Chapter 306 Handover of Mayotte

On the Indian Ocean, a fleet headed south along the east coast of Africa. A German eagle-head flag fluttered in the sea breeze. This flag is the famous Prussian Black Eagle. Of course, its origins can be traced back to Frankfurt. Kingdom and the Roman Period.

Later, as Germany became stronger, the Black Eagle flag spread very quickly and almost became one of the representative symbols of the German Empire.

But the Black Eagle flag is not unique to Prussia. For example, the flag of the Principality of Hechingen is also the Black Eagle flag, and this fleet flying the flag of the Principality of Hechingen is the East African Navy under the leadership of Archduke Ferdinand.

The East African Navy flies the East African flag during daily training and outings, but today is a special day, so the East African royal family turned over the flag of the Princely Kingdom of Hechingen and hung it for the East African Navy, mainly out of fear of a certain world A great country breaks its defenses.

On the deck, Archduke Ferdinand was talking to a young man. This young man was Prussian Navy Captain Bromel. This time he was entrusted by the Prussian government to go to East Africa to help East Africa receive the French colony of Mayotte.

Archduke Ferdinand: "Bromel, Prussia's unification of Germany is now a foregone conclusion. I think your Prussian Navy will definitely see a big development in the future. Your naval department probably plans to build several warships."

Brommel: "Your Excellency, please stop teasing me. Our naval department has never been taken seriously in the kingdom. Even if we are unified, we will probably be suppressed by the army in the future. In comparison, I still envy the leadership of You." The East African Navy, although its hardware is not very good, its status is much higher than ours."

So far, the Federal Navy (Prussian Navy) is still a subordinate of the Federal Army (Prussian Army) and has not become independent from the Army. The East African Navy has been a service on the same level as the East African Army since its establishment. Although Ferdinand The East African naval power led by the Grand Duke was not even a fraction of the army.

Archduke Ferdinand of Versailles said: "It is just a name for nothing. This does not allow His Majesty the King to arrange more funds and ships for us."

Bromel: "At least the starting point of the East African Navy is much higher than that of the Prussian Navy, and the future potential is also good."

The Prussian Navy originated in 1815. After the victory of the Anti-French Alliance, Sweden ceded Western Pomerania to Prussia. After that, Prussia took over Western Pomerania, and also took over the Pomeranian Navy left by Sweden. This was a naval force composed of militia. They owned six unusable 65-ton single-ships. With a small gunboat and two naval officers, Prussia selected a lieutenant named Dietrich Johann Lange among the two remaining naval officers, making him the first Prussian naval officer.

Archduke Ferdinand: "Hahaha, that's all in the past. The development of any big country cannot avoid the navy. Even a rookie like Prussia cannot avoid the problem of the navy. You at least have more potential than the Austro-Hungarian Empire." many."

Brommel shook his head and said: "That's not necessarily the case! The Austro-Hungarian Empire has regained Venice, and its naval power will surely reach a higher level."

Archduke Ferdinand: "Although Venice is important, the Austro-Hungarian Navy is still trapped in the Adriatic Sea. Whether it can further expand in the Mediterranean is still unknown. However, after reunification, Germany can still operate in the Atlantic Ocean." Work hard.”

Brommel nodded and said: "Prussia does have an advantage in this regard, but it is only compared to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The navies of both countries are limited by the terrain. On the other hand, East Africa does not have any shortcomings in this aspect."

Archduke Ferdinand shook his head and said: "Although the coastline of East Africa has some advantages compared with Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, our naval power is limited by national power. This is much worse than yours. Having a sea without defense is the worst. .”

Brommel: "But no country will travel thousands of miles to the Indian Ocean to attack East Africa! There are no naval powers around the Indian Ocean, so your self-protection capabilities are still sufficient, especially as the East African navy slowly develops."

Ferdinand: "Although there are no powerful countries around us, the colonies of powerful countries, and even the Egyptian navy, are much stronger than ours."

