Rise of Australia

Chapter 180 The war broke out in an all-round way, and the result of the referendum was announced

After the island country broke off diplomatic relations with the Tsarist Russian Empire on February 2, the Tsarist Russian Empire prepared the army and navy in the Far East for a possible war, and at the same time delayed the arrival of the war as much as possible so that the army would have more time to prepare.

According to international practice, two countries generally have to go through two stages of declaring war and severing diplomatic relations before going to war, because the island country did not declare war on the Tsarist Russian Empire. Therefore, officials of the Tsarist Russian Empire, including Tsar Nicholas II, all I think the island countries are just threats and temptations, and I don't think the island countries really dare to launch wars.

This also affected the war preparations in the Far East to a certain extent. Many Russians have this mentality, thinking that it is impossible for island countries to launch wars without authorization, so war preparations are also very slow.

At this time, most of the warships of the Pacific Squadron of the Tsarist Russian Empire were still moored in the outer port of Lushun Port, and the vigilance of the ships was still the same as usual. Although it has been decided to take security measures to strengthen the vigilance, this decision has not yet been fully implemented. .

Although Alekseyev, then governor of the Far East, had already heard the news that the negotiations between the island country and the Tsarist Empire had broken down, he did not take more urgent contingency measures.

He blindly and conceitedly believed that it was impossible for island countries to start a war, so a few hours before the start of the war, he vowed very confidently to General Wittheft, Chief of Staff of the Pacific Squadron: "It is impossible to fight a war."

But just a few hours after he finished speaking, on February 1904, 2, the island nation dispatched its fleet and brazenly launched a sneak attack on the Pacific Fleet of the Tsarist Russian Empire in the outer port of Lushun.

At this time, the Far East Fleet of the Tsarist Russian Empire was divided into three parts, one part still stayed in Vladivostok, and the other part was stationed in the North Korean port of Incheon.

The main fleet of the Pacific Squadron stationed at Lushun Port is commanded by Admiral Tusk of the Tsarist Russian Empire.

The island country’s sneak attack plan this time is also divided into three parts. A small part of the fleet went north to defend against the return of the Tsarist Russian Empire fleet stationed in Vladivostok. The other part of the fleet consisted of six cruisers, including cruisers produced in Australia.

The target of this fleet is Wagliang and Koryoen in the port of Incheon.

As for the rest of the main force of the United Fleet, their goal is the main force of the Pacific Squadron at Lushunkou.

At about ten o'clock in the evening, the combined fleet of the island country successfully arrived outside the port of Lushun.It was already dark at this time, because it was winter, it got dark earlier, and the sky was already dark by ten o'clock.

The Pacific Fleet of the Tsarist Russian Empire was not prepared for the arrival of the island fleet.

This also doomed the fate of this fleet. Even though there were already many war trends, the Governor of the Far East, Alekseyev, and the Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Stark, turned a blind eye. There are no enhanced measures.

In order not to startle the enemy, the island country first sent several torpedo boats, which quietly entered the port of Lushun.

However, it was still discovered by the warships moored outside the port. After turning on the searchlights and searching, these torpedo boats were found.

But this did not stop the actions of the torpedo boats. In just a few minutes, several torpedo boats fired dozens of torpedoes at several battleships and cruisers around them. Although more than half of them missed, there were still as many as ten torpedoes. Hit a nearby Russian warship.

The most damaged was the nearest battleship Pellswaite and the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, the Crown Prince.

It is worth mentioning that when the roar of the torpedo and the sound of the Russian warship's return fire reached the shore, General Tusk and others were still puzzled.

Some people at the banquet guessed that the warship was firing a salute, and some guessed that the army was conducting an exercise, which made the fleet commander Tusk believe and hesitate.

It wasn't until someone reported that the warship had been attacked that Tusk was taken aback and quickly ended the banquet.

This sneak attack lasted for several hours. In the end, the island nation's fleet had to leave angrily under the defense of the strong fortress and coastal defense guns in the port.

But the attack was not without success. The battleships Perthwaite and Crown Prince of the Pacific Fleet were seriously injured and could not participate in the battle for a short time.

Others, including two cruisers and some small warships, were also injured, and their combat effectiveness was greatly reduced.

The most successful sneak attack was the small fleet located in Incheon. Because of the superiority in numbers, the Russian warships were not opponents of the island nation's warships at all. In the end, after some battles, both warships were sunk.

When the news of the surprise attack on the fleet came back to the Tsarist Empire, it was already noon the next day.

