Reborn South Africa as a police officer

Chapter 844

When Horatio Herbert Kitchener left southern Africa, Rock was a trainee inspector with the Cape Town Police and had never had the opportunity to meet Kitchener.

Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. The original trainee inspector is now the Minister of Defense in Southern Africa. His title is the same as that of Kitchener. Kitchener was already the chief of staff of the expeditionary force when he attended the banquet in Cape Town. No qualifications to enter the banquet hall.

Although in Egypt, Roque is nominally subject to Kitchina's restraint, but Kitchina's treatment of Roque is obviously not the attitude of a superior to a subordinate, but like an old friend meeting, inviting Roque to afternoon tea.

"Is there any difference between the taste and the black tea in India? This is green tea from the Qing Dynasty. It does not add milk or sugar. It actually tastes good." Kitchinna is quite considerate. When he was working in India, he once sent soldiers Invaded Lhasa and forced the then Lhasa government to sign the "Lhasa Treaty".

Rock smiled and didn't respond. Indian black tea was also stolen from the Qing Dynasty.

After the simple opening remarks, Kitchener didn't go around in circles, and said directly: "How much is the production of Lee Enfield in Southern Africa?"

"If you drive at full power, it will be around [-] per month." Rock didn't tell the truth, [-] per month is the basic output, and if we go all out, we can at least double it.

"Too few, the War Department needs two million rifles by 1914." Kitchener had now begun to enter the role, and it was not a matter for the Egyptian governor to consider.

"Impossible. There are still 1914 months until 14. We can't do it anyway." Rock was surprised, not knowing why Kitchener limited the time to 1914.

There are still many things that Rock doesn't know. Kitchener was appointed as the Minister of the Army not because of his nepotism. Although this person's character is a bit weird, he does have strength. He was dismissed as the commander-in-chief of India not because of his ability. Not enough, but because of the discord with Governor Curzon, which has reached the point of affecting work.

Capable people usually have character, and Kitchener was a man of character.

"If you in southern Africa can't do it, then the order will be given to the Americans—" Kitchener was scheming, and he was not afraid that Rock would not agree.

"Well, we can do it—" Rock gritted his teeth. There are 200 million rifles. Even if a rifle makes a profit of ten pounds, the total profit is more than 2000 million.

The Ministry of War bought so many rifles in one go, and it must also buy more bullets, so this business has been done.

"The price must be the price in 1910." Kitchener was demanding and did not give Rock a chance to make money.

"That's impossible, my lord, unless you can get me enough raw materials at the price in 1910, and find workers who voluntarily lower their wages." Rock immediately refused, even if Kitchener went to the United States Man, the Americans are not going to lower the price either.

The arms race has now entered a fever pitch, and the two major military blocs have put their capital on the line. Not only military supplies, but also living supplies have risen even more. The prices of various commodities on the market have risen by at least 50.00% this year. One pound each, and the price of the rifle must also increase.

"There will be no other costs." Kitchina still has leverage. Under normal circumstances, such a large arms purchase contract requires a lot of public relations expenses.

"Why so many? And why is it 1914?" Rock needed time to think about gains and losses.

"The Ministry of the Army has decided to recruit 100 million new recruits." Kitchener is indeed a ruthless person, and he will make a big move before he takes office.

"A mobilization order has been issued in the local area?" Rock is in a mixed mood. Britain now has a total population of 4000 million, 100 million recruits, and veterans, which is almost a generation.

"Not yet, but we have to plan ahead. War may break out at any time. France and Germany have already entered a state of partial mobilization. Our army is not prepared. Once war breaks out, France will definitely need our support to determine the outcome of the war." It is still a land battlefield, this time the war is estimated to last for a long time, maybe three years or longer, we have to be prepared for a long-term battle." Kitchener is treating Rock as his own, and Rock It can barely be regarded as an army background.

Only now did Roque realize the strength of Kitchener. This person is indeed a talent, no wonder he was appointed as the Minister of War by the United Kingdom.

Many people think that the war will break out within a year or two. For example, George White discussed this issue with Rock.

However, most people don't have a clear understanding of this war. The general view is that the war will end after a year at most, and it won't drag on for too long.

Kitchener was the first to predict that the war would last more than three years.

What Roque said before was because Roque knew that the World War had been fought for four years, and he could easily be a magic stick.

Kitchener is different. He made this judgment based on the current situation, which is indeed commendable.

"One million troops, then our army has more than 100 million people—" Roque said the army, and did not count the navy part. If the navy is added, the total number of British troops has exceeded 150 million.

