April 15, 1915.
Port of Luanda.
Since the development of East Africa's West Coast, the route by which the French came to East Africa had also changed. In the past, France, like most other countries, had to first sail to Dar es Salaam city on the East African East Coast, then transfer to the railway to reach East Africa's capital.
Now, however, the French could reach the East African mainland simply by following the Atlantic Ocean, without detouring through the Mediterranean Sea. This was far more convenient for France.
"Special Envoy Thomson, it has truly been a long time!" East African Foreign Minister Friel said to Thomson.
"Hello, Your Excellency Friel. You look even more distinguished than before," Thomson said to Friel with a smile.
The two were old acquaintances. Thomson had been the former French Ambassador to East Africa, so they had often dealt with one another back in Rhine City.
As Thomson looked at the increasingly prosperous Luanda City, he could not help sighing. "When I left East Africa back then, I returned to France from Luanda. Looking at it now, Luanda is even more prosperous than before. I believe that once the war ends, Luanda will have international renown no less than Dar es Salaam city!"
The outbreak of the First World War could be said to have fitted the urban economies of East Africa's West Coast with an engine. Across the entire Atlantic Ocean, the most triumphant now were East Africans and Americans.
Luanda had also become the vanguard of East African exports to Western Europe, North America, South America, and West Africa. In East Africa's urban development in 1914, it surpassed the capital, Rhine City, and for the first time claimed first place in East Africa for economic growth.
Not only were there East African