Seeing Them Off

New Hamburg Port.

Most of war-ravaged New Hamburg City had now been repaired. With some Portuguese-organized Black auxiliary troop prisoners serving as laborers, East Africa had done a fairly good job restoring New Hamburg City and Maputo.

Today's New Hamburg City was even busier than before the war. Dozens of British and Portuguese ships docked here every day, taking away POWs stranded in East Africa.

"General Roberts, I hope you'll come visit East Africa again next time. We East Africans welcome our friends," Merke joked to the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, who was about to return to Britain.

Count Roberts smiled bitterly. "This time, when I return home, I fear the outlook is grim. I probably won't remain in the army for long either. If I get the chance, I'll definitely come here again—to this land that let me taste failure as well."

As the Allied Forces' supreme commander in the South African War, Count Roberts would certainly face difficulties after returning home, though he would not bear the entire blame alone.

After all, he had his previous achievements to stand on, as well as extensive connections in Britain. His ending would not be too miserable, but rising to a position of great authority again would be difficult.

Although East Africa and Britain had "reconciled," this was not the outcome the British Government had wanted. In practical terms, Britain had already lost the South African War, and its suppression of East Africa had completely failed.

Still, through negotiations, it had preserved the integrity of the Cape Colony. That offered some small comfort.

Watching groups of jubilant British soldiers, Count Roberts felt nothing but bitterness. Human joys and sorrows did not flow together.

The British POWs now knew they could finally leave this godforsaken place called South Africa and go