GERMAN COLONIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1917, Page 4

GERMAN COLONIES.

WITH THE TRANSPORT.

In a chat with Lieutenant Alfred Owles, eldest son of Mr A. W. Owles, of New Brighton, a representative ot the Christchurch Press gleaned some interesting impressions of German South-West Africa and East Africa. Lieutenant Owles, who is on furlough, joined the South African forces on the outbreak of the war as a conductor with the transport and remount branch. After going through a .part of the German South-west African campaign, lie was attached to the South African Service Corps of the 3rd Brigade, South African Infantry; with which force he spent 16 months in German East Africa.

In German South-West Africa there are some fine areas from the agricultural and pastoral point ot view, the general nature of the country being that, with rolling downs. The tanners British, Dutch, and German- are engaged chiefly in.cattle raising. The climate is very hot, and the shortage of water proved one of the big difficulties of General Botha’s campaign. As the Germans have poisoned the wells, it was lie cessary to transport all water for the troops. Lieutenant Owles reached British East Africa in December, 1915, and went up to the then base by the Uganda railway. British East Africa he describes as a very fine country, and in parts covered with thick bush. The part he saw most of consisted of beautiful rolling downs with plentiful grass. They crossed the extensive big game re- ■ serve, which is like an enormous park, and in tvliich there is big gaipe of all descriptions. He considers that, from the point of viety of settlement, British East Africa has a wonderful future before it.. At present the settlers are engaged chiefly in cattle raising and in coffee plantations. From the base in British East Africa the troops' trekked 300 or 400 miles into German East Africa. Troubles began when the transport animals began to die, and when horse-sickness carried off the mounted men’s horses. The average life of a horse was about a fortnight. The German and Dutch farmers have coffee and bananas and rubber plantations, and also raise stock.

Speaking generally, German East Africa is not at present a country suitable for settlement by Europeans, owing to the prevalence of fevers and the tsetse fly pest. Despite the natural conditions and difficulties that the troops were up against, they did some, very stiff fighting. The bush country, the almost total absence of roads, and the destruction of bridges greatly added to the difficulties of the troops. Lieutenant Owles paid a tribute of praise to the work of the medical officers in- the Imperial, Indian and South African field hospitals, and also to the Y.M.C A. authorities who usually provided small stores where the troops could obtain tobacco, cigarettes and other comforts. The troops greatly appreciated the issue of rum when it took place, and Lieutenant Owles estimates that the issue of rum saved hundreds of men by putting new life into them. 111 many instances they did not object to quarter ratious so long as they could get a rum issue. After 16 months in' German East Africa, Lieutenant Owles contracted fever, and was invalided to Capetown, and is spending-his furlough in New Zealand.