ENEMY'S TACTICS IN EAST AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2766, 9 May 1916, Page 5

ENEMY'S TACTICS IN EAST AFRICA

MEN AND METHODS ON THE "OTHER SIDE" ' - : -■ ' ■ * .1 WHAT THE BRITISH HAVE TO FACE ' Johannesburg, ■■March 15. Some interesting notes on the nature of cbe: country in which the Union troops are now operating conjunction. with an Imperial force under liieu-,tenant-General bmuts, and on' tho tactics of the enemy, have , reached tho Johannesburg "Star'' from an officer of high standing in tho immediate theatre of the present operations around* Kilimanjaro. . Tilo country (he writes) varies from forest, and dense bush to open grass glades or park-like pasture ground, l/robably 9o per cent, of the trees aro kjioru-bearing, which makes movement impossible iu the dense bush except by means of specially cleared "roads. An-, other characteristic' is the gently,- undulating nature, of most of the terrain, ; .which means' the" absence of folds in tha ground for the concealment of bodies of troops in open country. Water, is icarce, and seems practically to be confined ,to -, certain widely-separated ■ streams, though from the slopes of Kilimanjaro, numerous streams 'flow, being fed by perpetual snow on its summit. Many streams,- however, seem to disappear. after a comparatively ' short course.. It is understood that little or lib boring for. by means of jumper drills has bsen as yet attempted. ..Wateristo be found in pools after rain, toad. grazing is, on, the whole, good.

"Boma". Defences. Every post, detached house, village, kraal, etc., in East, Africa may bo said to be protected by a boina. A boma is 'a 3'ather thick impenetrable fence, made of'thorn trees, cut down, and placed .•■with the thorns outwards, and the but-ts inwards. ' Tliis_ fencti. may be made .of any desired thickness as material always abounds on .the spot, and even in peace time such 1 protection is necessary against lions, elephants; rhinos, etc. In addition to sucli a bpmn,' of unlimited height and a "thorn cai- . pet" is usually arranguct. round the approaches • as.-a- further protection; In a very short time cover 1 from view and considerable protection , from .fire can be .obtained by this hieans' alone, and. when a few hours are . available for, : trencir digging: a very ..formidable de-. fence can be arranged, of inidefinite extension and improvements by •means of deeper trenches, overhead cover, de-filading (that^sj,protection by means of . banks, etc.,! from flanking fire)communication • trenbhas' (.eight or moro' feet deep), and concealment by grass and thorn busit ...froin an aeroplano or other reconnaissance. The writer supplios a sketch, from : which it is evident. that a. frontal at- | tack by infantry in a position prepared as he describes is a niost&zardous undertaking. All approaches to a defended post have '"lanes" , out through the bush of irregular shape, but so. arranged, that every open anil, therefore, I tempting, piece of ground,' is covered by machine-gun fire and cnfcs rifle firo. A. widely-extended, front is_ usually occupied by the enemy, wit™ somowhat similar works on the extreiine flanks, >,so that ,ah attacking force 'is iKable to be caught in frOiit.'ahd -flank without the most careful reconnaissance 7 aeroplanes, mounted troops and scouts. The , difficulties...of..an advance- tfrjough : .the. thick bush are weU appreciatied by'the enemy,' who are not slow to 'jnake the best use of them. , It -is tery hard, indeed, for a large body of jiatiops advancing to.."keep touch" in {the thick hush. AVith a. range of vision, varying from , ten to fifty yards, progress is. Necessarily impeded by skilfully posted inachihe-guns, snipers iii tr|efi'S, and maxims mounted on and fired fitpm the backs of grass-covered, animals. ; - • Enemy, troops, with the exctvjtion of - artilleryj consist. almost entirely of infantry, and these are organised in ottaipanies of about 200 Askaris : witli . whito officers and n.c.0.-'s. These iiskaris are.Hatural fighters;'well'trairu4l, and woil handled, '• ivitli'. ,tl»' enormous - ,ad-.' vantage of having beon bred ai(d bom in tho thick, bush, and accustomed to. ■ track, stalk, 'and, hunt game ail! their lives for f00d...' They art, of .'course, of the same general raco and type as our own King's African Rifles, whose bnavery a,nd military ability are well Idlown. When ;these natural qualities aira developed by German military exper iai and instructors it will be seen that),- tho black man is not to bo despised las a soldier. Fortunately for lis,the itskarl is but a poor shot with the rifle. :

Flno Fighting Material. ! Some of the finest fighting material,in the world is now to be found in !liast* Africa. Thoy havo : still, perL'tops,' ' -much.to learn about local conditions of) fighting, but they: are learning rapidly, • and are Applying-'' .tbiem?selves skilfully : and - 'energetically to meet the particular < and, peeclliar problems confronting them. - It is not' necessary or to go inlb details, but, it is quite -safe to say tfiat a solution of various difficulties is '.in sight, and this furnishes a. well-baojd confidence in'tho' success:of the campaign. . It is' an interesting' and pic- ' ruesque army in many respects,>c6.mpvising as. it does troops l'rom Englax.ld, many representative units of tho.indkfci Army, East Africans, Swahilis, as wcjjil as Rhodcsians and South Africans.. Eveiiy regiment' has its quota of African aiW South African natives md also .JSai»-. Indians, and is adapting itself,to local conditions of transport, often redlitxV! to native bearers whose load must'.nrll exceed 501b. to 601b. Tho pack mule is much in evidence,-and,lndian stretchetj bearers are part of every column. . [ The motor-car is much used where tlicl bush permits.. Nothing else stops theml in these immediate parts.. They varyl from, the light ambulance to the heavy}, car carrying three or more tons, or theft' armoured motor-car with its maxint crowlj and much ammunition. It is'inspiring® to see an armourid motor in 'action. \ It manoeuvres with the utmost conii- i denee and freedom.-in the park-like ! ■stretches of country that are interspers-1' cd with areas of thick thorn bush. Enemy.) bullets patter on their armoured sides harmlessly, and natives on the German ' side are simply terrified , by these "rhinos," as they'term them. When it j is realised that they are each commanded by a British naval officer it will be I understood that -nothing is lacking in 1 . dash, bravery, •or resource Nothing below a field gun or pom-pom 1 can harm them, so thoy frequently up ,al-. most to. an empty trench to deliver their fire. The dash and skill of tlio mounted troops, both horse and artillery, will probably bo an important factor before long. These are nearly all South Africans. Still,.it will be the Mian with the ihe bayonet (the infantry .."foot-slog-ger") who will have the last and decisive word. Tli'e arrival of so many and to valuable reinforcements from South Africa has put 'new heart and fresh spirit into the war-worn troops, who, •with such inadequate numbers, havo kept the ilag Hying in. East Africa during lo depressing months.