On the fifth day after the Second East India Division was annihilated, the Dutch finally gave up the mediation of the British government and launched an all-out attack on Medan.
Until this time, the Dutch had a sense of urgency to lose the East Indies. Not only was the Dutch colonial government in the East Indies preparing for war, but the Netherlands also issued a mobilization order to form an army to reinforce the East Indies. At the same time, it contacted the French government and expressed its intention to purchase warships to strengthen them.
Dutch Far East Fleet.
The reason for not looking for the British is obvious. Even if the Dutch go to the British, the British government probably won't sell it. Even if Roque doesn't admit it, the relationship between the Medan Army and southern Africa is well known.
What's more, Germany is putting too much pressure on Britain, and the British government is really not in the mood to do business.
"The Dutch government is in contact with France, hoping to purchase the France-class battlecruisers being built in France, and also hopes to purchase dreadnoughts from France to strengthen the strength of the Far East Fleet." Ada informed Roque of the news in a timely manner, and other countries did not dare to say anything.
, Ada still knows the situation in France very well.
"France no longer wants the Mediterranean?" Roque blurted out.
This was actually a leak. During the second Moroccan crisis, Britain supported France against Germany, thus strengthening the sincere agreement. Later, Britain and France agreed that the British navy would defend the English Channel, while the French navy would be responsible for the Mediterranean.
The second Moroccan crisis will not break out until next year, and Britain and France have not yet divided their spheres of influence, so Roque's blurt out is actually leaking the secret.
However, Ada did not realize that the Mediterranean has always been France's traditional sphere of influence. The French fleet was mainly deployed in the Mediterranean. After all, Ada was not that proficient in military affairs, so she did not care.
"Of course, so Paris didn't agree." Ada curled up next to Roque like a cat, her laziness looked almost like a god.
In the context of the arms race, no one can survive alone. Britain and Germany are both working hard to build warships. Of course, France must also strengthen its strength. Entering the 20th century, the French Navy proposed a huge shipbuilding plan to establish two battleship divisions in the Mediterranean.
The fleet and two armored cruiser squadrons have a total of 14 battleships, 6 battlecruisers, and 11 to 13 armored cruisers.
This plan has now begun to be implemented, and the latest France-class battlecruiser is under construction. Two battlecruisers of this class were originally planned to be built, namely France and Paris.
The Dutch are also hungry. Since losing the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, the Netherlands has not built a large warship for ten years. Now it does not even have the ability to design warships and can only purchase them from abroad.
However, the Dutch probably ignored the arms race in Europe. Warships are not something you can buy if you want. The slipways in the shipyard are limited, and the French navy is still waiting for support. It is definitely not in the mood to sell the warships that are about to be built to the Dutch.
.
No matter how rich the Dutch are, it won't work.
"That doesn't matter. East India now has forty fighter planes, which are enough to deal with the Far East Fleet. As long as the Far East Fleet dares to leave Batavia, it will be their doom." Rock is confident. In fact, Port Edward is also being built.
The first cruiser in Southern Africa, this class is designated as the Edward class. The plan given by the Ministry of Defense of Southern Africa is to build 12 ships.
Speaking of which, Southern Africa also has a long coastline, so it is necessary to build a powerful navy to safeguard Southern Africa's maritime interests.
However, in view of the situation in southern Africa, there is no technology to build dreadnoughts, and the construction of battleships has become outdated, so cruisers have become the best choice.
The Edward-class cruiser has a standard displacement of 7,700 tons and a full-load displacement of 10,500 tons. It is equipped with six eight-inch twin 50-caliber guns and four four-inch 45-caliber guns. According to the requirements of the British government, the Edward class is also equipped with six 20-inch torpedoes.
launch tube.
In fact, if it is limited to southern Africa, there is no need to install torpedoes on warships. After all, the countries surrounding southern Africa do not have battleships. It can be said that the Edward class is an unrivaled giant in the African waters. The reason why it is necessary to install torpedo tubes
, mainly for the sake of the war in Europe.
The reason Edward Shipyard was able to build the Edward-class cruiser was also thanks to the technical support of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in the United Kingdom. That's why Rock agreed to London's request to install torpedo launch tubes on the Edward-class cruiser.
Of course, Rock is not selfish. The displacement of the Edward-class is less than 8,000 tons, and the installation of six eight-inch main guns is purely a thin-skinned weapon. If a war breaks out, it will not be of much use.