Having said that, Ferdinand, the commander-in-chief of the navy, was still very comfortable. Although Constantine and Ernst were trying to make a big pie at first, this pie was not frivolous. Just half a month ago, Ernst It has been promised that after the Bagamoyo Shipyard is completed, the Venice Shipyard will give priority to building two new steam warships for the navy. It is not that the Bagamoyo Shipyard is distrusted, but that the Venice Shipyard has more advantages in this regard.

Although the Bagamoyo Shipyard was built as a copy of the Venice Shipyard, it cannot replicate the complete industrial chain in the Venetian region. Even the Venice Shipyard cannot get rid of its Venetian colleagues and it is even less possible for the Bagamoyo Shipyard. Many Parts and core technologies need to be imported from Europe, so East African naval warships are better built in Venice, and the cost is lower. As for Bagamoyo Shipyard, it first accumulates experience in the field of civilian ships.

…

"Commander-in-Chief! Ahead is Mayotte, we have arrived at our destination." The guard reported to Archduke Ferdinand.

"Enter the harbor!" Ferdinand ordered.

At this time, people in the French colony of Mayotte also saw the flag of the East African Navy Fleet.

"It's the Prussian navy."

The Black Eagle flag came into play at this time. The French did not know much about the Principality of Hechingen, so they determined that the fleet in front of them was the Prussian navy that came to hand over.

Not long after, Archduke Ferdinand and Colonel Bromel landed on Mayotte. At this time, the French Mayotte government had been waiting for a long time.

They received an order from the republican government two months ago. Mayotte was ceded to Prussia because of France's defeat. Although they were very reluctant, there was no other way. Mayotte was of little value to France, and even Prussia When they arrived in Mayotte, most officials of the Republican government had never heard of the name of this colony. Finally, after figuring out that it was just a small island near Madagascar, the French government simply took ownership of the island. given to Prussia.

The main reason is that Mayotte is too remote, especially after the opening of the Suez Canal, its value is basically zero. There is Madagascar next to it, and it doesn't matter if Prussia takes it away.

"I am the person in charge of Mayotte, Altiel."

"Prussian Navy Captain, Bromel." Bromel stepped forward and said.

Altiel: "Colonel Brommel, all officials from Mayotte are here. According to the request of the French central government, we will transfer Mayotte to your country. However, according to the agreement between the two countries, your country must ensure that we personnel safety, while ensuring the safety of our property, and shall not prevent the transfer of personnel and assets during the evacuation of our personnel.”

Bromel: "Of course!"

After a simple handover ceremony, Mayotte Island completely fell into the hands of the East African Kingdom's navy. Ferdinand found that the French evacuated very cleanly. Except for the houses that were not destroyed in time, nothing that could be taken away was left to East Africa. , including the black people on the island, were taken away by the French.

In order to develop Mayotte, France deliberately introduced a large number of black people from Reunion. Therefore, the black people on Mayotte served as an important labor force and asset for the French, and the French did not want to take advantage of the Prussians. But this is good, as it saves East Africa a lot of trouble.

This handover ceremony was held between France and Prussia, so Colonel Brommel traveled across the ocean to come here for a formality. Then according to the agreement between the Prussian royal family and the Hechingen royal family, the ownership of this island fell into East African hands.

The significance of Colonel Bromel's existence is to let the French know that this island was taken away by Prussia. As for the subsequent treatment of Mayotte, it is Prussia's own business. Even if it is bombed, it has nothing to do with France.

The East African Kingdom did not take over the handover in person because it took France's face into consideration. After all, how could France consider themselves unlucky and inferior to others if they lost to Prussia? But the nature of East Africa's direct takeover of Mayotte is different. You, a "colony", dare to humiliate France.

Mayotte was a spoil of war, so it could not be handed over directly to East Africa, but rather passed through the hands of Prussia.