A promising proposition exists at Magadi in a large lake of carbonate of soda, which a British company has endeavoured to secure. In time this should prove one of the principal industries, as the deposit appears to be unlimited. The inter-native trade does not amount to much, as in this direction the Indian can compete with and outreach even the German.
As a "commercial" Colony for the production of raw materials, the Germans looked upon their East African territory as the jewel of their possessions.
It was intended to give in August, 1914, a demonstration of the economic life of the Colony, and to hold at Dar-es-Salaam an exhibition for the whole country, to be connected with the opening of the working of the whole length of the Tanganyika railway.
The exhibition was to have been held under the patronage and graced by the presence of the German Crown Prince, and festivities extending over a fortnight were arranged for. German firms were to have sent a large number of exhibits, and numbers of visitors from Europe were expected. Visitors have certainly since arrived, but not in the guise it was anticipated.
On 8th August, 1914, H.M.S. Pegasus and Astraea appeared before Dar-es-Salaam and proceeded to destroy the powerful wireless station, and in a few hours the town and several liners in the harbour surrendered.
The Pegasus was subsequently attacked by the Königsberg while the former was at anchor, and being outranged was destroyed.
The Königsberg did not, however, have a long spell of liberty, for she was shortly afterwards discovered by H.M.S. Chatham hiding in shoal water, sheltered from view by dense palms, about six miles up the Rufigi River Opposite Mafia Island, and put out of action.
Meanwhile British forces composed of Sikhs, other Indian troops, and King's African Rifles, whose headquarters are Zanzibar, proceeded from British Central and British East Africa to occupy the German territory.