The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-12-29
TO Invade EGYPT
LONDON HEARS OF GERMANY'S
THREATENING OFFENSIVE
TRADE ROUTE OF Value
Rumors Of Great Preparation and the
Construction Of a New Railway
Causes Some to Expect Serious
Effort to Strike Suez-Other
Fighting in Africa

A special dispatch from London
says the official announcementIof
General Smith-Dorrien's new com
mand in East Africa, combined with
various reports tending to corrobo-
rate the belief that an attack on
Egypt and the Suez Canal-the wasp
waist Of the British empire-will be
the next blow the German headquar-
ters staff will seek to deliver, Is re-
ceiving serious consideration.
The immense strategical possibili-
ties Of the world war furnish q fas-
cinating study. Sir Horace Smith
Dorrien's appointment suggests, in
the words Of The Westminster Ga
zette, that 1.-THE operations in East
Africa are destined to take on a more
important character than they have
hitherto possessed"
Will the operations in the Kane
run practically completed, German
East Africa is the only remaining
German colony to be subdued, and its
possession will be valuable asset to
the British empire, especially India.
Germany is understood to possess q
force of about 1000 whites at her
disposal there, and she has not hesi-
tated to arm large numbers Of the
native population, which numbers
100000. The British forces In
East Africa in the early stages OF the
war consisted only Of two battaltons
Of the Kings African Rifles-native
troops-some 5000 native police in
British East Africa and Uganda, and
some small white leTiles. These were
reinforced later by Indian troops.
The German and British forces
have come into contact on various
occasions, the two most important re-
suits being the failure Of a British
attack on the German port of Tanga
and the British capture Of Bukoba.
the chief German base on Lake Vic
toria Nyanza.
Nothing in the nature Of an at
tempt to conquer German East
Africa, which is one and half times
the size Of Germany, has hitherto
been attempted, but the appointment
Of q general of the fame OF Sir Hor-
ace Smith-Dorrien leads to the ex-.
oectation that a coup Of this kind is
now in preparation.
Some criticism Of the plan Is
heard; chiefly on the ground that
is policy of small packets" and
that such forces as viii be placed at
General mith-Dorrien's disposal
could be more usefnlly mployedselse-
where. 80
Egypt is the particular place, the
critics have in view. Although the
British garrison In that country has
been greatly - creased and, :an- the
opinion of the military authorities;sis
adequate to repel German Turkish at
racks, some authorities hold that the
characteristic British habit Of despisT
ing the enemy may once again be un-
duly influencing the governments
councils.
Scattered. information leads to the
belief that the reports Of a projected
great drive by combined Turkish and
German forces, led by General Won
Mackepsen,- on the .Suez. canal are
well founded. According to informa-
ton, the extension Of the railway
line from Constantino op3e' t0 sDanas-s
Gus by the construction Of q double
tracked line from Damascus to- the
Egyptian frontier s-:be!ng pushed
rapidly. This line is said now to be
completed to a point within fifty,
miles of the Sinai peninsula, to the
east of the canal, and: the e9mpletion
of the entire railway is expected oy.
February /. TIE course of this rail-
way is shown in the. accompanying,
map, the dotted lines indicating the
alternative routes across the desert,
which probably presented themselves
to the German engineers: The Suez
canal has been called "the:swasp OF
waist Of the British empire, and its
loss would be very severely felt by
the powers oppesed,-to the Geutonic
allies.
Reports from Syria Of Turkish
preparations are regarded as seaous,
and travellers from Syria speak OF
strong concentrations of Turkish
troops at Jerusalem and. Ja9fa. The
German General Trussemer is in COM
mand Of an army of: TO- ,ce8 men at
Ghaza, and General von.. .Mackeasen,
according to report, will have su-
preme command Of tae asa OF in