Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1901-02-28
ACCUSED or nHulIANITY.
charges Made AssSast British eei-
aiers by President steya AID
Gea. Ne Wet.

lowing proclamation has been issued
by President Steyn and Gen. De Wet:
BE It known to all men that the war
which has been forced on the Transvaal
republics by the British government stu
RACES over South Africa; that all the Gus
toms ofcivilixed warfare and also the con-
ventions Of Geneva and The Hague are
not observed by the enemy. who have not
scrupled. contrary to the Geneva conven-
ton. to capture doctors and ambulances
and deport them In order to prevent our
wounded from getting medical assistance:
that they have seized ambulance matefaal
appertaining thereto: that they have not
hesttated to have recourse to pramitlVe
rules of warfare. contrary to the solemn
agreement of The Hague, to arrest neu-
trails and deport them and to send out ma
rauding bands to plumber. burn and dam
age burghers' private property; that they
have armed Kafirs and natives. ana use
them against us In the war; tnat
they have been continually capturing
women and children and old and sickiy
men. and that there have been many deaths
among the women because the so-calleo
Christian enemy had no consideration 10:
women on q sick-bed, or whose state OF
health should have protected them against
rough treatment Honorable women ana
tender children have not only been treated
roughly, but have been insulted by soldiers.
by order of their officers. Moreover, old
mothers and women have been raped. even
wives and children. and the property OF
prisoners Of war, even killed burghers, mas
not been respected. In many instances the
mother and father have been taken. the
house has been left unprotected. and all
have been left to their fate, an easy prey
to savages.
''The world has untruthfully been in
formed by the enemy that they have been
nH~y f~,~.A A. AS~f- l~~ Ion a
cause the burghers blow up the railway
lines. cut the wires ard misuse the white
flag. Nearly all the houses in the repub-
lies have been destroyed, whether In the
nefghborhood of the railroad or not. The
alleged misuse of the white flag is simply
continuance of the everlasting calumny
against which the Afrikander has had to
contact with the Englishman. Robblng MS
opponent of goods only does not satisfy
him: he is not satisfied until he has robbed
him of his good name also.
''They state to the world that the repub-
lies are conquered and that only here and
there small plundering bands are contin-
uing the strife in an irresponsible manner.
This is an untruth. The republics are no.
conquered. The war is not finished. The
burgher forces of the two republics are
still led by responsible leaders. as from
the commencement of the war. under the
supervision Of the governments of both re-
publics. The fact of Lord Roberts and
Lord Kitchener choosing the term ma
rauders' in designating burghers does not
make them such. When was the war over?
Perhaps after the battles in which irregu-
lars captured the enemy and totally van
pushed them? The burghers would be less
than men If they allowed the enemy to go
unpublished after Ill treating their wives
and destroying their houses from sheer
lust of destruction. Therefore, portion
of the burghers resent 1t. Cape Colony will
not only wage war but will be in position
to take reprisals. as It has already done.
SIN the cases Of ambulances, therefore,
we warn the officers of his majesty's troops
that unless they cease the destruction Of
the property of the republics we shall
wreak vengeance by destroying the prop
erty Of his majesty's subjects who are un-
kindly disposed. But in order to avoid be-
ing misunderstood we hereby openly de-
clare that their wives and children will al
ways be unmolested, In spite Of anything
done to ours by his majesty's troops. We
request nothing from our brothers in the
Colony, but call on them, as well as on the
civilized werld. to assist, In behalf Of our
joint civilization and Christianity. in put
ting an end to the barbarous manner of
the enemy's warfare.
Our prayer will always be that God. our
Father. will not desert us in this unright-
eous strife.
tsigned, 'sTEYN AND DE WET"