Although the climate was exceptionally harsh, there was a reason Davao had been able to develop into a major Mindanao city with a population of over thirty thousand.
Beyond its geographic advantages, Davao's mineral resources were its pillar industry. Davao and its surrounding areas possessed abundant gold, iron, manganese, and other resources.
This was one of the more resource-rich regions of the Philippines in the previous life. East Africa had always attached great importance to mineral exploration in its overseas colonies, and its prospecting on Mindanao had begun from Davao and Zamboanga, gradually extending northward and inland.
Compared with Lanfang Overseas Province, both East Kalimantan and Mindanao were rich in mineral resources, so East Africa's investment in both regions was relatively high. Most of that effort had been poured into mineral development.
Mineral prospecting in rainforest regions was also rather difficult, and Davao's greatest natural advantage lay in its proximity to the coast.
Davao covered a vast area, with its jurisdiction encompassing the entire region around Davao Gulf. This was an area of active geological activity, plagued by earthquakes and volcanoes, but those same conditions had also created excellent conditions for mineral formation.
East Africa's mineral exploration had thus been carried out along Davao Gulf. Once deposits were discovered, development and transport were remarkably convenient.
October 1917.
Rhine City.
Compared with the British, the French were far more concerned with keeping East Africa from joining the Central Powers camp.
At the French Embassy, Ambassador Thomson was discussing the matter with his subordinates.
"According to the homeland's instructions, under no circumstances can we allow East Africa to join Germany's side. At present, our country is at a disadvantage in the European war. France is not like Britain—after losing, it can still retreat across the Channel. If this war ends in