Chapter 297: Army Exchange
In Trieste, which is adjacent to Venice, the war in Italy has created a unique economic boom. Various factories, including the Hexingen food processing company, increased their production of military supplies to meet the demands of the ongoing war. These supplies were then transported to Venice and the Vatican by sea, keeping the port of Trieste bustling with activity.
Graduates from the Hexingen Military Academy, who had arrived in Trieste from the Hexingen region, were preparing to depart for East Africa. With the exception of 30 students heading to the Austria-Theresia Military Command Academy for further studies, the rest of the graduates were present.
Ernst, the principal of the academy, personally saw off the Hechingen students who were about to embark on their journey to East Africa. There was no elaborate ceremony, but Ernst addressed them with a few words of encouragement on the pier.
Ernst emphasized the importance of their mission, which was to enhance the theoretical understanding of modern warfare in the East African army and accelerate its modernization. He stressed that while the East African army had faced challenges from indigenous forces and a harsh environment, it had gained significant experience in dealing with guerrilla tactics. Ernst urged the students to adapt to the local conditions and to analyze their potential enemies thoroughly.
After this brief send-off, the 70th graduates of the Hechingen Military Academy boarded ships, ready to initiate a major reform in the East African Kingdom Army. Their mission was to modernize the army's main force and help it adapt to the evolving nature of warfare in East Africa.
Meanwhile, back in East Africa, Defense Minister Yarman reported to Constantine on the voluntary retirement of East African military officers. A total of 407 officers had decided to retire, ranging in rank from platoon leader to division commander. Most of them were veterans from the colonial era, having served as mercenaries in the Hexingen Consortium's mercenary groups.
Constantine reviewed the list and acknowledged that many of these retired officers wanted to return to Germany for their retirement years, given the significant earnings they had accumulated over time. He assured them of bonuses and incentives for their service. Constantine also welcomed those who chose to stay in East Africa and offered opportunities for their families to settle in the region. Disabled veterans were to be provided with local job opportunities.
As the war raged in Italy, East Africa prepared to receive a new generation of military officers trained by the Hechingen Military Academy. These graduates were essential for modernizing the East African army and filling gaps in its military leadership.
Additionally, Yarman reported that East African diplomats had been rebuffed by Mozambique, with no audience granted by the new governor. This governor, who had a military background in the Portuguese Continental Army, was said to be capable and had recently led Mozambique to defeat the remnants of the Kingdom of Malawi. Constantine expressed concern over this development and ordered increased vigilance along the border with Mozambique. The rapid expansion of East Africa had likely raised concerns in Mozambique, and East Africa needed to monitor the situation closely.
(Note: This is the end of the chapter.)