THE EAST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17478, 24 January 1919, Page 5

THE EAST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN.

SCANDALOUS MISMANAGEMENT

ALLEGED.

Received January 23, 5.5 p.m.

CAPETOWN, January 21

Now that the war is over, the prolongation of the East African campaign is becoming a subject of increasing criticism. A strong article in the VCape Times" by Owen Letcher, the well-known! authority on Central Africa, demands the appointment of a commission of enquiry. It asserts that the total strength of the enemy at the time of General Northey's departure scarcely outnumbered the motorcars possessed by our mechanical transport. We had e»n overwhelming superiority in numbers, besides ani organisation extending from Capetown to Nairobi, also two main headquarters vat Daressalaam and Zomba, employed a much larger number of officers than the whole of Yon Lettow's European force. It is commonly understood that the East African campaign cost much more than the Boer War. Only a strong committee of unbiassed men can give a satisfactory answer to the question, "Why was the campaign not finished months and months ago? At the banquet speeches and congratulatory telegrams must not be allowed to obscure the issue.