The Rise of the Empire

Chapter 285: The Boers are in action!

"This will be the largest mobile corps in the world. There is no one." When Calypte looked at the horse team that could not be seen, he couldn't help but sigh. He had already had a high estimate of the number of Boer horses. During the Franco-Prussian War, four German soldiers could be assigned to one horse. So, double the Boer army, with an average of 2 infantry divided into one horse, right? But what he didn't expect was that he still had a picture of Tucson!

; Even in the ordinary army formation, a Boer infantry can carry 2 horses, one for riding and one for carrying his own supplies... On average, a soldier can be divided into more than 2 horses. This is not even the horses of various logistics units! (This paragraph is basically true. The Boers who fight in the homeland do have one man and two horses. At least that's the case at first.)

; In the two Boer Republics and the Eastern Cape, the Boers are basically concentrated areas, where the Boers can get food and horses at any time. When the time came to October 1898, after the winter had passed, the Boers finally decided to challenge the world's most powerful empire for their freedom and property.

The main force of the Boer Corps from Transvaal, about 20,000 people, is heading towards the Ladysmith area under the command of President Kruger, and they are accompanied by the 3,000 American Volunteer Corps commanded by Pershing. As an ally, the Orange Free State stated that it would block all British forces attacking the Boer Republic from other directions.

"Sure enough, the British concentrated almost all their elite troops in the Eastern Cape in Ladysmith." When the investigators returned the intelligence, Kruger let out a sigh. Everything was planned as planned before the war. Whether it's yourself or the British.

; With the help of Germany, the military strength of the Boers has developed greatly in a few years. At the same time, the British are not idle. You can question the efficiency of the British government, but you cannot question the ability of the British intelligence agencies. The intelligence of the Boer Republic has been continuously transmitted from South Africa to London. Although there are many errors, it does not prevent the British from having a general understanding of the Boer Army.

; "The Boers have realized the modernization of the military with the help of some countries, and the old militia system has become a thing of the past. According to the current situation and the financial resources of the Boers, once a war breaks out, they can completely integrate one. The light infantry division and several highly mobile cavalry units already have a certain amount of machine guns, semi-automatic rifles and mortars. If guerrilla warfare is carried out, it will be very troublesome. Therefore, once the war starts, we must launch an active attack. Let the Boers be forced to fight with us.” Major General Buhler, commander of the British Army in South Africa, wrote in the telegram.

; From a series of information, the British have the following understanding of the military strength of the Boers. First, the Boers can organize at least 50,000 troops in wartime. After the war, the military strength will be temporarily superior. Second, the Boers will be very mobile, and they are likely to get a horse for each. Third, they lacked heavy artillery, and they were not the opponents of the British.

; When the talks of Bloemfontein failed, both sides intensified their respective preparations. This time the British did not think that a few thousand people could sweep the entire Boer Republic as they did in history. They regarded their opponent as a middle agricultural country, and they deployed troops from various places to strengthen South Africa's military.

Once mobilized, the United Kingdom was still terrible. A complete division was drawn from the British mainland, and a cavalry brigade and two infantry regiments and some artillery from India were as early as the third day after the failed Bloemfontein talks. The mobilization has been completed. A total of 19 groups of troops drawn by the British from Egypt, Sudan, Gibraltar, Canada and even Australia began to concentrate in South Africa.

The original plan was that Kruger planned to postpone the war time by two to three years. In his opinion, although the armaments of the two Boer republics have been completed, the Boers under the British rule in the Eastern Cape still lack enough. If possible, he intends to use the remaining time to arm some of these compatriots under British rule, but unfortunately, when the British decided to fight, the situation in South Africa quickly tilted towards the British side. Ruger doesn't want to fight but wants to fight!

; When the war officially began, both sides failed to complete the final preparations. The British had concentrated a strong combat force on the east coast of South Africa. Under the command of General Buhler, the total force was about 10,000. The army went to the front line of Natal, which was located at the junction of the two Boer Republics. According to the original plan, they would cooperate with the main British forces in the south to launch a side attack.

However, it is a pity that the Boers first launched an offensive before the main British forces in the south were concentrated. The Buller Legion at their waist was naturally the first target to be removed! According to their own estimates, the British have nearly one division, a regular regiment equipped with complete artillery and cavalry. There should be no problem facing the Boers. Although the opponent may have a larger number, the British firmly believe that they have an advantage in artillery~www. lightnovelpub.net~ Even if Natal can't hold on the front line, he can retreat to Ladysmith.

Therefore, the first large-scale battle between the two sides began. Both sides are full of confidence in themselves. The movement speed of the Boers, which can almost be called full cavalry, exceeded the expectations of the British. With some personnel and materials moving by rail, the remaining large number of infantry moved quickly by riding and finally arrived before the British. Spin Mountain, and successfully occupied it.

Although the size and level of equipment of the British are far beyond the historical level, the huge force and heavy equipment also slowed down the pace of the British. When Buhler successfully arrived at Ladysmith with the main force, the follow-up became more general. The supplies and shells are still staying in Durban Port... The horses and livestock of the Boers can be pulled directly from the farm, but the British have nowhere to find them if they want to collect them!

"We were suddenly attacked without completing our preparations." After the war, Buhler described his experience as such, but before the fighting broke out, the British general was still confident. Knowing that the Sping Mountain Pass had been lost, the opponent had poured in, and the Natal line was dead in name, Buhler still decided to fight the opponent in the wild.

; Of course, I have to admit that he also has his difficulties. It is easy to hide in the city, but there is no complete British army in the entire Eastern Cape. If the opponent surrounds himself , And concentrating their forces to attack other places, the British had no way!

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