Roque shuddered at the thought of the machine-gun positions on the banks of the Somme, and the flesh mill at Verdun.

In terms of individual combat ability, Roque has enough confidence in the troops in southern Africa, even if it is a unit composed of conscripts, because of strict discipline requirements and basic training level, it is a qualified force in Europe.

It is really a drop in the bucket for a professional soldier with strong individual combat effectiveness to be placed on a battlefield in Europe that often involves millions of people.

This era was the era of artillery and giant ships, and the firepower preparation before the launch of each battle lasted for a week or two, and all kinds of shells were thrown out as if they didn't need money, and it was difficult for tens of thousands of troops to change the form of the battlefield.

But as a member of the British Commonwealth, the reinforcements that should be sent still have to be sent, and the posture they should have still has to have, so Roque is ready to send ground troops composed mainly of Africans at that time, and professional soldiers forget it, Roque has no intention of sending it to Europe to participate in the war.

Can't afford to hurt -

I really can't afford to hurt -

Of course, Roque will definitely not say this kind of thing, otherwise let alone what London will think of Roque, Ade will not be able to pass the pass.

The current Ade, although he is already the prime minister of southern Africa, is still infinitely loyal to the British Empire, and Roque really wants to show his alienation from the British Empire, maybe Ade will not oppose it from the position of the prime minister of southern Africa, but disappointment is inevitable.

If only everyone else had it, but Ade, Roque didn't want to disappoint Ade.

Viscount Gladstone was obviously someone else, and hearing Roque's words, Viscount Gladstone immediately became angry.

"Don't look at me like that, I am the deputy minister of defense of southern Africa, the deputy commander-in-chief of the army, and I should start from the interests of southern Africa when considering problems." Roque has good reason, Southern Africa is next to Southwest Africa and Tanganyika, Roque does not guarantee full support for Europe, but if a world war breaks out, Roque can guarantee to occupy Southwest Africa and Tanganyika as soon as possible.

In this way, when the time comes to divide the spoils after the war, Southern Africa can logically claim the interests in South-West Africa and Tanganyika, and when the time comes, it doesn't matter whether it is annexation or trusteeship, anyway, these two places will be decided, and no one can say it.

"You're not a gentleman's behavior, it's not honorable at all." Only then did Viscount Gladstone realize that he had nothing to do with Roque, and could only blame Roque from this point of view.

The current Roque is no longer the patrolman of the Cape Town Police Department.

Southern Africa is not the same as London could dictate at will.

"Lord, I think it's entirely possible for southern Africa to play a bigger role, look at Nyasaland now, we can produce hundreds of rifles, tens of thousands of shells, millions of bullets a day, we can make naval warships including cruisers and destroyers, we can produce artillery, combat vehicles, aircraft, medicines, and all kinds of foodstuffs, gold from Johannesburg, steel from Favart, and even canned food from Rhodesia are all necessary war materials, so southern Africa should play a greater role in these areas, I think that would be of better help to the British Empire, and that the combat positions of the southern Africans would be in the factories, in the workshops, on the design table, and not on the battlefields as that damn cannon fodder. Roque was also angry, if Southern Africa was still the same as Southern Africa before, then it would be recognized that the army would be organized to go to Europe as cannon fodder, but obviously Southern Africa now has greater value and stronger capabilities, but London's positioning for Southern Africa is still cannon fodder, which makes it difficult for Roque to accept it anyway.

"No one wants to be cannon fodder, but when war breaks out, everyone has an obligation to defend their country." Viscount Gladstone was unmoved, Roque was reluctant to send professional soldiers into battle, and Viscount Gladstone was unwilling to see a force of white youth go into battle, but no one had a choice in this matter.

"How much ability to bear as much responsibility, the current British Empire should cooperate with many parties in order to safeguard the interests and status of the British Empire, the lack of human resources in southern Africa, everyone knows this situation, in fact, we don't have to be entangled, the War Department must have a solution." Roque is not in a hurry, it is true that there are few people in southern Africa, but there is a place where there are many people.

Roque is talking about India.

Now India is the most dazzling jewel in the crown of the king.

With India, Britain would have a population of 370 million, which would give Germany an overwhelming advantage of 65 million.

Without India, Britain would have a population of 45 million, which is not even as good as the United States today.

Therefore, the reason why the British government put India in such an important position is that India needs India to contribute to the British Empire.

During the First World War in another time and space, Britain easily organized a force of 2 million people from India to fight in Europe, so Roque was not in a hurry, and Britain really did not lack cannon fodder troops.

Don't use southern Africa as cannon fodder.

Viscount Gladstone must also understand what Roque meant, since Roque made it clear, Viscount Gladstone still has the kung fu to change his face, and the two of them laughed creepy.

