Chapter 271: New Naval Base Site Selection
The Italian army, now totaling 250,000 troops on the Eastern Front, faced strong resistance from Venice, defended by Grand Duke Albrecht's 80,000-strong force. This defensive stand by Venice was expected, and the real question was whether the Austro-Hungarian Navy could open up a new battlefield.
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In the Adriatic Sea, a formidable fleet under the command of Wilhelm von Tegert Hoff, departing from Fiume (now Rijeka, Croatia), set sail. Wilhelm was determined to regain the naval superiority and prove the progress of the Austro-Hungarian Navy.
Wilhelm von Tegert Hoff was regarded as a hero after the victory at the Lisa naval battle. He had been assigned to protect the Dalmatian coast and oversee the development of a military base in the region. Unlike history, this time he had the time to upgrade and expand the base.
In 1868, Wilhelm became the Minister of the Navy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a member of the Military Committee, and a baron. He initiated comprehensive naval reforms, closing the gap with the Italian Navy and expanding the fleet.
Despite ordering two new warships, those ships were still under construction in the Trieste shipyard and couldn't participate in the upcoming battle.
As the Austro-Hungarian Navy set out, it aimed to demonstrate its progress to the Italian Navy, which had suffered from budget cuts and lacked upgrades. The Italian Navy was planning an expansion but hadn't finalized its plans yet.
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As the Austro-Hungarian Navy advanced toward the Italian Navy, tension rose in the Adriatic Sea.
Meanwhile, in East Africa, off the coast between Bagamoyo and Pemba Island, the Navy of the Kingdom of East Africa was conducting cross-sea training. They reached Jishui City, formerly known as Chak Chak, where Ferdinand, the commander of the East African Navy, expressed interest in the port.
Jishui City's mayor explained that it had been renamed by Ernst, who was inspired by a river from his previous life. The city had over 2,000 immigrants, making it the capital of Pemba Island.
Ferdinand found the port conditions favorable for transformation but was concerned about the lack of residents. The mayor explained that the Zanzibar people had been repatriated, and even the clove harvests were left untouched.
Ferdinand recognized the potential for a naval base on Pemba Island, particularly on the west coast with its calm harbors. Leander suggested using Mkani, a virtually empty city in the south of Pemba Island, which had all the necessary infrastructure and housing. Ferdinand agreed, and Mkani was chosen as the location for East Africa's second naval base.