Chapter 222: Evaluating East Africa's Strength
On January 20, 1870, in Mogadishu, the once-prosperous city known as Hama in Persian and Mugudushu in local terms had been reduced to ruins by the East African forces. The city's destruction was the result of intense bombardment, leaving behind nothing but hills of rubble. The Geredi Sultanate had all but surrendered, and this region marked the highest population density within the sultanate.
The Grady Sultanate had historically struggled to support a large population. Even in Mogadishu, where animal husbandry was prominent, the cultivation of crops was challenging due to limited water resources. The Shabelle River, the largest in Somalia, was often dry during February to March, rendering it impractical for shipping and hydroelectric power generation.
"Chief of Staff, we have a letter from the Central Committee," an intelligence agent informed Sweet.
Sweet opened the letter, curious about its contents. After reading it, he asked, "Ravis?"
"Here, Chief of Staff," Ravis responded.
"You'll stay here and oversee the residents of Mogadishu. No one is to leave the city from now on. The government will soon send representatives to manage the population. Your task is to cooperate with them and ensure the orderly transfer of the city's inhabitants."
"Yes, Chief of Staff," Ravis acknowledged.
"But, Chief of Staff, what does the letter say?" one of the officers inquired.
"It's not a major concern. I can share it with you. East Africa is in need of more indigenous labor. It's as simple as that," Sweet replied casually.
"Additionally, I want to emphasize that the royal family and nobles of the Geredi Sultanate should be detained separately. They may have other uses," Sweet added.
"Understood, Chief of the General Staff," Ravis replied dutifully.
Lavis, having witnessed the fall of numerous indigenous chiefs throughout East Africa, didn't find the notion of detaining the Geredi Sultanate's royal family and nobles particularly remarkable. In his view, they were no different from the countless chiefs who had met a similar fate.
Meanwhile, East African forces, under the command of Sitt, continued their operations in the Grady Sultanate. Their objective was to sweep through the Shabelle River Basin and eliminate any remaining resistance. The Juba River in the south had already been secured by military police who had previously patrolled the border with East Africa.
The Grady Sultanate's territory was vast, extending across the Shabelle River and Juba River basins. Sitt's campaign aimed to consolidate the southern regions of Ethiopia and Somalia into East Africa, merging them with the Omo River basin. This strategic move would form a natural geographical barrier, with the Ethiopian plateau and the Somali desert as its boundaries.
Sitt was confident in this campaign, knowing that fighting in the desert would eliminate the need for maneuvering against indigenous tribes, as was the case on the grasslands. These tribes relied on water and pasture for survival, making them vulnerable to targeted attacks at water sources and oases.
"Keep moving forward; we're headed to the source of the Shabelle River," Sitt declared.
Meanwhile, in the discussions between the Portuguese Mozambique Mission and the East African government regarding the division of the Malawi Kingdom, the Portuguese delegates assessed East Africa's strength. Although Dar es Salaam's urban development was comparable to Maputo, they noted the critical difference lay in the construction of German coastal defense projects.
"Mr. Platini, if you consider just the port of Dar es Salaam, what do you make of East Africa's strength?" one of the Portuguese delegates inquired.
Mr. Platini responded, "In terms of urban development, Dar es Salaam can rival Maputo, but this doesn't significantly enhance its strength. The true value lies in the construction of East Africa's offshore defense systems. Mozambique doesn't possess coastal defense artillery of such caliber."
The conversation took a lighter tone as Mr. Everton remarked on the importance of coastal defense, poking fun at the Prussian and Austrian navies, known more for their land-based strength.
Although Portugal had many ships, its national fortunes had declined since the 1755 earthquake and tsunami. The Portuguese navy, while numerically strong, lacked the resources for new shipbuilding. As a result, its naval power had dwindled significantly.
However, the Portuguese still took pride in their maritime traditions and occasionally engaged in piracy. To them, these endeavors preserved the dignity of Portugal, an old colonial kingdom, despite the challenges they faced.
Despite their maritime traditions, the Portuguese were well aware of the limitations of their navy, especially when compared to larger naval powers. The Prussian and Austrian navies, while not overly impressive in terms of numbers, boasted highly effective land armies, creating the illusion of naval superiority among smaller maritime nations.