LOOTING BY NATURE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 June 1915, Page 4

LOOTING BY NATURE.

Many things had happened shortly before our arrival. As retallaltion for the refusal of the enemy to evacuate Walfisch Bay settlement shortly before our advent there a vessel had bombarded Swakopmund, confining Jier attention to the pier and a building containing stores, where considerable damage was done. The inhabitants had taken panic and had Bed, leaving the way open for bands of natives who bad loomed up out of nowhere, and generally played havoc with the town at their own sweet will. We saw the result. The exteriors of buildings had ibeen left undamaged, but inside most oi the goods worth raiding had vanished, and wreck of the most wanton sort had come to valuable furniture—perhaps exposing a savage and unreasoning revenge for the treatment the aboriginals had suffered at the hands of •their Prussian rulers. Here and there one came across filth indescribable, evidently the result of malice prepense.

AVe naw German patrols daily. They were most daring, and at a common point of rcconnassance they would even leave friendly notes lor our men, and sometimes a battle of beer in exchange for a packet of cigarettes, which -we could procure in the town. Sometimes one or two of our men would fall captive to their Bow and spear, ana they were always allowed to communicate .with their own officers, testifying to the kindness of their captors. The German medical staff available, finding itself unable to give proper attention to one of our wounded, sent for a Union ambulance under a Mag of truce, and returned him to our own hospital. But there was always the German menr ace underlying these pleasant- courtesies. We saw one of our mounted patrols surprised on our front, and before we had time or opportunity to lend our aid, two good fellows of the 1 .L.H. were "Killed.

j A "SCR AP i Early in February a concerted movement was made against the enemy. Ths Rhodesians, supported by the I.L.H. and a couple of guns, made a reconnaissance in force with the -object of finding the strength and dispositions of the Germans. By an incredible coincid' ence which turned out to be a 'most fortunato one for us, the enemy had decided to attack Swakopmnnd on the same day. Two companies of the Rhodesians fonined an outpost in the dunes a mile or so out, and as we reached the spot at dawn the Germans opened fire, hoping to capture or annihilate the party botore help could arrive. Two of the outpost fell-dead at the first volley; but the regiment, with its iMaxims. lined a j ridge and began to speak at a range or I 650 yards. There was a brisk interi change of fire for some minutes. Then | the Germane, thinking discretion the i better part of valour, turned and fled I The I.L.H. galloped -after them at top : speed, and we followed at our best ini l'antry pace, but our ooject had 'tfeen achieved with little loss to ourselves, and after a while we were ordered to march back to our base. The newlymade graves of 15 Germans were after wards located iby our scouts.

AN ADVANCE

Shortly after this affair the regiment, with other units ol the Northern Force, made a general advance from Swakopmund. In tlie first day of the movement great work was done. Tthe Rho■ desians gained, possession of the position that had threatened the town with out lues, while at' the same time a mobile column of burghers cleared tho country to our front for a score of miles. Their tactics were as great a surprise to ourselves as they were to the enemy. They kicked him as he turned his back—and kicked him hard. Not content with that, they 'followed liiin from daybreak to sunset,, cutting off a man here and there—galloping, shouting, inad with the ecstasy of the chase. At night, they returned, tired and dusty, their horses caked with sweat, but smiling like schoolboys a-j their eyes fell on the dejected figures of their captives. As for the burgher array, they had ridden through the day .in "columns of lumps" that would have driven a British drill instructor into a state of madness, but they had done their work as it should have been done, and none of us felt disposed *o criticise. At our new camp, whicfi commands a view of the dry river Swakop, we found good'water 'without seeking the aid of the condenser, as we had done at Swakopnmnd. One well had been poisoned, but our analysts set to woiv on our arrival and no harm was done. - London Times.