Of course, the development of the East African Navy in the 1870s was also a last resort. Ernst wanted to proceed with gradual development, but knowing the global situation, he could not afford to hesitate.
At that time, the demand of the East African Navy was to be able to take shape in a short period and form combat capability to cope with the severe national defense situation of the 1880s.
After all, Ernst knew that the 1880s was a peak period for the expansion of great powers worldwide, and the African continent was a key area. In this case, the East African Navy must have a certain scale and strength to maintain East Africa's substantial interests, and it was apparent that building a relatively strong navy in a short time came at a cost.
However, fortunately, the East African Navy excelled in fulfilling its historic mission, withstanding the pressure of the British Royal Navy during the South African war.
