EAST AFRICAN FIGHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 146, 21 June 1915, Page 9

EAST AFRICAN FIGHTING.

GERMANS RESIST BRAVELY. DEMORALISED AND DRIVEN OUT. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, June 20. The Official Press Bureau summarises the operations In East Africa during Unrch, April and May. At the end of February, information ivas received that n Germau detachment of 300 Askiiri natives, with a considerable number of Europeans under Capiain liexthausen, was marching northwards to juv.ule British territory, evidently intending to enter the Karunga district, oust of Lake Victoria Nyanza.

A small force of the King's African Billes, with artillery and mounted scouts, under Lioutcnant-Oolonel Hickson, was dispatched, and it encountered the Germans on March '.'. Determined tightiiig ensued, the Germans resisting bravely, but a.fter several hours' fighting, often »t dose quarters, the enemy retired south of the Mara River, in German territory, near the border, in a disorganised and demoralised condition. The British casualties were 12 killed and 14 wounded. The enemy's losses of native troops are believed to have been fconvy.

On .March 11 one of the Briiish armed etenniers on Lake Victoria Nyaiiza engaged the Germans at Muanza, a German port ou the shores of the lake, but was driven ashore and disabled.

A detachment of Indians, King's Rifles and African Rifles attacked a German post at Salaita on March 20, but despite the arrival of reinforcements, the enemy was driven off. Owing to the flight of native porters, the British lost two machine-guns. The British casualties were five killed, nine wounded, and seven missing. An affair of patrols occurred on April 11, near the Voltresh lliver, and Major Walker, oi the Pu.nja.ubi Regiment was killed.

Between May 0 anil May 22, two small expeditious successfully carried out operations. One cleared the enemy from the British territory south of Simba, east of the lake, between the railway and tiie frontier, and the other captured the steamer Sybil, which had been wrecked earlier on the shore of Lake Victoria Nyanza. The country 30 miles south of Simba was entered ami cleared of the enemy, who retired across the frontier. The Sybil was refloated and docked. The British casualties were live killed and three wounded. The enemy lost 20 men.