CONQUEST OF GERMAN EAST AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 127, 15 February 1918, Page 5

CONQUEST OF GERMAN EAST AFRICA

A COMPLETE VICTORY GENERAL VAN DEVENTER HONOURED It is gratifying to be able to announce that German East. Africa is now ours, and that the object of this long-drawn-out struggle has at length been accomplished (writes a correspondent from Pietermaritzburg to the ''Sydney Horning Herald"). It has a seaboard of -UK) miles, and is twice the size of the Fatherland itself. Of the enemy iorccs none remain in, German East Africa, and General von' Lettow is a fugitive, with SCO white and 1500 black troops, in the happy hunting ground of Portuguese East Africa. The rounding up of the German fugitives should, of course, be Portugal's job. I suppose wo must allow for tho fact that the Iberian Republic is at present in a- state of upheaval, but in any caso "our ancient ally" is no match for tho Hun, not even for the fugitive Hun, and British forces aro now chasing von Lettow a good many miles south of tho river Rovuma, which lis the Porto-German boundary. Tho j position, therefore, is that tho campaign in German East Africa is ended, and that General van Deventer's success is only incomplete in so far as he has had to leave German territory to enter tho Portuguese province of Mozambique ill order to round up tho flitting Gennan remnant. Like the brave Nervili, who were exterminated by Caesar, von Lettow has declared, so it is said, that ho will die rather than surrender. Tho final smashing blow for the enemy was, of course, the enveloping of Commandant Tafel's western force of 2000 rifles. This envelopment was due to the combined and skilful strategy of Generals Deventer and Northey. 'Tho latter attacked Tafel so strongly that ho was compelled to move down south, where ho vainly strovo to join up with von Lettow. Instead of doing this, Tafel crossed tho track of Deventer's leading columns, and so, finding no cutlet, ho surrendered unconditionally on November 27—exactly a month ago. Tho British successes in tho operations during the month of November sealed the defeat of the German forces. During the month wo captured 1212 European troops, 3191 Askari troops, three field guns, and 35 machine-guns. During the two months of October and November the results were that an area of 300 by 500 miles of enemy territory was cleared of tho enemy, and 54 machine-guns captured, .besides two 4in. guns, nine field guns, and one howitzer. Previous to his surrender Tafel had destroyed 30 machineguns and two small field guns. During these operations Vhe Belgians havo been co-operating with General Northey's force.

German East Africa being now iu complete British occupation, .General Deventer has been able to demobilise a largo portion of his forces. Practically all the South African units are returning to the Union, and • several havo already done so. The Bth South African Infantry lias returned, and has been disbanded at Pretoria. The troops had a good deal to say about their second visit to German East. They eay it has' been nothing but fight, fight, fight, and fever, fover, fever, all the time, and with no respite. But I think the fever has been far and away their worst enemy. Thoy say it has been bush lighting all tho way. and that most of the time thoy could not see 20 yards in front of them. The country is a bad malarial one, and, although they • were on this occasion well looked after in tho matter of food, they say they had a rougher time than in the first year of tho campaign, and practically everyono had fevor at one time or another.

With severe fighting day after day through hill and hußh, they simply wore the Germans down. iSuch is their report. The men of the Bth express themselves as being keen on volunteering for service in Europe, but they will take a long time to recuperate in order to be fit. Tho colonol commanding the Bth Regiment boavs tho appropriate army namo of Atkins. Ho is a ripperary man, and commenced his military career an tho Cheshire Rogimont. Ho served through ths Boer War, and has been continually at it since the present world' conflict began. Dar-es-Salaam has been for most of this month a happy huge camp of returned victorious troops. They all deserve rest and recuperation, and a reception of tho beßt. Tho conquest of German East Africa, though accomplished at last, has not but, however long or short a lima it been marked by any dramatic finale, but, however long or short a timo ifc may be before wo aro able to capture or otherwise dispose of Von Lettow and his few followers now "roaming in the gloaming," it is a matter of comparatively little importance. There has been no official celebration in South Africa- of tho conquest of German East Africa. There should bo some celebration considering the leading part that South Africa has taken in it, but I presume tho Government want to get Von Lettow— alive or dead —before they ask the people to celebrate- tho victory. There has, howover, been an early celebration at Durban, which enjoyed a festal half-holi-day all 011 its own.

His Majesty the Kino; honoured the conquest of tho last German African possession by conferring ■upon General van Deventev the Knight Conuiiandersliip of the Bath.