January the 20th rolled around and Freyburg was called into Savage's office again. "Good morning Freyburg please update me on the status of the mighty New Zealand Reich" Savage commanded. He liked being the boss.
"Well we had to disband some of the army. The 3 Cavalry divisions were very obsolete and we had a spare AA gun brigade. An extra 5000 men went and applied for the unemployment benefit" Freyburg replied. "Ah yes we may have to do something about that. I have offered free beer as an incentive to join the army and ordered some more supplies of fine mutton to be produced. The population had to be mollified for a few days as they got upset when I fired one of the ministers. Almost a thousand men per month have decided to join the army to make opf for those AWOL men hanging out at the beach".
Savage also had time to play at being general. "Freyburg do you mind having a look at some operational plans I have drawn up for future conq erm liberations". Reaching down he pulled out a tube containing several maps. Unveiling the first one he revealed his grand master plan.
Baffled Freyburg dared to ask "But sir why Germany? Herr Hitler military budget for a Wehrmacht booze up one sat night is about equal to our annual military expenditure. We being a bit ambitious"? "Why Germany and Pilsen" Savage responded. "Its all about the beer Freyburg. German and Czech beer is a lot better than what we have in New Zealand". "It involves my food theory". Not sure what to say Freyburg inquired "You food theory sir?" Yes yes please let me explain" Savage was getting quite animated now. "Using the last war as an example-what nations had the best soldiers"? Savage pulled out a hand drawn chart.
Excellent Soldiers
Kangaroo Land, Canada, Germany, New Zealand
Good Soldiers
British (would be excellent but had inbred commanders)
Bad Soldiers
French, Italians
"Its all about the food. The worse your food is the better your soldiers are". "The only flaw in this theory is that technically the British should be the finest soldiers in the world". "Consider if you were raised on a diet of saurkraut you would want to invade the rest of the world as well". "The French and Italians would rather sit around, drink fine wine and eat pizza and garlic bread than fight".
Stunned Freyburg manage to stammer out "But sir thats absurd and a stupid plan". "Whats your other one"?
With a big grin Savage pulled out another map.
"NO just NO Freyburg shouted out".
Somewhat scolded Savage and Freyberg had a nice disagreement over his plans for the next hour or so. It was time to review some economic data. Mutton ad milk products had been exported to the UK, in return for energy supplies. The coal was then exported to the USA several times mostly to improve relations.
The French had also sent Wellington a diplomatic gift. A pouch containing several bottles of wine and some more Garlic smelling blue prints. While most of the blueprints were useless the ones for destroyers and battlecruisers may yet prove useful.......
