"Salute!"
The East African officers and soldiers responsible for defense liaison saluted these Germans with respect.
Though Xavier and his soldiers were brutal colonizers, at this moment they were returning to Germany to fight for their homeland. Xavier and the German soldiers stood aboard the ship, bidding them farewell.
Amid the steamship's whistle, Xavier's party drifted farther and farther from the African coast until they vanished from everyone's sight. Onshore, the East African officials continued their discussion.
Commissioner Ander turned to Hlaid, East Africa's first Governor of Gabon Territory, and said, "The German Army's quality is quite good. Even its Colonial Army displayed considerable military professionalism. I hope they can survive the war."
Hlaid nodded in agreement. "Our army was initially built according to German standards. Looking across the world, the German Army's overall capabilities are unquestionably first-rate. I estimate only the French Army can wrestle with it."
Hlaid came from the Defense Force, had once studied in Germany, and had participated in the South African War. At that time, Hlaid had only been in his thirties, so Ander placed considerable trust in his words.
Out of curiosity, Ander asked, "Senior Hlaid, where do you think our East African National Defense Army stands among the world's militaries? And how would it compare with the German and French armies?"
Hlaid had just said that the German Army was first-rate, and that only the French Army could lock horns with it. Yet he had not mentioned the Defense Force's army, which was why Ander asked.
Ander did not believe the East African National Defense Army was inferior, though he mainly meant the army. As for the navy, Britain unquestionably sat firmly upon the throne of world number one. Setting aside the British Royal Navy's quality, no country could independently contend with the