Chapter 393

Chapter 393: Civil Conflict in East England

While the war against the Transvaal Republic had concluded in East Africa, the conflict in South Africa continued. The 123rd Cavalry Division and the 514th Infantry Division from Pretoria joined Felix's army and launched an eastward attack on the Zulu Kingdom.

The primary objective of this campaign, apart from securing abundant coal resources, was to capture the Zulu Kingdom's eastern seaport, which included the Richards Bay Port. In the past, this port had been the main coal export facility in South Africa, but it had fallen into disuse.

Capturing this port held immense significance for East Africa's southern homeland's security. Following the acquisition of the Transvaal, the East African Kingdom's territory stretched north to south, and the distance from its core area (the former East African Federation) to South Africa was considerable. Upon capturing the Zulu Kingdom, East Africa could utilize Richards Bay Port for sea transportation, facilitating the movement of personnel and materials.

In the region of South Africa controlled by East Africa, Ernst didn't plan for extensive farming but instead opted for large-scale pastoral grazing, similar to what existed in northern Kenya. The key distinction lay in the milder subtropical climate of this area, making it suitable for pasture resources.

Ernst recognized that water resources would be essential for future industrial development in this region. However, the annual precipitation in South Africa, especially in the hinterland, fluctuated and was often as low as 400 millimeters in extreme years.

Given the various demands for water resources, including residential, agricultural, and industrial usage, Ernst concluded that the limited water resources in Eastern South Africa would not suffice if large-scale agriculture were developed there.

Instead, Ernst intended to rely on other regions within East Africa to supply food through sea transportation, considering it the most cost-effective means, emphasizing the importance of Richards Bay Port.

Richards Bay Port's facilities were on par with those of Durban Port further south, but due to the presence of the Zulu Kingdom, Richards Bay Port had not been developed. Therefore, it fell upon the Kingdom of East Africa to undertake its construction.

Durban Port was now the political and economic center of the British Natal colony, and East Africa had no intentions of engaging with the British Empire at this point.

Aside from the ongoing war with the Zulu Kingdom, East Africa also embarked on a conquest campaign in the East African region south of the Kalahari Desert and north of the Orange River. This area was largely unclaimed land with few indigenous people, making early progress relatively smooth for Merk's troops.

However, as they approached the Orange River, a slight conflict arose with the British Cape Town Colony. The 7th Regiment, a forward unit of the 411th Division of the East African Army, was halted by a group of militiamen. Nardovich, the leader of the 7th Regiment, was impatient and intolerant of these people.

Nardovich, despite his Slavic name, was originally a Croat from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, in the eyes of the Kingdom of East Africa, Germanized Slavs from the Austro-Hungarian Empire were categorized as Germans based on their military achievements. So Nardovich's official identity was that of a German.

As for the Boer militiamen, they were grappling with their own identity crisis. The Boer identity was relatively short-lived. After the British took control of the Cape Town Colony, many Boers of British descent emigrated to the British side, mingling with the Germans and the French. Therefore, Nardovich's claim that this was German territory confused the Boer militia, as some of them had origins in the German region.

Nardovich's tactic seemed to work, and the Boer militiamen halted their protests when he claimed the land as German territory. However, after a brief internal debate, the Boer militiamen asserted that this was the land of the Republic of Grigualand.

Nardovich dismissed this claim and demanded their surrender, offering safety in return. The militiamen had never heard of the East African Kingdom and were not swayed by Nardovich's words. They were confident in their cause, especially given that the Republic of Grigualand had voted to join the British Cape Town Colony, effectively enjoying British support.

(End of this chapter)