ATTACK ON MOMBASSA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 219, 23 February 1915, Page 2

ATTACK ON MOMBASSA.

GERMANY'S LOST CHANCE. London, January 5, Tlica ttack 011 Mombassa and how Germany lost her opportunity in East Africa arc now told .11 a message from Nairobi. When tile war broke'out all the available Kind's African Rifles, were in Jubaland, a little-known province of the Protectorate bordering Italian Somalibuid. Here they '.were -chastising the Meheran Somalis and restoring orde,' in the Turkana country. The troop:! were hastily withdrawn from Jubaland and hurriedly sailed from Kisinayu for Mombassa. At this time the Germans had a native force controlled by European officers and hon-commissioned officers of more than double the strength of the King's African Rifles in British East Africa and Uganda, and a great superiority in machine and field guns. It is surprising, therefore, that the Germans did not take advantage of their opportunity and thoroughly wreck the Uganda railway and destroy the telegraph and occupy Voi and Mombassa, thus effectively cutting off the two Protectorates from outside help. The Germans failed to make appreciable headway, and that their dashes for tin' l railway were repulsed, speaks a great deal for the brave little band of defenders, the King's African Rifles, the| Lust Africa Police, and the hastily nm-j bilised volunteers. THE CALL TO ARMS. Every Briton in the two Protectorates responded to the call of arms. The lioers of the Uasin Gisliu formed themselves into a command under Captain Wessels, and hare since done good work. Distinguished settlers left their faivis for active service. Lord Delamere received a commission and joined the Intelligence Department; Sir Edward brother was another who was oarly in tlie fighting, but unforunately at Kisii he was wounded in the left arm, which has since been amuptated. ! The Governor, Sir Henry Belfield, and the then Commandant of'troops, Lieut- ; Colonel L. E. S. Ward, had an anxious time, but with the limited material at their disposal they, certainly aided by a. slice of luck, kept the Germans from doing much damage until the arrival of Colonel J. M. Stewart from Burma with the first batch of Indian troops, the 2nth' Punjabis. Since then there has beenj a steady supply of troops and mimi-l tions of war from India. I MOMBASSA ATTACKED. |

The most dangerous attack by the Germans was an attempt to rapture Moinbassa, which was repulsed at Gazi, some 25 miles from the island port. About the end of September the Geradvanced 000 strong, with, six machine guns, from the Vanga side, nrl^'ci Wore at on the 2,) th September by Captajn Wavel's Arab Company, and some King's African Rifles, under Captain Stoner arrived from Jubaland on the 27th, none too soon to reinforce Captain Wavel, the enemy in the meanwhile having become aggressive The German plan of attack'was to advance along the Vanga-Mombassa-rcrnd, arriving at Mombassa on the 20th September, simultaneously with the German cruiser Konigsberg, which warship was expected to bombard the town, elleet a landing, and occupy the island The laud forces were to destroy Salisbury Bridge, which connects Mombassa rsland with the mainland, thus securing one of the most strategical positions m East Africa. The attack of the Konigsberg did not come oil', probably ill consequence of the proximity of certain British warships, and the little British force of ."00 men dislocated the land operations of the enemy. "C" Company held off the Germans until October 2, when they were relieved by Indian troops. The ,Tind Infantry behaved particularly well, and the King's African Rifles deserve special mention. Confidence has been fully restored in the coast towns of British East Africa.