THE OPERATIONS IN NYASALAND.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15338, 23 July 1915, Page 8

THE OPERATIONS IN NYASALAND.

ATTACK ON SPHINXBOAVEN. Tho Secretary of State for the Colonies has received rrom the Governor of Nyasaland telegraphic reports of combined naval and military operations on Lake Nyasa (says the London "Times" of June Bth). It will be remembered that in August last the Nyasaland Government armed steamer Gwendolen surprised and disabled the German Government armed steamer Hermann yon Wissmann at Sphinxhaven, which is in Gorman territory on the eastern shore of Lake Nyasa. -' Further operations against Sphinxhaven have now been carried out. On May 30th a naval force under Lieuten-ant-Commander G. H. Dennietoun, R.N., supported by a landing party under Captain H. G. Collins, Royal Field Artillery and Ist Battalion King's African Rifles, attacked the place. After naval bombardment and a charge by our troops the enemy were driven out of the town with loss, arid a number of rifles together with ammunition and military stores were captured by us. The Hermann yon Wissmann was shelled, and has Been completely destroyed. The re-embarkation of the landing party was afterwards successfully, completed. Our only casualty in this successful operation was Mr James Sutherland, who was slightly wounded. Lieutenant-Commander G. H. Dennistoun, R.N, who is in command of. the naval forces on Lake Nyasa, is well known in New Zealand, having served for several years in Australian and New Zealand waters. He was Ist (and gunnery) lieutenant or the Pioneer and subsequently of the Pyramus until just hefore the outbreak of war. Lieutenant-Commander. Dennistoun was transport officer in -the Tahiti for the voyage to Egypt, and subsequently went on to England, whence he was sent to Central Africa.