Compared with the extravagant and wasteful Royal Navy, the Southern African Expeditionary Force was efficient and focused on economic interests.
Modern war is fought based on comprehensive national strength, and the performance of the army on the battlefield is a comprehensive reflection of national strength. The Russian Empire's way of recruiting new soldiers into the army and putting on military uniforms and sending them to the battlefield is one way. The rigorous training and elite route of southern Africa is another way.
Another way, both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. If Southern Africa had a population of 100 million, Roque would not be so prudent.
While serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Roque is also the Minister of Defense and War of Southern Africa, and is also a member of the War Council established at the beginning of the year.
The "War Commission" here is the War Commission established by the federal government of Southern Africa. It is not the same as the British War Commission. After the British War Commission was reorganized, the Minister of War Kitchener was excluded. This kind of thing is probably only
Only the British can do it.
This winter has been particularly cold. Since the beginning of winter, all fronts have entered a state of truce. The Entente and Central Powers are accumulating strength to prepare for the decisive battle next year. Southern Africa is also accumulating strength. The United Kingdom has just implemented compulsory military service this year.
Africa had already implemented compulsory military service five years ago. By the end of 1914, 200,000 recruits in southern Africa were receiving training in boot camps.
This 200,000 does not include Africans.
"A telegram from the Prime Minister. He does not want to send new recruits to the battlefield." Sidney Milner sent Rock a telegram from Adelaide. The recruits in the training camp now are all young people under the age of 20. They are
The hope of southern Africa cannot be wasted on the European battlefield.
Nor will Roque, who, like Ade, values the future of southern Africa.
"This is this year's retirement list. If there are no problems, they will return to southern Africa before Christmas." Sidney Milner's expression was hard to explain.
Rock took over the list. One of the two names at the top was Angel, and the other was surprisingly Barton.
Huh, I don’t know which idiot made the list. One is the son of the governor and the other is the son of a congressman. They are quite thoughtful.
The so-called compulsory military service system also has some hidden rules. For example, in southern Africa, if a father does not want to send his son to the battlefield, then he only needs to pay a special donation equivalent to about 10,000 rand. The Ministry of National Defense
Then his children can be placed in relatively less dangerous positions.
Of course, there are hidden dangers in doing this. If it spreads to the society, it will easily become proof of the collusion between government and businessmen. But this is the reality. A family that can easily spend 10,000 rand has to find a child who is not suitable for military service through other channels.
The proof is also very easy, and it does not cost ten thousand rand, maybe not even one thousand rand.
Many people are unwilling to admit it, but the reality is like this. Less dangerous positions have completely different values for different families. People who sit at home and criticize the vested interest class are unscrupulous. Once they become the vested interest class, I am afraid they will
Not even willing to pay R10,000.
Why spend 10,000 when there is a way to solve the problem for 1,000?
It is this kind of thinking that prevents them from becoming a class with vested interests.
For Anton and Buck, it is easy to leave their children in southern Africa, and it is not difficult to even evade military service. However, Anton and Buck still give Angel and Barton to Rock and let Rock take them.
Going to the front line, Rock believed that even if Angel and Barton died in battle, Anton and Buck would not blame Rock.
Just like the direct heirs of British aristocrats who died in the war in France, their elders did not blame the War Department.
While enjoying your rights, you must also assume your due obligations.
Rock directly crossed out Angel and Barton's names from the list. If there were no accidents, Angel and Barton would never leave the army in their lives.
"Calculate the list of officials and members of noble families who died in the war, and publish it in The Times to make their deaths more valuable." Roque is not squeezing out the last bit of residual value, but trying to get more for the dead.
Honor, they actually had a chance not to die on the battlefield.
"Locke, you will gain the gratitude of all the officials and members of the aristocratic families -" Sidney Milner was convinced. In terms of using the media, Locke was unparalleled in this era.
Rock smiled and said nothing. Dare to sacrifice for the country is a noble sentiment for both the Entente and the Allies. It has nothing to do with whether it is just or evil. To put it bluntly, neither the Entente nor the Allies are just enough. Only the final winner is just.
History is like a little girl who can be dressed up by anyone.
Unlike Rock's belief that there would be no large-scale war a year ago, before Christmas, Haig, who had just assumed the post of Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force, organized an attack in the snow. The main force of this attack was all from southern Africa.
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From a strategic point of view, Haig's attack was completely unnecessary. He did not notify the French side, nor Roque. On December 10, he suddenly ordered the six African divisions that had been rotated to the front line to launch an attack on the German positions in front.
