The Yale expositor., 1916-03-30


Kamerun colony has been entirely
conquered and the remnants of the
Teuton forces, numbering 10000. have
fled over the border into Spanish
Guinea and been interned the story OF
this far-off campaign can be told with
out reserve for the first time
Although the forces engaged seem
small in comparison with the vast
armies of Europe, in some respects
the operations had magnitude. The
area conquered ASS, 625 square miles.
is more than twice that of Germany in
Europe
The Germans fought fercely for this
bit of West African coast and inflicted
two severe defeats on the allied forces.
They defended the town of Garoua
with great valor for five months, but
II was finally taken with the aid of
gun Of a size the Germans had not
thought it possible TO transport so far
into the interior
Now that the Kamerun is gone, the
only German African colony remain
ing even partly. in German hands is
East Africa, which is now being at.
tackled by an expedition from British
South Africa, assisted by European
forces. Bonar Law. British minister
for the colonies, recently announced In
the house OF commons that the terri
tory taken from the Germans in Africa
amounts to 100000 square miles.
Kamerun is bounded on the north
by British Nigeria. on the east by
French and Belgian territory and OH
the south by the French Congo. while
II encircles on the land side the Span.
ish Guinea
Early in the war the British
launched an expedition from Nigeria
and the French from French Equato-
rial Africa. Both these attacks from
the north were beaten of by the Ger
mans.
The French Colonel Largeau got as
far as the town of Kousseri. which
was heavily fortified and defended by
a large garrison. lie was defeated
and. armed with two machine guns.
the Germans furiously took the often
sive and drove the invaders back
across the border.
The British. on their part. were no
more successful They reached and
occupied the important city of Garoua.
and here the Germans attacked them
vigorously. The British were forced
to retreat, fighting all the time, until
they, too. were over the border.
Attack on All Sides.
II was now determined TO attack the
colony on all sides simultaneously. No
less than eight expeditions we're put
under way OF these the most i'm
which before had resulted In disaster.
Two columns advanced upon the Ger.
mans from the east, two from the
south, and two from the seacoast One
OF the latter expeditions landed in the
neighborhood of the port of Douala,
Coco Beach, in the narrow strip OF
German territory between Spanish
Guinea and French Congo. The OBJ
ject OF the Coco Reach column and
the two forces invading from the
south was evidently TO cut of the re-
treat OF the Germans from Spanish
territory, but, II this was the case.
they failed
With increased forces the French
now drove the Germans from Kous-
sert In almost q rout Then Lieuten.
ant Colonel Brisset. a famous French
African pioneer. set out south from
this place, having under his command
young native recruits with OILY a few
white officers.
His objective was the town of Mora
situated on a high plateau. Several
fruitless attempts were made to storm
the position Then the Germans were
surrounded and. leaving q small force
OF besiegers, Lieutenant Colonel Bris.
set continued south toward the town
of Maroua. On his way he met a
German force coming to the relief OF
Mora and a fierce fight ensued. The
Germans were forced to retreat to-
ward Maroua, which wee taken by the
French on December IL. 1914. but
without preventing the German com
mander. Captain Won Duhring. from
escaping with his men In the direction
OF Garoua
The Germans now seem to have
concentrated their forces for a last
stand in the stronghold of Garoua
which was besieged five months.
Colonel Brisset attacked first in
early January. 1915. He took up
position about four miles from the
town and a few days later was re-
enforced by British soldiers under
Major Webb Bowen. The latter had
seven companies of infantry. one com
pany OF mounted infantry. a 75-milli
meter naval gun. three mountain guns
OF the same caliber and fifteen ma.
chine guns. Three months later fur
Their British forces arrived
The German position was found to
be immensely stIorg. On February
II. 1915. the famous Captain GODDARD,