SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1919, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA.

PROLONGATION OF THE CAMPAIGN. j' POINTED CRITICISM; r .. : deceived Jan 23, 65 p.m. Capetown, Jan 21. Nov? thai the war is over, the prolongation of the East African campaign is becoming a subject of increasing criticism A strong article in the Cape Time 3 by Owen Letcher, the well-known authority on Central Africa, demands the appointment of a commission of inquiry He asserts that the total strength of the enemy at the time of General Northey'a departure scarcely outnumbered the motor cars possessed by our mechanical transport. We had overwhelming superiority in numbers, besides an organisation extending from Capetown to Nairobi, aiso two main headquarters at Dares Salaam and Zomba, which employed a much larger | number of officers than the whole of von Lettow's European force. It is commonly understood that the East African campaign cost much more than the Boer war Only a strong committee of unbiassed men can give a satisfactory answer to the question, Why was the campaign not finished months ago? Banquet speeches and congratulatory telegrams must not be allowed to ob-