The Situation in Southern Africa

"The railway is the core of our East African military corridors. Centered around the entire railway system, we can transport troops to wherever we need them as quickly as possible. Just like in the Franco-Prussian War, Prussia kept funneling rear-echelon forces to the front through its railways, leaving the French unable to cope!" The East African General Staff reached the same conclusion.

The East African Army had modeled itself on Prussia. Though it had gone somewhat "off course" now, the core principles remained the same.

After all, East Africa's national conditions differed greatly from those of Prussia, or even Germany as a whole. East Africa's vast territory meant its railway network was destined to be nowhere near as dense as Germany's.

"In fact, even after the Hesse Railway is completed, East Africa's total railway mileage will only surpass fifteen thousand kilometers. That includes many branch lines and mining railways, as well as the Hesse Railway still under construction. In other words, our railways have only reached roughly the same level as Russia's so far," Chief of Staff Svit said.

"Not quite. Russia's railways surpassed thirty thousand kilometers as early as 1880. They may have even more now—probably twice ours," Merke said.

"But don't forget that Tsarist Russia's territory is also twice the size of ours. In terms of railway density, the two countries are therefore at the same level, unless we pursue excessive railway construction like the United States."

After the economic crisis erupted in 1873, railway construction in the United States did suffer a brief setback. Railway companies went bankrupt one after another, and stock prices plunged.

But only a few years later, railway construction in the United States became even more vigorous than before the crisis. By 1880, its total railway mileage had surpassed ninety thousand kilometers.

This