l plans.

British reprisals came early in November, when the towns of Tanga and
Gassin were attacked by British troops. The troops selected for this
adventure numbered 6,000 and carried only food, water, guns and
munitions. No protection of any kind nor any other equipment was taken
by the soldiers. Reinforcements to the German forces delayed the capture
of Gassin until January. A garrison of three hundred men was left there
and this in turn was besieged by three thousand Germans. After a
stubborn defense the Germans recaptured the town. A union of two British
forces was accomplished early in June, 1915. One of these cut through
German East Africa along the Kagera River and the other advanced on
steamers from Kisumu. They met the enemy on June 22d and defeated it
with heavy casualties. Later General Tighe, commanding the combined
British forces, was congratulated on the completeness of his victory on
June 28th, by General Kitchener.

The territory acquired by the British as a consequence of the invasion
of Germany's African possessions, possesses formidable natural barriers,
but once these are past the traveller finds lands of wonderful fertility
and great natural resources. Approaching German Southwest Africa from
the east access is across the Kalahari Desert. This in its trackless
desolation, its frequent sandstorms and torrid heat through which only
the hardiest and best provisioned caravans may penetrate is worse than
the worst that Sahara can show. There is not a sign of life. Approached
from the sea the principal port is Walfish Bay, a fair harbor that was
improved by the British when they occupied it. Near Walfish some of the
largest diamonds in the history of the world have been found and gold
fields of considerable richness have been worked. The climate of German
Southwest Africa, after the torrential storms of the seacoast and the
terrific heat of the desert have been passed, is one of the most
salubrious in the world. It is unique among African regions in the
opportunities it affords for colonization by white men. Great Britain
possessed large holdings of this land before Germany came into
possession, but abandoned them under the belief that the region was
comparatively worthless. There was no misapprehension on this score when
all of the lands came into the possession of England as the result of
the war.

CHAPTER XIX

ITALY DECLARES WAR ON AUSTRIA

For many years before the great war began the grea