The rest of his force advanced from the north-west, behind
Kilimanjaro, with the object of passing through Mosbi, and of eventually cutting the Usambara Railway at Kahe. The principal fight .came after the capture of Taveta, when it was necessary to drive the enemy from a neck at Latema which was very strongly held. It was decided that the best chance of dislodging the enemy was to attack him by night with the bayonet, and this task was allotted chiefly to the two South African battalions. The attack took place through dense scrub in which it was impossible to keep touch, and at the end it was checked by the German machine gum, which inflicted heavy losses. But while the Germans had been occupied in repelling this most gallant assault they had been out- flanked by our mounted troops. Soon after dawn the enemy was in full retreat. No doubt other readers of the despatch will have shared our own sense of thrilling pride and wonder at all that it stands for. Fifteen years ago Lieutenant-General Smuts was in arms against us. Now he writes his despatches like any other British General : "My Lord, in accordance with your instructions, I assumed command of His Majesty's Forces"; and so on. There is a secret embedded there which is hidden from the Germans.
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