Chapter 380 Unexpected Results On
August 17, 1914, after nearly two weeks of preparation, Australasia officially launched the Pacific Unification War.
Participating in this war were the Army's First and Second Divisions, totaling 32,000 men, and the Navy's three dreadnoughts, Australasia, Australia and New Zealand, and the corresponding fleets.
The specific combat plan is that the 1st and 2nd Divisions will arrive in Australian New Guinea first, and after renovating in Australian New Guinea, they will go to German New Guinea in the north.
German New Guinea was Germany's largest colony in the Pacific and the most fortified of all Germany's Pacific colonies.
According to estimates from the Royal Intelligence Service, there are approximately 1,000 German defenders in German New Guinea. Adding the German residents of New Guinea, it is absolutely no problem to arm at least 2,000 troops.
Arthur will not underestimate the combat effectiveness of the German army. Even the colonial garrison can cause huge casualties to Australasia if it is careless.
It is precisely because of Arthur's attention that not only two divisions were mobilized for this war, but also the main naval escort was also able to provide fire support.
After all, German New Guinea had a large number of islands and archipelagos in addition to the land on the New Guinea Peninsula.
The occupation of these areas requires the assistance of the navy. After all, it is impossible for the army to reach these areas on foot.
On August 18, all troops successfully arrived at Port Moresby, the capital of Australian New Guinea.
After more than ten years of development, this port city has grown into a small city with a population of nearly 70,000.
Although the population seems small, it is already considered the best among all the colonies in Australasia.
Port Moresby currently implements a relatively strict apartheid system. Because most of the local indigenous people are black, in most cases they are not allowed to enter the local cities.
The local indigenous people have their own place to live, which is usually the indigenous living area divided by the colonial government.
Compared with slightly developed cities, some indigenous living areas stand out as dirty, messy and poor.
Fortunately, most of the places where these indigenous people died were construction sites and construction areas. They were cremated and buried after death, so they did not cause infectious diseases such as plague.
After simple repairs in Port Moresby, the First Division and the Second Division divided into two groups and continued northward, entering German New Guinea by land.
The other way is to continue taking a transport ship to Herbert Schöhe, the capital of German New Guinea.
For the capture of colonies like German New Guinea, the main theme was to capture the thief first.
As long as Herbert Schöhe was captured, at least 90% of the inhabitants of German New Guinea would be under Australasian control.
At that time, it will become a matter of course to divide the troops and occupy the entire German New Guinea.
As of now, German New Guinea has approximately 110,000 residents, more than half of whom are Germans, and the others are European immigrants and some of mixed race.
Of the 110,000 people, more than 80,000 live in Herbertshoe, which shows how important it is to control Herbertshoe.
There is good news for Australasia. After the outbreak of war in Europe, Germany and its Pacific colonies were completely cut off.
The Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Oceans were dotted with Allied fleets, and it was basically impossible for the German supply fleet to reach the Pacific.
Even if a fleet really could reach New Guinea, the journey would take at least more than a month.
Judging from the time, at least half a month will be enough for Australasia to occupy German New Guinea.
German New Guinea is still very important. It not only has a population of more than 100,000 and more than one million indigenous people, but also has a wide land area and rich mineral resources.
More importantly, the New Guinea Peninsula, where German New Guinea is located, is the second largest island in Oceania and can also serve as a barrier to northern Australasia.
At the same time, this area was also the springboard for Australasia to reach out to Southeast Asia, because it was adjacent to the Dutch East Indies.
From a strategic perspective, this area is also very similar to the Philippines. This is a huge threat to the Philippines under US control, and it is also a means for Australasia to eliminate US influence in Southeast Asia.
If this peninsula could be completely occupied, Australasia would be very close to the Philippines.
The Philippines under the control of the United States is not stable. With just a little fanning of the flames, the United States is likely to lose this land on the other side of the Pacific.
On August 19, the 2nd Division aboard the transport fleet successfully arrived at Herbertshoe, the capital of German New Guinea. Almost all colonial capitals were located on the seaside. After all, most colonies were not self-sufficient, especially small colonies like German New Guinea, which relied heavily on various supplies transported from Germany.
In order to facilitate the transportation of these materials, establishing colonial capitals in ports has become the first choice for these colonies.
