Roark shuddered when he thought of the machine gun emplacements on the banks of the Somme and the flesh-and-blood mills of Verdun.
In terms of individual combat capabilities, Rock has enough confidence in the troops in southern Africa. Even the troops composed of conscripts are qualified troops in Europe because of their strict discipline requirements and basic training levels.
Professional soldiers with strong individual combat effectiveness are really useless on battlefields like Europe, where millions of people are likely to fight.
This era is the age of cannons and giant ships. The firepower preparation before each battle starts will last for a week or two. All kinds of artillery shells are thrown out like water for free. It is very difficult for tens of thousands of troops to change the battlefield shape.
Disaster.
However, as a member of the Commonwealth, the reinforcements must still be sent, and the posture must be maintained. Therefore, Roque will be prepared to send ground troops composed mainly of Africans. Forget about professional soldiers, Roque has no intention of doing so.
Sent to Europe to fight in the war.
Can't afford to be hurt——
I really can’t afford to be hurt——
Of course, Roark would never say such a thing, otherwise Adelaide would not be able to pass the test, let alone London's opinion of Roark.
Although Ade is now the Prime Minister of Southern Africa, he is still infinitely loyal to the British Empire. If Roque really shows his dissociation from the British Empire, Ade may not object as the Prime Minister of Southern Africa, but disappointment is inevitable.
It would be fine if it were someone else, but Ade and Rock don't want to disappoint Ade.
Viscount Glaston was obviously someone else. Upon hearing Roark's words, Viscount Glaston suddenly became furious.
"Don't look at me like that. I am the Deputy Minister of Defense and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Southern Africa. When considering issues, we must first consider the interests of Southern Africa." Roque has a good reason. Next to Southern Africa are Southwest Africa and Tanganyi.
Rock and Rock do not guarantee full support for Europe, but if a world war breaks out, Rock can guarantee to occupy Southwest Africa and Tanganyika as soon as possible.
In this way, when the spoils are divided after the war, Southern Africa can logically claim its interests in Southwest Africa and Tanganyika. Regardless of whether it is annexation or trusteeship, these two places will be decided anyway, and no one can say anything.
"This is not the behavior of a gentleman. It is not honorable at all." Only then did Viscount Glaston realize that he had no choice but to blame Roark from this perspective.
Now Rock is no longer the patrolman of the Cape Town Police Department.
Today's southern Africa is no longer the southern Africa that London could dictate to at will.
"Lord, I think it is entirely possible for southern Africa to play a greater role, look at Nyasaland now, we can produce hundreds of rifles, tens of thousands of rounds of artillery shells, millions of bullets every day, we can make including
Naval warships, including cruisers and destroyers, can produce artillery, tanks, aircraft, medicines, and various foods. Gold from Johannesburg, steel from Fawalt, and even cans from Rhodesia are necessary war supplies, so the South
Africa should play a greater role in these fields. I think this can provide better help to the British Empire. The fighting positions of southern Africans are in factories, workshops, and design benches, not on the battlefield as soldiers.
Damn cannon fodder." Rock was also angry. If Southern Africa was still Southern Africa, then Rock would have accepted it if he organized troops to go to Europe to be cannon fodder. But it is obvious that Southern Africa now has greater value and greater capabilities. London
The position given to southern Africa is still cannon fodder, which makes it difficult for Roque to accept it no matter what.
"No one wants to be cannon fodder, but when war breaks out, everyone has the obligation to defend the country." Viscount Glaston was unmoved. Rock was unwilling to send professional soldiers to the battlefield, and Viscount Glaston was not willing to see it.
Troops of white youths went to the battlefield, but no one had a choice on this issue.
"As great as its capabilities are, it bears great responsibilities. The current British Empire should cooperate with many parties to safeguard the interests and status of the British Empire. Southern Africa has insufficient human resources. Everyone knows this situation. In fact, we don't have to worry about it. The Ministry of War must have a solution.
." Rock is not in a hurry. There are indeed few people in southern Africa, but there is a place with many people.
Rock is talking about India.
Today's India is the most dazzling pearl in the king's crown.
With India, Britain's population would be 370 million, which would give it an overwhelming advantage over Germany, which has a population of 65 million.
Without India, Britain's population would be 45 million, not even the current United States.
Therefore, the reason why the British government places India in such an important position is that it needs India to contribute to the British Empire.
During World War I in another time and space, Britain easily organized 2 million troops from India to fight in Europe. That's why Rock was not in a hurry. Britain really had no shortage of cannon fodder troops.
Just don't use southern Africa as cannon fodder.
Viscount Glaston must also understand what Roark means. Since Roark pointed it out, Viscount Glaston still has the ability to change his face. The two of them were laughing so hard that it was creepy.
