African Entrepreneurship Record-Chapter 717 - 21 Confidence
Warm Castle.
The most important military fortress in southern East Africa, and also the frontrunner against the Transvaal people in East Africa. Over the years, the Boers have not been idle, having begun constructing defensive works on the southern bank of the Fite River even before the civil war.
Therefore, now opposite Warm Castle, there is also a large military fortress built by the Boers, and with British technical support, it was constructed very professionally. Even using the current heavyweight artillery produced in East Africa, it is probably difficult to conquer, unless the imported large-caliber coastal defense cannons are mobilized from the coast to the front line.
After the end of the civil war, the Transvaal people were able to continue constructing the southern defense line of the Fite River, echoing the northern Fite River defense line in East Africa.
Thus, it is not easy for the Transvaal people to attack East Africa. Conversely, East Africa also has to face the fortress groups built by the Boers, so from the start, the major battles in the south are destined not to be easy.
In previous wars, East Africa encountered enemies who built fortifications, only the Sultanate of Zanzibar and several indigenous countries along the Great Lake.
As for Portugal's two colonies, because they are too large, it is simply unable to build systematic defensive works. Once at war with East Africa, it can only engage in isolated skirmishes with East Africa.
But East Africa's strength lies in its large population, so if one place is difficult to conquer, it can completely choose to leave part of the troops to encircle but not attack, while the main force continues to penetrate towards the rear. The exhausted Portuguese can only watch as East Africa runs rampant on their territory.
General Valspig of the Transvaal Rebel Army: "The Fite River defense line we built stretches over 200 kilometers, with a total of 137 large bunkers and more than 300 small bunkers built. At the same time, hundreds of kilometers of roads have been constructed to quickly support front-line supplies from the rear. The entire construction took over seven years, with more than 70,000 black laborers involved in the construction. The fortresses can quickly respond to each other, leaving no opportunity for the East Africans!"
The "South" Fite River defense line is Valspig's seminal work and the backbone of the Transvaal people's resistance against the East Africans.
"Summarizing the war between East Africa and the Transvaal Republic last time, what stood out was speed. Everywhere along the Limpopo River was full of gaps, and at that time, we did not have a clear understanding of East Africa's ambitions, resulting in our main force being unable to return to defend while fighting the Zulu people.
East Africa divided its forces into three paths, quickly splitting the entire Transvaal Republic into three parts along the Drakensberg Mountains. Additionally, East Africa had cavalry units that could rapidly support various battlefields and were very familiar with mountain warfare, clearly having long-term plans. Thus, the downfall of the Transvaal Republic was not surprising."
For the situation of the last war between the Transvaal Republic and East Africa, Little Pillotolius remembers it vividly.
At that time, the Transvaal people were said to have been struck so hard by East Africa that they could not find north, south, east, or west. Pillotoli was directly cut off from communication with various regions, finally besieged in isolation and broken by East Africa, with Little Pillotolius fleeing in disarray. Therefore, he harbors a deep hatred for East Africa.
In order to deal with the East African threat, the Transvaal people have fully absorbed the lessons from the last war.
The most important point is to stall the marching speed of the East Africans, not engage in field battles with them, and ensure heavy firepower support.
A major reason for Pillotoli's fall was the Boer people's lack of means to counter East Africa's artillery at the time.
East Africa's troops then had firepower that, in sub-Saharan Africa, could only be matched by the garrisons in Cape Town, Natal, and Maputo.
"Also, we must keep a close watch on East Africa's ferries. Back then, we neglected the importance of ferries around the Limpopo River, allowing East Africa to easily land on the southern bank of the Limpopo River. We must not repeat this mistake, especially at night, by deploying more searchlights to prevent the enemy from crossing the Fite River under the cover of darkness."
The defense line built by the Boers on the southern bank of the Fite River is also under East Africa's surveillance, having been constructed step by step under East Africa's witness. During the Orange Free State's civil war, it was affected but not significantly, mainly because the Orange people initially lacked heavy weaponry, so they could only let the Transvaal people and the British Allies breach the defense line.
Of course, this also relates to the Orange people's weak resistance consciousness. Although the Transvaal people are not honorable, they are ultimately of the same ethnicity, and the upper levels fighting to the death does not prevent the lower levels from changing allegiances.
In fact, a major reason for the Orange people's failure is that the lower-level Orange people surrendered to the Transvaal government. Especially after the Orange Allies showed a declining trend, the number of deserters climbed every day.
"With the South Fite River defense line, it is basically impossible for the East Africans to replicate their previous conquest of the Transvaal Republic. We only need to rely on the defense line to deplete East Africa. After the British and Portuguese attack East Africa in other regions, the East Africans will be exhausted. After the war enters a stalemate stage, we can take the initiative to attack, and we should be able to gain the advantage," Valspig optimistically explained to Little Pillotolius.
"What if East Africa continuously supports this place with reinforcements from the rear? You must know that most of East Africa's garrison is concentrated along the Fite River, and their long-term strategic arrangements are obvious. How can you be sure that after the British and Portuguese intervene, the East Africans will focus on other regions? If the Fite River defense line can be breached first, the implications for the entire South African battlefield should be significant, especially since the Orange Free State penetrates deep into East African territory!" Little Pillotolius retorted.
"Mr. President, this will depend on the deployment of the Portuguese and British. First of all, Portugal's Mozambique colony, in my view, poses a greater threat to East Africa than we do. After all, East Africa's capital and economic center are both on the Swahili coast. Dar es Salaam should be East Africa's most economically developed city, so East Africa will surely deploy heavy troops to guard against the Portuguese."
"And Portugal holds the strategic initiative, with their colonies divided into two parts, one to the left and right of East Africa. This situation naturally disadvantages East Africa. East Africa surely understands this, so the Portuguese are probably East Africa's primary target. To achieve strategic security, East Africa must resolve either Angola or Mozambique."
"As for us, Transvaal, could it possibly be more important than East Africa's eastern part? Furthermore, East Africa's deployment of so many troops in the south is probably not because of our importance, but due to our military threat. After all, East Africans also know that our hatred for them is hard to dissolve, just as Prussia stationed troops at the border. Transvaal's powerful military force is the reason East Africa maintains such a large garrison."
Valspig is very correct. East Africa does indeed have concerns in this area, and compared to Portugal, the Transvaal people's military strength warrants greater respect from East Africa.
The morale of the Transvaal people is much higher than that of Portugal, an indisputable fact. After all, Portugal's two territories are essentially different from its homeland.
Colonies can be lost at any time. Although it's difficult, it doesn't mean life and death decisions. Portugal has lost so many colonies that if not for a resilient mind, Portuguese people would have perished long ago.
