Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10
COLONIAL WAR
IS EXPENSIVE

Special Cabegran to The Star.
BERLIN, September 9.-Germanys co
ionial war" has proved an expensive prop
osition up to the present time, and IL gives
premise of proving even more expensive IN
the near future. Every once in awhile the
German government semi-officially gives out
the information that matters are I'M
ing but these optimistic feelings are
5, on ended by damaging advices from the
front. In the Matumbi mountains. for IN
Starce. where the local authorities were
soon able to suppress the local disturbances,
NJ new development has occurred. On the
other hand the governor of German East
Africa had telegraphed that the situation In
the Donde and Liwaie districts has lately
become more precarious. According to ma
tive reports which have reached kiiwa, the
Catholic bishop. Spies. and four mission
aries-Brother Gabriel Sonntag. Brother
Ardreas Scholzen. Sister Felicitas Hiltner
and Sister Cordula Ebert-have been muir
dered while travelling from Kilwa to Liwale
The bishop had been advised to return by
the district authorities of Kilwa, and was
several times requested to abandon the
journey. but he replied that he would travel
on his responsibility. The governor In
MS teItSEtti1S asks Iof an fSih-
forcement of the military forces at his dis
posal.
1t has been noted by the newspapers here
in continental Europe that the colonies OF
Germany have proved expensive failures,
even in the times of peace. but this parttc-
ular colony of German southwest AFRICA
with its present widely scattered. harassing
war is nothing less than tragedy of bad
admInistra ton with the inevitable nemesis
OF native trouble. Before 1884 what is now
German southwest Africa was the happy
hunting grounds of a few adventurous spif-
its. German, English and Dutch. who Shot
biz game and traded with the natives. Some
German missionaries also labored in this
ulinvting district over which Cape Town
eXerted a very slight authority.
s.
In 1882 a German named Luederitz bought
II concession from Hottentot In the south.
and in 1854 Prince Bismarck proclaimed
4 protectorate over all OF the territory be-
tween the Orange river in the south and
Portuguese West Africa in the north, the
area being finally arranged at 800. 40 square
miles. containing native population of
2IN,00O. made up of tribes of Kafflr and
Hottentot blood. some half castles and
few hushmen.
The colony has suffered almost continu-
oUsly from drought and perpetually from
the false economy of the German govern
ment. The military strength has always
been inadequate. and the expenditure on
useful works meager. The natives showed
no love for their new masters. whose sever
ity appears not 10 have been moderated by
tact. Hendrix Witboi the Hottentot chief.
fought the Germans for more than two
years. Welding only on favorable terms, as
the natives were quick to notice There
a Slight trouble with the Hereros (who
are of Kaftir blood in 1896. and then Ger
many settled down to peaceful development
with inadequate resources.
Ia November. 1903 the Bandelzwart Hot
tentots blazed up in insurrection at Warm
bad. IN the extreme south. the Immediate
cause being the execution of a chief by
German officer. At that time there were
only 500 soldiers in the whole of this vast
territory. The colonists numbered about
$500. A hastily organized column hurried
from Windhoek. in the center OF the colony.
rebellion patched up. In the mean
time. in January. 1901, the Hereros had
taken advantage OF the absence of troops
. from the center of the colony. and rose in
their turn, starting the real war, which Is
still devastating the country. Massacres
and looting followed. Windhoek was
threatened. In February troops from Ger
many began TO POUR into the country but
could make little Roadway against the
blacks. Okahandya. to the north, and
Omaruru. still farther north, We're sur
rounded and only relieved after desperate
lighting. In March Major Won Glasenapp.
with ten officers and thirty-six men. lost
touch with his main body, and was sur
prised by the Hereros. losing seven officers
anu nineteen men Killed. IN the same
month IL was officially announced that 5.UpO
HereroS were In the field. In April Won
Glasenapp took his revenge by defeating a
force Of 1850 Hereros. killing 800 of them.
= *
Things looked SO black at the beginning
OF May that Col. Leutwein. the governor
and commander-in-chief cabled urgently
for 800 men and two batteries of artil-
lery. The German government thereupon
appointed Lieut.. Gen. Won Trotha as COM
mander-in-cllief or the forces. and he ar
rived at Awakopmund on June IL, 1904
When the Commander-in-chef arrived he
found that the lighting had been mainly In
wide area north OF Windhoek The
brayest efforts OF the Germans had been
thwarted again and again by want of
water. was the case In the British cam
paign In Somallland Including the murders
of settlers the German losses amour ed to
about 800 dead
Gen. Won Trotha found himself with 5000
officers and men and sixty guns opposed to
about $1,000 Hereros many of whom had
rifles. In August he advanced In force to
crush the Hereros, who were intrenched In
the Waterberg district. about 200 miles
north OF Wlndhoek but after a severe bat
tie, resulting in nearly 100 casualties to the
Germans. the Hereros. after losing !. 400 Of
their men and thousands OF cattle man
aged to dispense.
In October the greatest disaster OF the
war befell the Germans. Hendrix witboi
and his clan, who had hitherto fought for
the Germans. rebelied. The Wtbols oc-
cupy the Gibeon district. 30 miles south
OF Windhoek. and so new campaign in
the south commenced. The reason for this
detection was probably the appoin tment of
Gen. Yon Trotha over the head OF Col Lieut.
vein. whom the WitbOis regarded as the
embodiment of German authority The
story that a missionary OF the Ethiopian
church was the cause is believed here to be
incorrect. The outlaw Morenga and the
Bondelzwarts (who had been ''paclfed)
Joined Hendrix Witbou. and the situation
In the south became hopeless BY now the
Germans had 10000 men in the field.
At the present moment there are some
1900 Germans under arms. and reinforce
ments are still being sent out. The loss in
men amounts to about 200 dead. and prob
ably 100 women and children. The war has
cost between s50.oO0.00O and S60.0oo.000 up
20 date though the German socialist paper,
Norwaerts puts It at sio0.0o0,0o0.
The value of the colony is problematicai