Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-05-11
(By w. f.. Hutchinson, by arrange
mcnt with The African Times.)
Copyright by J. e. Brucc.)
THE CAATEIs0ONS CAMPAIGN-I.

THE CAAIEIs0ONS CANIPAIGN-II.'
Spec al to Richmond Planet.
LONDON, April II, 191S.-Simul-
taneously with the advance of
Nigcrian force against Mora two
other columns crossed the border
into German territory with tho object
Of clearing the enemy from that por-
ton Of the German Cameroons which
lies between Lake Chad to the north,
and the Nachtignl Rapids Of the Sal
maya River TO the south.
The more northorly of the two,
starting from Ioia, an important
town on the River Benue, seized IT,,
frontier post of Tepe, and then adj
vanced forty miles on Garua, "A large
town one hundred and twenty miles
S. s. w. of Mora, which 1t reached
on tho 30th of August captured
;oac Vi che forts. NJ ,s3
At dawn tho next morning the
enemy countcr-attackcd heavily, and
the whole force was compelled to fall
back to Yola with the loss OF is
commander. Lieutcnant-Colonel p.
Maclcar, and three officers, and heavy
losses of the rank and file.
A SURPRISE ATTACK.
The third column. starting from
Ikom OH the Cross ldVer seized
Nsanakang, just within the frontier.
On the 9th OF September a German
column which had advanced from
Duala made a surprise attack on the
post and practically annih lated the
NJ tu,n nj, t<f "
men succeeding in forcing Il way
through with the bayonct.
The casualties on the British side
numbered 1GS, Of whom 2 officers,
l non-commiss;one officer and
men were killed; l officer, 16 men
were wounded, and officers, non
commissioned officer, and 40 men
were taken prisoners. Those who
escaped struggled back into Ikom,
after days Of wandering and starva-
ton in the forest. One section had
been week practically without food.
So far then, the operations against
the Germans had not led to any de-
cisivc result. At the end Of Septem-
Der the French forces in the south
were slowly advancing northward up
the two protrudng tongues Of Ger
man territory: while in the north the
the three British columns had been
checked or had suffered severe re-
verses. But another line Of attack
had been adopted by the British
against the apex of the great triangle
formed by the theatre Of operations.
GEN. DOBELL APPOINTED.
Immediately on the declaration OF
war, General DobelI, then Inspector
General OF the West African Frontier
Force, who happened to be in En-
gland on leave, was appointed to
command an allied EXpedtionary
Force for the capture of the Gamer
oons. The number Of troops, Of both
nations, placed at his disposal at the
beginning of the campaign, amounted
to $500 West African native soldiers.
The British and French contingcnts
were almost equal in numbers, the
british being made up Of three bat
talions of four companies each OF
Infantry, and two batteries each of
four 2.95 guns supplied by the
various regiments OF the West Afri-
can Frontier Force.
The French contingent was COM
posed Of the famous Senegalese
AS this force was found
to be too weak it was increased from
time to time and On the 21st, No
vember, 1915, General Dobell's COM,
mand numbered 9,7O0, in which we're
included the Fifth Light Infantry
Reg ;ment of the Indian Army.
ATTEMPTED TO SAVE COLONIES.
Before the EXpeditionary Force
arrived at Dualaa diplomatic attempt
to save it's Central African colonies
was made by the German Govern
ment On the 23rd Of August, the
day after the battle Of the Chra in
Togo-land, when it had become evil
dent that the German Navy could not
protect the colonies, and that there
was imminent danger of communi-
cation with them being cut off by the
destruction Of the great wireless sta
~