The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-19
Germany Encounters Troubles
in Southwest Africa
Similar to Those Experienced
by U. S. With Indians.
TRIBES IN REVOLT.
Recent EncroachmentO of Whites
Upon Their Liberties.
Greed for Land at Foundation
of the Difficulty.

Berlin, Jan. 19.-The bills authorizing
supplementary credit of $205,300 for
German South Africa, made necessary
by the dispatch of reinforcements of
troops to Southwest Africa owing to
the revolt of the HeFros tribesmen,
passed their first and second readings
in the reichstag today. DR.. Steubel,
director of the colonial department of
the foreign office in the reichstag, made
a full exposure of the governments in
formation about the Herros rising. He
said the rising of the Bondelzwartz
tribesmen had unquestionably ended
between the sixth and tenth of Janu-
ary. but at the same time came the first
news of the movement in central
Southwest Africa A telegram arrived
January IL. from Windhoek saying
that Okahandja had been occupied by
natives and that telegraphic connection
with Windboek and Swakopmund was
cut. The government Immediately dis
patched a. relief column by railway
from Swakopmund, but it is not known
how far it got. The relief of Otyim-
bingu d mission station south of
Windhoek, which was also occupied by
natives, was attempted from Karibib
and forces had just been gent to pro-
tect the railroad station at Karibib,
which had been placed in a defensive
position. One German post in the
northern portion of the Herros territory
was also besieged. The natives had
secured tropical uniforms from a shop
at Johann AlbrechtShohe, which they
4 had plundered.
Dr. Stuebel added that he regarded
the situation as being extremely grave
The acting governor of German South
west Africa was demanding a battalion
of field artillery. The territory involved
in the rising embraced a population of
1.542 whites. The fundamental cause of
the revolt was the inability of the ma
tives to forget their former freedom The
Germans had become accustomed to re-
gard the HerrOS as allies against the
| Wilbores. The Herros remained loyal
in 1896, when the first rising was. sup
| pressed.
/ .eNexertheless," Dr. Steubel con-
tinued, 1.-The Herros remained enemies of
political and social order. which the
| Germans were striving to introduce.
/ Moreover, with the railroad came ad-
ditional armies and the dispossession of
natives, through the purchase of lands
/ The government had introduced a short
repurchase term for land bought of ma
tives; but the interests of the settlers
and natives conf1icted in many respects.
Apparently the present rising had been
planned long ago and had been kept
secret
1T was significant" continued DR..
Stuebel that numerous laborers en-
ployed in the Transvaal mines, on
learning of the Bondelzwartz warning,
turned to participate in it. The farm
surprised. The risings proved the neces-
sity for disarming the natives.1
i Dr. SPAIN, a member of the Center
party, said he thought it safe to pledge
the whole house to support the govern
rnent although it was true, as the
Frankfurter Zeitung had explained,
that the rising was due to other causes
than the government has referred to,
particularly to the severity with which
traders had enforced the payment of
debts contracted by the natives. How
ever, DR. SPAIN added, the present mo-
ment was not suited for such a discus
sion
Herr Bebe1. the Socialist leader. said
he was not opposed to speedy action.
He explained that similar risings had
characterized colonization as practiced
by the civilized nations throughout the
world, and quoted from a letter from
Southwest Africa saying that if the
Herros began struggle it would be in
desperation. Herr Bebel added that
he believed the Herros had sufficient
reasons for desperation Missionary
: reports complained of the furtherance
of immortality and drunkenness by the
settlers, and an additional cause for
desperation was the freedom with
which bodily chastisement was prac-
ticed-
Pending the arrival of more exact in
formation. the Socialists would refrain
from voting, without prejudice to their
general opposition to the colonial
policy. The leaders of other parties
briefly declared their readiness to sup
port the supplementary estimates, re-
serving their criticism for a more
seemly occasion.