The sun., 1894-01-20

When Germany decided. In 1884. to take
part In the scramble for Africa. she drew
a prize without knowing it. She entered
the list OF colonial powers by raising her
flag over the arid wastes around Angra
PequefIa in Southwest Africa. Nobody
knew for years how her new acquisition
would profit her. But OF all the powers
that appropriated big slices OF Africa. Ger
many is the second to invite European
farmers to settle In the new lands. Eng
land was the first when she opened Mashona
Land TO the miner and the agriculturlst.
A German merchant named LtDERTTz had
secured large grant Of land by treaty with
native chiefs. He asked his Government to
protect him In the enjoyment Of his hot and
sandy possessions around Angra PequeiIa
Downing street and Cape Town heard with
much surprise. one day. that gunboat had
raised the German flag in tho neglected lit
tie bay. The Government Of the Cape at
once voted to send force to possess the
land. The British Foreign OGice informed
BISMARCK that any establishment Of for
eign power in that region would be regard
ed as an infringement upon the rights of
Great Britain. There was q sharp exchange
OF dispatches that became almost menac-
ing on the part OF Germany and the upshot
OF 1t all was that 800 miles Of coast. from the
Cum 10 to the Orange Rivers. with its Hin
teIland. was declared to be German soil.
All that Great Britain got out OF the deal
was Walflsh Bay. with little territory
around 1t.
1t has since been discovered that there
are thousands OF square miles In Damara
Land. the northern part OF these German
possessions. that have q most fertile soil,
admirably adapted for agriculture. and es-
pecially for cattle and sheep breeding; and.
best OF all. that white men may live there
as safely and comfortably as they do on
the plains OF Cape Colony. Not long ago
Germany threw the doors wide open. She
has other vast possessions in East Africa.
In the Cameroons. in Togo Land. and in the
Pacific. and to all OF them she invites
picked men who are fitted to be pioneers.
But to Southwest Africa alone she has in
vited colonists with their wives and chill
dren. She relies upon the sturdy farmer
and ranchman TO develop for her this new
empire beyond the sea.
The cable dispatches for two weeks have
been telling OF a sombre side to this pic
ture. WITBooI. an ugly native chief. who
declines to become civilized and has small
respect for the German flag. has been maxi
ing trouble for the few colonists who are
now on the ground. A few weeks ago he
attacked the settlement at Kubub. and the
plunder he secured would satisfy the greed
OF almost any African potentate.
The leading colonist at this place was Mr..
HERMANN. who has been In the country for
several years. and has been widely adver-
tised in colonial reports as conspicuous
example OF what German Southwest AZ
rica will do for the enterprising stock
raiser. He has already exported considera-
BILE wool TO Cape Town. The violent trans
ference OF property. effected by WITBooI
has left Mr. HERMANN without a dollar to
his name. while the chief has been enriched
at this one ranch by 2.7is cattle. 2.343 me-
rino sheep. 246 Angora goats. 20 horses. 95
African sheep. and 70 African goats. besides
wagons. carts. furniture. tools. and clothes;
and what movable property the heartless
old fellow could not drive Off or carry
away TO the mountains he burned. No won
der that HERMANN, as the cable dispatches
say. "takes a pesslmistic view as to the fu-
ture OF Southwest Africa"
This is only the last aud biggest OF the
series OF WITBooI's outrages. 1t is very
evident that Germany has invited colonists
into the country before she has it properly
policed and is prepared TO offer security to
life and property. The attractions OF Ger
man Southwest Africa will not be- very al
luring until the WITBooI nuisance has
been abeted.