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

our experiences in connection VIII
the war in Africa, more PARTICULAR
as to the causes and political aspect
of that bitter conflict which ha
made Darkest Africa" not onl!
darker, but truly darkest in III
history by littering her soil with thu
bodies of her inhabitants and drench
ing it with their blood.
To do this in brief compass is 20
particularly easy. The material Is
great and it is difficult to choose
from.
Primarily the cause of the war in
Africa was of course the war In
Europe. Offsetting this, however
there was the Congo Act or pact, an
agreement entered into as the def
milton of the permanent status of the
Belgian Congo state, by and between
the powers having colonies in Africa
providing that in case OF a European
war between said powers, it should
not be extended to Africa.
Based on this the governor of
British East Africa, shortly after the
war began, opened communication
with Doctor Schnee, the imperial
German colonial governor, and an
agreement was concluded by the
terms of which these colonies were
to remain neutral throughout the Eu-
ropean conflict.
But as news reached German East
Africa of the great and unbroken
success of German arms in Europe,
war fever more and more possessed
the majority of the population of the
German colony, Already on the 18th
of August, 1914, Germans in Muanza
made an attack upon them they
would attack the British replied
mo, don't do that. You are fools
II you do. know the British and
have lived among them"
This was, perhaps, the beginning
Of my trouble with the Germans. But
they know now, the few that sur
vive, who was the wiser. Yet, 1t is
only fair to say that the better and
less fanatical element among the
(ar,nnno ayoopu Union, ,yoo our nr0v
incial governor, Herr Gunzert, OPP
posed the war in Africa from the be-
ginning. What part of the whole this
better, saner element constituted,
am unable to estimate, and their
voice of protest was soon drowned
amidst the clamor for conquest and
the desire to share in and add to the
IL ster Of German achievement.
AS direct representative of the
kaiser, there had arrived in Ger
man East Africa just prior to the out
break OF war, certain Colonel Won
Lettow Vorbeck. He was a military
officer of distinction and assumed
command of the military forces and
modified the army. Colonel Won
Lettow did not approve the neutral
tty agreement before mentioned.
A Prussian of Prussians, this man
is none the less given general credit
among the British forces of being
gentleman, man of very extraordi-
nary military genius and in the
main, 70 having fought clean. This
honor neither the British nor myself
will agree to extend to many of his
sabordinates But to this we must
oil, who are acquainted with the
facts agree, that the defense of Ger
man East Africa by the Germans is,
under the circumstances by W hich II
has been done, one of the greatest
military feats in all history.
The foregoing affords a brief
glimpse into conditions as they were
in this colony before the outbreak
VI actual nosLlntleS.
The dire event was the beginning
of much suffering and woe to Africa
as only the dark, red chapters out OF
the history Of Europe for the past
three years could equal. II took
place on August Is. 1914, the first
month Of the war in Europe.
Col. Won Lettow ordered an attack
by the German forces upon Taveta
a small British post, just inside the
border of British East Africa. Nest
ling in the afternoon shadows OF
mighty Kilima-najaro. Africa's high
est mountain, this little place was
destined to become the first scene in
> conflict not even yet quite ended
q conflict that has cost the Germans
At least four of FIVE OF the lives of
The male population of this entire