AFRICAN WARS.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13859, 20 April 1917, Page 6

AFRICAN WARS.

I. 1 ' GENERAL SMUTS' DESPATCH. : HEROIC STRUGGLE IX GERMAN EAST AFRICA. LONDON, April 18. In a special despatch published in the London Gazette, General Smuts details the operations in German East Africa from October 28,191(5, to January 20th, when he relinquished command. After ■ mentioning the evacuation of 12,000white troops at the end of 1915, owing to the prevaleftce of malaria and dysentery, and their displacement by natives, he emphasises that the success hitherto achieved in a most trying and , exacting campaign was mainly due to > the unremitting efforts and resolute endurance of all ranks. General Smuts pars a high tribute to the work of the •• ■ Navy, and the ready and effective assistance of the Governments of India. South Africa, British East Africa, Uganda and Zanzibar. He details tlu services of the Indian Government, including the keeping up of the flow of ■ reinforcements, providing the entire . food supply for Indian troops, besides flour and certain stores for the British troops, and also' largo' quantities of other supplies. The Government of South Africa maintained a steady flow of reinforcements and supplies and , enormous numbers of coloured-labour,-: ers, many thousand horses, mules, donkeys, hundreds of motor cars, wagons and large quantities of foodstuffs and other supplies. All the demand? were executed.