The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORMING. MONDAY, JULY 12, 1915.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3979, 12 July 1915, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORMING. MONDAY, JULY 12, 1915.

The conquest of Gorman South-\\ e»t Africa by forces

Another Bitter PiU for the Kaiser.

under General Botlia will give

as 'rrcat. satisfaction in this Dominion as it has afforded in the Union. In common with other portions of tlio Empire outside South Africa this country followed with deep interest the progress made by the Union troops in the difficult task that was before them. General Botha’s work, as is well-known, would have been sufficiently strenuous if lie had had simply to conquer German South West Africa but it was made ever so much harder by the fact that at the outset of operations he had also to deal with the rebellion in South Africa against Britain which was headed by his old comrade-111-hrms in the days of the Boer War— General Do Wet. llis double success in such a brief period is, therefore, all the more meritorious and makes him the hero of the hour. As regards the task of overwhelming the enemy troops in German South-West Africa it is probably the position that it is not generally realised how many difficulties stood in the way or the Union forces. General Botha’s campaign was not advanced when it became evident that the German troops were much more numerous than had been anticipated and what is more tlioy had practically all the very latest equipment. It is now quite apparent that he laid his plans well. The enemy had, of course, splendid railway advantages. Bit by hit, however, the British troops drove them hack and, then, by means of extraoriduary forced marches through dense and almost waterless country, at last succeeded in practically surrounding their main body with the result that a complete surrender has been effected. It might also he mentioned that General Botha had in the course of his campaign to deal with diabolical outrages perpetrated by the enemy. The German Commander in SouthWest Africa admitted in a letter to General Botha, in reply to a protest, i that orders had been given to poison wells, hut that wells so treated had been marked. General Botha renewed his protest against the breach of Haguo Convention, said that poisoned wells wore found unmarked, and expressed his intention of making the officer commanding responsible. A letter was also intercepted containing German orders to infect wells with disease. Since their evacuation of Aus, Warmbad, and other places, the German troops consistently poisoned all the wells along tho railway ine in their retirement. However, all’s well that ends well, and General Botha has carried Iris plan of operations to a successful issue not only in a very brief space of time hut also with a minimum of loss of men. This latest set-hack to the enemies of Britain and her Allies will he a further bitter pill for the Kaiser and his infamous War Party to have to swallow. Tho loss of Samoa and German Now Guinea, besides Kaiachou and several minor overseas possessions would ho had enough, hut German South-West Africa is, of course, a much greater loss, and more especially in view of. tho great pains which the Germans had taken to arm that, their largest colony, their object being, it is understood, to attempt to secure the whole of British South Africa. In due course the Union troops, it is certain, will conquer Gorman East Africa and it will not ho long now when South African troops will take their place alongside the other Overseas troops in tho main theatres of the war. The heartiest congratulations of a thankful Empire will go forward to General Botha and his worthy colleague, General Smuts.