PART I

Events previous to the Arrival of the
South Africans

PAGE
CHAPTER I.: Before the Outbreak of War[3]
Reflections on the duties and purpose of the Protective Force.Details of the defensive capacity of the Colony. Distribution,armament and training of the Force. Military employment andmental attitude of the natives. Economic value of the country, andfurtherance of the economic power of the natives. Horse-breedingand hunting. Several tours of inspection. National propagandaon the part of subsequently hostile Missions in the neighbouringterritories.
CHAPTER II.: The Beginning of the War[18]
Arrival of news of mobilization. Participation in the war orneutrality? The strength of the Protective Force and the Englishcasualties. The English Consul and his activity. The Governor ofthe Colony, the supreme military authority, and the defence of thecoastal towns. Preparations for mobilization. Lines of communication,maintenance and supplies. Sanitation. Malaria.
CHAPTER III.: The First Actions[27]
Bombardment of the wireless tower at Dar-es-Salaam. Negotiationsfor capitulation by the civil authorities. The Königsbergand the Möve. Capture of Taveta. Transfer of the main bodyto the Northern Railway. New telegraphic communications. Bombardmentof Bagamoyo. Attack on the British Uganda Railway.Attacks on British Karunga on Lake Nyassa. Guerilla warfare inthe North.
CHAPTER IV.: The November Actions at Tanga[35]
Reconnaissances at Tanga. Appearance of an English landingcorps. Concentration of all available troops. First combats atRas-Kasone. Reconnaissance in abandoned Tanga. The surroundingsof the probable field of battle. Disposition of the companies.The hostile landing. The attack. Unfavourable situationof the defenders. Counter-attack by the reinforcements.Headlong flight of the enemy. Failure of the pursuit. Harassingthe enemy at the landing-place. Enormous English losses.The trained bees. Negotiations for release of the wounded.Great booty. Our own losses. In the hospitals. Simultaneousevents at Longido Mountain.
CHAPTER V.: Awaiting Further Events[49]
Withdrawal of the troops to New Moshi. Work at Headquarters.Motor transport versus carriers. Reconnaissancesby motor. Supply and transport. Roads on the lines of communication.The burden of work and the joy of work. Abundantsupplies. The starving Lieutenant. The joys of Sunday sport.Meat supply for the troops.
CHAPTER VI.: Further Heavy Fighting in the North-East[56]
Advance of hostile forces at Jassini. Reconnaissance in viewof a possible battle. Advance of the German Companies againstthe English positions. Surprise and surrounding of the entrenchedenemy. Bad fighting of the Arab Corps. Gallant defence by theenemy. Difficult situation of the attackers. The enemy hoists thewhite flag.
CHAPTER VII.: Guerilla Warfare and FurtherPreparations[63]
Necessity for economizing men and stores. Care of the wounded.A wireless message from home. Raids in the Longido district.“A damned good piece of work.” Despatch of patrols to destroythe railway. Suffering and death in the steppe. Arrival of a reliefship. Feverish manufacture of ammunition. An advance nearOldorobo Mountain. Abundance of raw material and lack offinished articles. New industries to supply our needs. Roadmaking.Increase in numbers and fighting value of the troops.
CHAPTER VIII.: Awaiting the Great Offensive.Energetic Use of the Time available[73]
CHAPTER IX.: The Subsidiary Theatres of War.Guerilla Warfare Ashore and Afloat until NewYear, 1916[82]
Hostile Masai attack on Lake Victoria. The Königsberg on theRufiji. Her glorious end. Another success near Kilimandjaro.Determined attacks on the English railway. Attack and occupationof the English Camp on Kasigao Mountain. The enemy’smeasures for protecting the railway. Fighting in the bush. Considerationof the possibility of resisting an attack by large hostileforces. Preparations for retiring to the South. Removal of stores.Determined defence of the position on Oldorobo Mountain. Thenew Mungu.

PART II

The Concentric Attack by Superior Forces
(From the arrival of the South African Troops to the loss of the Colony)

