Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-29

Of SHOCKING
BRUTALITY
SOLDIER FROM CONGO
STARTLES BELGIANS
RecoIIectionS of Man Who
Served 18 Years in Africa
Calculated to Bring Grief to
Old King Leopold.
IBy Morning Journal Special Leased wire.l

IBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wire
Brussels, July 2S.-Major Lemair Is
continuing the publication of his rec
elections of the Congo Free state.
The major served eighteen years in
The Congo in the command of native
troops. Upon his return to Belgium
he was notified hat he would be pros
pcuted for cruelty toward the men
under him, and he retaliated by be-
ginning the publication Of a sense
tional exposure of the revolving con-
ditions prevailing in the native army.
Aside from painting a black pic
lure OF the conditions in the Congo,
the memories of the major reVeal thar
the scientific expedition led him into
the Bairel-Ghaza region. IN the nor
thern frontier, in 1904, was IN expo
dition for conquest in disg Use. The
major declares that King Leopold
gave him personal Instructions TO van
quish the Anglo-EgypNan forces com
ing down from Soudan at any cost.
II cannot be held accountable for
these acts the major writes, II arm
only responsible for the complete exc
cution OF these Instructions"
Major Lemair admits that on sew
etal occasions during this expedition,
which lasted for three years and two
months. he caused native men aud
even their wives, to be logged. He
flIliflS init lItIt WIS io OltifI WHY D
thar flogging to preserve the discI-
pine Indispensable to the security and
success of an expedition among brig
ands accustomed 10 Kill, aid and cap-
ture and to i~ll-treat women.
In every Instance of logging, how
ever, he faithfully reported the facts
and never received a word of ceh-
sure.
No charges were preferred against
him until the administration decided
he had been too insistent i'm calling at
tention to the frightful and unchecked
abuses in the Congo.
\ p~erusal Of NJ. Lemair's recital car
Ties the conviction that he is deYuLcd
to the cause of the blacks ana deter
mined to pun an end TO the existing
atrocities and disgraceful administra-
ton, During his eighteen years SER !
Vice he crossed Africa twice without :
iirine a cartridge at a native.
When as a young man Major Lamair
began his work in the Congo "amid
the rattle of musketrN, the banging Of
n the burning of villages,
he saws he was taught that this course @
was the only one to bring the natives u
TO their senses. Foul years service /
however, eopened his eyes to the true ,
il innocent blood "a
Il have seen soldiers" he writes, n
Kick the poor rubher end ivory u
bearers until they fell from oXhaus- 81
ton. and then torture the poor unfor- y
Inmates amid hoWls of laughter. Z
repeatedly reported cases Of robbery.
murder and outrage, but these reports e
We're unheeded.' u
The major once received a letter W
from the director general of the 7
Congo, advising him that his services 60
weer greatly appreciated, but that his q,
reports We're full of criticisms AMI -
could not be transmitted 20 Brussels. 4
Later the major tried TO see King u
Leopold. but was always prevent
intermediates.
Finding reports useless the ma u
ior goes on. Il became pitiless toward
The soldier brigands in my determina-
non 10 enforce respect for the natives. 81
md ! challenge the administration TO
produce one single native complaint
against me-"
Some Of the dispositions made by
women who were conducted to the va Il
riouS posts as workers are pitiful. They q
wore that they had been stolen hv
he soldiers during raids. maltreated q
It the hands OF the men and then x
'tther sold to chiefs or mad 10 WORK
slaves. Some had seen their pa
'ents and children killed before their
yes. and others he'd been subieptp1 n
o uncomfortable inGignitics. n
NJ. Bernart. chief of tho Belginn y
mission To h peace conference. in
estlgat"d the documents submitted NJ
" Major Lcmair and undertook 10 Il
Justice In the matter. The ma
was at that time the object of a
attack by tho newspa- n
subsidized by The Congo press
ureau. which he had unmasked. q
hese papers insinuatcd that he had
cen guilty Of murder. The violation
{ native women and Of using mo
of children for target practice. u
hen Mr.. Bernart demanded proof Of
hese charges the secretary Of ste % n
or the Congo offered 10 withdraw Tho
ccuSations. quash the prosecution ana
etain Major Lemair in the service.
nything. IN fact. TO hush the matter
q. bur Pernart Informed him. 1T is
D" late. We viii prosecute now"