Chapter 1274 Businessmen in Basra
February 14, 1917.
Port of Basra.
Since the completion of the Baghdad Railway, it has become an artery for trade between East Africa and the Allied Powers.
In the Port of Basra, with the extension of the railway here, the port has also undergone a new round of transformation, but even the transformed Port of Basra obviously cannot meet the current busy business of the Baghdad Railway.
Large cranes and suspension bridges continuously move cargo off the ship, while tens of thousands of dock workers gather here to unload bulk cargo from the ship.
Some important supplies were loaded onto the train as soon as they were unloaded from the ship, and then went directly north along the railway line. Basra Port also gathered a large number of cars and ships to share the pressure on the Baghdad Railway.
Even so, there are still a large number of goods that can only be temporarily stored in the warehouse in Basra, including not only food, cotton, arms and other war preparation materials.
In order to ensure the safety of this lifeline, the Ottoman Empire Navy and the East African Navy patrol the Persian Gulf area at all times.
The main task of the Ottoman Navy is to prevent the British from sneak attacks on the port of Basra, while the East African Navy naturally operates in the surrounding area in the name of escorting its own merchant ships.
The British navy in the Persian Gulf can only be incompetent and furious, just like East Africa faced the English Channel and Suez Canal.
The British navy in the Persian Gulf, or the colonies, obviously does not have the strength of the local navy to challenge the East African Indian Ocean Fleet. The Indian Ocean is the home ground of the East African Navy.
I don’t know when a huge building complex rose up in the Port of Basra. It doesn’t look like a storage area or a residential area, but more like a military zone.
Carr looked at the Basra refugee camp, jumped out of his truck, and came face to face with a column of Allied troops.
It can be seen that they are dressed in Ottoman Army uniforms, but the leader is a German officer.
The German officer, after seeing the convoy of Karl and his entourage, said happily: "Mr. Karl, I have been waiting for you for a long time."
Karl said very familiarly: "Sir Dole, let's not dwell on the past for now. What is the current situation in the Basra refugee camp?"
A German officer named Dole said: "There are currently more than 3,000 immigrants in Basra. Most of them are from Ukraine. All of them are young and strong. At the same time, women account for up to 40%..."
It is not unusual to see German officers at the Port of Basra. After all, the Ottoman Empire is also a member of the Allied Powers, and there are many German instructors in the Ottoman Empire. Dole is one of them. He introduced Karl and other East Africans one by one to the people in the refugee camp. Demographic situation.
East African "Businessman" Karl said: "We will conduct a physical examination on them and evaluate the price according to our standards."
Dole: "Of course there is no problem, but I still hope Mr. Karl can be merciful. After all, in order to support the daily operations of this refugee camp, we are also under tremendous pressure."
The so-called refugee camp is actually a den for selling stolen goods. After all, it is impossible for Europeans to set up a refugee camp in the Ottoman Empire on the coast of the Indian Ocean.
The towering walls, barbed wire fences, numerous guard towers, and soldiers with guns and live ammunition all show that this "refugee camp" is actually more like a concentration camp.
Karl said: "Of course, as long as you don't do anything, we will naturally not raise the threshold."
Dole assured: "We will definitely not adulterate. After all, in Europe today, human life is the least valuable thing. There are many refugees in the areas occupied by the allies. We also transported them to Basra after careful selection. .Except for some refugees who are acclimatized, other physical qualities can definitely meet your needs.”
Karl said: "Whether they are qualified or not, they still have to pass the test of our medical staff. After all, these refugees come from war zones, and since ancient times, diseases may occur in war zones. We obviously cannot afford such risks."
Hearing Karl's words, the corner of Dole's mouth twitched, and he cursed in his heart, what a small business, from the establishment of the Basra... refugee camp to today, Karl has bought more than 30,000 refugees from him!
However, Dole still said: "Mr. Karl, don't worry. If there is a problem, it will happen in Basra. We have a complete response plan. Your worries are unnecessary."
Karl said: "What is more or not is naturally judged by our personnel. Compared with you, I am more willing to believe in professional medical personnel." Subsequently, Karl's medical personnel began to screen the refugees in the refugee camp, but the final result Still very satisfying.
A medical staff wearing a mask and a white coat reported: "Boss, according to our tests and statistics, the vast majority of them are quite healthy, and only 18 of them have some minor problems."
Karl's official identity is the owner of a labor service company, so the people below also call him that.
Karl asked: "What's the little problem?"
The subordinate replied: "Thirteen of them have physical disabilities, and three have visual impairment. In addition, there are two who may not be accustomed to the climate and are in a bad mental state."
"Is physical disability a big problem?" Karl asked.
The subordinate said: "There shouldn't be any big problem. According to our judgment, they are all skin wounds left in the war."
"In this case, except for the two who were acclimated, others began to distribute contracts to them, sign them, and press their fingerprints without knowing how to read."
Ukraine is an agricultural area of Russia, especially Western Ukraine under the occupation of the Allies. The economy is underdeveloped and the illiteracy rate is naturally high.
To put it bluntly, 99% of those who can be sent to the Basra refugee camp are illiterate Russians who cannot even write their names.
Subsequently, under Karl's arrangement, one by one Ukrainians began to sign their names on the contract, or put their fingerprints on the contract.
As expected, most Ukrainians can't even write their names, so more than 90% of contracts have red fingerprints.
With the work proceeding in an orderly manner, Dole, who was waiting on the side, finally said: "Mr. Carl, now that these procedures have been completed, how about your payment?"
Karl said: "Sir Dole, don't worry, this is the agreement we have drawn up. You confirm it first. After both of us confirm it is correct, I will sign it. You can take this agreement and go to the second terminal of Basra Pier." Warehouse No. 103 is exchanging supplies.”
So Dole picked up the agreement that Carl had prepared and read it carefully. Then he frowned and said, "Mr. Carl, why is the price this time so much lower than last time?"
Karl explained: "We need more women. Women only account for 40% of the refugees this time. Naturally, it cannot be the same as last time. If you can provide more female refugees, then we can naturally provide a higher number." price.”
After hearing Karl's explanation, Dole's frown relaxed and he said, "Mr. Karl, don't worry, we will definitely provide more female refugees next time."
Karl emphasized: "Young, healthy female immigrants!"
For Dole, this was obviously just a small problem. He said categorically: "No problem, we can provide you with as many refugees as you want. People of all ages and situations are no problem."
Hearing this, Karl stretched out his hand with a smile and said: "Then I wish us happy cooperation in the future!"
"Happy cooperation!" Dole said, holding his hand.
After both sides confirmed that the information was accurate, Karl's men, with the help of Ottoman soldiers, successfully escorted the refugees to the vehicles.
Dole also took the "check" issued by East Africa and went to the warehouse built by the East African government in Basra to obtain supplies.
This was an immigration trade, in which the Allies exchanged Russians for various materials they needed from East Africa.
(End of chapter)