PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
गया
· Reference :—
C.O. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGÍA
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- NOT TO
992
OMALILAND.
4. From the time of the outbreak of war with Turkey the danger has lain rather in possible internal disaffection among the Somalis themselves, arising This has necessitated a closer from the pan-Islamic intrigues of Turkish agents. watch being kept on certain mullahs and malcontents in order that early warning might be received of any serious attempt to foster disaffection against the Govern- ment. Up to date, however, the Somalis appear to he little affected by outside influences, and much more directly interested in the progress which is being made in securing them from attack by their own enemies, the dervishes, and in the settlement of their inter-tribal affairs. This satisfactory attitude I attribute, in part at least, to our increased activities in the interior, and it would seem to me to provide a suitable endorsement of the policy of His Majesty's Government now being pursued in this Protectorate.
I have, &c.,
25697
G. F. ARCHER.
SOUTH AFRICA (HIGH COMMISSION).
No. 92.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 2nd June, 1915.)
(Rhodesia. No. 400.)
SIB,
High Commissioner's Office, Cape Town, 15th May, 1915. I HAVE the honour to forward a copy of a letter from Colonel A. H. M. Edwards, C.B., Commandant-General of the Rhodesian forces, reporting upon military affairs in Southern and Northern Rhodesia since the outbreak of the war. I also enclose a copy of my reply.
I desire to bring to your notice the names of the following officers who are mentioned by the Commandant-General in his report, and to ask that their services, as stated in each case, may be specially noted:
Lieut.-Colonel H. M. Stennett, who commanded the forces on the northern
border from August, 1914, to 13th December, 1914.
Captain J. J. McCarthy, for his enterprise and zeal and his work in the
field.
Lieutenant A. C. Cussans, who, when Fife was attacked on 28th December, led a successful counter-attack against a superior force.
C. P. Chesnaye, District Officer, Tanganyika, for his assistance in
arranging supplies for the forces.
Major T. S. Masterman, for his services as Controller of the Southern Rhodesia Defence Force and Acting Chief Staff Officer. Major F. R. Burnside, who acted as Chief Staff Officer prior to his appoint-
ment to command 1st Rhodesia Regiment. Major R. Gordon, D.S.O., and Major Boyd Cunninghame, for their work in
organizing the Northern Rhodesia Rifles.
I have, &c.,
Enclosure 1 in No. 92.
BUXTON,
High Commissioner.
THE COMMANDANT-GENERAL, Salisbury, to THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.
MY LORD.
3rd May, 1915.
As the departure of the 2nd Rhodesian Regiment on active service seems to mark a definite stage in the military situation in Rhodesia, I propose in this letter to deal with the military affairs in the territory since the outbreak of the war, and also to survey the present position.
2.
223
SOUTH AFRICA (HIGH_COMMISSION)
JA
When it appeared that an outbreak of hostilities with the German Empire was inevitable, the following measures were taken in Rhodesia as precautions against external attack :----
(a) A detachment consisting of two officers, ten European rank and file, British South Africa Police, 50 armed Native Police from Southern and Northern Rhodesia, with two maxims, was placed at the Victoria Falls Bridge.
(b) The strength at Sesheke was brought up to one officer and 20 native
N.C.O.'s and men.
The mobile column at Livingstone was brought up to establishment. There were made available for concentration in Southern Rhodesia, at forty-eight hours' notice, 200 European officers, N C.O.'s and men, 100 at Salisbury and 100 at Bulawayo.
(e) The service companies of the Northern Rhodesia Police were brought
up to establishment, and all discharges and leave stopped.
The border of Northern Rhodesia between Abercorn and Fife was patrolled with a view to obtaining adequate intelligence.
(g) All suspicious characters were watched.
All railway bridges in the territory were guarded from the outbreak of war until the 11th December, when guards were withdrawn except at Victoria Falls and Kafue. Police patrols were, however, instructed to pay special attention to railway bridges.
8. By High Commissioner's Proclamation No. 54 of 1914, dated 10th August, the British South Africa Police were declared to be on active service. Since that date the police have been so employed.
4. There was not, as might have been expected, a marked increase in recruiting for the Volunteer regiments. That this was so was due in a large measure to the fact that Volunteers are attested for service within the territory, and it was felt that attestation in these regiments might preclude any possibility of proceeding to Europe for service. There was, however, a strong public feeling that some steps should be taken to enable men to record their willingness to serve in aid of the Mother Country, and to meet this desire men were invited to register their names as being ready to serve either for (1) Imperial service, (2) Rhodesian service, or (3) local service. propose Lists were opened at various centres for this purpose, and 3,087 men registered their After the despatch of the two Rhodesian regiments, with which I
names.
to deal later on, Your Excellency approved of the enrolment of a Volunteer Reserve of 500 infantry; 400 men have been enrolled to date, and are now undergoing instruction in military duties.
