Chapter 61
June 12, 1901 - April 4, 1902
June 12, 1901:
More than a month behind schedule, 90,000 men arrived by train and by boat. Karlskrona would become host to the largest military class that Sweden had ever seen. Though everyone knew that Gustavus was preparing for
something, no one quite knew what it was. However, that was hardly the concern for the new recruits today. They were about to change their lives forever. They were about to enter a life of military service, risking everything to keep their country and their countrymen safe. It was a task for which the average person could never thank them enough. It was something that millions of people across the globe did every day.
90,000 new soldiers for Sweden:
July 19, 1901:
The citizens of Groningen line up along the shore. Though it was a perfectly nice day for swimming, few ventured further than thigh-deep into the North Sea. The draw today was not working on one’s tan. The draw today was not ogling young women in bathing suits, though plenty still did that before the show got under way. It was not even taking the boat out to fish for a few hours. No, today the draw was part of Gustavus’ plan to modernize the military.
After finally getting the old transport ships into place, the people on the shore could see row boats ferrying the condemned ship’s captains to the newer steel battle ships opposite them. Years of faithful service to the empire could not save them from their fate – the clipper transport ships were to be sunk today.
There were several positive things to come out of the destruction of these old wooden ships. First and foremost, Sweden would no longer be required to pay the cost, though admittedly small, of maintaining the ancient vessels. Second, it rid the faster, more modern ships of some dead weight. The wooden transport ships were unable to reach speeds anywhere near the traveling, much less top, speeds of the steel ships. Given that one of their main tasks was to protect the transports and the men on board, this did nothing but prevent the new ships from reaching their full potential, so to speak. Third, the destruction of these ships would give the gunners on the new ships a chance to practice their craft. It was still simply training, but it was a chance to handle the guns in real life. That was certainly much better than nothing. Fourth, and unbeknownst to the Swedes, was the fact that the sunken ships would become a sort of artificial reef. Sea life would naturally be attracted to the ships, creating a thriving community where one previously did not exist. Naturally, this had a direct impact on the human population of Groningen as well. Once the reef was in full bloom, it became a well known fishing spot for the fishermen that inhabited the Swedish city.
The destruction of some of Sweden's outdated ships:
April 4, 1902:
Gustavus had seen ships being built many times in the past. That didn’t take the excitement watching the first stages of the newest ships in his fleet. Five new cruisers. Granted, they wouldn’t make Sweden the masters of the seas, Britain was unrivaled on the waves, but it would make enforcing Gustavus’ will much easier. Plus, it provided the people of Christiania with jobs. People with jobs don’t revolt. After the revolts in Saxony of April 5, 1901, Gustavus was coming to see that that was at least as important as a powerful military.
Granted, they were just the last in a long series of riots spreading throughout Sweden’s conquered European provinces, but they were getting worse. Leipzig seemed as if it would never be calm again. Thousands of Swedish soldiers and Saxon workers were killed in a revolt that, at least from Gustavus’ point of view, had no reason for even taking place. The workers saw it differently, of course. Their mines were horribly unsafe. Cave-ins were becoming commonplace. They were shouting that something had to be done about it and Gustavus was turning a deaf ear. That was, until the riots. And even though he knew something had to be done immediately, he waited until December to issue new safety regulations not just for the miners, but for every worker in the nation. After all, he didn’t want this sort of riot again, but he didn’t want the Saxons to believe that they were the reason for his change of heart.
Regardless, today was truly a great day. Sweden was maturing. Sweden was growing stronger. Gustavus was growing braver.
Sweden continues the modernization of its navy:
The revolts of April 5, 1901:
Gustavus tightens safety regulations in Sweden:
A look at some happenings from around the world:
Austria gains independence:
Germany's war in China:
Next:
Land of the Philistines
