GREAT BLACK ARMY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1917, Page 8

GREAT BLACK ARMY.

GERMANY'S AFRICAN DESIGN. London, Nov. 9. , .The Kolnisehe Zoiitung publishes a leading article on the subject of Germany's colonial troops, which is specially interesting, as showing'the views of the influential people whom this newspaper represent/, in regard to the creation of a great African army. The journal .admits that'the German African colonies were organised for military reasons for the purpose of carrying on a war of conquest against the African colonics of the -other "European Powers. With reference, to a French statement that there were 40 : 000 perfectly equippsd native troops, in addition to strong European reinforcements, the paper says that there were only 15,000 native troops, with 3000 Europeans. The article continues: "We say that it is a great pity that the German Colonial Army was not five times as large, for in that case tho Allies would not ha.ve been able-to briri* such "vast numbers of colonial droops'to the European theatres of war." Experience in this war shows' that the East African native, if sufi'iciently trained and led by Europeans, makes an efficient soldier, while the •South-west African makes an even better lighter. "In order to prevent her colonies being over-run in tho future, Germany must make full use of these resources of manpower, and such'natives as hithertj) have not been subject to Gerfhany must, come under her rule, while all foreign colonies' which against German colonies must become German property. "Germany must have a. strong eelenial army in order to strengthen her position, and at the sanie time weaken that of her enemies."