BOOKS OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 140, 8 March 1919, Page 11

BOOKS OF THE DAY

The War in East Africa. General Smuts, that most strenuous of South African politicians, (nice Britain's determined enemy, but nov one of her most loyal and useful servants, contributes an interesting introduction to .Geiieral J. H.V. Crowe's hook. 011 "CI 011erol .Smutscampaign-in Kast Africa," . which .has'- just been udded- to .Toliu Mur:ray's Imperial Library : (London: John Murray, per Whitcombo and Tombs). :General Sniuts's general exposition of the .special difficulties- of tho British campaign ■•in Geirman East Africa emphasises' the -stupendous obstacles with which the troops had to contend. "It is impossible (says General-{Smuts) for tiioso unacquainted with Qermun East ■Africa to realiso the physical,..transport, and. other.'difficulties of. tho advance over this, magnificent country of unrivalled scenery' ail fertility,' consisting of great mountain systems,'alternating ;\vith' jnisie plains,, with a. great rainfall and wide unbridged rivers in- tho regions of tho mountains, and insufficient surface .water on. the plains for tho needs of an army; with magnificent bush and primeval forest everywhere. pathleßS tracks,' oxceDt for the., .spoor of the elephant or the narrow- footpaths of, the natives: the malaria mosquito everywhere, except, on- the. highest plateaux;-everywhere- belts infeste'd Svith tho''deadly tsetse fly, which makes an;end of all'animal transport; the ground'almost cvorywhore a rich black or'red' cotton soil, which - any transport converts- into mud in the rain,/or-dust in -the drought. . . . . Unseasonable rains "cut oft expeditions .for. weeks from" their' supply basos; 'animals died by the thousand after, -passing "through an-unknown "fly"-belt; mechanical transport got' bogged in tho ■marshes,.held un by;bridges washed away ■or. mountain passes demolished by heavy, floods,' ;. ■; 'flooda. .But-the gallant boys, marching far ahe'aj. under tlie pitiless African sun, with the fever Taging in their blood; pressed ever -, on after the- retreating-enemy, often on ranch reduced rations, and withotrfc any of tho small, comforts'which in this.climato are real necessities. Ip tho ator.v of human endurance this campaign deserves 0. very special place, and' tlio heroe3 who went through it uncomplainingly, doggedly, are-entitled to all recognition and reverence. Their commander-in-chief will.remain eternally 'proud of thorn. • ' .General. Smuts clpSes his preface .with ■!the fervoiit hope.tliat "a lnnd ; whcro so many of. our heroes lost their lives or their health, where under the most terrible and exacting conditions human loyalty and. human servico-were poured:out. 60 lavishly-in a great Cause, may never to allowed to becomo a monaco to thefuture peaceful • development of tho •world.'---■ Had Gormany won tho war it .is easy to see, after reading■ ■ General Smuts s -preface (written in February, 1918), ho\y widespread and fraught with terrible-disaster to tho British Empiro ivould have been the consequences of such :ft victory. Says ..tho Gwioral;Tho enemy's stubborn defehco of ilia lost colony is not only a, great tribute, to tho military qualitios of General von Lottow. but is proof of tho supreme importanco attached by tho German Imperial Government to' this African colony, both as an economic asset and as a strategio point of departure for the establishment or tho futuro Central African Empire, which, is a cardinal feature in tho PanGermauic dream. IVith German East / r ? ca to tho. Kaiser at the end of. tho war, and. a lareo. A'sltari arnjy rocruitcd and trained;; from its 8,000,0C0 11atives, tho conriucst or forced acquisition 0 Freo State, Portuguese East and Weßt Africa, and perhaps oven the recovery of the Kameroons, may be only a, matter of time. In this way .this immense tropical territory, with almost unlimited economic and military possibilities and wovided with.excellent.submarine bases qn ,both the Atlantic and Indian seaboards,"might.'-yet bccome-an important ■ milestone, on the road to World-Empire. • General Crowe's book shows" us how this yory ii«ly., possibility of German domination in Eastern and Central Africa, was dispelled. -110 traces tho campaign through all its various phases, describing in detail the lengthy and arduous operations which eventually terininntcd in the almost complete capture of tho German forces, the disarming of tens of ..thousands of native auxiliaries recruited and trained by'the Huns, and tho triumphant , substitution of tho .British tor tho German flag over thousands of. miles of territory. . It is quite clear, from the author's fascinating narrativo that General Smuts's praise of the German commander-in-chief, General von i.ettow, was well deserved. Von Lettow proved himself, a ■.commander of great strategic abilities, and, at times, °t a subtle resourcefulness which compelled the admiration of the British ofticers. On the .British-' side- a very iinportant part wm . .played . J>y . .Indian troops, Punjabi, Baluchi, and'Kashmiri regiments fighting alongside. British Im-' poriai troops and regiments raised in 'the Southr African Union.. AmongSttlio latter wore many Boors. Volunteer forces came also from Rhodesia and other parts of Africa. Tho South African Horse did specially useful, servico at coram stage? of tlio campaign. The v«uß-of General ■ Crowe's book ac-a military history is greatly enhanced by a series of excellent maps and diagrams showing the positions of the opposing forces in various-'engagements.

