CAMPAIGN IN EAST AFRICA.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1919, Page 1

CAMPAIGN IN EAST AFRICA.

SEARCHING INQUIRIES DEMANDED.

The “ Cape Times,” commenting on a series of articles by Mr Owen Letcher, formerly an officer in the. East African Expeditionary Force, endorses his vigorous advocacy of a commission to inquire into the conduct of the campaign in East and Central Africa after General Smutq left the country, leaving the campaign as was believed, practically concluded. There has 1 ng been much .gossip in Cape Town, indicating the belief that the pleasures of yachting at D.ar-es-Salaam and elephant hunting in tjie. interior had mere to do with the prolongation of the lighting than the unquestioned skill and resourcefulness of the German commander, while the part played by the Portuguese colonial forces has been the subject of much criticism.

The reticence of the official communiques has greatly encouraged this gossip, hut while the war was in progress responsible journals refrained from criticism. The allegations, however, are of the most serious character, in view of the cost of the prolonged campaign in blood and treasure. It is said that the cost in money from first to last was over £300,000,000, or .more than that of the Boer War, while to the heavy casualties ip killed and wounded must be added many men who will suffer from fever for the rest of their lives. So far as the British operations are concerned, the main criticism is concerned with the enormous Headquarter Staffs maintained hundreds of miles—even up to a thousand miles - from the actual fighting. One may contrast this with General Smuts’ conduct in the earlier stages, when he took his headquarters into the field with him, and lived mainly on biltong. As regards the Portuguese, Mr Letcher says : “ In common justice to our forces it must be set on record that not only did the Portuguese colonial army put np poo.r defence agaiust the maraudiug Germans, but that their presence was a very substantial advantage to von Lettow, inasmuch they frequently embarrassed our owu movements and surrendered to the enemy guns, rifles, machine-guns and supplies of which the Germans were badly in need.” The writer adds: “ The engagement at Nhamacurra, about 30 miles from. Quelimane, which was fought in the beginning of July, 19IS, was a particularly disastrous event for us, since after the Portuguese had lost two guns, with a lot of other equipment, and the native troops, despite the efforts -of their officers, had broken in disorder, the enemy attacked Major Gore Browne’s King’s African Rifle detachment, and, largely through the employment of the two captured guns, inflicted a severe defeat on us ” Regarding both aspects of the question, gossip here goes much further than Mr Letcher’s temperately-worded criticisms, and opinion, except in interested circles, is practically unanimous in favour of a searching inqniry.'