New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-23

occupation at the present time. This IS
the Cameroons, or. as the Germans
spell it, Kamerun.
As you crawled up the steps to the
risduct on the way to the subway after
doing your bit" in ninth inning rally
a. the Polo Grounds on hot Saturday
afternoon. you thought you had some
idea Of what it is to work in the sun
With the temperature at 90.
~Some camel Some heat!" you pant
ed to your neighbor, hanging on to one
o. Ny Shonts's straps.
Perhaps 1t was, but this eighteen inn
irg game was fought in a temperature
for the most part Of 100 degrees. the
mercury dropping at times 90 degrees
in tventy-four hours, but always
promptly climbing up 10 the top again
Al the northern end Of the Cam
eroons is Lake Chad. On the west Is
Nigeria. a British possession, and on
the east is French territory The
nearest railway line from the scene OF
the fighting is four hundred and nifty
miles. Lake Chad is about nine hun
bred miles from the Atlaatic- Rivers and
lakes are found all through the coun-
ny. Naturally there are Few reads, and
these run through almost im2enetraoie
forests. or across plains where rank
grass grows head high. Transportation
is difficult problem, practically every
thing being carried by natives, who
truGge along with siXty-pound bundles |
balanced on their heads.
When the great confagration burst
for-L 80 Ill Or - |
1914 the Europeans British and
french in this far of region had no
prenonition Of war. They were living
a dull. nonotonous. isolated life,
small body OF white men IN sea OF
negroes. IN one section there were
Just eleven Europeans among 2,OOO,OOO
black men. Up in the hills live the
psgsns, driven there by the black men
Of the plains. These latter are the
more civilized. followers of Mahomet.
Il was from them the Allies and Ger
mans drew their fighting men. LIVING
with them is a race called the Fulanis,
cofee-colored people. who seem to
be Of much higher intelligence. Most
Of the rulers are Fulanis.
King Maiumar Of Mandara IS
Fulsni. But as an instance Of the de-
gree Of civilization 10 which they have
arrived i is only necessary TO cite a
few Of the penalties for crimes in this
kingdom. For the first conviction for
theft the criminal loses his right hand,
which is severed at the wrist. For the
second conviction his right foot is am
putsted a. the ankle. On the fourth
conviction he is hopeless cripple. If
one Of his subjects lies 10 his majesty
his lips are cut of.
Germany was just pounding her way
into Belgium when some one here at
General Headquarters licked of mes
sage which found its way IN an incred-
loly short time right into the heart OF
Africa and set in motion band OF
young English and French men. Eigh-
teen months later they had captured
me last German in the Cameroons, but
u was only after the greatest hard
ships and privations. For nine months
hey lived on native food-no tea, jam,
sugar, butter, milk or other Injuries.
Everything had 70 be eaten soon after
was killed or the heat spoiled It.
Though several campaigns were waged
N the Cameroons, the decisive one
The siege Of Mora-was confined 70 an
area Of hardly more than six square
miles. Eleven Germans at the head OF .
an army Of black soldiers equipped
with rihes, machine guns and small
cannon went into the hills and fought
until they were entirely surrounded.
tnelr food supply cut of and they had
nothing else 10 do except surrender.
opposed 20 them were a score OF Br1t-
isn and French, in command Of similar
soldiers Most Of the British were
young men. the majority less than
'niriy years old. Several Of them now
rest IN graves in the Cameroons. Com
pared with the battles in Europe. IT was
small affair. but il had all the Gle
menis Of big engagement
From an officers diary the following
account is taken 10 illustrate the dif'i-
ealties Of advancing at night in
strange country. guided only by
Heacherous pagan:
Captain -- decided 70 make
night march 20 the top of Mora
Mountain, with the object Of sur
prising the enemy at dawn. The
pagan promised 30 guide Captain
- right into the German camp,
saying that the Journey could be
accomplished in three hours. IL
was unfortunately impossible 70
make any previous reconnaissance
Az .. m. the column started. =
The ascent proved 30 be much
more tedious than had been sntlcl.
patee, and AZ l;s5 q, ~ the head o.
me column had not reached the top.
Iaptain realized time was
getting short, and, instead Of fol'
lowing the guide. determined 20
make his way straight up the NIL
sioe. lie therefore turned of the
pain, and after some difficulty man