“Rosecol” remained at Msalu on the 14th and 15th May, the neighbourhood being clear of the enemy, but much infested by lions. The proximity of these brutes got upon the nerves of some of the inmates of the camp, and on the night of the 13th—14th May a carrier, who had had a nightmare in which they played a prominent part, awoke in a panic, shattering the silence with his yells and outcry. Instantly an indescribable scene resulted. Tumbling over one another to get at the camp-fires, the porters fought and scrambled for firebrands which they waved wildly, and impeded by which they made desperate efforts to climb into neighbouring trees. The country here is orchard-bush, and the only trees available are small and stunted—altogether inadequate as places of refuge from the onslaught of a lion. The terrified carriers, however, were long past reason, and appeared to consider that their one chance of salvation lay in getting even a foot or two above the ground. The lions on this occasion existed only in their imagination, and order and confidence were presently restored. During the same night, however, the 4th King’s African Rifles lost two sentries, one killed and one badly mauled by these brutes, so the terror of the carriers had at any rate some measure of justification.
With the arrival of “Rosecol” at Msalu the second phase of the advance, which had its beginning with the fight at Medo, may be regarded as concluded. The enemy had offered a persistent and fairly effective resistance to the progress of the columns along the main road through the difficult country which lies between Medo and the Milinch Hills. His main force, which was believed to be at Nanungu, was really encamped at Wanakoti, about three and a half miles to the north of that place; and against him were advancing “Kartucol” from the east, “Rosecol” from the north-east, and a weak column of perhaps 800 rifles, which General Northey had dispatched across the Rovuma in a south-easterly direction, under the command of Colonel Griffiths. Von Lettow-Vorbeck still had the choice of several lines of retreat, for at Wanakoti many tracks cross one another, and though the road to Koronje on the east and to Chisona on the north-west were closed to him by the British advance, the track leading south-west to Mahu was still open, and while retreating along it he would have opportunities of breaking off, should it suit his convenience to do so, in almost any direction.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE EXPULSION OF VON LETTOW-VORBECK FROM
THE NYASSA COMPANY’S TERRITORY AND THE
RETURN OF THE GOLD COAST REGIMENT
On the 16th May “Rosecol” left Msalu, and marching along bush paths in a westerly direction, leaving the road to Lusinje on the north and having the Msalu River on its right, began a movement which was designed to cut the main road between Lusinje and Nanungu. Camping for two nights in the bush—orchard country which, though the soil was of a rocky character, was broken by frequent patches of cultivated land—the column crossed this road on the 18th May, and pushed on toward Chisona. On reaching the Lusinje–Nanungu road, a patrol was dispatched to examine the ford across the Msalu River, and on approaching it was fired upon by a party which proved to be composed of scouts belonging to the Rhodesian Native Regiment—part of the weak column which General Northey had sent out across the Rovuma River. Connection was thus established for the first time with this force.
On the 19th May “Rosecol” continued its march to Chisona, where it camped on the banks of the Msalu River at a place about two miles from the column from “Norforce” above mentioned, which was under the command of Colonel Griffiths. The river was unfordable at this season of the year, but the battery-carriers quickly constructed a bridge under the personal supervision of Colonel Goodwin, who, as a former commander of the Pioneer Company, had proved himself, both in the Kameruns and in East Africa, to possess a special gift for such improvizations.
On the 20th May the column crossed the Msalu, and marched due south to within five miles of Chilonga, I Company leading the advance and doing what it could to widen and improve the existing paths so as to facilitate the passage of the column. On the 21st May the latter pushed on twelve miles in a westerly direction and camped at a spot some three miles to the north of the road to Mahua. Five companies of the enemy, under Kohl, were reported to be on this road; and it was here learned that “Kartucol” had entered and occupied Nanungu without opposition, and was advancing along the Mahua road. This advance had been opposed by Kohl during the day, one company of the enemy with one gun having been in action, while the rest of his force was held in reserve. Meanwhile Colonel Griffiths’ column was marching parallel to “Rosecol,” on a line a few miles to the north of it.
At this juncture General Edwards hoped to surround Kohl from the west, east, and north; and with this object in view “Kartucol” was ordered to advance along the Mahua road, Colonel Griffiths’ column to march in a south-westerly direction, so as to get astride that road in the rear of the enemy, while “Rosecol” was instructed to march on a line about three miles to the north of the Mahua road and roughly parallel to it with the object of turning the enemy’s left.
During the afternoon of the 22nd May Colonel Griffiths’ force was heard to be heavily engaged, and “Rosecol” continued its march until 10 p.m., when it camped, Major Shaw in command of the Pioneers and B Company of the Gold Coast Regiment, and two Gold Coast Stokes guns, forming an advanced detachment encamped on high ground a few miles forward, overlooking the place where Colonel Griffiths was entrenched. During all these operations “Rosecol” was separated from “Kartucol” by the Mwambia Ridge—a high barrier of grey, granite hills, with unscalable, cliff-like sides, rising abruptly from the grass and bush and orchard forest at their base—which flanks the main road on the north for a matter of more than a dozen miles.
Colonel Griffiths’ column, it appeared, had struck the Mahua road, and had entered and occupied Kohl’s camp at Mwariba, meeting with very little resistance. Here he had possessed himself of practically all Kohl’s heavy baggage—a really severe loss to the enemy at this juncture; but almost immediately afterwards he had been vigorously attacked, his small column being completely surrounded and suffering many casualties. Failing to push home his attack, however, the enemy had drawn off during the night and had then retired in a southerly direction.
Yet another attempt to envelop him had definitely failed.