"Well then, let's use the price in 1910." Rock gritted his teeth. No matter what, he got the order first. Anyway, the price in 1910 is also very profitable, and Kitchener is still conservative. 200 million sounds like a lot. In fact, it is not enough to fight, and I will definitely continue to order in the future. How much it will increase at that time is Rock's final decision.

Making money from arms depends on timeliness. Kitchener orders rifles now, fearing not only the soaring prices, but also worrying that if the order is not made until the time of need, but the production in southern Africa cannot keep up, it will affect the Battle with Germany.

This battle cannot be lost.

"I want to return to southern Africa to organize production as soon as possible, and complete the order as early as possible—" Rock also felt the urgency of Kitchina. Now that the Balkan War is over and the two major military blocs have been completely formed, any small accident may happen Leading to the outbreak of war, at this time Rock must return to Southern Africa to preside over the situation.

"This is the best way. Although the situation in Egypt is dangerous, it has not yet reached a fatal level. Our main enemy is Germany." What Kitchener said, neither the Austro-Hungarian Empire nor the Ottoman Empire will bring Britain any trouble. There is too much pressure, but in the face of Germany, no one dares to take it lightly.

Rock nodded silently, secretly rejoicing that southern Africa did not need to face the pressure of Germany, but only needed to deal with Tanganyika and Southwest Africa.

No matter how arrogant Rock is, he will not think that the current southern Africa has the ability to compete with Germany. Although Germany's current army and navy combined are less than 100 million, once Germany issues a mobilization order, its troops can expand to 500 at any time. More than [-] people, considering the combat effectiveness of Germany——

Southern Africa can't beat even men, women and children playing together.

Think about how the Transvaal and Orange were flattened by the British Expeditionary Force. If southern Africa faced Germany, the end would be the same as that of the Boers during the Boer War. In the face of absolute strength, no strategy or tactics will be used. No, as long as the war can be overturned, it is not absolute strength.

In fact, it is not so urgent. Under Roque's leadership, the construction of strategic warehouses in Southern Africa was completed last year. Now there are more than one million rifles in stock in Southern Africa. These rifles were originally prepared by Roque for the World War.

It is not only sold to Britain, but also sold to France if France needs it. Once the war breaks out, whether the caliber of the bullet is universal will no longer be a problem. First solve the problem of whether it is available, and then talk about other things.

Of course, there is no need to worry about returning to southern Africa. The telegram can be sent first. Rock sent two telegrams to Henry and Sam respectively. One of them was responsible for organizing raw materials, and the other was responsible for organizing production. As long as there were no problems with them, Rock would not return. Southern Africa is the same.

In November, Kitchener's transfer order was formally issued, and Kitchener left Egypt to return to his native land to serve as Minister of War.

At this time, Rock has returned to southern Africa, and the production of rifles has increased to [-] per month. All factories are working overtime to produce, not only rifles, but also bullets, shells, explosives, and artillery of various calibers. Factories related to the war are working overtime, and even the fishing boats in the North Sea have begun to go all out to fish for the canning factory in Stoudemire. Regardless of these things, Rock began to mobilize troops after returning to southern Africa, ordering the north of Rhodesia The division and the [-]st Cavalry Division moved towards the border of Tanganyika and southern Africa.

"Why Tanganyika? We should deal with Southwest Africa first." Derek Dodd didn't understand Rock's arrangement. From a geographical point of view, Southwest Africa is indeed easier to fight than Tanganyika.

After the railway between Walvis Bay and Bechuanaland was completed, the army in southern Africa could directly attack Southwest Africa by train along the railway.

"Silly! Sooner or later, Southwest Africa will be ours. It doesn't matter if it is sooner or later. Tanganyika is not necessarily so, so as long as war breaks out, we must take Tanganyika first." Rock will not make mistakes on this point. confused.

Derek Dodd had a complicated expression, but he didn't speak, acquiescing to Rock's arrangement.

To the north of Tanganyika is Sudan, which is co-administered by the United Kingdom and Egypt. One thing is for sure, the United Kingdom certainly does not want to see Southern Africa annexing Southwest Africa and Tanganyika, even if Southern Africa is the son of the United Kingdom.

That's why Rock wants to occupy Tanganyika first, and then slowly attack Southwest Africa. In this way, even if Britain is reluctant, it will never be able to declare war on Southern Africa.

It would be ridiculous if that was the case. Think about the fact that both Sudan and southern Africa can lose British overseas territories. If Sudan declares war on southern Africa, it will be tantamount to King George V declaring war on himself.

This kind of thing is not unheard of, and it has happened several times.

(End of this chapter)