Chapter 99 Coast Defense Artillery

"What you say makes sense, but I am still more optimistic about giving priority to the development of industry, especially since the population of East Africa is currently small and it is difficult to industrialize. As for the food problem, high-value industrial products can be exchanged for low-value gains. Agricultural products,” Maximiliano I said.

"If you look at the actual situation of some European countries, what His Majesty said makes sense. After all, not every country is suitable for developing agriculture. However, the natural conditions and land area of ​​East Africa determine that developing agriculture is its advantage, and If you have food in your hands, you will not panic."

The person in charge continued: "Prince Ernst often emphasized that agriculture is the easiest industry to become independent. After all, no one can live without food. To develop industry, various conditions must be met. The threshold is very high, especially for first-mover countries. With their strong advantages, they constantly update their technologies, and the threshold for industrialization in backward countries continues to rise."

“For example, in East Africa, we currently lack the basic conditions for industrialization. Most of our residents are from rural areas and their understanding of industry is basically poor; our food production is not enough to support large-scale industrialization and cannot provide sufficient raw materials; we The traffic conditions in China are even worse, not even as good as most backward countries, and the length and density of dirt roads are not as good as those countries and regions with a little history. The most important thing for developing industry is to introduce machinery and equipment from Europe, but Heixing The Root Consortium still has to make a profit, and East Africa is temporarily unable to introduce industrialized facilities from Europe on a large scale.”

Maximilian I silently listened to the words of the person in charge of the sisal factory and fell into deep thought. He remembered his life experience.

He has always believed in liberalism. This was the case when he was in power in Milan (he was appointed governor of Lombardy and Venice at the age of 25). He implemented many policies that he considered advanced and humane. In the end, he caused dissatisfaction with his brother and was dismissed.

This was one of the reasons why I chose to go to Mexico later, to prove that I was not utopian and that my policies could promote the development of the country.

Unfortunately, the reality is very disappointing. The Mexicans do not pay their own debt at all, and even want to execute themselves in the end. Everyone has been offended by themselves.

Looking back now, Mexico is indeed not suitable for the development of a monarch. Mexicans are deeply influenced by republican ideas. At the same time, because the previous royal family’s consumption has overdrawn the trust of Mexicans, going to Mexico by myself was a wrong decision from the beginning.

Of course, Maximilian I was also deceived. The French forged a Mexican opinion poll and deceived the confused Maximilian I into Mexico as the scapegoat.

The Mexicans who opposed their own rule belonged to the people who chose their own rulers, while Ernst's East African colonies belonged to the people who Ernst chose to rule.

Therefore, the East African colonies could enforce orders and prohibitions, and Ernst could give full play to his talents, Maximiliano I thought.

…

September 11, 1867.

Port of Mtwara.

"One, two, three, hey! One, two, three..."

Hundreds of dock workers at the docks were working hard to carry the artillery unloaded from the ships. These were big guys brought from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The East African colonies lacked transportation tools and could only rely on manpower to complete the task.

Recently, all the cement imported into East Africa has been used to build port defenses.

Affected by the Paraguay War, Ernst suddenly felt that the location of the East African colonies in Africa and Paraguay's location in South America were somewhat similar. They were both located in the east-central part of their respective continents. The difference was that Paraguay did not have an outlet to the sea, while East Africa had a long coastal.

This is also the advantage and disadvantage of East African colonies compared to Paraguay. The advantage is that East Africa has greater development potential with many ports, but the disadvantage is that East Africa faces greater maritime threats.

The East African colonies currently do not have a navy, which means that the door to the Indian Ocean is open, and they have to deal with enemies in the Indian Ocean.

There are only two ways, one is to form your own naval force, and the second is to build defenses along the coast, especially important facilities such as forts that can fight back.

Navy! It's a money-burning thing, and it's completely useless on a small scale. At most, it can bully some fishing boats, and armed merchant ships are not easy targets.

Moreover, the navy is a purely technical branch. Without accumulated experience and extensive training, it is difficult to perform its duties.

Given the current economic situation of the East African colonies, there is no need to have any illusions. It is more practical to build some forts honestly.

There is now a good window period for purchasing large-caliber artillery on some decommissioned ships from Europe. The last Lissa naval battle, the ironclad showdown between Austria and Italy, accelerated the upgrading of naval ships by various countries.

Many old warships are facing retirement, and the large-caliber artillery on the warships facing retirement will naturally also be retired.

In order to make the best use of the object, some countries may dismantle it and continue to serve it, such as as a coastal defense gun, while other countries may find a buyer to take over.

And Ernst got a batch of large-caliber artillery retired from warships from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although they were second-hand, they were still strong and durable, far better than the few "frame" guns left by the Zanzibar Sultanate. Deterrence.

As the southernmost seaport in East Africa, Mtwara naturally enjoys convenience in advance. Ships from Europe to East Africa arrive first at Mtwara Port.

Mtwara Port, which had received the news early, had built the basic outline of the basic fort in advance. The design drawings were designed by professionals from the Austro-Hungarian Navy Ministry. They were definitely the most advanced in this era.

Now, just wait for the artillery to be in place and do the final calibration.

After exhausting all their efforts, the workers finally transported the artillery to the designated location. The Austro-Hungarian naval advisor who was on board the ship personally directed the ammunition filling and target selection.

After all preparation procedures were completed, the artillery was aimed at the prepared target on the sea, a wooden floating object marked with red paint.

"put!"

"coax……"

With a roar and thick smoke from the muzzle, the shore defense artillery accurately fell to the designated area and exploded.

A huge wave of waves was instantly blown up on the sea, and together with the floating target, it flew into pieces and flew into the air.

The operators and observers on the shore near the launch point felt a roar in their ears, and felt an obvious air wave the moment the ammunition flew out.

From this point of view, the power of this batch of artillery is definitely enough, and it can be used to deal with some large armed ships of the current era.

However, the disadvantages are not without. Ammunition still needs to be imported from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the price is not cheap, so it is necessary to use it sparingly. On weekdays, the gunner's own professionalism must be improved to make up for the shortcomings caused by the insufficient quantity of ammunition.