Of course, there is another more important reason, which is that the place where the colonists first arrived was the coast of the colony.
In order to facilitate communication with their mother country, these colonists often established bases near the sea instead of inland far away from the sea.
After all, European colonial exploration relied on strong ships and powerful guns. Establishing land on the seaside not only facilitates leaving at any time, but also facilitates trade with other areas.
As soon as the Australasian troops landed, they immediately attracted the attention of the Germans.
German colonies are not like the colonies of Portugal and the Netherlands. Not only are their coastal defenses very backward, some patrol systems have even collapsed.
But what Fritz Lehner, the commander of the Second Division, did not expect was that the Germans were very calm about the landing of the Australasian troops and did not even organize any effective counterattack and defense.
You know, this is Germany, recognized as the world's number one army power. Although it is only a colony of Germany, who can underestimate the strength of the German army?
Although he was doubtful about the German reaction, Division Commander Fritz moved very carefully and ordered the army to slowly approach the city of Herbertschhe.
After approaching the city, Commander Fritz became even more confused. Because the Germans not only did not have any counterattack, but the city of Herbertschoe even opened its doors, as if it was at the mercy of the emperor.
"General, I am Ulrich, the mayor of Herbertschhe. This is our surrender letter. Please take a look at it." Just as Division Commander Fritz continued to be confused, a politician in a suit and ties walked out of the city. , holding up a document and shouting loudly.
"General?" His subordinates looked at Commander Fritz, waiting for Fritz's decision.
No one can guarantee whether the enemy is deceitful. Therefore, it is better to leave the decision to Division Commander Fritz himself.
If an accident occurs in the future due to misjudgment, such a huge blame is not something that ordinary soldiers can bear.
Commander Fritz looked at the man for a while, and then said: "Bring it here, sir. If it is true, this is naturally the best. I don't want to see a war, I don't want to see both you and me. There were unnecessary casualties.”
Being able to capture this city without any bloodshed is naturally the best outcome.
Taking this city also meant taking the entire German New Guinea. This also means that most of the Australasian Pacific Unification War has been completed. Even if the remaining small German colonies do not surrender, it will be easy to capture them.
When Mayor Herbert Schöhe was still more than 50 meters away from Division Commander Fritz, he was stopped by the guards of Division Commander Fritz.
Mayor Herbert Schöhe had no choice but to hand over the surrender document in his hand to the guard, who asked the guard to pass it to Division Commander Fritz.
Looking at the surrender letter in his hand, Commander Fritz believed most of it.
After all, the Germans don't have too many tricks up their sleeves, and they are not good at strategizing.
Moreover, resistance was indeed unnecessary for the Germans. The conquest of German New Guinea and all German colonies by Australasia was inevitable.
For one reason alone, it is impossible for these German colonies to receive material assistance from Germany. These colonies alone cannot meet the daily life of the colonial population.
Even if Australasia does not attack, but just besieges without attacking, the Germans will suffer internal collapse due to lack of resources.
If they surrender, they might be able to get corresponding prisoner treatment because of Australasia's good relationship with Germany before, and survive the war safely.
Doing so would be the best outcome for both Australasia and Germany. Both sides can avoid unnecessary casualties and bring hatred to both sides, and Australasia can also achieve its strategic goals.
"Your Excellency General, as early as half a year ago, the garrison of Herbert Schöhe, and even most of the garrison of the entire German New Guinea, had been transferred back to Germany. If you don't believe it, you can send your troops everywhere Look. There are no armed forces in the entire Herbertschoe except the police to maintain order." Seeing Division Commander Fritz still looking a little unbelievable, the mayor of Herbertschöhe continued to explain. road.
Division Commander Fritz did not accept Mayor Herbert Scheher's offer to send people to inspect, which prompted Mayor Herbert Scheher to go back and order all police officers with weapons and equipment to leave the city and hand over all weapons and equipment.
The explanation given by Division Commander Fritz was that from now on, the order of Herbert Schöhe would be maintained by the Australasian army, so there would be no need for these armed police with guns.
Mayor Herbert Scheher shook his head with a wry smile and agreed to Division Commander Fritz's proposal.
Soon, more than a hundred policemen from Herbertshohe left the city carrying their weapons and handed over their firearms to the place designated by the Australasian Army.
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(End of chapter)