Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Coastal Defense Artillery

Maximilian I, who had been discussing industrial development with the person in charge of the sisal factory, believed that prioritizing industry over agriculture would be more beneficial, especially given the small population of East Africa. He argued that high-value industrial products could be exchanged for low-value agricultural products, effectively solving the food problem.

The person in charge, however, emphasized the importance of agriculture as the foundation for industrial development. He pointed out that East Africa lacked the basic conditions for industrialization, including a skilled workforce, sufficient raw materials, and reliable transportation infrastructure. Moreover, importing machinery and equipment from Europe was challenging due to logistical constraints.

Maximilian I contemplated the differing perspectives on development strategies. He reflected on his own liberal beliefs and his experiences as a ruler in Lombardy and Venice. He had always advocated for liberalism and had chosen to rule Mexico to prove the effectiveness of his policies. However, the Mexican people had not embraced his rule, and his time in Mexico had ended in failure.

He acknowledged that Mexico was not conducive to monarchy, as the Mexican populace strongly favored republican ideals. In contrast, East Africa was different, as it was a region where the people were selected by Prince Ernst to be ruled. The East African colonies could enforce orders and regulations effectively, making it possible to prioritize industrial development.

On September 11, 1867, at the Port of Mtwara, hundreds of dockworkers, mostly from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, labored to unload artillery from a ship. Due to the scarcity of moving equipment in East Africa, manual labor was the only way to handle such heavy cargo.

Recent imports of cement from East Africa had been used to construct coastal defenses, a response to perceived maritime threats in the region. Maximilian I had come to recognize the strategic importance of fortifications, especially for a coastal colony like East Africa.

East Africa faced challenges similar to Paraguay in South America, both being landlocked countries located in the central-eastern part of their respective continents. The advantage of East Africa lay in its greater development potential, while the disadvantage was its vulnerability to maritime threats.

Maximilian I had contemplated the idea of establishing a navy for East Africa but realized the enormous costs and challenges involved. Instead, he opted to build coastal fortifications, which were more practical given the current economic situation of the colony.

The port of Mtwara was strategically located as the southernmost seaport in East Africa, making it the first point of entry for ships traveling from Europe to the region. It had prepared the outlines of coastal defense turrets and utilized advanced design drawings from the Austro-Hungarian Navy Department.

After the artillery had been transported to the designated location and all preparations were completed, the guns were aimed at a wooden floating target marked with red paint at sea. The Austro-Hungarian Navy consultant supervised the process, ensuring that everything was ready.

With a thunderous roar and a cloud of smoke, the coastal defense artillery fired. The ammunition struck the designated area, creating a massive explosion. The target, along with the floating object, was torn apart and sent flying into the air.

The force of the explosion was evident, indicating that the artillery was powerful enough to deal with large armed ships of the era. However, there were challenges, such as the need to import ammunition from the Austro-Hungarian Empire at a cost and the importance of training gunners to maximize the effectiveness of the limited ammunition supply.