Then the two of them tacitly agreed not to mention it again.

Then Viscount Gladstone began to care about the production capacity of southern Africa.

Of course, Roque also had something to say in this regard, Roque was the deputy secretary of defense, not the minister of economy, so Roque asked Viscount Gladstone to ask Ade.

"Hmph, don't think I don't know, since you became Deputy Minister of Defense, all the military industrial enterprises in southern Africa have been concentrated in Nyasaland, the original military factories in Cape Town have also been shut down, and now it seems that they are moving to Rhodesia, right, Matilda City seems to cover an area of more than one hundred and fifty square kilometers, and the number of workers should be quite large-" Viscount Gladstone was calm, this is not a secret, many people know it.

No matter how thick-skinned Roque is, it is a little embarrassing to be exposed in person.

The original arsenal in Cape Town -

In fact, not to mention, the arsenal in Cape Town was still after the outbreak of the Boer War, and the British Expeditionary Force set up two small arsenals in Cape Town in order to produce some military supplies on the spot and repair damaged guns at the same time, one can produce some gunpowder and bullets, and the other can only repair rifles.

After the war, the two factories were useless, and after the establishment of Southern Africa, they were dismantled and all the skilled workers and their families were transferred to Nyasaland, including a dozen technicians from the British Royal Light Weapons Company.

These individuals are now all working for the Nyasaland Arms Group.

"The relocation to the new factory will increase the production capacity of weapons and ammunition to more than three times that of the previous one, and this is only the first phase of the project, and more factories will be put into use in the future—" Roque said not to mention the specific output.

Viscount Gladstone was itching.

"Believe me, if a war breaks out, then maybe it will involve the vast majority of countries in the world, and then the war will definitely be protracted and will not end within a year or two, unless one side completely admits defeat, so southern Africa will definitely show greater value, not only on the battlefield." Roque is not a leak, the British Parliament also has its own judgment on the current situation, and the newspapers in London are clamoring every day to "tame" Germany, are the Germans so easy to tame?

No kidding.

"Yes, we can only watch the world slide into the abyss of war now, but there is nothing we can do." Viscount Gladstone is also very helpless, to this point, personal power can no longer change the inertia of the world, Viscount Gladstone came to Southern Africa as a governor, to put it bluntly, he has been excluded from the decision-making level of the United Kingdom, in fact, it is almost like being assigned.

On this day, the topic of exchange between Roque and Viscount Gladstone was a bit heavy, so the atmosphere at dinner was a bit dull.

After dinner, Viscount Gladstone rests early, and Roque and Phyllis take a walk in the garden.

"Will there really be a war?" Phyllis also cares about the current situation.

Roque nodded silently.

"Will you go to war in Europe?" Phyllis felt a little cold holding her arms.

Roque smiled, took off his coat and draped it over Phyllis, wearing only a shirt himself, and wrapped his arms around Phyllis's shoulders.

"Even if war breaks out again, I won't have to lead my troops into battle—" Roark knew what Phyllis was worried about.

During the Boer War, Roque was involuntarily responsible, so he had to lead the troops to charge.

Definitely not now, even if Roque goes to Europe, he will stay in the rear of safety, and he will definitely not go to the front line as "cannon fodder".

"Gavin and Alvin and I will always support you-" Phyllis is in a very positive state of mind, no matter what Roque chooses, Phyllis will support you unconditionally.

Roark was about to say something when he saw Zach poking his head out of the garden.

Zak brought the bad news that just the day before yesterday, a southern African migrant ship was seized by the Dutch in the Dutch East Indies on the grounds of illegal immigration.

"The living conditions of the Chinese in the Dutch East Indies are very bad, and we have been killed more and more immigrants from the Qing Dynasty in the past two years, so if the Chinese in the Dutch East Indies are willing to come to Nyasaland, we will accept them all, and as a result, more and more Chinese are willing to come to Nyasaland, and the Dutch are powerless to stop it, so they seized our immigration ship - the impounded Ark is an immigration ship from the Qing Dynasty, and there are about 1,200 immigrants on board, and the Ark was originally to be replenished in Medan, and then sailed to Port Edward via Ceylon, But it was rudely detained by the Dutch - "Anton was also indignant when he said it, this was the first time that a migrant ship in Nyasaland had been seized, and it is estimated that the Dutch did not know how horizontal Nyasaland was in southern Africa.

"Southern Africa" here refers to southern Africa.

"What did the Prime Minister say?" Roque is really not angry, even if the Dutch don't trouble Roque, Roque is ready to find trouble with the Dutch, and now the Dutch take the initiative to send it to the door.

Very good!