The Washington herald., 1914-08-10
ENGLAND SECURE
ALLOVER WORLD
Toronto Globe Believes Her
Possessions at Home and
Abroad Are Safe.
PERHAPS ONE EXCEPTION
No Weak Links in Empires Chain
Unless 1t Be in East
Africa.
PERHAPS ONE EXCEPTION

Now that Britain has been drawn into
the vortex Of European war II IL safe TO
asssume that, with one possible excep-
ton, no portion Of her overseas donin-
ions or other possessions throughout the
world IL In danger Of seizure by Germany
or any other hostile power. says the
Toronto Globe. II any attempt were
made to invade British soil il could only
came from a foreign power holding pos
sessions Of superior military or naval
strength in immediate proximity.
So far as can be seen at the present
time. no outlying patch Of red Is at all
in danger OF being expunged from the
map. The situation in British East AZ
rica Is probably the most acute. Lying
directly north of German East Africa II
covers an area OF 2l0,oon square miles, as
against $4,000 square miles In the Ger
man protectorate.
Nothing in Defenses.
There is absolutely nothing in the ma
ture of frontier defences on the border
between the two countries. The respec-
tive military and police forces are: Ger
man East Africa, fourteen companies OF
native troops. comprising 2,472 natives
and 263 Germans: force OF German police.
2,l4o; in all, ASA men fighting strength.
British East Africa, six companies OF
native troops, made up Ct 1900 natives
and thirty-two British officers. British
police force, LOO: a total fighting
strength Of 3Z32.
In German East Africa most of the
white population are Germans, the total
number being S,57s. British East Africa's
whites are Of a more heterogeneous ma
ture. There are some Scoc Europeans, tn
cluding British, German. French, 1tal-
ian and other races, and an Indian popu-
Iation of 5000. In addition there are
several hundred Boer families, most Of
whom are at least a weeks journey from
the railway.
Should Germany decide to attempt to
seize the British protectorate, two ave
nues OF invasion would be open to her.
She could send her forces by the newly
opened Usambara Railway to its terminus
at Killma Marc. on the border. From
that point one days march would en-
able her to reach and seize the Uganda
Railway. Once in possession OF that she
could send her troops where she liked
from Mombasa, on the coast, TO Victoria
Nyanza, capturing NRirobi, the capital
and the seat OF government on the in
land journey. Again she could send her
troops from the port of Tanga, the coastal
terminus of the Usambara Railway, to
Mombasa, which has no fortifications.
From Mombasa she could carry her arms
right into the interior without much
opposition, for British East Africa pos
sesses but one railway.
Swift mobilization of British settlers
would be an absolute impossibility. Calls
to arms would in most cases have to be
sent by runner, and the majority Of set
tiers live from one day to ten days from
the railway. Possession Of the Uganda
Railway would mean possession Of the
country.
II Germany had sufficient forces and
were to seize the Uganda Railway the
way to the Uganda protectorate would
be open to her across Victoria Nyanz9.
The seizing of Uganda would be \ mere
matter of occupation, for only a few
white people are settled there.
On the other hand, German East Africa
might be menaced from Rhodesil, TO the
south, II she sent her focses north to
ISr..Ish East Africa, and 4 Germany sue
yeeGed in seizIng Uganda a British force
might possibly march south from the
soudan to Uganda, shodgA that would he
a Long and tedious Undertaking Il is,
however, fairly cerIail that should TIE
German protectorate invade the British
territory her operations would be con-
fined to seixing and holding British East
Africa.