Chapter 107: Division Commander, Deputy Commander, and Political Instructor
Australia's military expansion plan had achieved initial success.
In just the week from February 21 to February 27, over ten thousand people had already gone to recruitment centers across the country to register.
Due to the limit on conscription numbers, more than half of these applicants would eventually be filtered out, with only the most agile and physically fit young men selected to join the army.
Those who passed the preliminary screening would undergo one week of training in their local cities.
During this week, those truly suited for military service would be chosen, and the rest would be sent home with a small payment.
Each city was assigned a recruitment quota based on its population. Even in Australia's capital, Sydney, the quota was only 4,000 people.
Over the course of three weeks, nearly 30,000 individuals had registered.
The Ministry of Defense took the opportunity to end the recruitment campaign, confident that it could select 15,000 qualified recruits from among them.
Those not chosen were each given one pound as severance by the Ministry of Defense.
This helped ease the disappointment. After all, given Australia's current per capita income, one pound was about a month's wages for most Australians.
One month later, on March 20, 1902, 2,000 veterans and 15,000 new recruits were consolidated into Australia's first regular division: the First National Defense Division.
Arthur personally attended the founding ceremony and appointed the division commander himself.
Since the formation was also preparing for future military expansion, the First Division's officer corps was notably large.
The division's senior leadership included Division Commander John McLean, Deputy Commander Jürgen Schuler, and Political Instructor Bernhard Lange.
Commander John McLean was one of Arthur's senior officers from the Guards. Trusted for both his military skill and loyalty, he was the obvious choice to lead the division.
Deputy Commander Jürgen Schuler had been a senior officer in Australia's previous garrison forces and had shown considerable potential during the reorganization. His position as deputy commander was meant to test his abilities and loyalty—if he passed, he would likely become commander of the future Second Division.
Bernhard Lange's position was the most unique. He was part of the original team left to Arthur by the Duke of Arthur, though his capabilities were somewhat limited.
In terms of governance and military leadership, Bernhard Lange was barely adequate.
However, he had one notable strength—he was exceptionally skilled at public speaking, with a persuasive and captivating style.
In this regard, he resembled the leader of a later era. When Bernhard Lange spoke, he could easily stir emotions and inspire deep resonance among his audience.
While this talent may have seemed trivial in some aspects, it was immensely valuable in others.
Arthur decisively appointed him as head of military ideological education and allowed him to select his own team.
The result was clear—Bernhard Lange successfully helped instill loyalty and patriotism in the previously trained veterans.
Following the reorganization of the military, Arthur assigned him as the First Division's Political Instructor. This was a role Arthur specifically created. As one of the senior leaders of a military unit, the Political Instructor was primarily responsible for ideological training among both officers and enlisted men, and secondarily in charge of logistical matters.
While the position might seem to hold the least authority among the three top commanders, the reality was quite the opposite.
Arthur granted the Political Instructor significant power. Although he could not directly command troops in battle, he was authorized to conduct ideological work even with the division commander and deputy commander.
This effectively made the Political Instructor the second most powerful figure in the division, ranking above the deputy commander.
The three senior officers of the First Division thus formed a balanced triangle—each overseeing different domains, operating independently, yet supervising one another to ensure the integrity of the military.
The First Division was stationed in the mountains, where it would undergo at least one year of training before being broken down into regiments to be stationed across Australia and New Guinea.
To ensure logistical support and supply of training munitions and materials, the Ministry of Transport, at Arthur's request, constructed a direct road to the military base. More than 3,000 native workers were employed to complete this 20-kilometer road before the troops arrived.
This mountainous area would become the permanent training base for Australia's military, producing generation after generation of excellent soldiers.
In terms of supplies, the Ministry of Defense spared no expense. As in previous military training programs, each soldier was guaranteed three meals a day, with at least two meals containing meat—and no less than one pound of meat per day.
Meal options were diverse, with at least five different dishes offered per meal, and the menus rotated daily.
Arthur was generous with food supply to the soldiers. His only requirement was that no food should be wasted.
With the combination of high protein intake and intense physical training, the recruits' physiques began to noticeably improve. Within a single month, many had gained significant muscle.
Arthur was pleased with this progress. A soldier's strength directly reflected combat capability.
No one wanted to see their country's soldiers emaciated and frail—blown over by the wind, let alone fighting in battle.
In Arthur's view, Australia's army should not only look strong but be even stronger in reality.
Even if it cost massive funds and resources to train these soldiers, Arthur was determined to press on.
For this reason, military factories worked overtime to produce weapons and ammunition. Whether it was Lee-Enfield rifles, CA-1 autocannons, or MA-96 Maxim machine guns, all needed to be produced in large quantities.
With one round after another of shooting and weapons training, the demand for ammunition grew immensely.
Arthur's military factories had been operating at full capacity, hiring wave after wave of workers to meet demand.
Lee-Enfield rifles, MA-96 Maxim machine guns, and CA-1 autocannons were continuously shipped to the camps, distributed to the soldiers for use.
As a result, the First Division increasingly resembled a formal and professional army, advancing toward elite status.
(End of Chapter)
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