While the various maritime countries in the world are being stirred up by the tide of dreadnoughts, the highest level of the Netherlands, a low-country country in Europe, has also been caught up in a dispute recently. What caused the dispute was a top-secret telegram from the Dutch ambassador to Russia, and the content of the telegram was that the Russian ambassador had repeatedly asked to join the Netherlands in the fight against China.

To say that the Dutch do not hate China is definitely a lie. As early as 10 years ago, after the Beiyang Fleet went to Batavia to carry out deterrence, and after it was about to bomb half of Batavia into chaos, this beam was formed. Of course, the Dutch only knew that they had been beaten, but they did not want to think about why they had been beaten. Subsequently, when a large number of Chinese merchants returned to their homeland, the economy of the Dutch East Indies plummeted, and it was no longer the same as before, which added to the resentment of the Dutch.

And the Russians, although they demanded a union with the Dutch from their own interests, saw this as an opportunity in the eyes of some Dutch. Although Russia is also synonymous with barbarism and backwardness in the eyes of Western Europeans. But at the same time, the names of the European gendarmes were not called in vain, at least until they were violently beaten by the Germans in World War 1, the Russians were still very capable of bluffing. Despite its defeat in the Far East, in the eyes of the vast majority of Europeans, Russia's defeat was the result of a long distance and lack of preparation, not a lack of national strength.

Maybe Europeans don't know the idiom of the fox and the fake tiger. But people understand this meaning, so there are a group of people in the top level of the Netherlands who have suggested using the strength of the Russians to contain or even deal with the increasingly powerful China. The Netherlands is no longer the colonial power it once was. Not to mention that it is quite difficult to organize a strong fleet, even to build an "aggressive fleet" similar to Chile. So some people are very much like pulling the banner and making a tiger skin.

Others, however, believe that this is not conducive to suicide. "When the Huaxia fleet ordered 4 dreadnoughts in Germany and Italy in one go. We should clearly understand that the Russians have no hope anymore, and they will cross thousands of miles to reach the Far East and then go into battle. It's simply suicidal. Facing the Dutch Minister of Defense, he said in Huis Ten Bosch Palace.

"But Russia is an old empire, it has a force that we can hardly imagine, and the Russian navy is also being expanded, and the first phase of the naval expansion plan will put into production eight new battleships, four of which are of the same class as the new warships of the Chinese fleet. And this is only the first phase of the plan, if the Russians can inflict heavy damage on the Chinese navy, then our colonies in the Far East will be effectively secured. You don't have to worry about those Chinese, and you don't have to worry about the Chinese fleet coming to your door one day. The Dutch Prime Minister said.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, you are definitely a layman's remark. The enemy of the Russians was not only the Chinese fleet, but also the long distances and poor supplies. After the Russian fleet crossed the Baltic, North Sea, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, it was not bad to save three percent of its combat power. Now, Prime Minister, please let me know. How did the Russians use less than 30% of their strength to tactically tactic the huge Chinese fleet? And this is without counting the quality of the commanders and personnel of both sides. The Secretary of State for Defense took a deep breath and said.

"That's where the Netherlands comes in. We can provide supplies to the Russians and even maintenance of the ship, of course, all this will have to be paid for by the Russians. We can even use this as an excuse to ask the Russians to help us build ports and defenses. The Dutch Prime Minister thought for a moment and said.

"And then the Chinese Navy can use this as an excuse to attack our colonies and put the entire Dutch East Indies under the guns of the Chinese Navy? And then turn our coastal cities into a pile of ruins? Is that so? The Secretary of State for Defense said sarcastically.

"No, no, Your Excellency, don't forget that the southernmost base of the Huaxia Navy is Kaohsiung, which is located in Taiwan. If they want to attack us, they only need to cross a distance of more than two thousand kilometers. At such a long distance, the Beiyang Fleet had no transit points to replenish. By the time they reach Batavia, they will be defeated by the Russian fleet, which will be able to use our colonies as a base to cut off China's connection with Europe. ”

"Although Huaxia overthrew the decaying Qing Dynasty, it is still not a strong country in essence, they need to exchange domestic products for much-needed weapons and machinery, if the route is cut off, then Huaxia is just a paper tiger, and there is no suspense about the victory or defeat of this war." The Dutch Prime Minister said triumphantly. I have to say that in order to cope with today's meeting, the prime minister still did his homework.

"So, Prime Minister, may I ask if the British and German ships help the Beiyang to transport supplies and goods, will the Russians attack? Counting that the Russians did not hesitate to offend these two countries, how can they distinguish which one goes to China and which one goes to other places with so many merchant ships passing through the Strait of Malacca? Or do you intercept indiscriminately? Is it true that the British Far East Fleet stationed in Singapore is not a decoration? The Secretary of State for Defense looked disdainful.

"Then I need to remind you that our ports throughout the East Indies are civilian ports and simply cannot withstand the pressure of a large fleet of replenishment and maintenance. Fleets are different from merchant ships in that they need ammunition, high-quality coal, good maintenance, and well-defended military ports. And none of this is something we can have. Said the Secretary of State for Defense. Even if we provide them with a supply port, at most some coal and daily necessities, as for artillery shells, I think at most some 6-inch and 4.7-inch shells, I don't remember that the Netherlands can produce 12-inch shells. The Minister of Defense said with some depression.

"This is an opportunity, we still have years to prepare, we can rebuild the fleet and fortresses of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, rebuild our glory in the Far East, the East Indies belong to the Netherlands, and can only belong to the Netherlands, believe me, Honorable Minister of Defense, this is a golden opportunity, we must seize it, otherwise, it is only a matter of time before we lose the East Indies, at least 10 years or more than 20 years, and the East Indies will surely be seized by China." The Prime Minister said with some excitement.

"We need to look again, at least until the Russians have shown enough strength to prove that they can win against China, we should not take action, and if we are not careful, we will lose the Dutch colony forever. Now the Netherlands cannot afford to lose the East Indies, and all our aims revolve around the control of the East Indies, and we cannot oppose it for the sake of opposition. "The defense minister's attitude is obviously a little relaxed, but he still hasn't relented. (To be continued.) )