GERMAN EAST AFRICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3293, 25 April 1917, Page 18

GERMAN EAST AFRICA.

The Gazette publishes a despatch from General Smuts detailing operations in German East Africa from October 28, 1916, to January 20, 1917, when he relinquished his command. After mentioning the evacuation of 12,000 of our white troops at the end of 1916, owing to the prevalence of malaria and dysentery, and their replacement by natives, General Smuts emphasises the success hitherto achieved in a most trying and exacting campaign, this being mainly duo to the unremitting efforts and resolute endurance of all ranks. He pays a high tribute to the work of tho navy, and the ready and effective assistance of the Governments of India, South Africa, British East Africa, Uganda, and Zanzibar. He gives details of tho services rendered by the Indian Government, these including keeping up a flow of reinforcements, providing tho entire food supply for the Indian troops, besides flour and certain stores for tho British troops, also large quantities of other supplies. Tho Government of South Africa maintained a steady flow of reinforcements and supplies, enormous numbers of coloured labourers, many thousand horses, mules, and donkeys, 100 motor cars, waggons, largo quantities of foodstuffs, and other supplies, all demands made boing executed.