THE NAVY IN CENTRAL AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3039, 28 March 1917, Page 5

THE NAVY IN CENTRAL AFRICA

J__ : 10,000 MILE JOORNEY TO LAKE TANGANYIKA SOME EXPERIENCES A member of the British naval expedition to Lake Tanganyika, which has now returned to England, has related Eome of his romantic experiences to the "Oentral News," "The African naval expedition," he stated, "composed of 27 offioers and men under Commander Spicor Simson, R.N. (now D.5.0.), left England in Juno. 1915, taking with them two small armoured motor-boatSj. the Mimi .and the Tou-tou, each armed with a threepounder and a maxim, gun, the object being to co-operate with the Belgians and drive the Germans off Lako Tanganyika. These boats were taken aorosa country from Cape Town through the heart of the Congo bush by traction haulage, oxen, and nativo labour. Roads had to bo made and nastily constructed bridges thrown across rivers and gorges until the River Lualaba was reaohcd. Here a river voyage of 850 miles-lay in front of them, and after a journey, of nearly 10,000 miles the boats were put into the lake on Christmas Eve.

"Chrißlmas Day was occupied in fixinE guns in position, and on Boxing Day the Mimi and Tou-tou ohased and captured the German gunboat Kineani, after an action lasting barely 15 minutes. A few weeks later the German'gunboat Von Wissmann was sunk bv the British flotilla. This practically finished the Germans on the lake, the climax being reached when they blew np ( their remaining vessels and abandoned the lake, leaving it ia the hands of the British and Belgians.

"Having finished their job, the expedition left Bismarckburg for their return journey to England/on October 21, 1916. Trekking through the. forest of . North Rhodesia] they found abundant sport, lions, elephants, leopards; buffalo, and varieties of buck abounding. On their camping ground eaoh night larce fires were lighted to keep off lions, whose growls could bo heard in the darkness. Native villagers turned out in hundreds to welcome the whito men, bringing gifts of fowls, eggs, and native beer. Often tho villagers accompanied the expedition for considerable distances, danoing along and einging the praises- of the white men.

"After a thirteen days' maroli the party arrived at the River Lukuroo.' Here a fleet of 160 'dug-outs'—-canoeß made of hollowed-out tree-trunks and paddled by natives—awaited them. By means of these canoes thev reaohed the swamps of .L.ake. Banguelo. "The expedition ."o»mped on the bank of the river each evening, always taking caro to get the evening mejjl otex before darkness oame on, as, owing to the swarms of mosquitoes, flies, and flying beetles, attracted by lights, a meal bv artificial light was quite impossible. Often during the night tho camp.had to be shifted, owing to tho unpleasant attentions of millions of ants, moving from an old aboiJs jio a new one, swarming over everything. The bite of these ant* was distinctly painful, the only_ remedy being to go and stand in the river up to one's neck and rub the ants off one's body.

"In these parts there was a marked difference in the attitude of the natives, who in great fear fled into the bush on the appearance of the white men. Prom Lake Banguelo the party wero glad to £et into the River Lua■nulu, and from there a. sliort' trek took them io the railhead" of N'Dolo."