Chapter 202 Gathering Military Power
June 14, 1869.
Prince Constantine chaired the first military council of the East African colonies.
The officers and staff led by Arman and Sweet sat on both sides of the conference table. Because Arman was older, his physical energy was getting worse and worse.
Although Arman is only in his fifties, he has suffered a lot in the European battlefields in the past. Constantine also served in the Prussian army, but their treatment was very different. One was on the front line, One is in the rear, so Arman, who is in his fifties, is a bit older than Constantine, who is nearly seventy.
However, the more Arman acted like this, the more Ernst valued Arman and felt more at ease in leaving the East African army to him.
The worse the health, the smaller the ambition. This is indeed the case for Yaman. He himself does not know how many years he has to live. It is not bad to get a pension by relying on his seniority and official position in the East African army. .
So the previous expansion plan for the Yeke Kingdom was carried out by Sweet, and this time the military work report was also completed by the young and strong Sweet.
"As of March this year, the East African royal territory has a standing army of 98,000 people. In addition to field troops, there are also various city garrisons, as well as river and lake troops. They are temporarily divided into eight according to their direction and location. Military Region.
The three eastern military regions have a total of 23,000 people. The five ports and two islands along the coast are the focus of defense. They also include coastal defense troops equipped with various artillery, so they are the strongest in East Africa. .
The Eastern Military Region includes four important cities: Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Tanga, and First Town. Especially First Town is the current political center of East Africa, so the military region headquarters is also established in First Town.
The Northeast Military Region is mainly responsible for military security in the area including the border between Mombasa and northern Somalia. The main defense focus is Mombasa.
The Southeast Military Region and the Southern Military Region correspond to the two administrative regions of Lower Coastal District and East Malawi Lake District, and they mainly prevent Portuguese forces from moving northward.
However, the two colonies are bounded by the Rufuma River, so the defense pressure is not great. The main thing to be wary of is the plain area on the east coast of Lake Malawi, where there is a vast plain, so we built a lot of buildings along the border. There are few bunkers, where five thousand people are deployed.
The Northern Military District currently has a total of 10,000 troops stationed in it. Except for the Omo River Basin, there is no need for expansion. The overall military is currently on the defensive.
The Western and Northwest Military Regions have Lake Tanganyika and the Mitumba Mountains as natural barriers, and there are no strong enemies in the west, so there are more than 5,000 people in total.
The military region with the largest number of people now is the Southwest Military Region. The southwest is now the main direction of expansion. Recently, we have basically mastered the Yeke Kingdom. The expansion in the southwest will definitely continue in the next few years, so we have deployed 20,000 people. More than five thousand people.
Apart from these, the rest are the urban garrisons in East Africa and the river and lake troops..." Sweet introduced the number and distribution of the East African reserve forces to Constantine in detail.
As of April this year, East Africans The population has officially exceeded two million, and the entire population of East Africa, including the indigenous people, is about 3.5 million.
The East African reserve army is basically supported by this population of more than 3.5 million, and there are also more than 3.5 million people. A large militia force exists.
However, the East African government has not kept statistics on how many militiamen there are because it fluctuates too much. However, according to the storage of guns and ammunition in East Africa, the East African government can raise a militia team of 300,000 people at any time.
“Well, the East African army is still relatively large in number, but due to political reasons and the complex situation in Africa, the East African army is relatively chaotic.
For example, the military region, There are eight in total. In my opinion, it is too many, but it is too bloated, and the jurisdiction is not reasonable. You are all elites in the East African army, how do you think about this problem?" Constantine asked.
“Reporting to His Majesty the Prince, I think the military regions in East Africa should be re-divided according to their functions and importance.
For example, those marginal military regions can be merged into other military regions. , for example, the northern part of the Northeast Military Region should be classified as the Northern Military Region, and Mombasa and the southern part should be classified as the Eastern Theater Command.
The south is facing the Portuguese front line and should be organized into a military region to facilitate troop management and deployment.
There is also the Western Military Region. Now the troops don’t know what to do. Since they crossed Lake Tanganyika and the Mitumba Mountains, the westward direction is all tropical rainforest with almost no human habitation. "Sweite was the first to speak.
At this time Arman also suggested: "Your Majesty the Prince, in my opinion, the military strength in the central region should also be strengthened.
The first town is still too close to the coast, only one or two days away from the two seaports of Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam, which is very dangerous for the security of East Africa. Therefore, we should focus on the important status and location of the first town and strengthen the military defense strength of the first town.
Although we have a relatively mature defense system in Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam, we are not afraid of ten thousand, but just in case. We should build a new fortification in the first town and strengthen the first town. Military strength, building a security force directly under the central government. ”
“Very good! Anyone who has any suggestions is welcome. "Prince Constantine said.
Felix, who was promoted to the deputy military chief of East Africa, said: "Your Majesty, East Africa should also carry out reforms within the army, divide and clarify the functions and powers of various departments, and introduce the relevant information of the Prussian army. Regulations, as well as the rank, designation, etc. of the military.
We all know that Prussia has made great military achievements through reforms over the years and has become a powerful European army. And most of us are from Germany, so we should learn from the Prussian Army..."
Everyone was busy summarizing and summarizing the various shortcomings of the East African army. At the same time, they called for strengthening the management of the army and bringing the decentralized military power to the central government. In the past, Ernst in Europe was not worried about the army forming a core in East Africa. Now Kang Prince Standing arrived and he took charge of military affairs, so there was no problem
Ernst not only added sand to the army, but also to other departments of the government. Now Prince Constantine is sorting out East African affairs and strengthening central power is the general trend.
The Royal Family of Hechingen is Prince Constantine and Enns With the two of them, the population is thin, so there is no need to worry about any court dramas of fighting for power and gain.
......
"Your Excellency, this is the first telephone line in East Africa, which runs directly from Europe to East Africa. With the telephone, you will be able to speak directly to His Highness Ernst in the future. ." European technicians introduced it to Constantine.
The "Third Line" plan is not only the construction of telegraph lines, but also the invention of the telephone by the Berlin Electric Company.
At the same time, the original telegraph line was renovated and upgraded, and it was completed by the time Prince Constantine arrived in the first town. Constantine could discuss anything directly with Ernst in the future.
“Get me through to Hohenzollernburg,” Constantine said.
Soon.
"This is Hohenzollernburg. Who are you looking for?" Tom answered the phone.
"Tom! I am Constantine, is that boy Ernst here?"
"Sir, the prince is in Trieste now. Please wait a moment and I will have someone transfer the call!"
After a while.
“Hello, father, I’m Ernst. How are you doing in Africa recently?”
“It’s not bad here, I’ve adapted to it, why are you in Trias? Special?”
“I’m inspecting the construction of a food factory here”
"Well, I got it. By the way, I have convened a military meeting in East Africa today. I want to discuss with you about reforming the army..."
"That's it! What they said does make sense, but the eggs Can't be put in a basket, except Prue Sir, we cannot ignore Austria. Austria has always been a military power, and its many experiences are also valuable..."
"By the way, I sent you a telegram yesterday about your father-in-law's naval proposal. You What do you think?”
“You You should already know that there is a river and lake force in East Africa! This is the preliminary prototype of the East African Navy, but it is not a real navy. My opinion is that the navy can be built, but let’s experiment first, don’t do it ruthlessly. Pick a batch with good water properties from the River and Lake Troops , to form a team...
In terms of equipment, I am relatively tight on money in Europe now, but next year I will be able to build a few small boats to give it a try. For troop training, I will first use the ones left in Zanzibar. Just take the old boat to the top first..."
(End of this chapter)