7068 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 13 JULY, 1917.

South Africa , with two Maxim . It was decided that the whole force was thereupon dispatched from Southern Rho- on the border after the arrival 'of these desia to reinforce the police posts on the reinforcements should be placed under the Zambesi, and the whole force was placed under command of Lieutenant-Colonel F. A. Hodson, the command of Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. Commandant of the Police, Stennett, D.S.O., of the Northern Rhodesia and this left Broken Hill for Abercorn Police. on November 25th. 4. In August it was reported that Maritz and 5. On November 17th German troops, con- his party were detained in Angola, that the veyed from Biemarckburg in two steamers, country was clear to the west, anfl. that owing landed at Kituta, fourteen miles west of Aber- to the drying up of the water holes it would be corn, and, after destroying a small steamer and impossible for a force of any strength to move burning the stores of the African Lakes Cor- northwards. The police were therefore with- poration, proceeded to Kasakalawe, 28 miles drawn from the line of the Zambesi, and such west of Abercorn, where they landed on the work as remained to be done was left to the 20th and obtained large quantities of tele- scouts of the Rhodesian Intelligence Depart- graph material. On thisi day they were at- ment under Major R. Gordon, D.S.O. tacked by a combined force of Northern Beyond the arrest of a German officer in Rhodesia Police and Belgian troops. Owing August, and a small party of Regulars in the to the nature of the country, which was following month, there is nothing further to covered with thick bush and long grass, touch record regarding the operations on the west; was lost between the different parties, and the but I should like to mention the good work per- enemy embarked under cover of the fire of formed by the Scouts, whose duties involved, their guns from the steamers. considerable responsibility and great personal 6. The post at Fife was unsuccessfully at- risks. I would specially mention Major R. tacked on December 6th and again on the Gordon, DvS.O., and Scouts Arnold Weinholt night of the 27th, when the enemy were driven and Benjamin Johnson. off in disorder by a counter-attack and bayonet charge led by Lieutenants A. C. Cussans and PART II.—OPERATIONS ON THE NORTH- R. M. Smith. EASTERN BORDER. 7. In December the reinforcements referred to in paragraph 4 were despatched. The 1. On the outbreak of war orders were at column of Northern Rhodesia Police moved once issued for the posts of Abercorn and Fife from Sakania through Belgian territory to to be strengthened, and for the border of Fort Rosebery, thence to Abercorn, where it to be patrolled. The arrived on February 3rd. The European Officer Commanding Northern Rhodesia Volunteers, Northern Rhodesia Rifles, who Police on the frontier was instructed either to were provided with ox-transport, marched from hold the above posts or to retire on Kasama Kashitu and arrived on the border on Feb- according to his discretion. A mobile column ruary 12th; a very fine performance consider- was dispatched from Livingstone to Kasama ing the bad state of the roads owing to the early in August, 1914, and Lieutenant-Colonel heavy rains. In the meanwhile the Belgian Stennett was placed in command on the border. Battalion had returned 'to Abercorn. The 2. On September 5th AT>ercorn was attacked, arrival of these reinforcements was followed and the enemy repulsed. As further - attacks by a renewal of activity on the border. in greater force were anticipated, the Officer 8. In the course of March, April, May and Commanding at Abercorn asked Kasama for June, 1915, a number of small engagements reinforcements. Lieutenant-Colonel Stennett took place. In one of these Lieutenant at once moved forward with 100 men by forced Stannus Irvine, of the Northern Rhodesia marches—99 miles in 72 hours—and arrived at Rifles, was mortally wounded while gallantly Abercorn at 3 a.m. on the morning of Sep- leading a successful attack on a stockaded posi- tember 9th. On this day, at 6 a.m., the enemy tion. On another occasion the enemy attacked commenced to shell Abercorn, and attacked it a patrol of Belgians and Rhodesia police with later in the day, but were repulsed. Next day great determination, but were eventually they retired and encamped on the Lumi River, driven off after an engagement lasting about where they were attacked at dawn on the 11th two hours. Sous-officier Verschueren behaved by a detachment of Northern Rhodesia Police with great gallantry. He refused to leave the under Lieutenant J. J. McCarthy and driven firing line, although twice wounded, and finally over the border. he was killed. His body was carried out of 3. Beyond the approach of a few enemy's action by Senior Serjeant Borazi, of the Bel- patrols and the constant cutting of the tele- gian Forces, and Serjeant Mwambera, of the graph lines, nothing of interest occurred during Northern Rhodesia Police. Both of these men September. By the 26th of that month the showed conspicuous' bravery, and Serjeant forces at Abercorn had been strengthened by Borazi was wounded. the arrival of a Belgian Battalion consist] tie of 9. Towards the end of June it was reported 500 native soldiers under European officers, that the enemy, who had been reinforced, in- with field and machine guns. Owing to a mis- tended to attack out- position at Saisi. The re- understanding this battalion was shortly after- port proved true, and^ at 6 a.m. on the 28th wards withdrawn, but it was sent back to the post was attacked by some 100 Europeans Abercorn on January 26th. from which date it and 300 Askari with machine guns and about continued to co -operate* with the British Forces 100 Arabs and Ruga-Ruga. The attack was until it was finally withdrawn in October. 1915 maintained with considerable determination 4. As it was uncertain how long the Belgian throughout the day until >3 p.m. On the fol- force would continue to co-operate, arrange- lowing morning the enemy appeared again, but ments were made to strengthen Lieutenant- retired after a little snimnejf. Our casualties Colonel Stennett's command bv the dispatch of were one European killed, two natives died of reinforcements of European Volunteers and N wounds and nine wounded. The enemy's losse« Northern R/hodesia, Police from. Northern were estimated to. Tbe fifteen Europeans killed