Comments on: Cape to Cairo http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/03/24/cape-to-cairo/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:19:25 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Nelson Hanford http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/03/24/cape-to-cairo/comment-page-1/#comment-20315 Nelson Hanford Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:06:54 +0000 http://www.andrewcusack.com/?p=2790#comment-20315 It's very intresting to see that Rhodesia is shown as is part of South Africa, and Bechuanaland is a seperated by dotted lines. The map clearly dates from 1936-1939, as Ethiopia is shown as part of Italian East Africa, during the Italian occupation(emphasis on occupation). During this time Britain recognized the colony, had it been published after the outbreak of the Second World War, Ethiopia as a nation "in the same basket" as the Allies would've been indicated occupied. It’s very intresting to see that Rhodesia is shown as is part of South Africa, and Bechuanaland is a seperated by dotted lines. The map clearly dates from 1936-1939, as Ethiopia is shown as part of Italian East Africa, during the Italian occupation(emphasis on occupation). During this time Britain recognized the colony, had it been published after the outbreak of the Second World War, Ethiopia as a nation “in the same basket” as the Allies would’ve been indicated occupied.

]]> By: David Allen http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/03/24/cape-to-cairo/comment-page-1/#comment-17091 David Allen Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:15:11 +0000 http://www.andrewcusack.com/?p=2790#comment-17091 It is probably just an idea of the person who drew the map rather than based on any serious plan. I had a school friend whose father drove his family the length of Africa from Pretoria to Beirut in the early 1950's, and from the time they left South Africa (then a dominion like Canada)until they crossed the Sudanese - Egyptian frontier, travelled exclusively across British colonial territory. Apart from wear and tear on the vehicles they encountered no really bad roads, though they were mostly dirt, no malaria (largely eradicated), no crime, friendly people, and had a journey of their lives. I doubt whether you could drive around a street in Pretoria today without your car falling into a pothole or without being mugged, let alone cross Africa without serious incident. It is probably just an idea of the person who drew the map rather than based on any serious plan. I had a school friend whose father drove his family the length of Africa from Pretoria to Beirut in the early 1950′s, and from the time they left South Africa (then a dominion like Canada)until they crossed the Sudanese – Egyptian frontier, travelled exclusively across British colonial territory. Apart from wear and tear on the vehicles they encountered no really bad roads, though they were mostly dirt, no malaria (largely eradicated), no crime, friendly people, and had a journey of their lives. I doubt whether you could drive around a street in Pretoria today without your car falling into a pothole or without being mugged, let alone cross Africa without serious incident.

]]> By: Steven http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/03/24/cape-to-cairo/comment-page-1/#comment-17041 Steven Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:15:16 +0000 http://www.andrewcusack.com/?p=2790#comment-17041 That would explain it. The League of Nations entrusted Taganyika to the British as a mandate, in which they were forbidden to construct military or naval bases. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nations_Mandate The British would not have been allowed to construct facilities to assist the transport of military materiel through the territory, and quite likely wouldn't even have been able to move soldiers and possibly even weapons on a Trans-Taganyikan railroad. Bear in mind that Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck's audacious and spectacular guerilla campaign during the war, which had included the destruction of railroads, had left a deep impression and engendered many warm feelings among the tribes of Tanganyika. A family member there in the 60s remembers how the old men would proudly show her the goose-stepping they had learned as German askaris. The British may have felt that the tribes of the Belgian colony were much less likely to be a problem in the event of another clash with Germany, and wanted to align Belgian and British interests. That would explain it.

The League of Nations entrusted Taganyika to the British as a mandate, in which they were forbidden to construct military or naval bases.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nations_Mandate

The British would not have been allowed to construct facilities to assist the transport of military materiel through the territory, and quite likely wouldn’t even have been able to move soldiers and possibly even weapons on a Trans-Taganyikan railroad.

Bear in mind that Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck’s audacious and spectacular guerilla campaign during the war, which had included the destruction of railroads, had left a deep impression and engendered many warm feelings among the tribes of Tanganyika.

A family member there in the 60s remembers how the old men would proudly show her the goose-stepping they had learned as German askaris.

The British may have felt that the tribes of the Belgian colony were much less likely to be a problem in the event of another clash with Germany, and wanted to align Belgian and British interests.

]]> By: Baron v Senden http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/03/24/cape-to-cairo/comment-page-1/#comment-17026 Baron v Senden Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:00:08 +0000 http://www.andrewcusack.com/?p=2790#comment-17026 Are you planning a treck North Mr Cusack? Are you planning a treck North Mr Cusack?

]]> By: Andrew Cusack http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/03/24/cape-to-cairo/comment-page-1/#comment-17024 Andrew Cusack Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:54:33 +0000 http://www.andrewcusack.com/?p=2790#comment-17024 This map is from the interwar period. Tanganyika was a British territory by then. This map is from the interwar period. Tanganyika was a British territory by then.

]]> By: Steven http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/03/24/cape-to-cairo/comment-page-1/#comment-17023 Steven Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:49:43 +0000 http://www.andrewcusack.com/?p=2790#comment-17023 Tanganyike at the time was a German colony. Perhaps the British preferred that their railroad traverse Belgian rather than German territory?? Tanganyike at the time was a German colony. Perhaps the British preferred that their railroad traverse Belgian rather than German territory??

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