The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-02-09
KITCHENER ORDERED A MASSACRE OF TIE BOERj
An Exposure the Contemplated Butchsry is Made
by Humane British Officer.
He Says the Cruel Order Was Repeated Twice in Order
Avoid Any Misunderstanding.
1t Was Issued When the Whole British Army in Pursuit
of De Wet and His Burghers.

beg for quarter ourselves with some
what humliating frequency, and ac-
ccpt the generous terms that have
been Invariably offered. till the time
Mt last when our enemies. gathered to-
gcthcr at our feet. asked for tho mercy
which had been so freely accorded by
thcmSclvcS-thatw we should then ruth
lcssly massacre those unfortunate men
is an act not only so cruel. but so mean
and cowardly. that now as I write
have difficulty in convincing myself
that it could ever have been contem-
plated Ivy an English officer. Certain
| ly. believed that year ago there
wcrc not two men in the army who
would not have Indignantly rcpudiated
such n decd. and if anyone had told
mo otherwise. could scarcely have re-
strained myself from calling him a
liar.
"Evcn now that tho order has been
given ! do not believe that 1t will be
fully carried out unless under the eye
of Lord Kitchener or Il few of his ad-
hcrcntS. Some massacre will probably
take place. because there are few
men who will do any deed to gain the
favor of supcrlors. But I cannot bring
myself to believe that tho English and
Irish soldiers will commit so dastardly
a crime unless they have been prcvi-
ously worked upon and mnddcncd by
| tales of supposed atrocities Certainly
many things have happened during
the last few months which l did not
anticipate; but surely the majority of
men will shrink from such a crime.
"But all this time I feel that you
imagine am dccciving myself. and
that YOU remain lncrcdulous as to the
possibility Of such an order having
been deliberately given. Yet you know
that I am not the sort of person to
make a mistake Of that sort. that do
not really jump at conclusions and
make accusations without solid
| foundation of facts, but I will be more
definite.
81 received the order personally
from a general Of the highest rank,
holding one or the first positions in
South Africa, and the order was re-
pcatcd twice, so that there should be
no mistake.
"Not only this. but I found That all
the other senior officers were aware of
the order What their private opin-
ions and intentions were, do not
know, but I heard no word Of con-
domination.
"In face OF such fact MS this 1t
seems to be almost wnstc OF time to
dwell on the wholesale lootng Of
houses and the destruction of property
which has been not only permitted,
but authorized and commanded. But
the disastrous effect they have had on
prolonging the war and rousing the
sympathirs OF the Cape Dutch may
perhaps enable you to understand the
present unfortunate state OF affairs.
"rhe orders are that all cattle and
sheep are to be driven off, and all
corn and provisions which cannot be
removed are to be burned; pigs and
fowls are the portion of the soldier,
and sufficient for one meal is to be left
in each house. This applies not only
to those who have broken the oath,
but to all the inhabitants. not only to
those who are fighting against us, but
to those who have been living peace
ably on their farms and have received
passes from Lord Roberts promising
protection for themselves and their
property. Only yesterday an old farm
er came to report to me that his stock
had been taken away by the cavalry,
and produced his protection pass, is
sued by order by Lord Roberts in
; June. l happened to know that he
had not been fighting since, but could
only say, Lord Kitchener is now in
command, and the orders came from
him. He replied that he had laid
down his arms and relied upon the
good faith Of the English government.
He ought to have known he said,
that there was no such thing rs hon
or amongst the English and though he
was an old man, he would fight to
the last rather than allow his children
to be subject to such people,
zone of the peculiaritics Of the
Beers that has struck me as very
strange is the intense feeling that they
are fighting more for their children
: than themselves. That man has no
children is often admitted as reason
: for not fighting, and accepted as suffi-
Client by the leaders. I know many
such cases. The result of this plum