Battle of the Fett River

Merke's assessment was not an exaggeration. Without an electrical system, the Boers had no way to promptly coordinate and organize counterattacks across the various battlefields.

East Africa's telegraph network was unrivaled across all of Africa, while the Boer Republic possessed only one dedicated telegraph line, running from Cape Town to the Kimberley mining district.

Unlike in its previous life, the Boer Republic did not control South Africa's gold mines, so its development in every respect was extremely backward. It also had to sustain a huge military force, leaving virtually nothing for infrastructure construction.

As for the telegraph line in the Kimberley region, it had been built by British merchants in the Boer Republic's only important mineral-producing area, the diamond fields, which were under British control.

The East African National Security Bureau reported all this to the East African government. Thus, the Boer Republic was not only small and sparsely populated, but also truly backward—and such backwardness was exceedingly detrimental to its war effort.

Midnight.

Both banks of the Fett River lay silent. Though it was South Africa's rainy season, the deeply inland banks of the Fett River did not actually see much rain, which brought East Africa a degree of convenience.

East Africa had made ample preparations for crossing the river. From the day it eliminated the Republic of the Transvaal, the East African government had clearly understood how hostile its relationship with the Boers was, so another war between them had been inevitable.

Thus, unlike the British Army at the Tugela River before, which had not even adequately prepared boats, East Africa had drawn up countless plans during peacetime for attacking the Orange Free State. Boats for breaking through the Orange River were indispensable equipment, and nearly every strongpoint held a certain reserve.

This time, East Africa directly