THE CAMEROONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1916, Page 5

THE CAMEROONS.

PRESS BUREAU REPORT. ADMIRABLE WORK OF NIGERIANS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, January 5. The Press Bureau supplies the following from the Cameroons:— A British officer gives details of the Nigerian. forces' occupation of Banyo, in the Cameroons, in October. The plans worked out admirably. Two columns, under Majors Mann and Cunliffe, jimctioned before Banyo. The enemy, fearing their retreat would be cut off, feebly resisted. On leaving the Dodo river a perfect barrier of mountains fronted us. We were compelled to climb steep narrow paths, and found an admirably prepared enemy position, and were forced to make a wide turning movement from Banyo. The enemy position was on a mountain to the southward, grim and stupendous. Huge boulders were conspicuous on the sides of the mountain, which bristled with strongly-built sangars. It seemed hard to ask British officers to lead their men to such formidable positions, but all were exceedingly keen to try.

The infantry advanced in the morning from four directions, covered by the fire of our three gunß. They worked up slowly, and, doggedly climbing over rocks, tearing past thorny scrub and long grass under heavy rifle and Maxim fire from the sangars and concealed snipers, and by evening most of the companies had struggled half-way up the hill. Though exhausted and drenched by the rain, they hung on determinedly to the ground they had gained, despite inces'sant fire, to -which were added fireballs and rockets. At dawn they re-started climbing, capturing occasional redoubts and sangars.

The enemy rolled rocks down and threw dynamite "bombs. Finally our men reached the hill top ana were silhouetted on the skyline. The enemy hoisted a white flag. It had been a dour, stubborn fight. The enemy believed their position to be invulnerable, but our men fought magnificently, and were gallantly led. Nigeria ought to be proud to produce such soldiers. The task would have tried the finest troops in the world.