The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-19
TIE GERMANS N AFRICA.

There is nothing unusual OF unexpected
In the intelligence of disasters in the Ger
man colony Of East Africa. They are Incl
dents in the enterprise which Germany has
undertaken. Similar occurrences marked
the early history OF England's occupation
Of Hindostau, and nothing In the record Of
Bismarck or Capriyi iustjfes the belief that
the Germans were likely TO escape them.
On the contrary as military colonists the
Germans have everywhere shown them
selves TO be as eXactinE as the English We're
III India: it is natural that they should meet
with set5acks. though these do not neces.
sarily fCTeshad0W an abandonment Of their
undertaking.
BY tie Berlin agreement Of July I, 1888,
Germany's sphere in East Africa was
limited 10 an area OF 100000 square miles
an area about equal to that Of Texas, Lou
isiaua aud Arkansas together. The En-
rerur does not claim to own this territory {;
it is not called a German colony; but it Is
conceded by England, France. Portugal and
Congo that within its limits Germany's in
1ucnoe shall be paramount over that Of any
other power, and that ii shall enjoy the eX-
elusive rights Of establishing tariffs and
trade regulations, and Of dealing with the
native chiefs The territory begins on the
coast at a point in about 4 south. a few
miles north Of Zanzibar; it extends north
westerly SO as to take in part Of the Vie
t0ria Lake, and runs 20 tie eastern frontier
Of Congo State; it includes portions Of
Lakes Tanganyika and Nyassa, its south
ern boundary, and strikes the coast at the
mouth Of the Royuma, liJtle south OF 10
south longitude. Il may thus be said TO in
clude the most fertile aud the most promis-
ing portion Of Eastern Equatorial Africa.
The German cfhcial reports state that the
native population Of this vast tract is less
than million; but the statement IS hardly
credible In such a country, which in spots
is highly fertile and well wateIed. The raids
Of the Arab slave-tradeTs can hardly have
reduced the population 10 so small a figure
as that, It will probably be found that the
area under German influence contains many
millions Of souls.
Germany's purpose in acquiring this in
tuence was to open up new markets for
German goods and 10 provide homes under
the German flag for sons Of the fatheriand
who proposed 20 emigTate. England, France
and Portugal admitted Germany to share in
the partition Of Africa Oh the condition that
she would Join them in measures for the
eXtiTpatOn of the slave trade That she
has not yet dcne. Zanziuar. Which has
passed into German hands, is an ancient
eDtTcpOt for slaves. The slave marts, which
were closed when the Germans FIST took
possession, have lately been reopened, and
the trade is said to be rs brisk as ever. IN
reply to protests the German officers say
that Vi bile Germany yields 10 no nalicn in
its desire TO suppress the slave trade It must
be allowed 10 choose its own way and time
10 do so, and that al present it finds the in
stiution so interviewer with the habits Of
the natives that it cannot undertake to
crush It out without rousing an instruction
Ct which it would be difficult to fOresee the
results. IN the meantime tie German
soldiers get along badly with the natives !;
broils are Of constant occurrence and many
valuable lives have been lost. Mr.. Albert
Wolff. who spent some time at Zanzibar,
declares that tie German attempts at colo
UizatiOn are not serious and that they will
end in disaster.
1t is difficult for Americans TO cast the
horoscope Of enterprises like this German
undertaking in Africa. If any one should
propose TO the United States to found a
colony or a prctcctorate in Africa or any
-
as fit inmate for a lunatic asylum. No
amount Of rea soning could satisfy Amerl-
cans that the profits of such an enterprise
would be commensurate with its cost.
When people in this country observed Bis
marck's ventures in planting colonies at
Angra Pequena, in Papua, on South Sea
Islands and at Zanzibar they shrugged their
shoulders and concluded that there was
more in German policy than could be
reckOned up by American philosophy.
Commerce and civilization would be gamers
by tie substitution Of German authority for
the authority Of scattered African chiefs.
and by the suppression of the great dis
grace OF the age-the Arab slave trade.
But the cost Of tie substitution in money
and lives would lie so large that no ordi-
nary nation would enter upon il. We were
not willing 10 accept either Dominica or
Samoa when their people begged US 10 ac-