THE BELGIANS IN EAST AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3012, 24 February 1917, Page 11

THE BELGIANS IN EAST AFRICA

HOW THEY HELPED

OCCUPATION OF TABORA

Router's Agonc.y , recently received from ono who was proaent a dramatic account of the eiikj; of tho Belgian 'Army into Tabora and the final flight of the Germans into the marshy region in .tho south, whero they are now gradually being rounded up. It is extraordinary that relatively so small a. force as that, under the command of General Tombonr should have attempted a. feat which to many seoraed almost, impossible. In this connection a tribute is paid to tlio loyalty of tho King of Uganda, who supplied for this army, 15,000 porters under their own chiefs,.-all this transport being under the command of British officers from Uganda. Four days before tho fall of Tabora those who were in tho town heard heavy gun-fire resulting from a day's engagement which was tailing place some distance to the north. That evening tho Germanß ran up tho white flag and began to evacuato the place. Tho fact, however, that a stray cow got on to the railway, and, upsetting some trucks, caused a stoppage of traffic, compelled tho Germans to return, and on doing so they found thai their position was not so bad as they had at first thought. they hauled down the white, flag and again raised the German, ensign. ' ' Occupation of Tabora. During the nest few days the Belgian Arnvy from the west made further' progress, aud after a slight engagement in the early morning tho Germans found that their position was untenable, and that if they remained they would be caught between the two Belgian columns. Accordingly they packed off and cleared to the south and east, leaving behind them in Tabora about 160 military whites (Germans) in hospital, two-thirds of whom werein reality quite ablo to leave. In addition they loft behind them <a largo number of civilian men and women, also Germans. At. the earliest possible moment'a considerable number of the German military discarded their uniforms and dressed .in civilian clothes. The Belgian advance guard reached the town about eleven in .the morning, .and the main force came in during tho afternoon. For -months the ("Belgian columns had been fighting and march-ing'-under" the '• greatest "difficulties, often' through dense, hush and swamps, from which in some oases soldiers could not be extricated. The German white flag was at once hauled down and replaced by tho Belgian flag at the big fort." • . .' The scene was one of the "greatest enthusiasm and Tejoicing. Thousands of Africans and Arabs who had Seen

under Gorman rule turned out to welcome tho Belgians, and tho whole town was ablazo with British, French, Belgian, and Italian flags. Tho scone, as tho thousands of Belgian _ troops, inarching oiglvfc abreast, came in, occasionally singing wild chants, was most impressive, and tho nien all sCeined in good condition considering the groat hardships thoy.had undergone. Cerman Treaohery. The Bolgian commanders allowed full liborty to the German civilians • who had been left behind, hut in a few days tho found that their confidence had been misplaced and that the enemy had begun to stir up tho nativos to revolt, and also to cut tho tolographs. Thoso of military age were then interned m a civilian camp. Tho natives all over German East Africa welcomed the advance of tho Allied troops, and even the Gorman native soldiers in mauy cases said that they were tired of serving the Germans. Ovor and ovor again large numbers of German troops wcro prepared to run away. Tho Germans always regarded the labora district, as boing the most loyal and depdndablo jln their colony, yet when tho Germans endeavoured to recruit men from the great Sultans in the neighbourhood they wore entirely unsuccessful The big chiefs point blank refused to supply any people either as soldiers or as porters. Later on thoy oven secretly proposed a scheme whereby they should wipe out all German men, women and children, saying that they would no longer Bubnivt to German tyranny. In reply they were toly that the British and Belgians would soon have control of the country, whereupon tyranny would cease, lie fall of the German inland capital was £5e cause of general rejoicing among the natives, and the common cry was: "Tho people of lo 1 have gone away. May they never return." (The 15 refers to the minimum number of lashes given for trivial offences.) ' . ,T ' It is a significant fact that in this region, the only one where Germans had any real hold, tie whole iof the population should have rejoiced at $e overthrow of ttfeir former rulers. German Askaris deserted in wholesale fashion, and even before the fall of Tabora. sufficient men to form a couplo of regiments -went over to the Allies. The'natives declare that the_ Germans do not know what justice is. They would regard with terror any possibility of their return, for they know what that would mean. In one district where a. small British column, temporarily cccupied tho country and ; were welcomed by the natives tho latter were massacred when tho Germans returned. , The enemy adopted every possible dovice to give the campaign the character of a, holy war, but were entirely unsuccessful., had! the green Mahomedari flag proclaiming a Jehad flown at all railway stations, yet at the same time they issued instructions to district commissioners to soe that the people bred pigs. Try Queen's Oak Bar, Cuba Street, io* dainty luncheons.—Advt..