5. On the declaration of war a detachment of armed police under Major A. E. Capell, D.3.0., British South Africa Police, was stationed at the Victoria Falls Bridge, with instructions to guard this railway bridge and to patrol both banks of the Zambesi River about the bridge. Block-houses were erected and an electric light plant supplied at the bridge. An observation post of one officer and 25 men was placed at Kazungula, which is situate on the Zambesi River, fifty miles west of Victoria Falls, On representations being made that the occupation of Schuck- mannsburg, the German post in the Caprivi Zipfel opposite Sesheke on the Zambesi River, would allay considerable apprehension amongst the native tribes, and would safeguard the trade routes on the river, Your Excellency approved of the occupation of Schuckmannsburg and of such portion of the Caprivi Zipfel as was considered Schuckmannsburg was occupied without necessary to attain the result desired. resistance on the 21st September by Major Capell, who had moved his detachment The Germán Resident and his from Victoria Falls to Sesheke for this purpose. European police subordinate were made prisoners of war. On the 10th November the British South Africa Police stationed at Sesheke were withdrawn, and their place was taken by a mobile column of Northern Rhodesia Police, sent from Livingstone. Reliable European scouts were pushed out towards the Okovango River and, as their reports indicated that there was no cause to fear a German advance from the west, and as Seaheke had been connected with Livingstone by tele graphṣit was decided to merely occupy Sesheke as an observation post and intelli- genos hase, from which European scouts would proceed westward. On the 1st of December, therefore, the mobile column left Sesheke and proceeded, under the
Page 120Page 121
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
| | | | | | | | | |
Reference :-
C.O. 885
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRINOT TO
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
224
SOUTH AFRICA (HIGH COMMISSION).
command of Captain J. J. O'Sullevan, Northern Rhodesia Police, to reinforce the forces stationed on the north-eastern border. In March the detachments of the Northern Rhodesia Police stationed at Livingstone and Mongu were each strengthened by an addition of 50 men, the reserves of ammunition were increased, and a unit of Northern Rhodesia Volunteers was raised at Mongu, to which place a senior officer of the Northern Rhodesia Police was sent to take over command. To resist the entry into the Barotse Valley of a hostile force supply depots were established between Livingstone and the Seoma Falls, so that it would be possible to expedite the despatch of a mobile column to the latter place, the force not being delayed or hampered by carriers. The Resident Commissioner, Bechuanaland Protectorate, has arranged for an Intelligence Department to be formed in the north-western border of the Protectorate, which would rapidly transmit intelligence to Sesheke.
6.
North-Eastern Border.
As the question of the co-operation of troops from Belgian Congo with our forces operating on the north-east border is so inseparably connected with events in this region, I propose to deal as shortly as possible with this question before detailing the events that have occurred there. Early in August the Belgian Administration of the Congo stated that they were willing to co-operate with us in defensive, but not offensive, operations, and that a force of seven officers and 225 Belgian native police were ready, and asked permission to move this force through Rhodesian territory to Moliro or elsewhere. However, before any definite agreement had been arrived at regarding co-operation between the Belgian and British troops, the magistrate at Kawambwa, hearing on the 9th September that Abercorn had been attacked on the 5th, and knowing that our reinforcements had not yet arrived, considered the situation critical, and sent an urgent message to the Officer Commanding Belgian troops at Mpweto, where there was a battalion of three companies, one section of guns and a maxim, asking for help. This appeal was promptly complied with; a small detachment was at once despatched, and others of greater strength followed. By the 28th of September close on 500 native soldiers under European officers, two field guns and some machine guns had arrived at Abercorn. Sumbu, on Lake Tanganyika, was also occupied by one Belgian officer and 40 native soldiers. Orders had also been issued for the concentration of another Belgian battalion at Mporokoso, in Rhodesian territory. As it appeared that the combined forces already on the border were sufficient for defensive purposes, the Vice-Governor-General, Elizabethville, was informed that the services of the second Belgian battalion, which was concentrating at Mporokoso, would not be required. This led to a misunderstanding, and the Officer Commanding Belgian troops at Abercorn received instructions from Elizabethville to leave that place and to return to Belgian territory.
7. Since the arrival of Belgian forces on the border the German troops at Bismarckburg had been reinforced, and as the withdrawal of the Belgian forces would leave the Officer Commanding British troops, who had been placed in command of the combined forces, in a serious position, I suggested that this order might be cancelled until satisfactory arrangements had been made to strengthen Abercorn. After negotiations the order was withdrawn, and the battalion was halted at Mporokoso, where it remained fifty-four days, returning to Abercorn on the 26th January. On the 27th November the Administrator of Northern Rhodesia and I visited Elizabethville and thoroughly discussed future plans of co-operation with M. Tombeur, the Acting Vice-Governor-General. Relations throughout the visit
were most cordial. The arrangements can be summarised as follows:-
1. That while Belgian troops are in Northern Rhodesia they remain under
the orders of the senior British officer.