So Rock is also a thief. Edward Shipyard will only build one Edward-class first ship, and then Southern Africa will make improvements. When the cruiser-related technologies are fully understood, Southern Africa will make improvements, and then determine the next level.
cruiser.
Therefore, only one or two Edward-class cruisers may be built. The plan given is just a plan. Whether it is implemented or not is another matter.
"You should be prepared to send political officials to East India and prepare to annex East India." Ada is also ambitious, and Roque is not as radical as Ada.
"East India is still too far from southern Africa. We need the resources of East India, but we don't need the land of East India. Southwest Africa and Tanganyika are still waiting for us to annex." Rock really doesn't want it, and his main focus is on the south.
Around Africa.
Some things cannot be explained too clearly.
What do you say about East India? There have been too many problems for a long time. Some contradictions are very prominent. Many things can be done and cannot be said. Rock is now trying to establish an East India and southern Africa that is completely controlled by the Chinese.
not related.
To put it bluntly, if conditions permit in the future, East India can also apply to join the federal government of Southern Africa.
This kind of thing is not without precedent. In another time and space, the Philippines held a referendum and asked to join the United States. However, the United States did not agree, so the Philippines became independent.
No, the referendum happened after the independence of the Philippines.
The same goes for East India. If the situation in Southern Africa in the future meets Roque's requirements, then East India can definitely hold a referendum to join the Southern African federal government. That would be much better than directly annexing East India now.
To put it bluntly, if Southern Africa directly annexes East India, the biggest resistance will not come from the Netherlands, but from the United Kingdom.
How can Britain, with its notorious "shit stirrer" character, tolerate the unbridled and unlimited expansion of southern Africa?
The British government may not agree to the annexation of Tanganyika in southern Africa, not to mention East India, and even Port Elizabeth.
That's why Port Elizabeth is the property of Adan Company, otherwise Port Elizabeth would already be the state of Elizabeth.
"Then why do you have to invest so much and spend so much energy, in the end it is just for the resources of East India? If you had said so earlier, there would be no need to go to such trouble." Ada is still very capable, if Roque only wants
With the resources of East India, there is no need to establish the East India Company or attack the Port of Medan. The Rand Bank can do it.
This is the power of capital. Don’t think of Rand Bank as a simple bank. It is also a super giant with huge strength. Now Rand Bank is the common creditor of the Russian Empire, the Japanese Empire, and Southern Africa.
There are so many banks in the world, how many can do this?
To put it bluntly, with the gold in Johannesburg, any miracle can happen. Why should Southern Africa entrust the right to issue currency to the Rand Bank?
That's because the Rand Bank has enough gold reserves.
It has more gold reserves than the federal government of Southern Africa.
"Just make your money, that's not what you should care about." Rock is a male chauvinist, and some things cannot be explained in too much detail.
"Okay, you're right. I have something to inform you. Mr. Arthur Locke is causing mischief in school. As a mother, I really don't have the face to go to a parent-teacher meeting. I wonder if someone has time."
Ada throws out her trump card.
Arthur finally waited for Gavin and went to Nyasaland University Affiliated Primary School together.
Unlike the well-behaved and sensible Gavin, Arthur was probably a bit spoiled by Ada and tended to develop into a "school bully" in school, so Ada had a lot of headaches.
In order to give Arthur a normal name, Ada changed her last name to "Locke" after returning to southern Africa from France last year.
The "Locke" here is not because of Rock, but because of Ada's husband.
That's right, this woman went back to France and then claimed that she was married and her husband's surname was "Locke", so Arthur's name became Arthur Locke.
The funny thing is that no one has seen this "Locke" at all, and no one attended Ada's wedding. Even Phyllis knew about it, but there was nothing she could do about it.
It’s not that she has nothing to do with Ada, Phyllis just doesn’t want to embarrass Rock, so she just ignores Ada. As for the relationship between Rock and Arthur, Phyllis of course knows it very well, and everyone in southern Africa knows it too.
That is to say, no one will reveal it. To be honest, this is not for Ada, but for Arthur.
Speaking of which, Arthur is Rock's eldest son.
According to British law, only the eldest son has the right to inherit Rock's title and property, while the other children have nothing. It's already very pitiful for Arthur to lose his inheritance rights because he has no title.
"Be honest and take care of the eggs you laid yourself." Rock said, you're welcome. We are an old married couple, so there's nothing we can't say.
"What did you say?" Ada couldn't believe it. She really didn't know what had happened to her to make her fall in love with such a rude man.
"Don't make trouble, I'll call Douglas later." Rock really had a headache. In this regard, Rock really owed too much.
