Chapter 71: Submarine Cables
On March 22, 1867, in the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, an ocean-going submarine cable laying ship, proudly bearing the German flag, prepared to set sail from the port of Mombasa. Its destination: the Red Sea, in the north.
The recent Dongsan War had revealed to Ernst the inadequacy of information communication between the East African colonies and Europe. Although the colonies had made decisions independently during the war, the delay in reporting to Europe was a concern.
Given the considerable distance between the colonies and Europe, the colonies enjoyed a degree of independence and authority. Under special circumstances, they could make autonomous decisions and take appropriate measures. However, the East Sang War served as a stark reminder to Ernst that he needed to maintain a strong connection and control over the East African colonies.
To address this issue, Ernst decided to invest heavily in laying a telegraph line from East Africa to Europe, establishing direct communication channels with the colonies to oversee their development. Submarine cable laying was no longer a major technical challenge, as the world had already seen the first transoceanic submarine cable, the Atlantic submarine cable, connecting Newfoundland to Ireland, back in 1858.
For this ambitious project, Ernst chose to collaborate with Siemens in Germany. Siemens, known for its expertise in electrical engineering and telegraphy, had already made significant contributions to the field. While Siemens primarily operated on land, they were well-suited for the submarine cable project due to their experience.
The Berlin Electric Power Company, which Ernst controlled, had a cooperative relationship with Siemens. Siemens engineers, after a careful assessment, deemed the technical conditions for this submarine cable project to be mature. Siemens had some experience in laying offshore lines, particularly in the Baltic Sea region.
Ernst planned to establish four main telegraph routes. The first route would stretch from East Africa to Egypt, passing through the Somali waters of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea before landing in Egypt. This route was the longest and most challenging.
The second route, within Egypt, was relatively short and faced no significant difficulties. Egypt's infrastructure was suitable for telegraphy.
The third route would cross the Mediterranean Sea, traverse the Adriatic Sea, and land in Trieste, Italy. This section was entirely at sea but posed fewer difficulties.
The fourth route, within Europe, would connect the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Berlin. This route relied on existing mature telegraph lines.
While Egypt had its own telegraph line connecting to the mainland, the direction was not suitable for direct connection with the East African colonies. Ernst opted to create a new route to address this issue.
The European section could leverage existing telegraph lines, particularly in Germany, facilitating communication with the colonies. Prussia had expanded its telegraph network during the Prussian-Austro-Prussian War, and Austria had followed suit.
The laying of submarine cables was a complex and meticulous process, with workers on the cable-laying ship carefully uncoiling and sinking the cable into the sea. Due to the limitations of the era, this process was relatively simple, relying on the skill and judgment of experienced workers.
The laying ship, which had journeyed from the German region to the Indian Ocean, had already rested in Dar es Salaam. It would now undertake the challenging task of laying the cable from East Africa to Egypt, a journey that would take at least one or two months.
The crew members needed to remain on board for extended periods to ensure the success of this critical endeavor, as no other ships would follow this route. Their fellow colleagues aboard another ship from the Hechingen Consortium were laying cable in the Mediterranean Sea, enjoying more favorable conditions.
Despite the challenges, the submarine cable laying from East Africa to Europe proceeded smoothly, with no major accidents or mistakes. After three months of dedicated work, the entire telegraph line was laid. This achievement significantly reduced communication times between Berlin and the East African colonies.
The telegraph system now allowed Ernst to remotely command the East African colonies more effectively, facilitating daily work and decision-making. Any developments or issues in the East African colonies could be promptly reported to the telegraph center in Berlin through the submarine cable, enhancing control and coordination.
(End of Chapter 71)