Chapter 306: Handover of Mayotte
A fleet under the flag of the Kingdom of Hexingen, represented by the Prussian Black Eagle, sailed south along the east coast of Africa, heading toward Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Archduke Ferdinand led this fleet, which included the East African Navy. The flag of the Kingdom of Hexingen, which featured the Black Eagle, was hung for this special occasion due to concerns about potential interference from major world powers.
On the deck, Archduke Ferdinand engaged in conversation with Captain Brommel of the Prussian Navy. Brommel's mission was to assist East Africa in receiving the French colony of Mayotte.
Archduke Ferdinand noted the growing strength of Germany, particularly Prussia, and suggested that the Prussian navy would likely see significant development in the future. He also highlighted the challenges faced by naval departments in Prussia, given their subordinate status to the army.
Brommel expressed envy of East Africa's naval status, despite its less advanced hardware. He pointed out that the Prussian navy had never been taken seriously and believed it would continue to be overshadowed by the army.
The conversation then turned to naval power in Europe. Archduke Ferdinand mentioned that the Austro-Hungarian Empire's naval expansion in the Mediterranean was constrained by geography, while Brommel argued that East Africa had great potential given its advantageous coastline.
Ferdinand acknowledged the importance of navies in major countries' development and suggested that Prussia's naval potential was greater than that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Brommel, however, believed that the latter had an advantage with the acquisition of Venice.
The discussion continued as the fleet approached Mayotte. The French colony's officials were waiting to hand it over to the Prussian navy, following orders from the Republican government to cede Mayotte to Prussia due to France's defeat. Despite their reluctance, the French recognized Mayotte's limited strategic value and chose to relinquish it.
Colonel Brommel oversaw the handover ceremony and assured the French officials that their safety and assets would be protected during the evacuation period.
Mayotte was transferred to East African control, and the French had evacuated cleanly, taking with them most of the black population introduced from Réunion to serve as a labor force. The clean handover allowed East Africa to take possession of Mayotte without any complications.
Colonel Brommel's presence served to emphasize that the island had been taken by Prussia, and its subsequent treatment and development would be East Africa's responsibility.
The decision to have Prussia oversee the handover ceremony was made to save face for France. While Mayotte was technically a spoil of war, Prussia's involvement allowed France to attribute the transfer to Prussia, rather than directly to East Africa. This diplomatic maneuver helped maintain a semblance of French dignity in the face of territorial loss.