The most significant impact of the formation of the Allies and theplete opposition to the Ctral Powers on the European situation actually came from the small and medium-sized countries suring these two military blocs.


    As thepetition betwe the two sides became clear, these small and medium-sized countries also faced a question: which side to choose, or whether to remain neutral.


    Such a decision was not easy to make, as both sides had a dominant superpower and wereposed of three powerful nations.


    This would result in a huge war that could easily affect the whole of Europe if both sides were to gage inbat, and no European country could easily escape unscathed.


    Could remaining a neutral country truly avoid this extraordinary war?


    Since September 908, the arms race betwe the two major military blocs had escted, but the main participating countries were still Britain and Germany.


    Once Germany surpassed the British in dreadnoughts, Britain immediately revised its shipbuilding n, elerating the construction of the three nned Bellerophon-ss battleships, and issued an order to the shipyards responsible for the construction of these battleships toplete them by the d of March 909 and conduct sea trials.


    It didn''t stop there, the construction n of the improved St Vinct-ss battleship was also elerated.


    ording to Britain''s original construction n, the earliestpletion time for the three St Vinct-ss battleships would not be until next May, and the remaining two would not bepleted until March or April the following year.


    However, Germany''s catch-up had rmed the British, and they specifically ordered the three St Vinct-ss battleships to bepleted by the d of 909 and be added to the naval fleet by mid-tote July 9.


    This meant that from this September, the British Empire wouldplete at least six dreadnoughts over the course of more than a year, consolidating its superiority as the world''s leading naval power.


    Compared to the pace of shipbuilding in Austrsia, the speed of the British Empire''s naval construction was astonishing, but this was still just the tip of the iceberg for the British Empire''s naval shipbuilding industry.


    In addition to building dreadnoughts, the British Empire also nned to equip its domestic army with a new  of weaponry, with the obsolete weapons being deployed to colonial forces.


    This was no small expse, but it was not too much for the financially powerful British Empire.


    It is worth noting that the British Empire''s military spding was the highest among the great powers; its spding reached a staggering 589. million poundsst year.


    Ranked second is the German Empire with military spding at 548.9 million pounds. Russia, which appears less developed, is ranked third with military spding at 53.8 million pounds.


    Meanwhile, France, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Kingdom of Italy ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth, and their military spding totaled 455 million pounds, .3 million pounds, and 85.7 million pounds, respectively.


    The high military spding of the major powers in the military domain represted a peak in the confrontation betwe the two European military blocs, with the arms race causing military expditure to escte.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But this was not the peak of military spding for the countries. Historically, after the outbreak of war, their military spding increased several times.


    Take the German Empire in 98, which had the highest military spding in the world. In that year, the German Empire''s military expditure reached a staggering 350 billion German marks, equivalt to 7.5 billion pounds, which also exins why the war brought ormous pain to European countries.


    Apart from the high military spding, the cost of the war this year was ough to drag down any country.


    As a defeated country, it was no surprise that Germany faced 500,000 marks worth of bread after the war, as long periods of warfare and high military spding had already caused rapid depreciation of the country''s currcy.


    In addition to the exploitation of other countries after the war and the exploitation of their own capitalists, the seeds of hatred grew in the hearts of the German people.


    Compared to the high military spding of the major powers, the military spding of geographically remote Austrsia is quite meager.


    In 907, Austrsia''s military expditure amounted to just over 4 million pounds. Ev this year, with the start of the shipbuilding n, total expditure will not exceed 8 million pounds.


    From this perspective, it is evidt that there is still a significant gap betwe Austrsia and the major European countries. The poption and economic situation in Austrsia are still far behind those of European nations, which is also a limitation for Austrsia to be a powerful country.


    As Christmas 908 approached, Christmas was an extremely important holiday for Western countries, and Austrsia also had a three-day national holiday for Christmas.


    Sydney Pce was well prepared for Christmas, with the trees and flowers in the suring square heavily decorated, and ev the statues in front of the pce bathed in sunlight and shining brightly.


    Of course, Arthur didn''t care too much about these matters, as more important news was waiting for Arthur''s atttion at the momt.


    After two and a half years of effort, Que Mary''s pregnancy was finally showing some signs of progression.


    The day before Christmas, Arthur received a report from the royal personal hospital''s doctor that Que Mary might be pregnant!


    This was good news for Arthur, the royal family, and ev the tire Austrsian governmt and country.


    With an heir, it can be proved that the dynasty can continue. Nowadays, as the monarch''s power is so high in Austrsia, officials are also afraid that the royal power will fall into others'' hands, causing the hardships of the country in rect years to be in vain.


