“SCRAPS” IN BRITISH EAST AFRICA .
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Jones, of the New Inn Hotel, Ammanford, have received a highly interesting letter from their -------(word) Mr. Williams …………..is Acting Pier Master…………..British East Africa. ……………struggle between the …………on the battlefields of ………..and, judging from Mr. Jones' letter, it is a stern reality in British East Africa, which adjoins on the German territory, and many “scraps” have occurred , of which we in this country have heard nothing.
His references to the hunting down of the Konigsburg makes interesting reading despite the fact that her fate at eh time was not sealed. Nevertheless, subsequent events have proved the accuracy of what he says. His many Ammanford friends will be glad to learn that he is “in the best of health and quite happy” and that his business abilities have won recognition in strange land.
The following are extracts from the letter :-
“I am very sorry I did not write to you by the last mail but I am now writing ready for the next, which is to leave here shortly. In fact, I have been very busy.
The Pier Master has now gone on six months leave to South Africa , and I have taken his place for the time being as Acting Pier Master, and since he has gone away I have my hands full, handling troops and also dealing with steamers which arrived here after having been hung up owing to the war.
The work after the P. M. left, three steamers arrived from India packed to the hilt with soldiers, ---------(word) and guns, and for three days I was working practically night and day, but no sooner had I got rid if them by train then another three steamers arrived from Europe with cargo, and, further, there are three more due in the next fortnight. So, you can see I am quite busy. Just think of it I have about 209 boys to look after, about 60 clerks, four ------- (word), seven steam cranes and a whole number of sidings where various ----- (word) have sheds, and I have to supply them with wagons.
You can therefore imagine what I have to supervise. I don't suppose one firm in hundred in England would trust me with such a big job as this. I can assure you it is a handful, too.”
“There have been a few nasty fights in these parts, and I don't think we have had the best of it in all the fights, or “scraps,” as we call them. In a “scrap” about forty miles from here the other day all the soldiers were wounded, and three natives were killed and wounded, but no Europeans were killed. England wants German East Africa badly, because there is a strip of land there that is essential for us to get in order to complete the Cape to Cairo railway, and when we get it, we will be satisfied. Also it's a very valuable possession in more senses than one.”
I wonder how long this war is really going to last. I expect Europe is upside down. I see according to Garfield 's letter, which I received two days ago, that Ammanford has given a good share of volunteers. I am very glad that Ike has joined just to encourage others. If I was home I should have joined long ago. No doubt Ammanford is nearly deserted now after so many of the young fellows have gone.”
“We have four cruisers hanging about here now, H. M. S. Chatham, Weymouth , Dartmouth , and the Fox, all cleared ready for action. They do all their coaling at this port. They are still after the German cruiser, the Konigsburg, but at the time of writing (October 23 rd ) have not caught it. This is the cruiser that accounted for the ill-fated Pegasus about 80 miles from here.
A few days ago the H. M. S. Dartmouth brought in here a German launch, which was conveying six months' rations to the Konigsburg, but they cannot find out where she is lying. She is hiding somewhere on this coast up in a creek, and is quite safe so far, but when either of our cruisers do come across her, they are going to avenge their ill-fated friends of the Pegasus.”
