Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1917-10-25

million square miles extent.
Taveta was taken and held by tn,
Germans. The British replied by
Smelling Bagamoyo with warships 3
few days later. The British had d
considerable feet of cruisers and bat.
tie ships in command OF the coast
and the fact that they selected Gaga-
moyo, a comparatively unimportant
place, instead of Daar-es-salaam the
ciptal of Tanga, the principal com
mercial port, was ample evidence to
any sensible person that they were
still seeking to avoid a conflict in
Africa
But the Germans continued their
activity, for, as they always put it in
arguing justification, German honor
must be maintained.
German officers and agents were
sont into Ruanda, the northeastern
part of the colony, to stir up that
numerous and warlike tribe to make
an excursion into British Uganda to
raid, pillage and murder the peace
full natives were living contentedly
under British rule. But pillage and
murder of peaceful natives was, of
course, a mere incident since it might
divert the British from defending
other places on their border, and,
German honor must be maintain
ed "
Yet this thing proved a boomer
ang The Germans were unfortunate.
They we're under a double disadvant-
age. The Ruanda had long been I'M
der their power and they knew the
Germans. More, they were so near
British territory they knew the Bri-
fish, also.
The Ruanda rose, but, they attack
ed the Germans! Commander Braun
schweig of the eastern detachment
was compelled to send an expedition
to pacify them. l heard a report
that 5000 Ruanda were killed, but
that was greatly exaggerated. There
upon the Germans gave 1t out that
British agents had stirred up the
Ruandal
BY the middle of September the
Germans were fairly we'll prepared.
There were some 5000 German men
of military age in the colony and
these, in addition to being acclimat-
ed, had the further advantage of all
being trained soldiers. They had
modified their black reserves and re-
cruits and had forces numbering in
to tens of thousands. The Germans
simply Differed the blacks.
They did that with characteristic
German thoroness Any failure in
the exercise or discipline was i'm
mediately rewarded with "15" or
"25" as the case might appeal to
the officer. That is Is or rs lashes
with a hippo hide whip. At any sign
of failure to obey orders while in
action or nervousness under fire, the
blacks were shot by the officer from
behind. 1t was not without reason
that the Germans so often boasted
that their blacks were so much bet
ter soldiers than those trained by
the English.
The Germans now flung invading
expeditions into every territory sur
rounding their colony except Portu-
gese, on the south. One expedition
was flung hastily into British Nyassa-
land on the southwest 1t met with
defeat and disaster and never re-
turned. Others we're sent into the
belgian Congo on the west. others
into British Uganda on the northeast. |
A further and formidable attack
was now launched against British
East Africa. with the object of TAX
ing the Uganda railway, capturing
Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu and
and adding that country to the kais-
er's dominions. The Germans cross
ed the border in three strong COL
umns and at widely separate points.
1t was well planned. The stirring up
OF the warlike Ruanda to raid into
Uganda was part Of the plan and as
before suggested, was for the pur-
pose OF diverting British forces.
which we're very light at best, across
Lake Victoria and leave the railway
Insufficiently defended, but that gun
was found to fire backward.
All three of these expeditions fall
I'd of their object. tho in the case
IF the one proceeding against Nom
hasa. the margin for the English was
hone too broad.