Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-08
CAMP IS BES|EGED
BY ROARING LIONS
Party Of Soldiers in German East
Africa Has Thrilling
Experience.
BULLETS FAIL TO STOP THEM
Finally Are Successful in Get
ting at Cattle in !
Bona.

CAPETOwN. October How he was
besicgcd by lions in German East
Africa is described in a letter from
Private Z. T. Baker. OF the - Rcgi-
22o miles to Join his company.
There is one night during that
march," says Private Baker. that will
stand out in my memory for many a
guard to the thirteen oxen we were
taking with us to provide us with fresh
meat along the road. They were wild
young animals. and as yet had never
had yoke across their necks.
we decided to sleep at the camp
with them for that night and 60 on
next morning. We spent over an hour
building a huge bona round them with
thorn trees and then constructing two
nrcs.
AT l2 o'clock we were reused by
tho sentry. and awoke hearing furious
roaring not fifty yards from us. Hast
direction of the roars. and for while
were left In peace. There was no more
sleep that night. and had it not been
for the fires we would have been nearly
frozen.
The cold was bitter. At 3 a. NJ. the
lions rushed the bona again, and once
more the firing drove them back. From
then EDWARDS the beasts worried us
continually. They are most determined
animals, and, having once smclt the
cattle, meant TO have them. Through
the grass we could at times see thcii
eyes blazing like Goals. We were firing
constantly all through that wearisome
night.
AZ last. day began to dawn, and tho
lions, evidently noticing this. made a
final and determined effort to get the
cattle. At 5:l5 y. NJ with a mighty
roar. they rushed from three sides.
There must have been at least a dozen
Of them. We fired az hard as We could
load. but they evidently were keeping
very low while rushing.
The firing. however. did not check
them. and they came up to within three
yards OF the BONA as their traces
afterwards indicated. and, giving one
last terrible roar. scared the already
With one accord. the cattle all jumped
the bona and raced for the bush. the
lions hard on their heels. and not five
minutes later we heard their walls as
tho lions brought them down. The
natives who were with us rcckoncd
that IT was the fires alone that saved
U.S.
TRAGIC NIGHT ATTACK
ny ANTS DESCRIBED
4 less tragic night attack by ants
also in German East Africa, is thus
described by Vera Stent
The warrior ants! Let me tell you
1t was at Mkalamo, where the trolley
line crosses Pangani Johnes had built
me a little bower Of palm leaves and
in il I elected TO sleep apart from the
others In the pride of my exclusive
ness had my bed set under the palms
and slept. There was a big. bright
moon Some while after midnight
awakened with sense of vague dis
comfort and a desire to scratch.
Something bit. a good deep nip. My
electric fash lamp lighted the interior
OF my tunnel shaped mosquito net, and
perceived In perfect military order a
column OF black ants. about two inches
wide-the column, not the ants-march-
Ing over and outside my net. while the
.nankers' and 'foraging parties invaded
my fimsy citadel and prospected foI
supply on my all-too-solid flesh The
exigencies of the military situation die
tated one movement only-instant and
ignominous retreat. flung my net
to the winds and escaped. y safe ter
yards away l stripped and plucked from
me the warriors
GAS they are no respecters of persons
SO these warriors are no reSpecters OF
parts. They bit me everywhere. ano
only after desperate lighting l cleared
my body OF my ASSISTANTS. but they re
NAMED in possession of the ground
They had captured the position"