2. That the British and Belgian troops shall co-operate.
3. The British guard the border Abercorn-Fife; the Belgians, based on Abercorn, watch and guard the southern shores of Lake Tanganyika. This arrangement still holds good. I am glad to be able to report that our relations with the Belgian officers and officials have been most friendly, and co-operation in defence of the border has been carried out with cordiality and the greatest good feeling.
225
SOUTH AFRICA (HIGH COMMISSION).
8. Towards the end of February Colonel Molitor, of the Belgian Army, arrived at Salisbury, en route to Elizabethville, to discuss the subject of future operations and co-operation. Much benefit was derived from his visit, as he was in a position to advise me in respect to the agreement arrived at between the British and Belgian Governments prior to his departure from Belgium. The subject of our deliberations being still under consideration, it cannot be included in this report.
Events on the North-East Border.
9. On the outbreak of war orders were at once issued for the posts of Abercorn and Fife to be strengthened and for the border to be patrolled. The Officer Com- manding Northern Rhodesia Police on the frontier was instructed to use his dis- cretion to either hold the above posts or to retire on Kasama. A mobile column was despatched from Livingstone to Kasama early in August, and Major H. M. Stennett, Northern Rhodesia Police, was detailed to command the troops on the border, with the local rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. On the 5th September Abercorn was attacked and the enemy repulsed. As further attacks in greater force were anticipated, the Officer Commanding, Abercorn, asked Kasama for reinforcements. Major Stennett at once moved forward with 100 men by forced marches-99 miles in seventy-two hours and arrived at Abercorn at 3 a.m. on the morning of the 9th September. On this day at 6 a.m. the enemy commenced to shell Abercorn, and attacked it later in the day, but were repulsed. Our losses were two Northern Rhodesia Police (Native) killed On the 10th the enemy retired and encamped on the Lumi River, where they were attacked at dawn on the 11th by a detachment of Northern Rhodesia Police under Lieutenant J. J. McCarthy, sent out from Abercorn, and driven over the border.
10. Beyond the approach of a few enemy's patrols and the constant cutting of the telegraph line nothing of interest occurred during September. Owing to the arrival of the Belgian troops at Abercorn, the enemy strengthened their forces at Bismarckburg, and their patrols became more active; they evidently anticipated being attacked. The withdrawal of the Belgian battalion from Abercorn, referred to elsewhere, left the Northern Rhodesia Police unable to do anything beyond under- taking the passive defence of Abercorn and Fife. Consequently the enemy raided freely and carried off and destroyed large quantities of the telegraph line, thus completely isolating Abercorn. No attacks were, however, made on the two posts, which had in the meanwhile been strongly fortified.
11. Owing to the uncertainty of the Belgian troops being available for further co-operation, arrangements were made to strengthen Lieut.-Colonel Stennett's com- mand by the despatch of reinforcements of European Volunteers and Northern Rhodesia Police from Northern Rhodesia. The whole force on the border after the arrival of these reinforcements to be placed under the command of Lieut.-Colonel F. A. Hodson, Commandant, Northern Rhodesia Police, who left Broken Hill for Abercorn on the 25th November.
12 On the 17th November German troops, conveyed from Bismarckburg in two steamers, landed at Kituta, 14 miles west of Abercorn, and, after destroying a small steamer and burning the stores of the African Lakes Corporation, pro- ceeded to Kasakalawe, 28 miles west of Abercorn, where they landed on the 20th On this day they were and obtained large quantities of telegraph material. attacked by a combined force of Northern Rhodesia Police and Belgian troops; owing to the nature of the country, which was covered with thick bush and long grass, touch was lost between the different parties, and the enemy embarked under cover of the fire of their guns from the steamers. One of the steamers, evidently a new vessel, of 1,200 tons, and mounting two 10-centimetre guns, appeared for the first time. Our losses were two Belgian soldiers (native) killed and ten wounded.
The enemy's force 13 On the 8th December the post at Fife was attacked. was composed of a field gun, 3 machine guns, and 200 to 300 native soldiers. Only one casualty was sustained by the garrison, a native policeman being killed by shell fire. The enemy retired in the evening.
On the Northern 14. On the night of the 27th Fife was again attacked. Rhodesia Police, under Lieutenant A. C. Cussans and Volunteer Lieutenant R. M. Smith, making a successful counter-attack and bayonet charge, the enemy retired in disorder. Our casualties were Lieutenant Smith and one Northern Rhodesia. policeman wounded.