ich, the Belgian soldiers furnished
invaluable assistance, proving themselves to be skillful and fearless
fighters.

What especially contributed to make the Allies' successes easier in
this section of the war area was the revolt of the natives against
their German masters. The Germans during their retreat had burned
villages and destroyed a vast amount of property which so enraged the
natives that many deserted. Having a perfect knowledge of the country
it was easy for them to escape capture. It was stated that many hung
around the German flanks and took revenge on their former masters by
hindering their retreat and by occasionally sniping the German
officers.

The natives of the Cameroons were not generally trusted by the
Germans, and were forbidden to fish in the streams of the country,
lest they should furnish information to the enemy.

Countercharges of British cruelty were brought at this time by certain
German missionaries of the Basle Mission, on the Sanga River. It was
claimed that British troops promised to reward natives for delivering
Germans into their hands, and for killing them. A number of Germans,
it was stated, had been cut to pieces, while others had been tortured
and delivered to the British. It was charged against the French
military authorities that German prisoners had been deported to French
Dahomey where they were forced to labor under black overseers. These
charges were denied by the accused in each instance.

During April and May, 1915, there was sharp fighting on the Nigeria
frontier. The large native town of Gurin, just inside British
territory, was attacked by a German force from Garua in April. The
contingent numbered sixteen Europeans, and about 350 natives. It was
equipped with some large guns and Maxims. For the defense of the town
there was only a small garrison of forty native troops commanded by
Lieutenant Pawle. For seven hours the garrison held off the enemy,
when he was forced to retire. During the struggle Lieutenant Pawle,
the gallant commander of the garrison, was killed. The news of this
engagement was carried by native soldiers who escaped from Gurin, to
Colonel F. G. Cunliffe at Yola, who immediately set off with a
detachment of the African Frontier Force, arriving on the scene of the
siege the day following. After being joined by a body of French
troops, he moved on to capture Garua where the British had met with
disastrous defeat in August, 1914.

Since that time the