The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-24

- He only army in the world COM
posed. of cannibais ie that OF the
Congo Free State. It is an
army OF 10000 men, differed as
far as the principal positions are
concerned by Belgians, but in reality
esptained and led By ferocious man-eat-
ing cannibals. II is an army organized,
il was originally stated, to guard. pacify
and sustain the Congo Free State; but
IL has been turned. it Is alleged, into
heartiess and brutal machine for the
enforcement OF the DEGREES OF monop-
Olga kind OF ivory and rubber trust, of
which the head of the Belgian Govern
nent, King Leopold, is the president
and many wealthy Belgians directors.
This monopoly operates, so 1t is said,
in the guiSe Of a kindly and phiian-
thropic despotism-the so-calied gov
eminent of the Congo Free State. the
purpose of which is to enlighten and
uplift the hopeless masses Of the Dark
Continent; but which in reality does
nothing more than collect rubber and
ivory for its own ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
To get this 1t has literally enslaved
all the masses OF the Congo Free State,
has organized this terrible and relent-
less machine Of cannibals. and has cap
tured, slaughtered and sold into slavery
more helpless blacks than was ever
thought OF in the palniest days OF the
Arab slave trade.
Great Britain Objects.
In fact, so notorious have the bru-
talities of the government and its canni-
prff or
eminent, acting through the House OF
Commons, addressed on Aug. 20, 1903. a
note 10 the various powers who signed
the Berlin convention creating the
Congo Free State, and giving it into
the hands OF the Belgian Government,
asking whether il was not time to- IN
terfere and stop these atrocities. This
address has since been followed by any
number Of papers in the various reviews
dealing with the subject. and only so
late as March Is last the government at
Washington was asked by the various
missionary bodies Of this country 10
take some action looking 10 ameliora-
ton Of the condition of the blacks. and
compelling the Belgian Government 70
fulfil its original agreement in the mat
ter.
The interest which this whole move
rnent has aroused has conferred itself in
the use and conduct Of this cannibaI
army, the brutality and savagery OF
which exceed anything ever recorded.
IL is composed for the most part OF
Mobagi. Bakussa. Shinkakassa, Manye-
ma and BATTLES. all cannibal tribes of
the Congo Free State and all given
TO the constant eating OF human flesh,
These men have all been captured in
raids conducted by the Belgian Govern
nnent. and transferred long distances
from their native tribes 70 places from
which they could not very well rur
away. Here they have been drilled ir
the use OF firearms. armed with repeat
ing rifles and sent forth in companies
10 carry out the orders of the Govern
or-General Of the Congo Free State
who is. accused OF being merely an agent
OF the ivory and rubber trust.
The men wear red fezZes and blu'
cotton uniforms and present, II is said
a very soIdierIy appearance. but theii
instincts are those OF cannibais just the
same
THE brutalities which are recorded
against these soldiers are so terribl'
that some OF them VIII not bear re
peating. They are accused OF invari
ably shaving and gorging upon human
flesh whenever the slightest opportun
ity is AFFORDED. and that whenever they
are sent to collect the revenues or ivors
and rubber. which are exacted by th'
government from the various tribe;
every year. they invariably md som'
pretext for sssaultins the poor, help
less natives. staying many and eating