CHAPTER I.: The Enemy’s Attack at Oldorobo Mountain[103]
Several advances by the enemy. The fantastic armoured cars.The artillery combat. The South African troops. Alleged cruelorders by the enemy. Reinforcement of the enemy near MountLongido. Fight with an Indian patrol. Chivalry of the whiteofficers. Our brave Askari and the misleading of the English.
CHAPTER II.: Further Advance of the Enemy and theAction at Reata[108]
Spies at work. The routes of the enemy’s advance. Possibilitiesof defence. The enemy attacks at Kitovo Mountain. The strongposition on the line Reata-Kitovo. The Königsberg’s gun.Reconnaissance by hostile cavalry. The enemy’s attack andattempt to surround us. Occupation of new defensive positions.The enemy’s withdrawal to Taveta. After the battle. Renewedforward movement by the enemy. Headquarters at Neusteglitz.A second relief ship.
CHAPTER III.: Retreat before overwhelming HostilePressure[119]
Plans and considerations. Active attempts at reconnaissance bythe enemy. Preparations for fighting. An attack on the hostilescreen of patrols. Heavy losses. Fresh heavy attacks by theenemy (21st March). Failure of the counter-attack. An alarmistreport: the enemy behind us. Retreat to Kissangire. Thealarmist report proves to be false. Good spirits of the troops.Condition of the civilian population. Combat and surrender of the28th Company at Lokisale (5th April). Bringing up auxiliaries.Concentration of the troops on the Central Railway.
CHAPTER IV.: The Enemy’s Advance in the Area of theNorthern Railway[129]
Departure for Korogwe. At Handeni. News from Germany.Obstacles on the road. The swollen river. On horseback and bylight railway to Kimamba. Reconnaissance south of Kondoa.Lines of communication and commissariat. In touch with theenemy. In position. The enemy seems to be evacuating hispositions. An unexpected fight in the night. Our heavy losses.Successful patrols. Artillery duels. Obtaining supplies from thecountry. Failure of an attack by the enemy.
CHAPTER V.: Between the Northern and CentralRailways[140]
The enemy advances on the whole northern front. Simultaneousattacks from the South. Slipping away and outflanking theenemy. Looking for the enemy’s weakest point. The smartpatrol leader. The enemy’s aerial activity increases. Furtheradvance to the South by General van Deventer. Weak Germanforces resist on a long line. Fighting near the Central Railway.Reconnaissances. Heavy fighting with the advancing enemy.On the Wami River.
CHAPTER VI.: Continuous Fighting near the Rufiji[149]
Hostile attacks from the south-west. What will the enemy do?An attempt to surround us. The action at Mlali. Retreat toKissaki. The moral effect of our retreat. The Boma of Kissaki.Securing our cattle supply. Defeat of the enemy on the 7th September.Annihilation of another hostile detachment. Germanhumanity—English gratitude. A surprise attack at Dutumi (9thSeptember). Dutumi must be abandoned.
CHAPTER VII.: Hostile Attacks in the South-East ofthe Colony[159]
Our unfavourable position at Kilwa. Futile attacks by theenemy at Kissangire. Fat obtained from hippo and elephants.At Mpaganya. A pessimist sent about his business. Advanceon Kissangire. The lost patrol. Successes at Kissangire. ThePortuguese defeated at Newala. In Utete Camp. In a strongposition at Kibata. Artillery preparations. Effect of heavyshell. An unsuccessful infantry attack. The military situationat the end of 1916. Powerful enemy attacks at Dutumi andKissaki. The enemy fails to get behind us.
CHAPTER VIII.: Anxieties and Hardships during ourstay in the Rufiji Country[173]
The march through the Pori. Camp at Ungwara. The troopslose their way. Useless mouths. Steps to remedy the threateningshortage of food. Reduction in the number of carriers. Reductionof rations. Obstruction. The Askari women. Maize ourhelp in trouble. A supply branch of the commissariat. Minoractions in the bush at Ungwara. The commencement of the rains.Measures for the protection of women and children. The troopscontinue their march to the South.
CHAPTER IX.: The End of the Frontier Defence in theSubsidiary Theatres[182]
On the Ruhuje and Ruaha Rivers. A hostile attack and itssudden cessation. The enemy’s mistake. Surrender of MajorGrabert. Division of General Wahle’s force. The march toTabora. Back to Kilima Njaro. Major Kraut’s march to theRovuma. Supply difficulties and plans for the future. In the richPortuguese territory. Patrols towards Kilva. A heavy defeatof the enemy. Experiments with bread-substitute. Primitiveboots. The crowing cocks. Salt, fat and sugar. The medicalservice. “Lettow-Schnaps.” Bandages. Operations withprimitive appliances.
CHAPTER X.: Lindi and Kilwa[190]
Hostile reinforcements from the direction of Lindi. Flood of theMbemkuru. German advance on Lindi. The enemy penetratesinto the German camp at Lutende. A smart counter-attack.Further minor actions near Ulindi. We march off to the North.At Narungombe. Another victory. Too late! Enemy spiesunder the white flag. An Imperial greeting from home. Theattack at Narunyu. The bomb in the dentist’s study. Removalof women and children to Lindi.
CHAPTER XI.: In the South-East Corner of the Colony[207]
Concentric advance of the enemy. At Ruponda and Likangara.The enemy’s uncertainty. Rumours. Action at Mahiva. Abrilliant victory. Changing the plan of attack. The tactics of theenemy commander. The end of the battle. Losses and booty.Another action at Lukuledi. Guerilla warfare.
CHAPTER XII.: The Last Weeks in German Territory[216]
Consultation with the Governor. Considerations. Departurefrom Lukuledi. Minor actions in the bush. Shortage of ammunitionand its consequences. Continuous advance of the enemyto Chivata. We avoid the blow by moving to Nambindinga.Schemes for voluntarily restricting the strength of the troops.On the Makonde Plateau. Shortage of water and food. Whither?Reorganization of the Force at Newala. The hostile patrol and itsletter. At them! Out of sight of the enemy.

