The Washington times., 1905-09-22

BERLIN, Sept. 22--The latest reSerses
TO German arms in West AIrica'
which resulted in the wiping out Oh the
German convoy and the capture u q
considerable quantity of arms ana am
munition by the rebellious Hottentots'
have caused feeling OF consternatoh
in government circles and s'Vi.,, ".
hostile criticism from the opponents oi
the government party. particularly Inc
socialists
Rraying the dangers of leze majesty.
socialist leaders are commenting With
grim sarcasm on the claims or the
Kaiser to be great war lord, when ne
finds II impossible TO subdue u horoe Oh
naked sayages. the majority OF whom
would be unarmed save for bow ana ar
rows were it not for the rifles ana am
munition captured from the Germans
As matter OF fact, the west African
situation is ! very serious one ior the
government. both from an adHinis'ia a
tive and military standpoint Despite
The efforts OF the colonial Office 10 MIN
,n,ize the situation, the facts are ;hat
the war ND 10 this time has cost ser
many in cash something like slo.eoo.oyo.
the lives of not less than l.ooo ofncers
and soldiers. and 1.Uoo settlers.
Situation Worse.
rhirty-five thousand troops have been
sent 70 the field from Germany and the
situation is much worse today than IL
was when the outbreak occurred in the
first place.
The successes of the tribesmen have
brought to their standard thousands oi
variike natives from the interior and II
Is estimated that there are now CO.
operating with Renarick Wittoi not less
tnan 0:ooo wen armed men, VINO ars
thoroughly familiar with the rugged
country IN which the 1ghttng Is going
on and who are adeDI IN guerrilla war
fare
same trouble in meeting these savages
as the British did with the lndiars
when the United States was BrlIisn
colony They tried 10 hight the Hotten
tots according to European methods
ard have been almost invariably beaten
Fatal Disease.
The bullets of the savages. however
are not the worst enemy OF the Germar
forces The pestilential climate Of th'
West Coast kills more men than fall IL
hattie and experience has shown tha
those who suffer an attack of tn
African fevers rarely recover from tn
effect even when invalided home.
1t has come 10 be common sayini
among the troops that men ordered I
Africa are practically ordered 10 death
When the government asks the mex
credit for the prosecution OF the wa
one of the Iiyeliest debates ever see
In the reichstag will be precipitated
Casualties Withheld.
The socialist leaders are arming them
selves with facts wlsiea go 10 show ;ha
the government has pursued a policy G
suppression in regard 10 both the num-
ber of casualties and in the expense
incurred in attempting TO pat down IN
rebellion.
They are also prepared. they say. {
prove that the entire trouble ws
brought on by the harsh methods OF Gel
man officials and will claim that. unit
there has been a radical change in al
Ininistratiye methods. there Is absolute
~ no hope OF ending the rebellion
making the West African colonies an,
thing save n source of enormous expens
both In men and money TO Germany.
While the government will probabl
be able to muster sufficient strength
the reichstag to secure the necessar
credit there Is no doubt that the e,
posures which VIII be made during II
debate will have most important g
feet on the next election.