The Kingdom of Italy had been left harried and bedraggled by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and France fared no better. Yet compared with the Italian government, the actions of the newly established Third Republic of France were downright contemptible.
The French Government of National Defense had attempted to collude with Prussia to prevent the revolutionary movement from continuing to develop, and had already begun secret negotiations with Bismarck. At this time, intimidated by pressure from the French people, it had been forced—after dragging its feet for a long time—to take measures to strengthen Paris's defenses. Yet when the German army advanced on Paris, it was as though they had entered an uninhabited land.
Southeastern Botswana.
"Across the river is Boer territory!" Jacob said as he looked at the gently flowing Limpopo River.
The Limpopo River was the objective of this southern campaign. It rose near Johannesburg in South Africa, then looped northwest in a great arc through Botswana before turning east and flowing into the Indian Ocean.
The entire river was divided into three sections. Its upper tributaries carried little water and were mostly intermittent rivers; its middle reaches cut through the marginal mountains of the South African Plateau, with many waterfalls, rapids, and shoals; its lower reaches flowed through plains.
Mozambique downstream was not the Kingdom of East Africa's target. The East African expeditionary force had watered its horses along the middle and upper reaches, and the Limpopo River could serve as a natural geographical boundary.
In practical terms, the Kingdom of East Africa was using the Limpopo River to cut Botswana and Zimbabwe of the previous life away from Boer influence.
"Yes, Boer farms. Though most of it is wasteland, the areas they had staked out were enormous. If the Limpopo River had not blocked their path of