Chapter 387

Chapter 387: First Encounter

In the days leading up to the arrival of the East African army, Wiggins, who had taken over Pretoria, initiated significant changes to the city's defenses. Within just three days, they fortified the city walls and dug trenches around Pretoria.

While the Boer population in the Transvaal Republic was small, there were a substantial number of black slaves. Wiggins didn't concern himself with the lives of these slaves, so he organized them to work on the city's defenses. With their help, Pretoria's military construction issues were quickly addressed.

At this point, there were fewer than 10,000 Boers left in Pretoria. Some had followed Pretorius the Younger, while others had fled upon seeing the president's departure. To prevent further desertions, Wiggins implemented "patriotism" education, effectively forcing the remaining residents to stay.

Facing the formidable East African army, Wiggins had only 2,000 white soldiers at his disposal. To bridge the gap, he recruited more than 10,000 black people into the army, temporarily armed them, and promised them freedom after the war. These black slaves and Boers fought alongside each other, with the Boers taking command positions.

Playing the patriotism card, Wiggins named his troops the "Young Patriot Army," aligning with their rebellious spirit. Old-timers, who were more experienced, chose not to join Wiggins's army. Many had already fled, with some returning to the Cape Colony directly from the Orange Free State.

Wiggins knew it was crucial to stabilize his troops' morale. Although the East African Kingdom's army had previously been belittled by Wiggins, the arrival of the East African army had increased the sense of impending confrontation. As a result, Wiggins needed to assure and motivate his troops.

Fortunately, the inclusion of black slaves in the army had reduced the numerical gap between the two sides. While the East African army had more soldiers, the Boers held the defensive position in Pretoria, making it a more even match. That's how Wiggins saw it.

As the East African 514th Division advanced, they approached Pretoria with confidence. However, as a second-line force, the 514th Division didn't enjoy significant equipment advantages over the Boers.

"The East Africans don't appear to have made substantial progress. Everyone, be cautious and hold your fire for now. Wait until they're within 300 meters of the trench before opening fire. When they're only 200 meters from the trench, the soldiers on the wall will resume firing," Wiggins calmly conducted the operation.

Drawing from the lessons of the Ndebele uprising, Wiggins decided not to confront the East African army directly this time. Instead, he relied on trenches and the city's defenses to hold his ground.

Wiggins' defense strategy had two levels. The trenches constituted the first level, with most black slave soldiers stationed there, along with some Boer commanders. Wiggins didn't demand that they effectively engage the East African army; instead, they were primarily tasked with shooting at the approaching enemy and taking solace in the security of the bunkers, which helped maintain their psychological resilience.

The Boers, along with a small number of black slaves, occupied the second level, the city walls. From this vantage point, they could provide cover for those in the trenches and oversee the battle, ensuring the soldiers in the trenches didn't falter. Standing atop the city wall, Wiggins had a clear view of the battlefield. When the leading units of the 514th Division entered the range designated by Wiggins, they came under fire from the Boers.

"Advance while taking cover, and attack Pretoria!"

Faced with the Boer's suppressive fire, the 514th Division could only respond defensively. Despite being equipped with Dreiser rifles, the enemy's fortifications on the walls and in the trenches made it challenging for the 514th Division to mount an effective counterattack. They were constrained and their formation disrupted, but they maintained their offensive posture, displaying considerable courage.

In all honesty, the 514th Division's performance was disappointing. It was plagued by errors, rigid command, and a lack of tactical finesse. Nonetheless, their bravery was commendable.

Ernst watched the embattled 514th Division and remarked, "This falls short of my expectations."

Sweet added, "Principal, if the 514th Division were fighting alongside our experienced units, they would fare better. However, attempting to assault the city alone proves challenging for them. Firstly, their military commander lacks the necessary expertise. Since our priority was to protect the First Military Region, the students from Hechingen Military Academy who participated in the Franco-Prussian War have been integrated into the kingdom's elite troops. In contrast, the other five military regions have seen limited changes. The commander of the 514th Division was a former company commander in the Kingdom of Württemberg, which made it difficult for him to lead a division of troops.

Secondly, the 514th Division was accustomed to fighting against indigenous peoples who rarely built cities, let alone defensive fortifications like trenches and city walls. Thus, facing a European-style fortress city like Pretoria was a first for them.

Lastly, and most importantly, the 514th Division lacks heavy weapons and specialized siege equipment. A clever woman can't cook without rice, and this situation was somewhat expected."

"Very well, no need to make excuses. The 514th Division simply lacks military expertise. In the past, our troops mainly fought against untrained indigenous peoples. While our troops performed admirably, such battles didn't contribute much to their training. Confronting similar units like today, it seems they have made limited progress," Ernst continued. "We must face reality; the 514th Division's situation reflects the state of our forces in several other military regions, apart from the First Military Region."

Sweet acknowledged, "Principal, you're correct. However, it's challenging to find strong opponents in Africa to use as benchmarks."

Ernst countered, "Then let's broaden our horizons beyond Africa and Europe. We should consider the entire world as our reference standard. Our quest for improvement shouldn't be limited by peace. We must actively seek opportunities to enhance our military proficiency, becoming warriors ready for any battle."

The East African Army, with its strong German influence, had developed its unique style. But if they continued fighting primarily against indigenous peoples, their capabilities would remain limited. Prussia, situated in a Europe teeming with powerful neighbors, had become widely recognized as a military powerhouse. Their battles and experiences were vastly different. East Africa, with a lack of formidable land-based adversaries in its vicinity, couldn't replicate Prussia's history of constant warfare. However, they could still draw lessons from various global conflicts to refine their military prowess.

(End of this chapter)