The sun., 1901-12-06
ENGLANps REc0NoENTRA DOS.
Trying TO Explain Away the Mortality
OF Captive Boer Women aud Chiidrea.


Last week a blue book OF some 100 pages
was issued containing reports on the con-
centration camps from March to Septom
In explanation OF the heavy death rate
especially OF children. the following causes
are assigned: The hardships suffered b.
many Of the refugees before being brought
into the camps, scanty clothing. which the
stores were sometimes insufficient % supply
during the cold weather and the unsanl.-ry
habits of the poorer class Of Beers, which
were aggravated by their distrust OF the
hospitals and their prediction for home
mnde remedies. some OF them OF the most
disgusting aind.
The inmates OF the different camps. SAYS
Major Goodwin in n report dated March -
may be divided into three classes:
l. Those who have come into the campe
for protection OF themselves ami their herds
and are self-suppOrting. t2) Those who
have surrenGered and come into camp Tor
protection. but are unable TO support them
selves In this class / would include widows
and orphans and the relatives OF our prl,-
oners OF war. ,s) Those whose husband
are on commando who have been brought
into camp for their own protection 1gaiust
natives. &c. or for military reasons.
1 find the great majority Of the men who.
having taken the oath Of allegiance, are now
: living in these camps TO be both well behaved
and helpful
1t is dlsauieting to ind that in most OF the
camps the wives and families OF burghers
still fighting think Of and treat contempt
uously those whose immediate male rela-
tives (having surrenderedl have taken the
oath Of neutrality. and | must report that
the congregation of all classes in the same
camps has materially increased the difficulty
of mana cement and Of our influencing those
living in these camps to willingly become
our loyal fellow subjects. for II is diffcult
TO treat with the liberality they deserve
Glasses / and without inolrring the re-
proach of having treated Class with undue
generosity. Under existing conditions we
have done, and are still doing, our best 10
gain the good will of all classes now living in
these camps, though ! must confess that We
are somewhat hampered by the animosity
displayed by the majority OF Class 3. who
form very small but active minority OF the
whole Glasses 2 and are ratloned on ths
same basis. and no distinction whatsoever
is either made or Is in my opinion desirable
In other respects than issue OF rations in the
treatment OF these three classes now living
IN these camps; Free interco9rse among
camp is enclosed by fence.
IT, the Iransvgal camps at this date some
sst o6 persons T oqs lstrnes Ul ep'a
II will be observed that Maj or Goodwin says
that no distinction is made between Glass ?
the wives and children OF men on command
But up TO Feb n IL had been the practice TO
make a distinction between them in the ra-
tions allotted G. ass receiving no meat d nd lcss
coffee and sugar. The rule about not fencing
in camps was not always observed A.
Volksrust:
For military reason. and for the protection
Of the camp from attack double fence OF
barbed wire has been erected around II, with
n gate at the northern side for the use Of the
inmates, the admss Of supplies, and Tor
the carting out OF refuse.
The population OF the camps is continually
growing In March. for example. the total
population of the Transyaal camps was
81. los, and Of the Orange Colony camps ?0,57.
In september these numbers had grown TO
So, 400 and 45.347.
In the Orange Colony camps In June there
was a death rate OF 337 In the thousand at
the Bloemfonte'n camp: in July 462 per thou
sand at Sprin gfontein, <5D.6 AZ kroonstad,
2424 nt Bloemfonte.n. 2ls +at SorvaFs Pont
4 he fipures for August we're a. follows.