New-York tribune., 1902-01-22
AFRICAN CONCENTRATION CAMPS.
JOHN BELLOWS TELLS HOW BoER WOMEN
AND CHILDREN ARE TREATED.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

AND CHILDREN ARE TREATED.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Dear Friend: May ]. as Englishman who is
aware that there are differences of opinion among
Americans as to the causes which led to the
present war in South Africa, express the sur
prise with which we lately read that the Gov
ernor of an American State urges a collection
to be made dn Illinois) for the destitute women
and children in the concentration camps? For
these camps whatever the right wrong OF
Great Britain may be to the war ITSELF were
established. just as ambulances and hospitals
are. in mitigation and not IN aggravation Of the
suffering inseparable from war. I believe firmly
that ought never to fight; but IL they do
fight, they cannot do so without killing and
woundng and destroying. even In what is then
forced upon them in self-defence. When farm
houses are used as forts and stores by one party
the other party has to burn them down. In all
former wars the women and children have been
turned out of such houses. and left to face the
suffering that followed as best they could 7
myself. for example. stood in the ruins OF the
village Of Peltre. four miles or so from Metz
during the Franco-German War In 1870. and
heard from the lips of the sufferers the story OF
it's wreck. Some shots had been fred from the
village at the German outposts. and to prevent
the possibility of this recurring a body Of SOL
diers was ordered 70 destroy the place. They
marched in turned the women. children and in
vellds out Of doors. including the occupants Of
the nunnery placed bundle Of straw at each
door, splashed IL with kerosene and then, at the
blast OF bugle. each man struck a match and
in few moments no houses were in blaze
and as many families homeless and shelterless
The men who did this were not cruel. On the
contrary. constantly heard expressions OF sym
pathy from them for the poor peasants and OF
heartfelt regret that made such misery in
evitable.
Around Metz there were many other villages
however. to which the Peltre people could fee
and where they would not be allowed to starve:
but in the African veldt where farms are long
miles asunder. much more severe suffering, and
often death from hunger. would be the altsrna-
tive to bringing the women and children into
concentration camps. Besides those who come
from the farms there are numbers taken with
the men prisoners-wives and children who have
dragged about the country in carts on com
mando. and who come into the camps famishsd
and IN various stages Of sickness from want and
exposure. largely increasing the death rate.
All these poor souls are at once cared for In
every way. They have food and clothing given
them. with nursing and medical attendance and
schooling and means OF recreation for the chill
dren. the blue books lately issued show be-
yond caviL I send with this a summary OF the
last OF these reports. which will convince even
the most scepticnl that everything is done for
these unfortunate victims OF the war that care
and anxiety and lavish expenditure OF money
can accomplish Some delegates OF society in
England for helping these women and children
lately took out quantity of clothing and $1,000
to purchase milk for them: but they found every
one fully supplied with both. AiIk. OF course. |
was canned the only sort obtainsble OF cloth