The German `Navy´ 1914 - 1916 on Lake Kivu / Ruanda / GEA (Part IV)
06_Bodelschwing.png
[ . . . ]
(For me it looks like that the photo on
Abb. 7 showed another boat then on
Abb. 8 and 9.!?!)
Already in the last year the assumption was expressed that the upper photo does not show the boat `
BODELSCHWING´,
for which there were however no further indications. Now an real expert in the field of colonial cannon boats has confirmed the
assumption that they are different boats, which are presented on the first three photos of this thread. In addition, pictures
were discovered, which boat it could be and why it might have been a confusion between both boats, `
BODELSCHWING´
(on Lake Kiwu, 1913 - 1916) and `
PAULUS´ (on Lake Nyassa 1894 - 1972? [
***]).
– Both users are German evangelical mission societies who were active in GEA up to 1918.
– Both boats were built by the 'Reinhold Holtz' ship- and boat-yard in Hamburg-Harburg.
– Both boats had the same dimensions of 11 meters in length.
– Both boats were assembled in seven segments, disassembled and transported to Africa.
“Steal-boat ``Paulus´´ disassembled for transport”
04_Paulus.png
“Steal boat ``Paulus´´ on the water”
03_Paulus.png
Original Sources: “Merensky, Deutsche Arbeit am Niassa, Berlin 1894“, Page 287:
https://books.google.co.tz/books?id=dVQ ... 22&f=false
Hereafter the translated German text passage from two Germen preliminary sources, about what was currently known about the
steam boat `
PAULUS´:
"The steel boat `Paulus´, which is 12 meters long, is built for traffic on the lake. It is made of strong steel sheets and
has a storage room at the front, which can also serve as a sleeping quarters for the black boatmen. In the centre is
a cabin of teak, which offers two white weatherproof accommodation and comfortable night-time accommodation;
behind it is the small steam engine of 6 horse stables driving the vehicle through the water at a speed of 11 km an hour. "
Original Source: Deutsches Kolonial-Handbuch. Dr. Rudolf Fitzner, Band I., Berlin Hermann Paetel 1901, Seite 339 / 340
"It was very necessary, however, to send a steel boat to the missionaries. Even before Ikombe was laid, we realized
that such a boat could provide the best service to the traffic between Karonga and the lower Rufirio, that is, with
Wangemannshöh, because the carriers had to cross five strong rivers on this route, and the costs for Transportation
of the goods from Karonga were very significant. (10 marks for the ctr). Ikombe was now laid out, and it was clear
that the possession of a boat was absolutely necessary for the traffic of this station with Wangemannshöh, with
Langenburg, with Karonga, as well as for the mission trips to be undertaken from here.
Through collections that had been organized in Germany there were 6500 marks, which cost it, and for this price the
company R. Holtz took over the construction of a small steamboat, which could be shipped to East Africa at the end
of March. This boat, which according to the decision of the missionary committee bears the name "Paulus", is on 28.
March of this year (1893) was shipped to German East Africa.
The A.L.C., which has taken over these pieces to the south end, from where they are represented by the "Hermann v.
Wissmann" are to be collected. For the German Foreign Office which has given room for this to happen, and the boat
in Langenburg has been set up by the locksmiths and machinists of the steamer H. v. Wissmann”. If this boat will swim
only at the north end, the missionaries will enjoy the greatest ease of transport through their service.
This boat is 12 meters long, it is made of strong steel sheet with a steam engine of six horse powers driving the vehicle
through the water at a speed of about eleven kilometres an hour. Sails are also available so that the machine is only to
be put into service in an emergency. On the shallow coasts and in the rivers, the natives will also gladly move the vehicle
through the use of bamboo poles. May the "Paulus" in a not distant time on the north end of the Nyassa lead the German
flag from coast to coast, from village to town, decorated with the cross, as a messenger and a sign of peace! "
Original Sources: “Merensky, Deutsche Arbeit am Niassa, Berlin 1894“, Page 285-288:
[
***]
Like the steamer `HERMANN VON WISSMANN´ and` VERA', the `PAULUS' was further used by the British after 1919.
There are references that the `Paulus´ was still seen in 1972 (
!) at the shipyard of Malidini, at the southern end of Nyassa.
. . . . . but this is another story, or theme for a new thread and investigations on side.
Cheers Holger
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“Day by day and almost minute by minute the past was brought up to date. . . . All History was a
palimpsest, scraped clean and reinscribed exactly as often as was necessary” – G. ORWELL 1984
