Evening star., 1904-03-19
SUSTAIN HEAVY LOSS
German Forces in Southwest
Africa Get Worst Blow.
26 VICTIMS OF NATIVES
NEWS CREATES A DISAPPOINTING
IMPRESSION IN BERLIN.
Reichstag Listens to Severe Arraign-
26 VICTIMS OF NATIVES
Reichstag Listens to Severe Arraign-
ment by Socialists-Hatred Against
Germans Due to Maltreatment.

BERLIN, March 19.-Col. Leutwein (the
| governor of German Southwest Africa re-
ports severe fighting there March 13. The
Germans were forced to retreat with the
loss of seven officers and nineteen men
killed and many wounded.
Commander Glasenapp, with a number of
his staff officers and thirty-six cavalry
men, advanced ahead Of his main body and
overlook the enemys vanguard, which had
Unexpectedly received reinforcements.
Glasenapp was forced to retire, losing
seven officers and nineteen privates killed,
and three officers and two privates
wounded
The fight occurred March 49, near Owiko-
korero, with the Tetjo tribe of Hereros,
whom Glasenapp was pursuing. The enc
mys loss is not known, but twenty dead
natives were seen.
Glasenapp's detachment had one machine
gun. He is now taking measures to attack
the Hereros position in force, and prob
ably will ask for reinforcements from
Major Estorff's column.
Col. Leutwein later cabled the names of
the dead, who include Capt. Won Francis,
Lieut. Eggers and DR.. Velten, a physician
of Habicht Glasenapp himself was
slightly wounded in the head.
The news of the German reverse made a
disappointing impression in Berlin, since it
involved the most severe losses the Ger
mans have yet reported. and because it was
hoped that the worst was over. In view of
this latest fight 1t is regarded as possible
that still further reinfOrcements will be
sent to Southwest Africa.
Discussed in the Reichstag.
socialist leader, returned to the German
campaign against the Hereros, which, he
said had taken on a character prejudicial
to Germanys interests and honor, since all
Hereros were killed and no prisoners were
taken.
He referred to a letter from veterinary
surgeon, DIR. Baumgart in the Leipsic
quarter was given, and that every black
was shot down, DR.. Baumgart himself
boasting that he had massacred wounded
men like cannibal.
Educated People Brutal
THEREIN can be seen," Herr Bebel con-
tinued "how far even our educated people
are becoming brutaliZed Let US not de-
ceive ourselves with the belief that the
present occurrences in Southwest Africa
only made demoralzng impression on the
troops there. The descriptions sent home
must also have demoralizing and brutal
izing effect on the German people"
Herr Bebel did not deny that the Hereros
also perpetrated cruelties, but he intimated
that the reports on the subject sent to Ger
many were purposely colored. The tales of
horror circulated by the German press were
at least partly untrue, like the alleged
murder of two women who are still living"
Generated Fanatical Hatred.
Continuing, Herr Bebel said 1.-The reports
of the Rhenish Missionary Society show
that things are by no means as bad as rep
resented In the newspapers friendly to the
colonial office. Those reports show that the
Hereros spare the whites who prove to be
non-Germans, like the English, Beers and
Danes.
1T appears, therefore, that some of our
countrymen have so maltreated the Hereros
that they have generated fanatical hatred
against Germans in general.
Samuel Maharero. chief of the Hereros,
continues the missionary report, has given
orders that no harm be done to non-Ger-
mans, missionaries, women and children,
but that German men be shot down merci-
leSSly."
Natives Courteous to Women.
THE missionaries further report that the
Hereros begged pardon of white women
wounded by stray shots in fighting, saying
that they did not wish to hurt defenseless
women.
There is no word of truth in the asser-
tons that the missionaries made common
cause with the Hereros. On the other
hand, many Hereros took refuge in mission
stations, which apparently were regarded
as places of safety
To Demand an Answer.
Herr Bebel also said the socialists, after
Easter, would demand an answer of the
colonial Office on these matters.
DR.. Arendt conservative, questioned the
veracity Of the writer of the letter Herr
Bebel had mentioned. Private letters Dr.
Arendt added, are often filed with vain
boasting. The house must wait until the
rebellion is subdued and then try 10 ascar-
tain the facts.
"At any rate" DR.. Arendt continued "all
sides agree that the Hereros have devastat-
ed, plundsred and destroyed in a frightful
manner. Our only concern now is to help
our countrymen without inquiring into the
causes of the rebellion"
The supplementary credits for southwest
Africa were then voted and the house re-
sumed the debate on the military budget
The reicbstag adjourned until April u