Chapter 256

Chapter 256: Reception of Italian "Refugees"

Ernst was busy dealing with documents related to East Africa in his study when Tom entered with two telegrams. The telegrams were from the branches of Hechingen in Hamburg and Trieste, and they reported that the Hechingen Ocean Fleet had prepared sixty-four ships to support the large-scale Italian immigration or war refugees. However, Tom expressed concern that this number of ships might not be sufficient for the task.

Ernst acknowledged the potential shortage of ships and instructed Tom to contact their old friends, particularly Dutch shipowners and immigrants from the North German region. These individuals were familiar with the route to East Africa and could temporarily handle the transportation. Additionally, Ernst suggested reaching out to Italian and Greek immigrants for possible fleet contributions. He emphasized the importance of securing enough ships to support the incoming refugees and war effort.

The chapter also touched upon preparations for German immigration from the French-German border region, particularly Alsace and Lorraine, which were historically German-speaking regions. These residents were taking advantage of the opportunity to immigrate to East Africa, where they could join other German-speaking communities. East Africa had absorbed a significant number of German immigrants over the past few years, especially from the South German region. The cultural attributes of East Africa were now more aligned with South Germany and Austria.

Ernst also discussed the collaboration with the Austro-Hungarian Empire in supporting the Papal State. He learned from Franz that the Austro-Hungarian Empire had used Italian merchant ships to smuggle weapons to Rome, and this knowledge had influenced Ernst's approach to immigration and arms shipments to East Africa. He appreciated Franz's candidness in sharing this information.

Ernst was prepared to disperse Italian immigrants in various provinces of Zambia, filling land that needed cultivation. Italian immigrants would join the diverse population of Far East immigrants and German immigrants, and they would receive guidance from existing settlers on adapting to East African agriculture.

Furthermore, Ernst mentioned that Marseilles would be relatively free of their direct involvement. They would handle the input of raw materials and commodity production, while the Medina family and other friendly forces would manage the rest. Ernst emphasized the importance of making money together in non-German regions without direct political interference.

For the Medina family, this war presented an opportunity to gain favor in the south of France. Ernst understood that France would likely lose the war, but by supporting friendly forces like the Medinas, they could accumulate their reputation and influence among the French people, particularly in the aftermath of the conflict.