VICTOR OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3027, 14 March 1917, Page 7

VICTOR OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA

GENERAL SMUTS IN LONDON IMPRESSIONS OF THE CAMPAIGN (itec. March. 13, 10.10 p.m.) London, March 13. General Smuts, interviewed on his arrival hero, said tbat tho only thing that was delaying tho absoluto end of the German East African, campaign was tho rainy season, which would last till May, when tho Germans would bo compelled either to surrender or enter Portuguese territory, where tho Portuguese were quite propared to handlo them. Tho enemy consisted only of the romr.aub of an army. Practically all the. South African white troops had departed, the native battalions, which, had been raised owing to tho unfavourable climate, only remaining. General Smuts spoko in high terms of the- natives' magnificent Infantry work, and! said that the.y would shortly ho available for service elsewhere. Nothing had given liim greater pleasure than Mr. Long's statement tliat no German colony would ever he returned to Germany. Tho mere suggestion was preposterous. He shuddered, to think what would happen to tho natives if any part were returned. "Tho natives supported us magnificontly, and our prestige in tho East would suffer." — Reutcr.