Chapter 385

Chapter 385: Incitement

Upon appointing Wiggins as the garrison commander of Pretoria, Pretorius the Younger faced a challenge. Wiggins needed to recruit soldiers, but their options were limited. There were not many individuals within Pretorius the Younger's organization to resist the East African invasion, and they lacked a substantial military force.

Pretorius Jr. shared his perspective with the seasoned commander, Wiggins: "At this critical juncture for our nation's survival, there are still citizens who are unaware of the true nature of the East African Kingdom. From the moment they invaded the Transvaal Republic, I knew they were no friends. They invaded solely for territory. Some citizens, however, naively believed they were merely changing rulers, opting not to resist and allowing the Germans to take over. They will undoubtedly regret their choice in the future. There's nothing like the choice we make today."

In truth, many Boers didn't hold strong opinions about the so-called East African invasion. To them, East Africans were Germans, so why should they be concerned? Most Boer settlers were of Dutch, German, or French descent and felt a cultural affinity with Germany.

However, these Boer farmers were unaware of the East African Kingdom's policies and methods. Therefore, many Boers, who didn't comprehend the situation, welcomed the "King's Masters" without realizing the consequences. How long would it take for these well-meaning Boers to become staunch opponents of the East Africans?

Wiggins responded, "Your Excellency, since you've entrusted Pretoria to me, I'll defend it to the last. But I need manpower, even if it's just a small force. I must ensure we complete the initial recruitment and mobilization and utilize all the resources of Pretoria to resist the East African invaders."

Pretorius Jr. nodded and acknowledged, "Yes, but I can only allocate a limited number of people to you."

Wiggins accepted this condition and said, "That will suffice."

Wiggins' viewpoint aligned with Pretorius the Younger's understanding of the situation. East Africa hadn't come to alleviate Boer poverty; otherwise, there would have been no need for war. Negotiations could have preceded conflict. If the Boers had negotiated, they might have been able to secure favorable terms between Britain and East Africa, or even opt for autonomy. However, Ernst, the East African leader, had initiated the attack on the Transvaal Republic to prevent the Boers from making any choice. In war, the victor takes all.

With Pretoria under his management, Pretorius Jr. headed to the Orange Free State, while Wiggins, facing imminent danger, began preparations for a general mobilization to resist the East African army in Pretoria.

Wiggins, who now held both military and political authority in Pretoria, encountered the first hurdle: conscription. He initiated a public relations campaign to influence the citizens of Pretoria. Panic had gripped the town, as people worried about the impending war. They were unfamiliar with the military discipline or the East African army's attitude toward civilians. Wiggins exploited these fears by spreading rumors about the East African Kingdom.

"Citizens of Pretoria! You might not know much about the so-called East African Kingdom, but I'm sure some of you have heard of Prussia. The East African Kingdom is a military kingdom even more ruthless than Prussia, imposing a reign of terror. As a Boer who has spent time in East African Kingdom prisons, I can 'truthfully' share some insights into the conditions there."

Wiggins' words generated intense discussions among Pretoria's citizens.

"Harred! Your ancestors hailed from Prussia. You must know what Prussia was like, right?" Willett, of Dutch descent, asked his neighbor.

"Willett, you're asking the right person. My grandfather fled Prussia to Africa. He told me that under Prussian rule, people were treated terribly. They conscripted civilians into the army, and military discipline was abysmal. Noble officers often withheld food and used physical punishment on soldiers..."

Harred described Prussia's crimes in great detail. These were facts. During Grandpa Harred's time, Prussian rule indeed resembled this description. It wasn't the modern Germany or reformed Prussia. In those days, many German immigrants chose to leave for various reasons. The former German regions were hardly livable due to constant wars and excessive taxation. Who could tolerate yearly wars and heavy taxes? Willett responded, "Oh my God! It's horrifying. We must not let the Transvaal Republic become such a country!"

Meanwhile, Wiggins continued his speech: "During my captivity by the ruthless East Africans, I observed their organization and lifestyle. The entire East African Kingdom resembles a massive military encampment, devoid of any notion of freedom. Everyone must obey stringent laws and live under the rule of the East African Kingdom like sheep. The King of the East African Kingdom is even a member of the Prussian Hohenzollern family..."

While Wiggins' statements were accurate, he had never interacted with civilians in East Africa. He had been imprisoned in the palace in Bulawayo to prevent him from obtaining intelligence. Therefore, Wiggins' descriptions of East Africa were conjecture, exaggeration, and smear.

Nevertheless, the Boers believed Wiggins' account, considering it to be factual. Many Boer ancestors indeed hailed from Prussia, so Wiggins' depiction aligned with their grandfathers' tales.

Seeing the masses' emotions stirred, Wiggins continued, "Do we allow these East African tyrants to impose a backward European autocratic monarchy on us?"

"Of course not!"

"Do we allow the East African Kingdom to transform beautiful Pretoria into a grim military camp?"

"Absolutely not! Down with the East African invaders! Long live the Transvaal Republic!"

Wiggins successfully mobilized public sentiment for conscription. It appeared that the recruitment process was well underway. The citizens of Pretoria eagerly joined the army, enabling Wiggins to assemble a force of over 2,000 soldiers.

Wiggins' next challenge was how to defeat the East Africans. Pretoria was primarily a defensive town, easy to protect but difficult to attack. Defending it was manageable. If they could utilize Pretoria effectively, they could endure until reinforcements arrived.

Drawing from the East African Army's performance during the Ndebele uprising, Wiggins initiated targeted training programs for his soldiers to weaken the image of the East African Army. "While the East African Army emulates Prussia in many aspects, they fail to grasp its essence. Their performance against the Ndebele was flawed, full of weaknesses. The sole reason for their victory was superior weaponry and the Ndebele's lack of training. Many didn't even know how to use rifles we provided; the weapons became mere fire sticks in their hands. This was the Ndebele's downfall."

Wiggins highlighted the vulnerability of the East African Army. He believed that, as long as they faced an army with some experience, they could be defeated. The Boers, who had fought numerous battles, often engaged in battles with the Zulu Kingdom to the east. Therefore, the advantage lay with them. They would use Pretoria's terrain and structures to deliver a direct blow to East Africa.

(End of this chapter)