Chapter 711 Offensive and Defensive Abnormalities
After the end of the World War, Russia's demand for military industry plummeted, and the Amur Arsenal was forced to transform from military to civilian use.
Factories that produce armored combat vehicles switch to producing tractors, factories that produce artillery shells switch to making fireworks, and seamless steel pipes and natural gas pipelines are seamlessly connected.
The factory that produces light weapons cannot transform, and the workers are starving to death.
During the World War, Russia produced more than 30 million rifles. By the end of the World War, the monthly output of Amur Arsenal alone was more than 800,000 rifles.
Due to the proliferation of civilian weapons in Russia during the civil war, the Russian civilian weapons market has been saturated for at least ten years.
The more critical issue is that although Russia no longer needs weapons in a short period of time, these factories cannot be disbanded and must retain a certain amount of productivity in case of emergency.
During the World War, the brothers in the arsenal worked three shifts day and night. Not to mention making a fortune, their income was second to none in Amur. It was no problem for one person to work to support his family.
After the end of the World War, the Amur Arsenal also carried out large-scale layoffs, retaining only the best Russian workers. Those workers from Korea and Japan, even if they had excellent skills and no problem with their work attitude, had to be dismissed.
Even so, the income of the worker brothers has dropped significantly.
In order to find orders for the arsenal, Julien and other sales staff racked their brains.
To put it bluntly, in order for the brothers in the factory to have food to eat, Julien hopes that the war will never disappear.
Michael Collins was not only the Finance Minister of the Republic of Ireland, but also responsible for intelligence work. He was one of the founders of the Irish Resistance and the future Founding Father of Ireland.
The actions of the Irish Resistance Army were supported by the Irish Brotherhood in the United States. Michael Collins could even obtain a loan from the United States through the Brotherhood.
Michael Collins hopes to obtain rifles, heavy machine guns, and explosives from Russia to support the resistance in the Republic of Ireland.
Julien is of Chinese descent, and his Russian name is Julian, so when he introduced himself to Michael Collins, he called his name: Julian Yu.
Julian suggested to Michael Collins that considering the situation of the Irish resistance, Julien suggested that Collins adjust the purchase list to pistols, light machine guns, and grenades.
Compared with rifles, pistols and light machine guns are easier to carry, and grenades are easier to carry and use than explosives.
After verification, Collins accepted Julien's suggestion and had to admit that the Russians were more experienced in rebellion.
However, the company was still not experienced enough in external exports. The ship transporting weapons from the Amur Arsenal was seized by the Royal Navy, and the captain and 12 crew members were arrested by the Royal Navy.
The good news is that the captain threw all the weapons and ammunition transported on the ship into the sea before the ship was forced to stop, and it was not captured by the Royal Navy.
The bad news is that when the Royal Navy was arresting him, the captain rammed his boat into the Admiralty's boat, causing the boat to roll over and killing a Royal Navy sailor.
Russian Ambassador to the UK Korrutansky immediately went to the British Admiralty to demand the immediate release of the arrested crew.
The newly appointed First Lord of the Admiralty David Beatty rejected Kolrutanski's request on the grounds that the investigation had not yet been concluded.
Korrutanski instead asked the Royal Navy to effectively protect the rights of the arrested captain and crew.
This time David Beattie did not refuse.
The news reached Constantinople, and George was helpless.
This is the consequence of being caught by someone who uses too crude a technique.
How can such a thing be delivered to your door? If you entrust an unknowing third party to transport it, even if you are caught, it has nothing to do with the Amur Arsenal.
Little Nicholas had no choice but to go to London.
Korrutansky went to visit the families of the sailors who died and gave a hush money in the name of condolence money in exchange for the families of the sailors who died not to pursue the case.
This is very important, otherwise if the families of the deceased sailors continue to be interviewed by reporters, the impact of this incident will become more and more intense.
What makes George happy is that the British government is still very sensible and has not made a big deal about this matter.
On the contrary, the attention of the French media is a bit extraordinary, and they are constantly quarreling with each other, hoping that Britain and Russia will also fight.
Although the British tried their best to downplay the impact of this incident, Lloyd George called Werther immediately and asked Werther to punish the relevant companies and strictly prohibit similar incidents from happening again.
Witte held high the banner of "free trade" and said that this was a commercial behavior of Russian companies and had nothing to do with the position of the Russian government.
The Russian government’s position is definitely highly consistent with London’s.
Faced with a hob like Witte, Lloyd George had no good solution. On the one hand, he instructed the Royal Navy to step up underwater operations and fish out the things thrown overboard by Russian ships as soon as possible, so as to consolidate Russia's Corporate wrongdoing.
On the other hand, the British media is warned not to add fuel to the fire during this sensitive period.
For a long time, the United Kingdom, from top to bottom, has been portraying Russia as an unreasonable polar bear and slandering Russia.
