Start 1861: I just inherited the Dutch throne

Chapter 863 The British Empire takes action

) On January 1881, 1, the United Kingdom announced that the British Empire's Mediterranean Fleet would conduct naval exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean. Unexpectedly, the French Empire did not express its position, but the Austro-Hungarian Empire was the first to stand up to support the United Kingdom.

"As a major power in Europe and as a country along the Mediterranean Sea, the Austro-Hungarian Empire has the right and obligation to maintain peace in the Mediterranean. We also have the power to make decisions made by any country. We will participate in British actions in the Mediterranean." - Austria-Hungary Foreign Minister Reichberg.

The statement of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was unexpected. The Austro-Hungarian Empire has been very low-key in recent years, especially since it was defeated by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1866, which is now the German Empire. It seems that Joseph I has become disheartened. The Austro-Hungarian Empire has a negative attitude toward Europe. The struggle for power and hegemony seems to have lost its previous enthusiasm.

Even in recent years, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the German Empire have smiled and avoided any grudges. It seems that the two countries have intentionally reached a consensus on European power issues. They have openly supported each other on many issues and have the same "external" stance.

It seems that he is willing to follow behind the German Empire.

Because of this, the Austria-Hungary Empire's statement this time is surprising to everyone.

Is the Austro-Hungarian Empire unwilling to be left alone?
Or should we say that Austria-Hungary's statement was expressing a certain position.

Just when everyone was thinking about the reasons for the change in the position of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, another big country's statement made people feel nervous.

This country was the Ottoman Empire, the overlord of the Middle East.

Although there were differences with Britain on the Middle East issue, the Ottoman Empire, which still relied on British support, also stood up to support Britain.

"The great friendship between Britain and the Ottoman Empire has been abroad for hundreds of years. The relationship between our two countries will not be completely overturned because of a small number of differences. Istanbul cherishes its relationship with London. We are not influenced by others, so the great The Ottoman Empire is also willing to support the Mediterranean Fleet exercises this time."

The Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire were both major powers in Europe, one of the most powerful handful of countries in Europe and even the world. Together with the host of the supported exercise, Britain, the most powerful country in terms of overall strength, the three countries came closer, and today's world Any powerful country in the world is enough to stop paying attention.

On February 1881, 2, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, which had always been pro-British, announced that it would send warships to participate in British exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean with the consent of the Ottoman Empire.

The situation is getting worse and worse. What is strange is that France still has not expressed its position.

On February 1881, 2, anonymous official sources from the United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria pointed out that in response to the increasing level of Greek military strength in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans, the Ottoman Empire and the Austria-Hungary Empire were stepping up efforts to follow up. British security cooperation.

英国国防部发言人3日在伦敦表示，英国。奥匈、奥斯曼和保加利亚将于1881年2月4日-15日在克里特岛东部海域和希腊语土耳其之间的爱情海以英国地中海舰队为中心进行联合反海盗作战演习已经搜救演习。

The exercise among the four countries was led by Lieutenant General George, commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet.

Bulgaria sent the first-class sailing battleship Sofia and the second-class sailing battleship Black Sea to participate.Austria-Hungary, University of Sydney, Institute of Political Science.

The principal of the school, Hermann Van Peron, was holding a teacher-student meeting at the campus meeting of the School of Political Science. Next to him were several guests invited by the University of Sydney today, including Tim, director of the Dutch governance project of the National Peace Foundation in Rotterdam, and the Netherlands. Mitsud, an expert on the British Empire project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Baloch, director of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment, a think tank at The Hague University in the Netherlands.

I saw Hermann Van Peyron say on the podium: "As the University of Sydney ranks second in the global university rankings and the first university in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we have always advocated the application of knowledge and the combination of reality and reality. Only in this way can everyone present be able to Students can learn real knowledge instead of just talking about it in school.

Today’s topic is the entire Political Academy Debate Contest on the theme of the joint exercises in the Mediterranean Sea between the United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria, which have recently attracted world attention.

Beside me are talented people from major think tanks in the Netherlands, who will debate this today. "

"The Austro-Hungarian Empire once had several wooden sail warships with tall masts that sailed majestically on the sea. By the late 40s, they began to be replaced by steam warships that emitted black smoke.

Since the early 50s, various naval powers have begun to build emerging ironclad ships.

As a traditional land power in Europe, the Austro-Hungarian Empire developed relatively late in the field of steam battleships, but later built several good ironclads.

Because it is located in an awkward position in the nearly closed Adriatic Gulf, the Austro-Hungarian Navy has always been relatively weak. However, with its strong military industry, in 1861, the first Dragon-class ironclad ship of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was born. The battleship had a displacement of 3000 tons and was equipped with 10 48-pound smoothbore guns and 18 24-pound front-loading rifled guns on the side of the ship. From then on, the Austro-Hungarian Navy entered the era of ironclads.

Because of its awkward location in the nearly closed Adriatic Gulf, the Austro-Hungarian Navy has always been relatively weak. However, with its strong military industry, by 1861, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's first Dragon-class ironclad ship was born. It had a displacement of 3000 tons and was equipped with 10 48-pound smoothbore cannons and 18 24-pound front-loading rifled cannons on its sides. From then on, the Austro-Hungarian Navy entered the era of ironclads.

In July 1866, Austria-Hungary won the first naval battle of Lisa. The Austro-Hungarian Empire started construction of the ironclad Lisa in 7 to commemorate this victory.The ship adopts the newly born central gun room design, which is to put 1867 12 mm main guns. Not only in the armored central gun room, the displacement of the Lisa also reached 229 tons, which was the highest in the navies of various countries at that time. The armored ships owned by China are relatively large. "

Hermann Van Peyron stood on the high platform, his eyes scanned below, and then asked several guests beside him: "This time the Austro-Hungarian Empire dispatched three Lissa-class ironclads to participate in the exercise. It can be said that the main force was used. Why did Austria-Hungary What is their purpose in doing this? Do you have any opinions?"

Following the questions raised by Herman Van Peron, the eyes of all teachers and students at the School of Political Science at the University of Sydney immediately fell on these guests.

Finally, Tim, who is a visiting professor at the University of Sydney and the director of the Dutch governance project at the National Peace Foundation in Rotterdam, said: "Austro-Hungary's move to stand up for Britain at this time is nothing more than two things. First, it is to win The second is Britain's good opinion, which is that it has been silent for many years. Standing up at this time is nothing more than showing Europe's presence. The former can hedge Austria-Hungary's leverage when cooperating with the German Empire, and the latter also means that Austria-Hungary is beginning to be unwilling to be the German Empire. My little brother’s interpretation.”

At this time, a voice said: "I disagree with Professor Tim's statement."

Everyone looked at Baloch, the director of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment, a think tank at The Hague University in the Netherlands. Baloch said: "I think what Austria-Hungary did is actually more likely to be the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They took over the Mediterranean or the entire Europe’s trick to make muddy waters even murkier”

(End of this chapter)