While relations worsened between the German Reich and the Russian Empire. The German Military had taken advantage of a great opportunity. One which few of the Great Powers fully realized at this moment.
Spurred on by the recommendations of an instructor at the Prussian War College, having himself received inspiration from one of his students. The German Army's high command approved the deployment of Military Observers to the ongoing war in South Africa between the local Boers and the British Colonial Army.
It was perhaps the first real example of modern warfare in the world. With extensive trench systems, widespread use of machine guns, and the mass deployment of more modern artillery systems.
Because of this, the German Military sent several officers to observe the conflict, record what they witnessed, and to make their own observations about whether or not such warfare would in the future be present on the European continent.