In the past, it was really difficult for the Russian Empire to face the pursuit and interception of Britain.
Now that Russia has completely broken through the British blockade, Britain has been severely weakened by the world war. It is beset by internal and external difficulties, and its offensive and defensive positions are changing.
In the past, Britain exported to Russia.
Now it is Russia's turn to export to Britain.
In early November, Lloyd George learned of a new situation. The Irish rebels began to use explosives produced in Russia.
Lloyd George met with Nicholas Jr., who had just arrived in London, and asked Nicholas to give an explanation.
"Explain what? Explain why Russian explosives appeared in the UK? If you ask me, who should I ask?" Little Nicholas drew inferences from one example to another.
During the World War, both Britain and France purchased large quantities of military raw materials from Russia, including explosives.
Russian explosives were not only sold to the United Kingdom and France, but even flowed into Germany through Denmark.
In short, there are many ways for the Irish to obtain Russian explosives, except that they do not buy them directly from Russia.
Lloyd George was so angry that his hands were shaking.
A few days ago, the Royal Navy finally fished out a box of grenades from the sea.
Now that there is both human and physical evidence, the Russians should admit it, right?
Little Nicholas scoffed and directly handed Lloyd George a lot of data, proving that from January to March 1919 alone, Russia sold as many as 1.5 million hand grenades to Britain.
In other words, Nicholas Jr. believed that the Royal Navy was framed.
The so-called person and both the stolen goods and the stolen goods are captured together, and the evidence cannot be added afterwards.
If this kind of evidence is useful, Nicholas Jr. can find countless evidence to prove that the demise of the Russian Empire was caused by Britain.
Little Nicholas not only refused to admit that the box of grenades was related to the arrested crew members, but also urged the Royal Navy to release them as soon as possible.
"They killed a Royal Navy sailor and must be punished."
Lloyd George was not angry and put his life on the line.
But this is probably unlikely.
Although the Russians were crude in their methods, they were wealthy and paid sufficient hush money. Now even the families of the sailors who died have not been held accountable. The British government is clinging to the case because it is worried that Russia will continue to support the Irish resistance.
Among the world's great guns, the British army has a total of 750,000 casualties. If the Commonwealth troops are included, the total number of casualties exceeds 1.2 million.
The British government doesn’t care if one or two people die.
The Irish rebels were what the British government was most worried about.
The United Kingdom is now clinging to its overseas dominions and colonies and is unwilling to let go. If Ireland obtains independent status through this method, it will become the best example for its overseas territories and colonies.
See, I will only demonstrate once how to gain true independence through violence.
Whether Ireland is independent or not, it will not actually cause much harm to the British government.
If South Africa, Canada and Australia follow suit, the Commonwealth will completely collapse.
"Okay, if you have the ability, send them all to the guillotine!"
Little Nicholas will not hesitate to attack a gangster. If you dare to touch a hair of their hair, let's see how the Irish make trouble with you next.
Lloyd George was in a dilemma.
If this matter is not pursued, it will definitely encourage the arrogance of the Russians and make the Irish even more unscrupulous.
Let’s get to the bottom of it, but we are afraid that Russia will get worse.
This is just weapons and equipment. What if Russia sends people to Ireland?
In the original Provisional Government and Provisional Executive Committee, many people held dual nationality of Britain and Russia.
As the saying goes, if the bandits can go, I can go as well. Regardless of whether those "rebels" holding British nationality were sent by the British government or not, they must have something to do with the British government.
It is not an option to keep this matter in such a stalemate.
So Lloyd George asked King Georgi of Greece, who was visiting London, to come forward and negotiate peace.
What Georgi means is that as long as Nikolay Jr. promises to restrain Russian companies, London can pretend that this incident has not happened.
Nicholas the Younger failed to force Georgi to cede Corfu and Crete two months ago, and he is holding a grudge.
Georgi now comes to the door, and little Nicholas suddenly transforms into a hairdryer.
“Do you think that with the strength of your Kingdom of Greece, you are qualified to speak between Russia and the United Kingdom?”
Little Nicholas’s words made Georgi blush.
Although the strength of the Kingdom of Greece is indeed not as good as that of Russia and the United Kingdom, but you said it so straightforwardly, are you not giving me the face of the king? -
"Your Majesty, the most noble king, I need to remind you , as a Balkan country, if you forget your own position, you will not only be embarrassed, but also more injured.”
Little Nicholas reminded Georgi not to forget that there was a time within the Balkan Alliance. There was a war.
During the Second Balkan War, the Kingdom of Serbia, Romania, and Greece surrounded Bulgaria and forced Bulgaria to give up the benefits gained in the First Balkan War.
Now the Balkan Alliance is also in a different position of offense and defense.
(End of this chapter)