The U-Boat Pirates. Not the least useful of the fiiany vain-' al)lo services rendered' to Great Britain (luring the war ljy the British and For-' oifjn Sailors' Society was the regular and careful collection of ovidence as to the unspeakably foul,, deeds of the U-boat commanders. As the survivors from the torpedoed British' and' other merchant vessels found their way lo British ports the-, agents of. tk." society, after feeding, housing, nnd clothing tho unfortunate victims of Huh villniny, systematically recorded the evideneo of the men as to tlio exact circumstances attending Hie loss of their- ships, and, what was of' equal importance, as "to the deliberate inhumanity ivitlf-which they .. had ; been •.treated by tlio Gernlans. ' The evidence so gathered has.'been"placed at the disposal of Mr, Charles T. Bateman. 'who has utilised it to write a boot entitled "U-Bont Devilry," illustrating tho heroism nnd endurance of ■merchant seamen (London! Hodder and Stoughton). It is a book which will be read with very mingled feelings, feelings of pride in the quiet, patient heroism so frequently displayed by tho victims of tho U-boat piracy, and of profouhdost. abhorrence of tho demoniacal' cruelty of which the' Ger■man commanders sn often proved themselves guilty. Reading this book of Jfr. Bnteman's one. must more than ever rejoice that convincing evidence, as "to the'crimes committed by over twenty of (ho U-boat commanders Ims, so we learnt bv a recent cablegram, been secured, and that there is notv a fair probability of the. criminals being brought to book. The chapters. of this book fairly .teem with instances of iiendish cruelty by (lie enemy. No- matter were his prey a "large passenger stemner or. big "traiup'," or even some small fishing trawler, the mot.d'ordre of the Teuton naval officer appears to have.been tho..same, namely, to.destroy the vessel on. sight, without thought or.\cnre for' the lives of (lie crews.. The Belgian Prince tragedy provides, a peculiarly horrifying example or that cvnieal, coldblooded: policy of wholesale assassination which, whoever ordered it, was carried out with such unswerving fidelity by the enemy's submarine commanders; _ "Mr; Batcniaii says:—. ' The ]]el<rian" Prince 'was stopped by a Bubmarine fflO miles from land, and the otltoers 1111(1" crew ordered to- leave their vessel and come alongside, The order was obeyed, and forty-iour men. mustered on tlie.'deck of the enemy boat! The captain of tlio" Jlritish ship ivas t alien a prisoner,'and went below. Then there followed a scene of calculated and diabolical l'ury. All the officers. nnd crow except eight were stripped of their lifebelts and outer clothing: 'l'lio boats were mnashed with axes, and tliu oars and bailers removed. The 'Germans then closed the hatches of their craft and steamed away for a distance of two miles, leaving fortythree men awash on the deck. Their dcnlorablo oosition may bo imagined better than it can bo described. To add tho final touch, tlio German commander submerged his craft, and tho British crew battled with tho waves as hcet they could. Of,! those only three escafeed to'land, ami

forty succumbed to the terrible conditions in--which they were placed. Mr. ateraah's brief but terribly significant "account of this -abominable crimo is supplemented by tlio detailed narratives of the chief engineer, who was one of the three survivors.' It seems almost iucrediblo that-so-called civilised beings could liavo behaved with such revolting inhumanity, but the facts are tliero and cannot bo denied. The Hun, or at least tlio U-boat variety of Hun, cannot bo called:a civilised being., hi these pages of .Mr. .Batemnii'3 book, the liiost damning indictment of German infamy yet penned, tliero is abundant evidence to prove that the pirates acted upon a de-liberate-and systematic plan, of-deatruc:. tion, followed by murder. Whilst tlio reader will naturally regard these crimes with horror, his. heart must, thrill with pride in the indomitable .courage of tho British seamen, who, escaping with their, bare lives; from one torpedoed ship, we rarely mpro than a .few. weeds' ashore belore. they.;.ivero.. again "hi: sen.. Let us honour'the men of tho British Navy for their nobis deeds' m tho war, butnever must bo forgotten ilie sturdy spirit, oi .British pluck, and staunch detenu i nation which was'displayed-by' British Mercantile .Tack. As to the'perpetrators of the shocking crimes of which Jlr. Baieman gives so long a list, no stono should lie left, unturned to secure "their punishment. "Digger Smith," Those who- enjoyed the quaint humour and "homely pathos of "Tlio Sentimental Bloke" and" "Ginger Mick" "will, give a hearty welcome to Mr. C. J. Dennis's new volnme of verse,' "Digger Smith" (Angus and Robertson). Ilero wo renew acquaintance with -the "Bloke," now a hard-working, prosperous "cocky'' in the Victorian backblocks, with Doreen. the gentle- and warm-hearted, with "Mar' Flood,.nnd other well-known figures <if ■tlio earlier -books; ■ The poems are written in-tho same slangy, but quaintly delightful phraseology, which, to'somo of us, seems nioro to suggest a. Cockney than, an Australian background, but in which,, ever ..and again, tliero breaks in ponio purely Australian local colouring:. It is tho "Bloke" himself, alternately naif and., slirowd, guileless .and subtle, who acts as our cicerone, and introduces lis to a highly variegated host of rural characters. Mr. Dennis lias certainly a happy gift' of "mingling homely philosophy with'quaint humour. Here is an extract from- some verses, which recount how the "coekies" meot together to make preparations for • the home-coming of tlieir ' soldier-neighbours:

"Now, bo the hokey fly!" saj'B Poter Begs, "Suppose 'o comes, 'omo with a wooden leg, Suppose 'oißn't fit to darnee at all. Then, aiu't-w>.'asty .fixin' up this ball? A littlo tournament; at bridco is my Idear," sez Poter. "Be the hokey fly!" Old Peter Jlegg is eotting on in ycaTS, Owns a real 'pood farm, an' ail 'e fears Ib that'somo girl will land 'im, by an'by An' share it -with, 'im—bo .the hokey fly! That's 'is net swear wont; an'. I dunno wot 'E'a mcanin', but 'o übcs it a lot. "Darncin'!" prowls Ecgg. "Wo'ro fixin' up tho 'all . . With bits try green stuff, for a litllo ball To -welcome Jim, 'oo'a comin' 'ome ncx' day; We're 'anjiil' flags around to mako things ... say. ' An' sliiftins chairs an' candlo-grcasin' floors. Ab" is our--way when'- blokes come 'omo • ■ from wars; , "A little Kamo uv bridco," sez Peter Bcgg, "Would- be more decent like, an' p'r'aps a kc" Uv somethin' if tho 'oro's feelin' dry, Hut this 'era darncin'! Ho tho hokey fly. Those selfish wimmcn never thinks at all About tho guest. they only want tho ball. In "A Digger's 'l'alo" Mr. Dennis draws an amusing picture of an-ali-ton-imagina--tivo Aussie, who "tells tho tale" to a hero-admirin? peeress in ■ London. town •— "lly oath!" tho Duoließs sez. "You'd not expect Sech things as that. ' Yell don't mean kanearoos? • Go lion!" she sez, or words to that effect— (It's 'ard to imitato tho speech' tlicy use). I tells 'er.' "Straight! I drives 'cm four-in-'ancl" ■'Ome in my land." "Now. toll mo all about ycr 'ome," sez she. , An' smiles at mo. That knocks me out. I know.it a in't no good. Pain tin' word nictcrs uv the things I douo Out 'ome there, barracking for Collin'■wood. ■ Or nuntin' on the flat at Komin'ton. I know this Baroness uv Wot-yeh-call Wants something tall. And "something tall" the.lady assuredly gets.' ' X thinks reel 'ard, an' then I. lets it go, I tells 'er, out at ''Richmond, on me _ Run-r-A littlo-place of ten souarc miles or so— I'm breeding boomerangs; which is reel ; fun, When I ain't troubled by tlie wild Jonops That 'cats mo crops.

I talks about tlio wondrous Hoshter Bird l'liat builds 'or nest up in tlio Oobbcr .Tree, An 'atches out 'or young on May the third, Stric' to'tlio niinit,'.iist at 'art past three. 'Er oycs get lit. She ecz, "Can it bo true? ■ 'Er eyes was blue! An'then. I speaks uv sport, an' tells 'or 'ow In.'untin' our wild Wowsers wc iniploy Largo paclts uv liarrackers, an' 'ow their row Wakes echoes in the forests uv Filzroy, Where lurks the deadly Shirker Snake 'oo's breath. Is certain death. Unfortunately it turns out that tlio peeress was herself "a dinlaim Aussie girl," anil slio very cleverly retorts by iclline how "In Gipiisland, long ago. when I was young I 'ad a little pet Corroborce" (I sits up in mo c.hair like I -was'stung). "On its 'iml legs," she sez, "it used to stand. Fed from me. 'and." and.the "tale-telling Digger collapsed:— Uv Course, I threw mo alley in right there, This Princess was a dinkum Aussie irirl. I can't do nothin' else but sit an' Blare. Thinkin' so rapid that me 'air roots curl. But 'er? She sez "I ain't : eard talk so good Since my cliild'ood." Mr. Dennis is at his best in his little pictures of domesticity; The "Bloke's" experience.? as a match-maker are most divertingly narrated. So long as Mr. Dennis chooses to go on writing of the "Bloke" and his "Doreen," lio is sure of ft bifj audience. • Hal Gyo contributes a capital littlo ligure study in- colour, as a-frontispiece, and also a dainty , littlo on. Iko title page. The cover ■design, showing I lie ".Bloke" standing by a sack of potatoes, is also an- effective drawing.