172 WAR: CAMPAIGNING IN EAST AFRICA 



During this Von Lettow himself came across. 

 The two Dutchmen jumped up and spoke to him, 

 and then he had me called over. I heard Van R. 

 say to the German General before he called me 

 up, " We have got Wienholt " • the General's 

 reply, " Das ist famos, das ist famos, das Kommt 

 nicht wieder," meaning presumably the raiding of 

 his convoys. Von Lettow spoke to me — in Ger- 

 man, of course — for a few minutes, asking me what 

 nationality I was. " I am an Australian, sir." 



" But your name is German." 



" Yes, the family is of German extraction, 

 though not for the last three centuries." 



" But the name is German." 



" Yes, certainly, sir ; originally, I believe, from 

 near Bremen." 



Again he asked me, " Have you had fever ? " 



" No, sir, I have no fever." 



" Oh, it is wounded then that you are ? " 



" Yes, just slightly." 



" Ah," said he, " we have known all about 

 you." Then he asked me if I was the leader of 

 the scouts, and I told him I was the oldest. 



The German General impressed me favourably. 

 Roughly dressed, wearing slacks, heavy ammuni- 

 tion boots, and a coat not unlike a British warm ; 

 his manner not at all overbearing ; his face the 

 face of a strong man. He called some young 

 officer over to him and led him off by the arm, 

 evidently giving some instructions. 



A bad night is a man's first night as a prisoner, 



