Reborn South Africa as a police officer

Chapter 823

(The content of the previous chapter has been revised, and the review is in the public chapter——)

Because of the Suez Canal, Egypt has become an important traffic route connecting Europe, Asia and Africa.

The importance of the Suez Canal does not need to be emphasized too much. Before the opening of the Suez Canal, ships going to and from the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean had to bypass Africa. The Atlantic Ocean is connected to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean via the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal. It is an international shipping waterway with important economic and strategic significance.

In 1888, the General Assembly of Constantinople declared the canal a neutral zone under the protection of the British Empire, stipulating that the canal would be open to ships from all countries, both in peace and in war.

This announcement is actually useless and will be adjusted according to British interests at any time. During the Spanish-American War in 1898, Spanish warships could not pass through the Suez Canal. During the Russo-Japanese War, Russian warships also could not pass through the Suez Canal and eventually had to bypass the entire Africa. , During the Italian-Turkish War, Britain did not even allow the Ottoman Empire to provide support to North Africa through Egypt.

So just listen to the promises of some countries, don't take them seriously, Russia is too serious, that's why it was tricked and has not turned around now.

During the Russo-Japanese War, King Edward VII of England was still the uncle of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and his relatives were equally ruthless.

Like India, Egypt is also a core interest that the UK must absolutely protect. India represents the human resources of the UK, and Egypt represents the control of the UK over the world.

As a country with a long history, the status quo of Egypt does not match its long history. Ancient Egypt has been ruled by aliens since the 11th century BC. It is now part of the Ottoman Empire, but it is occupied by Britain, not even a protectorate. Among the four ancient civilizations, the misery index ranks second, second only to the ancient Babylon that has disappeared.

The current British High Commissioner to Egypt is Roark's long-known McMahon. Roark's memory of this man comes from the famous McMahon line and the letter McMahon himself wrote to Sherif Hussein, Although that letter has not yet been sent, and probably never will, these events say a lot about McMahon's character.

As long as it is not that kind of fair and honest, Rock hopes that officials in southern Africa can be fair and honest, but officials outside of southern Africa should be as good as possible. This is also an obvious double standard.

After returning to the Ministry of Defense, Rock first transferred a senior teacher Paul Cocker from the Nyasaland Army Academy as his chief of staff, Paul Cocker and Derek Dodd, who is now the Deputy Secretary of Defense They are both from the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, and they are standard British whites. Rock selected Paul Cocker to make it easier to get in touch with McMahon.

Of course, it was also to reduce Roque's burden. After all, there were still many things to deal with before the troops set off, and the role of the chief of staff was reflected in these specific tasks.

Paul Coker was indeed very efficient, and it took only three days to complete the preparations for the troops to depart. However, Rock still found many problems when he checked the operations.

"The materials that Egypt can provide must be removed from our list of items. We are not only going to perform tasks, but also test the endurance of the troops." Rock's requirements are high, and Paul Coker is indeed a bit Excessive, even the drinking water needed by the troops on the list has to be sent from southern Africa.

The troops to go to Egypt consisted of two regiments. Rock decided to draw one from the Northern Rhodesian Division and one from the First Cavalry Division. The First Cavalry Division has almost nothing to do with the cavalry now. The troops have less mules and horses than cars. , but this is a difficult situation in Egypt, because the car is more demanding logistically.

In order to allow professional soldiers to have stronger combat effectiveness, Rock spared no expense in the supply of materials. In southern Africa, it is very convenient to mobilize various resources. It is not difficult to meet the needs of the troops, but it is very troublesome in Egypt. In order to ensure the combat effectiveness of the troops, in In the plan of the staff department, even the drinking water needed by the troops must be transported from southern Africa.

Fortunately, Rock corrected it in time. When the supplies are sufficient, the troops can guarantee a strong combat effectiveness. When the supplies are in short supply, they have to endure various difficulties. Southern Africa needs a victorious army that can overcome various difficulties and win the victory. There is no need to be cold and afraid A young soldier who loves rich clothes and fine food.

In southern Africa, the supply of millions of square kilometers is less than [-] professional soldiers. It is true that the supply of various materials can be guaranteed, but once the war breaks out, various materials will start to be in short supply. At this time, the endurance of the troops will be tested.

"Drinking water still needs to be paid attention to. The situation in Egypt and southern Africa is different. If drinking water is unsafe, it may cause big problems." Paul Coker also has good reasons. The regulations in southern Africa are also very detailed. Not only Just the troops, those colonial pioneers who are going to unfamiliar areas, also attach great importance to the safety of drinking water.