Haig's attack was well planned. He began mobilizing troops at the end of November. First, he moved six African divisions in southern Africa to the second line to rest. A week later, he sent all six African divisions to the front line, and then ordered
The troops attacked, and providing fire cover for the troops were the two artillery divisions remaining on the Western Front and one French artillery division.
The battle began at six in the morning. Three artillery divisions bombarded the German positions for four hours, and then the ground troops began to advance.
The German army has adapted to the combat methods of the British and French coalition forces. During the artillery bombardment, the German troops hid in safe bunkers and waited for the artillery bombardment to end before entering combat positions.
Like all previous attacks, the attacking troops suffered heavy casualties under heavy machine gun fire. Within three hours after the battle broke out, the casualties reached 15,000.
Haig ordered the troops to continue the attack. This time he launched the attack very suddenly, hoping to catch the Germans by surprise.
However, the Germans responded very quickly. The barbed wire fence in front of the position was fifty meters wide, and mines were laid under the barbed wire. The attacking troops only carried pliers, but no demining equipment. They could only defy the Germans' crazy strafing and demining. At the end of the battle,
Four thousand African soldiers were killed in the fierce trench battle. The attack lasted only six hours and ended with the reserve troops refusing to attack.
Haig then ordered the dismissal of Richard Brown, commander of the 103rd Division, and Ford Lew, commander of the 105th Division, and claimed that Richard Brown and Ford Lew would be sent to a military court.
It was only after the attack order was given that Roark learned that Haig had planned the attack.
Haig chose this time well. No one expected that Haig would attack in such bad weather.
However, Haig's ability is really hard to describe. Rock estimated that Haig wanted to replicate the great victory of the Southern African Expeditionary Force in "Operation Horn of Victory", but the execution of the troops was a mess. In just six hours,
, the casualties of the offensive force were more than 25,000, and all four divisions participating in the attack were disabled.
Haig finally learned his lesson and retained the 103rd and 105th Divisions as reserves. However, when Haig was about to commit the 103rd and 105th Divisions to attack, Richard Brown and Ford Lew believed that the attack had no meaning and could not
Breaking through the German defense lines, the attack had to be stopped.
Richard Brown and Ford Lew refused to attack, which also became Haig's excuse for failure. Haig believed that the German army was on the verge of collapse at that time. If the 103rd and 105th Divisions could resolutely attack, they would definitely be able to break through the German defense line.
On the second day after the attack, Roque took a warship of the Mediterranean Fleet to France to participate in the so-called trial of Richard Brown and Ford Lew by the British and French forces.
The trial was held at the British Expeditionary Force Headquarters in Paris. The trial panel included Haig, Rock, Kitchener, the British Army Chief of Staff General William Robertson, the French Commander-in-Chief Joffre, and the French Minister of War.
Joseph Gallieni.
When he met Roark, William Robertson took the initiative to shake hands with Roark and conveyed the gratitude of Lord Justice Viscount Halden to Roark.
Viscount Halden is the leader of the British House of Lords. The British House of Lords does not have a speaker and is led by the Lord Chancellor. A few days ago, The Times published a list of members of the aristocracy who died in the war since the outbreak of the world war. This is different from the common people after the outbreak of the war.
The politicians' attack on the House of Lords, composed of aristocrats, stands in stark contrast.
During the World War, a total of 20 Lords nobles and 49 Lords noble heirs died in the war. Among them, the heirs of three noble families all died in the war. This means that no one will inherit the titles of these three families. After the death of the head of the family, the titles will be canceled directly.
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"You're welcome, this is what I should do." Roque is not proud, this is where he is.
"What do you think of Douglas's decision?" William Robertson asked Roark for his opinion. The two generals on trial were both Roark's men.
"Absurd!" Rock said simply and directly. If no one gave Haig some restrictions, then today's Southern African Expeditionary Force would be tomorrow's British Expeditionary Force.
Hearing Rock's comments, William Robertson looked solemn.
An official of Roque's level would not easily express his opinion on something, let alone such a clear attitude.
When Haig saw Roark, he greeted Roark warmly.
Roque's salute was perfunctory, and he nodded without saying a word. Roque was never angry with a general who was good at making reports behind his back, and who only knew the human sea tactics when commanding troops.
Haig did not take it seriously. He blamed all the reasons for the failure of the attack on the disobedience of orders by the two southern African generals. He himself did not take any responsibility.
This level of blame-shifting can be called the king of understanding in the UK!