Then the two of them had a tacit understanding and never mentioned the matter again.
Then Viscount Glaston became concerned about the production capacity of southern Africa.
Of course Roque had something to say in this regard. Roque was the Deputy Minister of Defense and not the Minister of Economy, so Roque asked Viscount Glaston to ask Ade.
"Hmph, don't think I don't know. Since you became the Deputy Minister of Defense, all the military-industrial enterprises in Southern Africa have been concentrated in Nyasaland, and the original military factories in Cape Town have also been shut down. Now it seems
We are moving to Rhodesia, right? Matilda City seems to cover an area of more than 150 square kilometers, and there should be a lot of workers -" Viscount Glaston calmed down, this is not
What a secret, many people know.
No matter how thick-skinned Roark is, it would still be a bit embarrassing to be exposed in person.
Cape Town’s original arsenal——
In fact, let’s not mention it. After the outbreak of the Boer War, the British Expeditionary Force established two small-scale arsenals in Cape Town in order to produce some military supplies on site and repair damaged firearms.
In the arsenal, one can produce some gunpowder and bullets, while the other can only repair rifles.
After the war, these two factories lost their function. As a result, after the establishment of Southern Africa, these two factories were abolished and all skilled workers and their families were transferred to Nyasaland, including the British Royal Small Arms.
More than a dozen technicians from the company.
These people now work for the Nyasaland Arms Group.
"Moving to the new factory will increase the production capacity of weapons and ammunition to more than three times the previous level. This is only the first phase of the project. More factories will be put into use in the future -" Roque did not say the specific output.
Viscount Glaston felt itchy.
"Believe me, if a war breaks out, it may involve most countries in the world. The war will definitely be protracted and cannot end within a year or two, unless one party completely admits defeat, so southern Africa will definitely show
"Provide greater value, not just on the battlefield." Roark is not leaking the secret. The British Parliament also has its own judgment on the current situation. London newspapers clamor to "tame" Germany every day. Are the Germans so easy to tame?
?
Do not make jokes.
"Yes, we can only watch the whole world slide into the abyss of war, but there is nothing we can do." Viscount Glaston is also helpless. At this point, personal power can no longer change the inertia of the world. Viscount Glaston
Coming to Southern Africa to serve as Governor-General, to put it bluntly, you have been excluded from the British decision-making level. In fact, it is almost like being assigned.
The topics that Roque and Viscount Glaston exchanged on this day were a bit heavy, so the atmosphere at dinner was a bit dull.
After dinner, Viscount Glaston went to bed early, while Roark and Phyllis took a walk in the garden.
"Will war really break out?" Phyllis was also concerned about the current situation.
Rock nodded silently.
"Will you go to Europe to join the war?" Phyllis crossed her arms and felt a little cold.
Rock smiled, took off his coat and put it on Felice. He was only wearing a shirt, and he put his arm around Felice's shoulders.
"Even if a war breaks out again, I won't have to lead the troops into battle -" Roark knew what Phyllis was worried about.
During the Boer War, Rock had no choice but to lead the charge.
It's definitely not the case now. Even if Rock goes to Europe, he will stay in the safe rear and will definitely not go to the front line to be "cannon fodder."
"Gavin and I, Alvin will always support you -" Phyllis has a positive attitude. No matter what Roque chooses, Phyllis will support him unconditionally.
Just as Rock was about to say something, he saw Zach poking his head next to the garden.
Zach brought bad news. Just the day before yesterday, a southern African immigration ship was seized by the Dutch in the Dutch East Indies on the grounds of illegal immigration.
"The living environment of the Chinese in the Dutch East Indies is very bad. In the past two years, we have experienced more and more difficulties immigrating from the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, if the Chinese in the Dutch East Indies are willing to come to Nyasaland, we will accept them all. As a result, they are willing to come to our Nyasaland."
The number of Chinese in Salan was increasing, and the Dutch were unable to stop it, so they seized our immigration ship. The seized Ark was an immigration ship from the Qing Dynasty. There were about 1,200 immigrants on board. The Ark was originally
It was to be replenished in Medan, and then sailed to Port Edward via Ceylon, but it was rudely detained by the Dutch-" Anton was also filled with indignation when he said it. This was the first time that an immigrant ship in Nyasaland was detained. It is estimated that the Dutch
People don't know how vast Nyasaland is in southern Africa.
"Southern Africa" here refers to southern Africa.
"What did the Prime Minister say?" Roque was really not angry. Even if the Dutch didn't cause trouble for Roque, Roque was still ready to cause trouble for the Dutch. Now the Dutch took the initiative to come to his door.
