SAILED OVERLAND

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4813, 21 July 1939, Page 2

SAILED OVERLAND

BRITISH NAVAL SHIPS. The Great War with the German Empire extended to the farthermost ends of the earth, writes Admiral Gordon Campbell, V.C., D.S.A., in the "Sunday Chronicle." In the heart of Africa lies Lake Tanganyika. For many years German ships had sailed on this inland sea unmolested.

The Germans used it for transporting supplies to their forces in German East Africa, and the German naval ensign flew on the ships of the German Navy there, which consisted of the gunboat Gingani and three or four other armed vessels.

The British Navy was non-existent there, and as there were no facilities

in British hands for shipbuilding, it looked as if the German Navy must remain supreme in that locality. But imagination won the day and it was decided to send the British Navy there —overland! Luckily, too, there were those ready to undertake the impossible—the old spirit of adventure was still alive.

Lieutenant-Commander A. SpicerSimson was selected to command the expedition, which consisted of two motor launches and a force of 28 white men.

His ships were each of four and a half tons, forty feet in length and with seven feet beam. Their full speed was designed for 15 knots, and their armament one 3-pounder gun and the usual supply of small arms." They were specially built in Bri-

tain and named Mimi and Toutou. Early in 1915 they left Tilbury on their 20,000 mile journey.

On arrival at Cape Town the Mimi and Toutou were unceremoniously hoisted out of the steamer and placed on railway trucks. The fleet left Cape Town on July 19 for the railhead at Elizabethville —a journey of some 2300 miles. At Elizabethville the advance guard was met, and the whole party entrained for the railhead at Fungurume. Here a camp was made and the serious part of this great adventure started.

The Navy had to be taken to Sankisia, 150 miles distant, through the thickest known—or one might almost say unknown—bush and over a mountain range 6000 feet above sea level.

There were certain small forest tracks to guide the party and a route had been mapped out by the advance guard.

The Mimi and Toutou were mounts ed in specially constructed cradles and carriages with big wheels, two traction engines were used to tow them. By dint of great endeavour, they trekked overland through the tropical jungle 150 miles. Steaming and towing they traversed a further four hundred miles till they reached another railhead at Kabalo toward the end of October.

Once more the fleet was put on a train for the last lap of their journey to Tanganyika, about five miles from the lake.

On Christmas Eve, after their five months voyage by rail, road and sea,

the fleet was launched, cleaned up, and the guns and ammunition got ready for action. Christmas Day was a well-earned holiday, but on Boxing Day at 9.40 a.m. the Germany Navy in the shape of His Imperial Majesty's ship Kingani, a monster of 53 tons, was sunk in action.

On February 9, 1916, a second action took place. The German ship Hedwig von Wiessmann of about 150 tons and 70 feet long, was sighted early in the morning and chased by the Mimi and Fifi. She was sunk also.

Simson's work was done, the impossible had been achieved, the lake was clear of the enemy, and another page of adventure and endurance, combined with two successful naval actions, had been added to our history.