All the senior officials of the Tsarist Russian Empire were very angry, and Tsar Nicholas II even smashed several ornaments.

Shortly thereafter, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Tsarist Russian Empire received a declaration of war from the ambassador of the island country.

The helpless excuse of the islanders was that the telegraph machine was broken, which caused the delay of the propaganda book by one day.

The Tsarist Russian Empire despised this very much, and replied with disgust and hatred: "Your country's shameless remarks are quite disgusting, and the Tsarist Russian Empire will make your country pay the price."

Since the island country’s sneak attack on the Pacific Fleet of the Tsarist Russian Empire on February 2, the next day, February 8, the war between the Tsarist Russian Empire and the island country broke out in an all-round way.

The war between the Tsarist Russian Empire, one of the old powers, and the emerging island country is also a major event in the world.

After the full-scale war broke out, the Far East once again attracted the attention of the world.

As in previous crises, the British Empire and the United States sided with the island nations, and the German Empire sided with the Tsarist Empire.

In order to win over and maintain relations with the Tsarist Empire, France also had to stand on the side of the Tsarist Empire.

Other countries are basically paying attention to this war with the mood of eating melons. After all, the war is in the Far East, and it will not affect Europe at all.

Australia and New Zealand also acted quickly, declaring their neutrality on February 2.

In addition to selling arms to these two countries, Arthur is indeed not interested in this war.

After all, for Australia and New Zealand, the immediate referendum is the most concerned thing.

But this is also a good thing. With the attraction of the Far East War, New Zealand's referendum was not eye-catching, and Arthur's role in it was gradually forgotten.

On February 1904, 2, New Zealand's referendum voting session officially ended and entered a one-month statistical session.

Because all the votes may be as high as hundreds of thousands, New Zealand deliberately borrowed hundreds of officials from the surrounding colonies of the powers to help count.

As for why it is not borrowed from Australia and the British Empire, it is because these two countries are also considered as one of the protagonists of the referendum, and it is inevitable that they will help the statistics.

In fact, thanks to the hundreds of officials borrowed by the colonies of the great powers, otherwise the counting of votes in the referendum may waste more time.

After a month of hard work, on March 1904, 3, the results of New Zealand's referendum were officially announced.

This referendum attracted the participation of the vast majority of eligible people in New Zealand. The total number of votes received was as high as 40 votes, and the number of voters accounted for 320% of the number of voters.

Of the three options available in the referendum, the option with the least support is New Zealand's independence.

There are only more than 3000 people who support New Zealand's independence, which is only [-]% of the total number of voters.

It can also be seen from the side that New Zealanders do not think that the independence of the country will allow them to live well, but will be coveted by more countries.

The most chosen option was to join Australia.

Perhaps it is because Arthur, the Duke of Australia, has done a lot in this crisis in New Zealand, or it may be the natural favorability and recognition of New Zealanders for Australia, or it may be the brainwashing of New Zealanders by the Coalition Party led by Grant. All in all, the option to join Australia was overwhelmingly supported in this referendum.

A total of 14.00 votes, [-]% of the total number of voters, supported New Zealand's continued membership in the British Empire.

There are more than 33 people who choose to join Australia and Australia to form a federation, accounting for more than 6000% of the total number of people voting this time.

The option to join Australia became New Zealand's choice after this referendum with an overwhelming advantage of 80.00%.

When the New Zealand colonial government officially announced the results of the referendum on March 3, the streets of New Zealand were once again full of people crying with joy.

New Zealanders seem to see the hope of the prosperity and development of their own country, and they also seem to see the rich and beautiful life of New Zealanders like Australians.

Since March 3, various slogans of "Long live the Commonwealth!" and "Long live the Duke of Arthur!" have appeared on the streets of New Zealand. Arthur the delight of the sovereign.

On March 1904, 3, Arthur delivered a speech as Governor of New Zealand in Wellington, announcing that the New Zealand colonial government recognized the results of the New Zealand referendum, and announced that after Australia took over New Zealand, the New Zealand colonial government would be formally reorganized into the New Zealand government , the House of Commons remains unchanged.

Also on this day, New Zealand and Australia received congratulations from many countries, including the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, Tsarist Russia, Island States, France and the United States. Congratulations from the British Empire were the last to arrive.

On March 1904, 3, Arthur, as the Duke of Australia, welcomed all New Zealand people and promised to treat all New Zealanders as Australians after the establishment of a new federation. the people of Se.

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(End of this chapter)