Southward

All of this was understandable. After all, sea powers and land powers placed their emphasis differently, and East Africa currently attached far greater importance to its army than to its navy.

Although East Africa's standing army was not as numerous as those of Europe's great land powers, it was still not something Britain's hastily assembled domestic reservists could compare to.

Britain's standing army numbered only a little over a hundred thousand, with the homeland and India accounting for the overwhelming majority. Its regular forces naturally could not be deployed to the South African battlefield in large numbers, since it had to remain vigilant against changes in the European situation and ensure the security of its various colonies.

Thus, the British troops under Count Roberts could hardly be considered elite. Most were reservists or men temporarily conscripted from the homeland.

Although East Africa had also temporarily added around one hundred thousand reservists to army service, many East African reservists had military experience. While they had not fought any major battles, they had seen no shortage of smaller engagements. Even many recruits had undergone long-term military training, something reflected specifically in East Africa's compulsory education system.

Zambezi River defense line.

East Africa's breakthrough of the Zambezi River had not required much effort, because there were simply too few Allied troops on the opposite bank to sustain any resistance against the East African Army.

"At present, our forces heading south total four divisions, including the newly formed 221st Division. The 221st Division belongs to the Northern Military Region, while the other three divisions belong to the Eastern Military Region: the 111th Division stationed in the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone, the 112th Division formerly stationed on the Zambezi River defense line, and the 122nd Cavalry Division from Dodoma," said Rosenwill, commander of the