EAST AFRICA.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 19 July 1917, Page 3

EAST AFRICA.

WITH THE TRANSPORT,

A CHRISTCHURCH MAN’S IMPRESSIONS.

In a chat with Lieut. Alfred Owles, of New Brighton, a representative of The Press gleaned some in teresting impressions of German South-West Africa and East Africa. Lieut. Owles, who is on furlough, joined the South African forces on th e outbreak of the war as a conductor with the transport and remount branch. After going through a part of the German SouthWest African campaign, he was attached to the South African Service Corps of the 3rd. Brigade South African Infantry, with which force he spent sixteen months jn German East Africa. He received his commission in the South African Union forces in March, 1915, and when those forces came under Imperial control he was granted a corresponding commission in the Imperial forces. Lieut. Owles could not, of course, deal with military matters, but talked interestingly of the two German one-time colonies. In German South-West Africa there are some fine areas from the agricultural and pastoral point of view, the general nature or the country being flat with rolling downs. The farmers — British, Dutch and German —arc engaged chiefly in cattle raising. The climate is very hot, and the shortage of water proved one of the bi|p difficulties of General Botha’s campaign. As the Germans had poisoned the wells, it was necessary to transport all water for the troops.

Lieut. Owles reached British Eas Africa in December, 1915, and went u; to the then base by the Uganda raii way. British-East Africa he describe as a very fine country, and in part covered with thick bush. The part h saw most of consisted of beautiful roll ing downs with plentiful grass. The; crossed the extensive big game reserve which is like an enormous park, am in which there is big game of all dc scriptions. He considers that from tin point of view of settlement, Britisl East Africa has a wonderful futun before it. At present the settlers art engaged chiefly in cattle raising and ii coffee plantations. From the base ir British East Africa the troops trekkee I 300 or 400 miles into German Easl Africa. Troubles began when the trans port 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 preI sent a country suitable fo.r settlement j by Europeans, owing to the prevalence |of fevers and the tsetse fly pest. De- ! spite the natural conditions and diffij culties 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 added greatly to the difficulties of the troops. Lieut. 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 an issue of rum when it took place and Lieut. Owles estimates that the iusse of rum saved hundreds of men by putting new life into them. In many instances they did not object to quarter rations so long as they could get a rum issue. After sixteen months in German East Africa Lieut. Owles contracted fever, and was invalided to Cape Town, and is spending his furlough in New Zealand.