Wilbur Smith - Assegai

‘It will be a republic again. Then will you come back with me? I need good fighting men like you.’

Before Hennie could reply Graf Otto stepped forward. ‘Please tell the general that I am deeply honoured to meet such a brave soldier and patriot.’ Hennie fell quickly and readily into the role of translator, first making the introductions, and then taking his place at de la Rey’s side under the sun awning.

At first both von Lettow Vorbeck and the general were stiff and awkward with Eva at the conference table, and Graf Otto apologized to them: ‘I hope you do not mind Fräulein von Wellberg being present at our deliberations. I vouch for her. Nothing that is said here today will go with her when she leaves. The Fräulein is an artist of repute. With your permission, gentlemen, and as a memento of such a historic conclave I have asked her, while we talk, to make portraits of you.’ Von Lettow and de la Rey nodded. Eva thanked them with a smile, then laid her sketchpad and pencil on the table and began to work.

Graf Otto turned back to de la Rey. ‘You have Hennie du Rand to translate for you, General. Colonel von Lettow Vorbeck and I are fully conversant with English so that is the language we will use. I hope that is agreeable to you?’ When Hennie translated this, de la Rey inclined his head, and Graf Otto continued, ‘First I want to present a letter of introduction and authority from the minister of Foreign Affairs in Berlin.’ He handed it across the table.

Hennie read it aloud while de la Rey listened carefully, then said, ‘I would not have come such a terrible journey under the sea if I had not known who you are, Graf Otto. Germany was a staunch ally and a good friend of my people during the war with the British. That I will never forget. I look upon you as a friend and an ally still.’

‘Thank you, General. You do me and my country great honour.’

‘I am a simple man, Graf. I like straight and honest talk. Tell me why you have invited me here.’

‘Despite the great courage and determination with which they fought, the Afrikaner people have suffered terrible defeat and humiliation.’ De la Rey said nothing but his eyes were dark and tragic. Graf Otto was silent with him for a moment, then went on, ‘The British are a warlike and rapacious nation. They have seized and dominated most of the world, and still their appetite for conquest is unassuaged. Although we Germans are a peaceable people, we are also proud and prepared to defend ourselves against aggression.’

De la Rey listened to the translation. ‘We have much in common,’ he agreed. ‘We were willing to make a stand against tyranny. It cost us dearly, but I and many like me do not regret it.’

‘The time is coming on apace when you may be forced to make the decision again. Fight with honour or capitulate with shame and disgrace. Germany will face the same dreadful choice.’

‘It seems that the fates of our two peoples are linked. But Britain is a terrible enemy. Her navy is the most powerful in all the oceans. If Germany were forced to oppose it what would be your battle plan? Would the Kaiser send an army to defend your colonies in Africa?’ de la Rey asked.

‘There are differing opinions on that. The prevailing view in Germany is that our colonies must be defended in the North Sea, not on their own ground.’

‘Do you subscribe to that view, Graf? Would you abandon your African colonies, and your old allies?’

‘Before I answer that question, let us review the facts. Germany has two colonies in sub-Saharan Africa south of the equator, one on the south-west coast, the other here on the east coast. Both are thousands of miles from Germany, and widely separated from each other. At present the forces defending them are tiny. In German South-west Africa there are approximately three thousand regular Schutztruppe, and seven thousand settlers, most of whom are on the army reserve list or have received military training. Here, in German East Africa, the numbers are comparable.’ Graf Otto looked at von Lettow Vorbeck. ‘Am I correct, Colonel?’

‘Yes, they are very similar. I have two hundred and sixty white officers and two and a half thousand askari under my command. In addition there is a police gendarmerie of forty-five white officers and a few more than two thousand police askaris , who will help to defend the colony if it comes to war.’

‘It is a pitifully small force with which to defend such a vast territory,’ the Graf pointed out. ‘With the British Royal Navy in command of the oceans around the continent, the chance of reinforcing and supplying these two tiny armies would be negligible.’

‘It is a daunting prospect,’ von Lettow Vorbeck agreed. ‘We would be forced to adopt the same guerrilla tactics that you Boers employed so successfully in South Africa against them.’

‘All that would change most dramatically if South Africa entered the war on the side of Germany,’ Graf Otto said softly. Both he and von Lettow Vorbeck looked hard at de la Rey.

‘None of this is completely new to me. I also have given much thought to these matters, and consulted many of my old companions in arms.’ De la Rey stroked his beard thoughtfully. ‘However, Smuts and Botha have gone over heart and soul to the British. They have a grip on the reins of power. A firm but not unshakeable grip. A large part of the South African population is of British descent and their hearts and loyalties lie with Britain.’

‘What is the state of the South African Army?’ Graf Otto asked. ‘What are the numbers and who is in command?’

‘Without exception, all the senior officers are Afrikaner and fought against the British,’ de la Rey replied. ‘That includes Smuts and Botha, who have gone over to them. However, there are many who have not followed their lead.’

‘The war ended almost twelve years ago,’ von Lettow Vorbeck pointed out. ‘Much has changed since then. All four of the old South African republics have been amalgamated into the Union of South Africa. The Boers have twice the power and influence they had before. Will they be satisfied with this, or will they risk it all by siding with Germany? Are the Boers not tired of war? They are now part of the British Empire. Would Smuts and Botha succeed in turning their old comrades away from Germany?’ Von Lettow and Graf Otto waited for the old Boer to respond.

‘You may be right,’ he said at last. ‘Perhaps time has healed some of the wounds of the Afrikaner Volk , but the scars are still there. However, I run ahead of myself. Let us consider the existing army of South Africa, the Union Defence Force, as it is now known. It is formidable, perhaps sixty thousand strong and well equipped. It is quite capable of controlling all of southern Africa from Nairobi and Windhoek down to the Cape of Good Hope. Whichever government commands it will have control of the sea routes and the harbours around the continent. It will have under its control the monumental resources of the Witwatersrand gold fields, the Kimberley diamond mines and the new steel and armament works in the Transvaal. If South Africa threw in its lot with Germany, Britain would come under enormous strain. She would have to divert a large army from Europe to try to recapture the country, and the Royal Navy would be stretched to its limit to defend and supply it. South Africa might well be the pivot on which the outcome of such a war would turn.’

‘If you decided to ride against the British again, which way would your old comrades go? We know Botha and Smuts would support Britain, but what of the other old commando leaders? Which way would de Wet, Maritz, Kemp, Beyers and the others go? Would they be with you or with Botha?’

‘I know these men,’ de la Rey said softly. ‘I have fought with them and seen into their hearts. It was a long time ago, but they have not forgotten the terrible things that the British did to them, their women and children, and to the land we love. In my heart I know they would ride out on commando with me against the enemy, and for me the enemy is still Britain.’