PART III

Fighting on Foreign Soil
(From the Crossing into Portuguese East Africa to the Armistice)

CHAPTER I.: Across the Rovuma[229]
Crossing the river. The enemy’s camp at Ngomano. Assaulton the Portuguese defences. The “Day of the old guns.” Richbooty. Continuing the march up the Lujenda. Looking forsupplies. A transparent offer by the enemy. News of the surrenderof Captain Tafel. Partition of the Force. Difficulties andunpleasantness. Capture of several Portuguese camps. Heroicaction of Lieutenant Kempner. At Nangvare. Buffalo fat andforest fruits. Abundant supplies at Chirumba. Patrols.Approach of the enemy. Skirmishes. Enemy propaganda.Fresh courage and confidence.
CHAPTER II.: East of the Ludjenda[245]
Supply questions. In the rain. Tobacco. At Nanungu.Building pontoons. Patrols across the Msalu River. News ofevents in Europe. A pause in the fighting. Patrols to the coast.The precious Pori-pig. A new hostile deployment. The patrioticEnglish. Defeat of the enemy at Mahue. Continual skirmishes.Against the enemy at Kireka Mountain. An action in the bush.A wrong report and its consequences. Casualties on both sides inthe last actions. Captain Koehl’s successes. Continuation ofthe march to Koroma Mountain. A surprise. The Governor indanger. Unpleasant losses.
CHAPTER III.: In the Region of the Lurio and LikungoRivers[259]
On the road to Keriva. The sick and wounded. Camp on theLurio. Müller’s detachment captures the Boma of Malema.Hostile forces approach from various sides. In a rich country.General Edwards’ precautions. Fighting in the bush. Themarch continued to Alto Moloque. The Orange-Boma. Continuousfighting by patrols. Nampepo Station and other settlements.On the Likunga River. Rich booty. The natives’powers of estimation.
CHAPTER IV.: On to the South[270]
Where is the enemy’s ammunition dump? Looking for it.Awkwardness of long columns. Kokosani-Namekurra. Acrossthe Lukungo. A success. At Namekurra. The fortified railwaystation. Artillery preparations and assault. Flight ofenemy across the Namacurra River. The casualties on both sides.Extraordinary quantities of supplies and ammunition captured.
CHAPTER V.: Back North to the Namacurra River[278]
Obstacles in the way of continuing the march to the South.The enemy’s operations and our own plans. Back across theLikungo. Marching in several parallel columns. A remarkablemilitary situation. Looking for booty. At Ociva. TheEnglish and Portuguese prisoners. Capture of the Boma of Tipa.March to Namirrue. Reconnaissance of enemy’s position on therocky mountain. Another enemy appears. Victorious battlewith him at night. Confusion of the enemy’s columns. Fruitlesspursuit of the fleeing enemy. The trench mortar and its effect.Assault of the rocky mountain. We march away to Pekera.Rest in the camp at Chalau.
CHAPTER VI.: Back to the Lurio River[289]
At Chalau. An English flag of truce. Approach of the enemy.Withdrawal across the Ligonja. At Ili. March to Numarroe.Preparing bread for the prisoners. A breakfast in the bush.Boma of Numarroe. Success of Goering’s detachment. Captureof the Boma. Casualties on both sides. On over the mountainsto Rigona. Skirmishes. What next? Heavy fighting atLioma. Heavy losses. No prospect of greater success. On to theNorth. Confusion of the detachments. A difficult march throughthe mountains. On the Lurio. Bad health of the troops. Heavycasualties on both sides. The influenza epidemic.
CHAPTER VII.: On German Soil once more[303]
Rapid march to the North. Across the Lujenda. A rest-dayat Mwemba. Hostile spies. Distant reconnaissance by patrols.To Ssongea. Homesickness of the Samarunga. Pangire MissionStation. Change of direction. Grave news from Europe. AtMbozi Mission Station. Patrol reports.
CHAPTER VIII.: The Advance into British Rhodesia[309]
On the march to Fife. The enemy in a fortified position.Fruitless bombardment and continuation of the march. Patrolfighting. Abundant supply of quinine captured. Studying themap. By forced marches into Rhodesia. Kajambi MissionStation and its frightened inhabitants. Capture of Kasawa.Natives pillaging by order of the English. On towards theZambesi.
CHAPTER IX.: The Armistice and our Return Home[315]
The lost English motor-cyclist. Armistice. By cycle to theChambezi ferry. Conditions of the Armistice. Conference withthe British Commissioner. Situation in Germany. The Armisticeand the situation of our troops. Release of the prisoners. Difficultiesin paying off the Askari. March to Abercorn. “Surrender”and “Evacuation.” With General Edwards. Handingover arms. Fruitless opposition to English interpretation of agreement.By ship to Kigoma. Belgian hospitality. By rail to Dar-es-Salaam.Internment. Influenza and its victims. The loyalAskari. Endeavours to protect private property. Embarkationfor home. At Rotterdam and at home. Retrospect and a glanceat the future.