Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-10

OF the Faithful in support of the plots OF
Osman. Those who know the man declare
that osman. inspired by his indomitable
hatred of his own race. will never rest I'M
til he has stirred up another war and
drenched central Africa in blood.
The dark continent is full of these ro-
mantle stories of traitors to civilization.
One of the strangest is that Of Captain
Voulet. He was French military officer
IN the employment of the governor general
OF French West Africa. He was given COM
mand of a column of native troops in 1893
and ordered to march towards Lake Tchad
and explore the vast stretch of new territory
which had just been assigned to France by
the Anglo-F'rench agreement previously re-
ferred to. 1t was an important mission, ana
Captain Voulet might have made name
for himself and become a second Major
Marchand.
A Frenchman's Dream Of Empire.
But he had more ambitious dreams. He
was fired by the example Of Rahab. the
black Napoleon who, starting in life as
a slave of Zebehr Pasha, became the
greatest conqueror and monarch in Africa
and who was, at that very moment, sue
cesfully fighting the French.
Let u.s." he said to his subordinate
Capt. Chanoine become kings in our own
right. This country belongs to the men
who can take it. Let us carve out an en-
pire for ourselves. We have a small army
who will follow US in everything without
asking the reason why.
Chanoine agreed. They Immediately
threw of their allegiance to France and
attacked village after village. tribe after
tribe. with their column of troops some
French non-commisioned officers who OBJ
tjected to this treachery were promptly
murdered. Natives were massacred by
hundreds and thousands. until the two
renegades established a reign OF terror
over a wide area of the country.
News of these strange doings soon reach
ed the French colonial Office. and small
expedition, under Lieut.. Col. Klobb and
Lieut. Meunier was dispatched to find out
the truth. klobb overlook Voulet at Sim
der, in Damangar half way between the
Niger and Lake Tchad. He asked for a
parley. but Voulet refused to allow him to
approach. threatening to fire on his party.
Klobb advanced, shouting that ne had
come in peace and would not fire. Voulet
received him with a volley. klobb and
most of his escort fell dead Meunier. Sc
verely wounded. was borne away into the
jungle by the survivors, and escaped to
tell the grim story to the authorities.
Voulet and Chanone were outlawed and
a strong expedition sent against them. Be-
fore 1t could reach them they were shot by
some of their own men whom they had
brutally fogged. The natives who had been
under their command gave themselves up
to the authorities. So ended Captain YOU
let's mad dream of becoming an African
emperor.
Some British Renegades.
Renegade whites fought for the Ashant's
against the British during Sir Francis
SCOTS expedition in 1895, and also when SIR
Frederic and Lady Hodgson were besieged
in Kumassi in 1900
On the latter occasion a white, who was
believed to be an Englshman, was fire.
quently seen trying to induce the Ashantis
to assault the entertainments of Kumassi.
The British officers risked their lives over
and over again attempting to Slay him, but
without success. They agreed to say moth
ing about this renegade in their account CT
the siege. He disappeared after the relief
of Kumassi, and has not been heard OF
since.
Renegade whites have often fought
on the northwestern frontier of India
An officer who was dismissed in disgrace
from the Indian army for having told false
hoods in official report, is known row
to be living with a Pathan tribe. He is be-
lieved to have frequently fought Sgainst his
former comrades.
A former officer of the Russian army,
named Leontier, is in the service Of the
Negus OF Abyssinia. Opinions are divided
as to whether he Is simply a renegade
white, as he appears to be on the surface,
or a secret agent Of the cars.
During the Philippine campaigns several
American deserters fought in the ranks OF
the Filipinos. Some were killed in battle,
two or three were captured and hanged.
The facts are too recent and loo well
known to need recapitulation.