IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 6, 2 October 1917, Page 8

IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS

—_ EXPERIENCES OF A NEW ZEALANDER IN GERMAN EAST AFRICA Whilst", the big war is going 011 in Europe, a vigorous campaign is proceeding against the Hun forces in German Hast Africa, and latest "accounts from that theatre convey tho satisfactory news that tlie onomy is falling back on bis ( whole front. Among tho British troops who have been operating there, is Sergeant Fred. S. Harris, of the Motor Cycle Corps, and third son of Mr. and Mrs.' T. Harris, of • Palmerston North, l'rior to leaving New Zealand, Sergeant .H arris served his time as a printer in the Woodville "Examiner" office, and later worked on liis-fatber'e farm at Fitzherbert. On reaching South Africa, he ■ settled at Koodcpoort. where lie acquired a partnership in the Model Printiug 1 Company, and later became a prominent member of tho local Chamber of Commerce and Fire Brigade. On the outbreak of war lie-joined the Motor Cy- ; clists, and was taken prisoner in February last, whilst _ operating with General ' Nortliey's force in Central Africa, in an . action in which Lieutenant-Colonel Fairweather was killed and the motor-cyclist ! section suffered heavy casualties. ■ Sergeant Harris, who has now been released, has been able to supply his parents with some interesting particulars of his captivity. Writing, after his release from captivity, from Tabora, he states: "No doubt it will have been in the papers long before this reaches you that the Germans did not kill me. I was released on May. 24, but had to promise to remain at the spot for forty-eight hours. We had thirty miles to inarch, and left at 5 a.m. on May 27, reaching Nyahua, a railway siding about 55 miles from Taliora, on the 28th." Sergeant' Harris describes how he was attacked by fever after his arrival in camp, and adds: "Ifc is strange that I collapsed, as I have put in a very strenuous twelve months with no fever, having motored about 2500 miles with, the Northern Force, inarched 300 miles with the Southern Force, and over 600 miles with - the German Force. ' "I am the only one alive who was with the* Colonel when he was killed. Cyclist Homan, mortally wounded, died three days after, and he would have pulled through with proper attention, bnt when a man has his leg badly shattered above the knee, and- is carried by two exhausted porters up and down steep hills, one can expect nothing else. The Colonel and poor Homan were buried with military honours, Captain Wintgens,_of rthe German Forces, reading the" burial service, and a company ot Askaris forming the firing party. Corporal A. Staples, who was riddled with bullets, and Homan. belong to my platoon, and were two of the finest fellows one could meet; "We were taken prisonor on February' 18, and nine of us kept going until May 24. From February to March 25 and the first week in April it rained incessantly, and as we had to pack seventeen in a leaky tent, we did not look forward to the nights with much pleasure. We usually marched in captivity from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., twenty-five miles, on two mealies, raining most of the time, uirough rivers, gorges, etc. From. 5.4 p.m. to 12 midnight, through six miles of swamps, knee-deep. Another good march ' wo made was three hours one day and. four hours the following day through the Kigive swamps, the'water being from' 3in. to 6ft. deep. This wo did rn our boots and helmets, carrying our shirte and shorts on our heads. "Our coifee was made of green native corn, roasted and then ground. Sugar and tea were conspicuous by their; absence; salt, a spoonful' a week; meat, plentiful. From March IS we received a iStte meal, somo of it one-third 6and, which gave the men colio. We managed a few pumpkins, and, once or twice, monkey-nuts. "Most of our marching was done through marshy country, and we crossed about u hundred rivers. We hove slept in. kraals, and. the vermin and .mosquitoes, not to..6ay smells, . were awful. The German force we-joined lived on the country, and when they j passed through a native village' it looked as it a couple of swarjns of locusts had been there. This force was composed of 500 Askaris, about 55 Germans, 20 machineguns, and - 3 one-pounders, but by the time' we severed our connection with it the contingent'' had been considerably reduced. This-column lived from hand to mouth, and naturally carried very few rations. ' There was an average of 800 porters, the majority of whom were tied up in fours and 6ixes with telephone wire, chains, or hides.' If one escaped the' two boys next, to him .reoeived twenty-five lashc3 each. Tvith a heavy , sjambok. , ' "All British black troops s on being captured were tied together, and m d. week of two wo noticed th&ti their uniforms had been taken, from them, md that they were carrying, loads. Many ot the porters died of exhaustion and exposure, and one frequently saw them dead on the side of the road, having marched till they dropped. _ , _ ' "The German Askaris are fed on promises, and are'under the impression that if they are captured or surrender the British will treat them the same as the ~ British Ashkaris are treated when captured. These Askaris are very proud and would fight to the i.e&tn than carry Joads." , , Mr Harris, sen., who has two other sons'on active, service, received a further letter from Sergeant- Harris, stating that he was quite well, and wag at .Durban, on his way home .to Koodepoort.