the British, and the two sides had a division of labor. The British were responsible for the navy and the French were responsible for the army.
As for their amendments to the military service bill, Ferdinand did not feel surprised. Whether they extend their service life or relax their enlistment age, it is not surprising in this era.
In fact, Bulgaria’s military service bill is the real stance, but it was formulated during the Stam’s cabinet, when it was mainly set up to deal with the Ottoman Empire and to capture the Macedonian region. Later, taking into account the factors of the world war, Ferdinand has not been modified.
The same is compulsory military service, but the number of years of service for Bulgarians is unlimited! You understand it correctly, it is lifelong, as long as the country needs you to serve, then you have to serve until 65 years old!
The service age ranges from 16 to 65 years old. This is why this country with a population of only 4.3 million in history was able to mobilize 1.26 million troops to participate in the war!
If according to this military service bill, in theory, Ferdinand can still mobilize six or seven hundred troops, of course, there is no such operation in fact!
Under such extreme mobilization, Bulgaria is estimated to collapse on its own after two or three years. Ferdinand, the most beloved king, may have to worry about his throne at that time!
The performance of the Germans shocked Ferdinand a bit. When he was competing with the British in the navy, he was also competing with the French in the army. It doesn't work if you refuse to accept it!
The performance of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is fairly normal. As a big country, how can it not have its own dreadnought ship? Facing the military threats from Bulgaria and the Russians at the same time, it would be a problem if they did not expand the army!
It's just the Italian reality that Ferdinand doesn't know what to say! It is quite normal for a land power country like Bulgaria to face the threats of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Kingdom of Montenegro, and Romania. It is quite normal for the army to expand by 300,000.
Well, you also have a military threat from the French in Italy, and an army expansion of one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand is enough. You need three hundred thousand!
At the same time, in the naval competition between Britain and Germany, you also joined it in a careless manner. Wouldn't it be okay to build one less dreadnought ship, or to announce it at another time? The political implication here is very obvious!
The key is do you Italian have this strength? You can’t join in the first wave and start watching the show later, right?
Ferdinand smiled bitterly and said, "So, we are also dragged into the water?"
Meteve thought for a while and said, "Yes, your Majesty! The Italians have expanded their army and navy at the same time. We must also be prepared, otherwise they may attack Albania from the sea and attack us with the Austro-Hungarian Empire!"
Ferdinand thought for a while and said, "Well, tomorrow I will convene the cabinet and the military for a meeting, and then decide on the countermeasures!"
Obviously, history has changed beyond recognition. Affected by Ferdinand's butterfly effect, governments of various countries have strengthened their control over the people. Now basically everyone's ruling power has been strengthened to a certain extent.
Correspondingly, under the threat of war, everyone's potential to break out is stronger.
And what I just said was just the preparations for war by the big powers. Ferdinand didn't believe that the kingdoms of Romania and Montenegro would not respond!
Well, this time he really thought wrong. The expansion of the standing army is really not suitable for small countries to play, especially small countries whose finances are about to collapse!
Due to the war, the Kingdom of Montenegro had to pay Bulgaria’s war reparations and expenses during the war. The Kingdom of Montenegro, which was already so poor, is now even poorer!
Romania is not much better. Because the Bulgarian army invaded their elite zone, all the cities in the lower Danube plain except Bucharest were looted, leaving millions of war refugees. Carol I had a headache.
As they joined the Allied Powers camp, the European continent smelled of gunpowder more and more, and it was difficult for them to even borrow loans, and capitalists also had to consider risks.
Once a war breaks out between the two major alliances, small countries are always the first to be sacrificed. Their ability to repay is feared. Except for some loans from Germany, Austria and Italy, the financial channels of other countries have been cut off.
Even the French, who are very keen on lending, dare not offer them loans this time. Mainly because in the second Balkan War before, Ferdinand discovered that the French had actually provided loans to the Anti-Protection League. Of course, this is unbearable!
Protest to the French government, Ferdinand is not so stupid? He directly provided the news of these financial institutions to the radical pro-combat media, adding more energy and jealousy.
Then the French people became angry. Someone dared to provide loans to the Allies. It was fine. Isn't this an enemy?
Even if the capitalists are wealthy and powerful, when this kind of nationalism is bursting, it is enough for them to bear. One after another, they have introduced scapegoats and docked to survive!
Needless to say now, because of the Ferdinand butterfly effect, the actions of French capitalists have been reduced a lot at this time, at least the historically such large-scale lending to the Allies is no longer clear!
Oh, their withdrawal made the Jewish bankers cheaper. These people don't have a national concept. Anyway, they are being scolded every day as a habit. If you have money, you don't make a bastard!
Of course, inferior customers like Romania and Montenegro are fine. The loan they provided to the Greeks before was squandered, and no one helped them this year!