    Arthur attaches great importance to his possible first son or daughter. Not only did he apany Que Mary from the momt he received the news, but he also gathered all the famous doctors of Austrsia, stationed at the Royal Personal Hospital for Que Mary''s recuperation.


    In fact, under Arthur''s efforts, the Royal Personal Hospital has long be the most advanced hospital in Austrsia with the most top medical talts.


    But it is better to be well-prepared for such things, so Arthur ev nned to recruit experts from major European hospitals at a high sry since there was plty of money anyways.


    Arthur did not order such good news to be concealed either. The spread of this news can also increase the governmt''s confidce in their work, and they don''t have to worry that their contributions to the country will be forgott by the rulers after Arthur.


    On Christmas Day, Arthur received congrattions from various European countries.


    Russia and Germany were the fastest, after all, Que Mary came from the Russian Monarchy, and Emperor William II of Germany was Arthur''s cousin, and the diplomatic rtion betwe Germany and Austrsia was very good.


    Not only Russia and Germany, many European powers and small and medium-sized countries, including the British Empire, also st congrattions to Austrsia.


    This includes the countries controlled by the members of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Dynasty, as well as other small and medium-sized European monarchies.


    After all, this is still the era of monarchism. For theplex rtions of European royal families, perhaps Arthur can indeed have connections with most European monarchies.


    For his possible first son or daughter, Arthur had high expectations.


    Various strict traditional elite noble educations, coupled with further training, are inevitable.


    As a son or daughter of a king, the little one in Que Mary''s belly is likely to have only two or three years of good days, before tering strict education.


    Austrsia has a good developmt vironmt and timing, and Arthur is confidt in developing it into a top power.


    However, the session of the country should be treated cautiously afterwards. In order to sure the developmt of the country and the continuity of the royal family, it is necessary to cultivate a capable sessor for oneself and the nation.


    Ev if not the sessor, Arthur''s offspring also represt the dignity and prestige of the royal family, which means they cannot be wasted.


    On Christmas Day, Arthur spt a warm day with his family, and officials were very tactful not to disturb Arthur.


    But starting from the second day of Christmas, blessings and congrattions from various officials came one after another. If Arthur hadn''t bezy and let Butler Kt take care of unified responses, he would have be in a congrattory atmosphere all day.


    Ever since Butler Kt learned of the news, his tire demeanor has be beaming with joy. The fact that Arthur has an heir is the best news for Butler Kt, and this news is ev more exciting than Arthur bing the King of Austrsia.


    Que Mary has also be the protected animal of the royal family. Not only is Princess Louise always with her, but more than t maids also serve her at all times, allowing Que Mary to avoid any fatigue.


    In celebration, Arthur specially instructed the Royal Relief Committee to provide at least two pounds of mutton and t pounds of grain to adult citizs with an annual ie of no more than 0 Australian dors on Christmas Day. As for underage citizs, they were provided with one pound of mutton and one liter of milk.


    Currtly, there are very few people in Austrsia with an annual ie of no more than 0 Australian dors, and ev with a poption of over 7 million, there are at most 800,000 people with an ie not exceeding 0 Australian dors.


    Many of these people are elderly people with no work capability. Ev if the whole country''s underage citizs are included, the total cost of this initiative is not expected to exceed 5 million Australian dors.


    For Arthur, with an annual ie exceeding 40 million Australian dors, 5 million Australian dors is just a drop in the bucket. In terms of maintaining his reputation and support, Arthur is very gerous.


    Arthur''s actions naturally aroused the goodwill of many Austrsians. Ev if they were not the beficiaries of this initiative, hearing about the reaction also made them feel grateful.


    If it wer''t for Arthur, they know they would not have their currt lives. Faced with such a bevolt and loving monarch, what else can they do besides maintaining gratitude and loyalty?


    Although there is no urate number for Arthur''s poprity in Austrsia, if anyone dares to say something bad about him on the streets of Austrsia, they may face the wrath of the people.


    If the words be more serious, it could not ev be guaranteed whether they could safely leave Austrsia alive.


    If there are really radical elemts, they are all like shrinking turtles.


    Arthur''s reputation among the people is no joke, and the people don''t mind sding anyone ill-advised to see God for His forgivess.


    After the Christmas holidays, what could be clearly felt, was the joyful atmosphere of Austrsia, and the efficicy of the governmt''s work has improved a lot.


    At this time, Austrsia can be said to be united, and with no worries, they are making their own efforts and contributions to the rise of Austrsia.