Unsafe water quality may cause serious health problems. The heavy losses in early European colonization are inseparable from the diseases and plagues caused by various viruses in the colonies. Among them, water source is a very serious problem.

If it is the 21st century, if the water quality is not clean, drink bad stomach and get an injection, but in this era when penicillin is more expensive than gold, drinking bad stomach may kill you, so Paul Coker sent water all the way from southern Africa to Egypt .

"This is a problem that can be solved locally in Egypt." Rock insisted that although the problem of water is very important, it can be solved as long as we pay more attention to it. What cannot be solved is people's dependence on habits. If the supply is taken for granted, then the problem will be more serious.

"Okay, I'll revise it right away—" Paul Cocker had already expressed his attitude, and even if Roque didn't accept it, Paul Cocker would obey Roque's order.

"The equipment of the troops should also be adjusted, and the number of mechanical vehicles should be reduced as much as possible. There are camels in Egypt, which can replace vehicles, and you don't need to carry many bullets. Although we have a large number of automatic weapons, the caliber of our bullets is comparable to that of the local Egyptian garrison. Universal, this problem can be solved locally in Egypt.” Rock can save as much as possible, what Egypt lacks is the army, not the lack of supplies, and Britain’s industrial capacity is still very strong, and the thousands of people in the two regiments are not enough to supply Sorry.

"Our base is in Alamein. Where is Alamein?" Paul Coker searched all over Egypt's maps but couldn't find Alamein. You can imagine how small the words are.

Remoteness is indeed remoteness, but this Alamein is the Alamein where the "Battle of Alamein" broke out. It is still unknown, and it is just an ordinary small fishing village. This place will not gradually prosper until oil is discovered in the future.

"It seems to be near Alexandria." Rock gave a hint.

Paul Coker went to look for it next to Alexandria, and he found Alamein, and looked at Roque with admiration in his eyes.

Even in such a remote place, everyone knows that they have done enough homework.

"Our barracks haven't been built yet, so I don't know if we can move in in time." Paul Coker was a little worried about the efficiency of the Egyptian government.

"It should be fine—" In contrast, Rock knew a little more about Egypt.

In this place of Egypt, the local aborigines are indeed not up to date, and they have lost their identity as the four ancient civilizations in vain.

However, under British colonial rule, the Egyptians were still very efficient.

For the same reason, don’t connect the current Egyptians with the future Egyptians. Under the British colonial rule, the Egyptians were still very diligent.

When the Suez Canal was built, a total of 12 Egyptians died, with an average of 738.5 people per kilometer. These people lay down and lined up longer than the Suez Canal, so the consequence of not working hard is not to deduct salary, but to die.

Compared with the cruelty of the British in building the Suez Canal, the various infrastructure constructions in southern Africa are simply benevolent. Although the construction of infrastructure in southern Africa will inevitably have to pay a price, but it cannot reach such a cruel level, the numbers are cold , can reflect a lot of history that has been deliberately concealed. In a popular saying, it is not that 12 people died of exhaustion due to the construction of the canal, but it happened 12 times. This is indeed bloody.

It is estimated that the situation in Egypt is indeed very dangerous. The Ministry of War sent four telegrams within a week asking when the southern African troops would leave. On August 15th, the southern African troops finally boarded a ship in Port Edward and headed for Egypt. After eight After a long day of sailing, the troops from southern Africa crossed 7000 kilometers and finally arrived in Cairo, Egypt.

Roque didn't know until he arrived in Cairo that Cairo was not next to the Suez Canal, but was more than 100 kilometers away from the Suez Canal.

The river next to Cairo is called the Nile River. Rock's impression of the name of the Nile River is because of the movie "Nile Tragedy", and the background of that movie is about this time.

The whole of Egypt was looking forward to the reinforcements from southern Africa. McMahon, the British high commissioner in Cairo, came to greet him at the pier. Ade had worked in Cairo before, and he had written to McMahon, asking him to take care of Luo. grams and armies in southern Africa.

I don't know how McMahon felt when he read the letter. The whole of Egypt needs the protection of the southern African army, and McMahon couldn't take care of it even if he wanted to.

"Lord, welcome to Cairo—" McMahon looked at Roque with enthusiasm, just like the scorching weather in August.

It is estimated that it has a lot to do with Roque's identity. After all, Roque is a Viscount, and McMahon is not even a Sir.

"Colonel, it's a pleasure to meet you. I would like to extend Lord Halewood's blessings to you and wish you good health." Roque reported to the family, and Ade's name still had some effect in Egypt.

(End of this chapter)