Chapter 399 I Still Need to Ask Dad

The series of wars launched by the East African Kingdom in South Africa overwhelmed the Cape Town colony from May to July. Due to delays in transportation and information, the news reached Cape Town more than ten days late, so the war along the southern defense line in East Africa ended in June. It was not until July that Cape Town learned that one of the Basutoland and Zulu Kingdoms was half-destroyed and the other was destroyed.

Cape Colonial Parliament.

"Gentlemen! This is the news just received from the front north of the Orange River. According to the report from the Natal colony, a remnant of the Zulu Kingdom has fled to the Natal colony about half a month ago. According to what they said, their king died in the battle and all the land was lost. Almost at the same time, the Germans attacked Basutoland and the capital of Basutoland, Maseru, was also occupied by the Germans. The Basutolanders were forced to move south. Now we will hold a secret vote on whether to form a Cape Town responsible cabinet as proposed in February this year." said Ang Olsen, Speaker of the Cape Town Colony Parliament.

Then the members of the Cape Town Parliament began voting time, fifteen minutes later.

"One vote against, two votes against... the result of this vote is a unanimous veto on the establishment of a responsible cabinet in Cape Town."

As Ang Olsen announced the voting results, there was warm applause in the meeting hall. Cape Town's important step towards autonomy was completely ruined because of the invasion of South Africa by the East African Kingdom.

Ang Olsen: "Now, please ask His Excellency the Governor to brief us on the current situation of the East African Kingdom's invasion of South Africa."

Henry Barclay was quite satisfied with the results of the meeting. The Germans helped him a lot. However, he still had to severely criticize the East African Kingdom to make the MPs in Cape Town realize the seriousness of the problem.

Henry Buckley: "Gentlemen, I think you have all learned more or less about the invasion of South Africa by the East African Kingdom through various channels. Some gentlemen have even become victims of this war. All signs show that the East African Kingdom is an extremely aggressive country. Like Prussia, it has a warlike gene in its bones.

Starting from March, the East African Kingdom suddenly launched an attack on the Transvaal Republic. When the Transvaal Republic was completely unprepared, it took less than a month to complete the occupation of the Transvaal Republic. Later, the East African Kingdom invaded the Grigwaland Republic without any excuse for war. Almost at the same time, the Kingdom of Swaziland fell and the main force of the Transvaal Republic was also defeated. Next came the Zulu Kingdom and the Basutoland Kingdom.

In less than four months, the East African Kingdom destroyed three sovereign states and occupied half of the territory of the Kingdom of Basutoland.

Henry Buckley's words made the MPs fall into deep thought, too fast!

"Mr. Governor, I want to know where this East African kingdom came from? Why haven't we heard of this country before?"

Henry Buckley: "This is a good question. It is because of our lag in intelligence that this major mistake was made. We did not realize the harm of the East African Kingdom, so that the East African Kingdom rampaged in South Africa. I can give you a brief introduction to the specific situation of the East African Kingdom.

The East African Kingdom originated from the former East African colony and was established by the Germans in the Tanganyika region. The Germans began to operate in the Tanganyika region around 1865. The exact time of their landing is unknown, and how they developed in East Africa is also unknown.

However, we learned from the Portuguese that in 1867, the Sultanate of Zanzibar became a protectorate of East Africa due to its failure in the war. East Africa therefore inherited the mainland territory of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Today's Dar es Salaam and Mombasa were incorporated into East Africa at that time.

At the same time, the Portuguese also faced fierce competition from the Germans. According to Portugal, the Kingdom of East Africa deployed about several thousand troops on its border. At the same time, East Africa eliminated many indigenous countries, including the Kingdom of Malawi, the Kingdom of Kazembe, the Kingdom of Matabele, etc.

A member of parliament interrupted, "Your Excellency the Governor, we just want to know how many troops the East Africans have in South Africa now, and how many more troops they can mobilize, whether they have ambitions for the Cape Colony, and what if they suddenly launch an attack on Cape Town."

This question stumped Henry Buckley: "Well, how should we answer these questions? According to our investigation, it is estimated that the number of troops in South Africa should be between 30,000 and 50,000."

Before Henry Buckley could finish his words, he caused an uproar among the Cape Town Parliament members.

"My God! Thirty to fifty thousand? That's enough to fight a low-intensity war in Europe."

"The population of Cape Town is not even this year. Our census in 1865 shows that there were 15,118 whites, 13,065 coloureds and Asians and 274 indigenous blacks in Cape Town at that time. Even if we add the surrounding suburbs now, it is probably about the same number as the East African army."

"Why did the Germans from the East African Kingdom suddenly appear in South Africa without any notice? The government should give an explanation!"

“It’s ironic that we don’t even know the information about the East African kingdom and have to get it from the Portuguese.”

“Unknown’s full story, no comment.”

"Kill the bastard in front!"

…

"Silence, silence! Please listen to what the Governor has to say!" said Ang Olsen to maintain order in the meeting room.

Henry Barclay also said at this time: "There is no need to panic. Although the Germans are very powerful, our British Empire is the world's number one. Under the protection of the British Empire, even Germany and Austria have to think twice, not to mention the small East African Kingdom. However, having said that, we still have to be wary of the ambitions of the East African Kingdom.

For example, the Republic of Grigwaland is already our territory of Cape Town, but the Kingdom of East Africa has not yet given us a reply and has not shown its sincerity in returning the Republic of Grigwaland. I think maybe the Kingdom of East Africa only regards Grigwaland as a small country, so it doesn't care. However, they are only separated from us by a river in the Kimberley Brick and Stone Mine.

This is a huge threat to us, but fortunately the East Africans do not know about the existence of the Kimberley Brick Mine, so they did not cross the river to take the Brick Mine for themselves."

"Damn it! Don't we have any means to fight back against the Germans? Your Excellency the Governor! Where did the taxes we pay every year go? Why did our army not respond at all?"

Henry Buckley: "Member, please be careful with your words. We must note that among the troops in Cape Town, only the navy is relatively combat-capable, but the navy cannot go inland to fight.

Secondly, our army, I believe you also know that it can't even be called an army, and the number of people is pitifully small. If you are willing to contribute all the mercenaries in your hands, perhaps we can still fight the East African Kingdom. Or if you didn't hold up the military budget in the past few years, I believe London would also send more army here. "

Of course, Henry Barkley's proposal would never be passed. As for money, forget it. People came to Cape Town to make a fortune. Cape Town was not a good place. People just farmed and mined. The income was not much and the expenses were high. How could they have the energy to support military construction?

Besides, even if they paid for the military expenses, it was London that was making money. How many troops to send was up to London's conscience, and London's conscience was no conscience. Everyone wanted self-government all along, wasn't it just to pay less taxes? Now because of the threat from the Germans, not making trouble was considered progress.

After all the arguing, no one could come up with a better solution. In this case, they had to ask London for help. Cape Town was not capable of dealing with the East African Kingdom anyway.

(End of this chapter)