GERMAN S.W.A.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 March 1915, Page 4

GERMAN S.W.A.

A BOEII'S DESCRIPTION

From Dr Davies the Chronicle is in receipt of a South African newspaper clipping giving a pen picture of German South-west Africa, wherein British and Colonial troops are operating at the present moment against the Germans. The description from the pen of J. J. Louw appeared in an issue of the Transvaal Leader. It runs: "Sir,—The general opinion seems to be that the country we are invading is nothing but a vast stretch of sand with not a blade of grass or a true — a place where rain is unheard of, possessing an unhealthy climate, etc. Now, I tliTnk it well to explain that, although it is certainly nothing like a Garden of Eden, still it is not nearly so had as the above description. In the first place tho sand heard so much about is practically only to be found along the coast. Many other parts of the country are. of course, very sandy, but this sand is fertile and bears grass and shrub, whereas upon the white sand-dunes of the coast nothing can

grow as they are always shifting, owing to the wind's action. It may be interesting here to mention that the railway line near Luderitzbucht will pj'obahly be quite buried 1 under these dunes, as the Cape hoys, whose work it was to keep clear the rails, have all returned to Capetown. These dunes, however, only stretch tor about 80 miles inland. At Ans. which is about 85 miles from Luderitzbucht, the country assumes a totally different aspect and most of the land inwards for more than six months of the year is covered by plains of grass, having the appearance of cornfields. The rest of the country is over-run by schaapbosch, and other hushes that form excellent food for cattle. A great part of the country has, in fact, many points in common with the Karroo, and it is certainly just as fertile. In a recent Leader you publish a view of the railway at Seeheim and 1 notice some remark about- sand is made. Now. there is no more sand at this spot than there is in any of our dorps. As a matter of fact a beautiful river flows past the hamlet, while as a proof that the country is (ar from being without a rainfall pools ol water can be seen in paoto—an evident result of recent heavy rains. This river, by the way. is ; i:e oi the few Uowing rivers of thai p.«i 1 Oi the v, orlu. for aIL-iioug.i numerous rivers are shown on the li'.ai tiiese usually mean nothing more than a thick iine ol thorn trees I maiking the bed ol a former lli.u ing

river. Contra r\ to the general belie! the country is hilly, more so than tin; Ti'aausvai'.l, and between M'.'clu-iiu and Warmbal aie Jiromit.-.ins upon wiii.-h quite pretty ; for a tew days after a During the rainy scjci>:i the country is quite pretty; for a led days alter a rainfall the ground is covered with flowers and field are abaze with varicoloured blossoms. The country along the Orange river if. certainly sandy, but even the blood-red sand ol the Kalahari is far from being barren. Probably later on people will awaken to the fact that mile upon mile of ideal ranch country awaits the emigrant who is prepared to face the loneliness of the Kalihari desert. In conclusion i would point out that the country is perfectly healthy- in my opinion the healthiest in South Africa. Once our troops are advanced far enough to be able to discard condensed water, they have nought to fear but bullets. The writer has three sons on active service, and should they by God's grace, escapo he expects them to return sounder both in body and mind.