The risks still remained. Privately trading away national territory could easily be condemned as treasonous. Under normal circumstances, Governor Staveren naturally would not have wanted to take that step, but this was the most exceptional and critical moment, when expediency was required in an emergency.
After hearing Sapiat's request, Brigadier General Traliening's heart stirred restlessly, but he ultimately restrained himself.
He said to Sapiat, "I will report this upward as quickly as possible. Port of Nanning's communications are quite advanced. Mr. Sapiat, if you are not in a hurry to return and report, rest awhile in Port of Nanning and wait for our notice."
How could Sapiat not be anxious? Yet Brigadier General Traliening was unwilling to shoulder the risk, and there was nothing he could do but watch Traliening follow the procedure.
Port of Nanning had an undersea cable laid by East Africa. It was the terminus of the middle section of East Africa's Indian Ocean submarine cable route, as well as the starting point connecting through the Sunda Strait to the Pacific Ocean undersea cable network.
For instance, the Pacific Fleet headquarters on Billiton Island, Lanfang Overseas Province, East Kalimantan, Mindanao, and others all communicated directly with the mainland through this route, thereby bypassing the Strait of Malacca route.
The Strait of Malacca route was mainly responsible for civilian operations.
In short, by this point East Africa had fully established an independent undersea cable network of its own, separate from Britain and capable of covering the entire world.
Brigadier General Traliening's report was swiftly transmitted through the submarine cable to the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Ocean Fleet headquarters in Bagamoyo, on the other side of the Indian Ocean.
It was then reported to Rhine City through the mainland communications system.
Governor Staveren's request immediately drew Crown Prince Friedrich's