The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-08-14
BUTCHERY IN AFRICA.
Major Lenlair's Exposures Of Congo
Atrocities.


Baltimore, Aug IA Brussels ca
bic to the American says:
Major Lemair is continuing the
publication of his recollections of the
/ Congo Independent State. The major
served IS years in the Congo in COM
nand OF native troops. Upon his re-
turn to Belgium he was notified that
he would be prosecuted for cruelty to-
wards the men under him, and he re-
taliated by beginning the publication
of a sensational exposure Of the re-
4 voting conditions prevailing in the
native army.
ASIDE from painting a black pic
ture Of the conditions in the Congo
the memoirs Of the major reveal that
the scientific expedition led by him
into the Bairelghaza region, on the
northern frontier, in 1904, was an ex-
pedition for conquest in disguise. The
ma. or declares that King Leopold
gave him personal instruction to
vanquish the Anglo-Egyptian forces
coming down from the Soudan at any
| co:t. 7 cannot be held accountable
for these acts the major writes. /
am only responsible for the COM
plete execution Of these instruc-
tons
Major Lemair admits that on sew
eral occasions during this expedition,
which lasted for three years and two
months he caused native soldiers and
| even their wives to be flogged. He
penetrated regions never before
reached by white man and inhab-
| tied by wild tribes and cannibals, and
he claimed that there was no way
other than hogging to preserve the
discipline indispensable to the security
and success of an expedition among
brigands accustomed to kill, raid and
capture and TO ill-treat women. In
every instance of fogging, however.
he faithfully reported the facts and
never received a word Of censure.
Praised for Cruelties.
con the contrary, he was accorded
nothing but praise for his conductor
this expedition and he was even dec
Grated by King Leopold. No charges
were preferred against the major
until the administration decided he
had been too insistent in calling at
tention to the frightful and uncheck-
ed abuses in the Congo.
"The statements made by Major
Lemaire are supported by document
arv evidence and the testimony of
| Italian officers who were recalled by
their government from the Congo
when information came 10 hand as to
what was going on there.
"a perusal of NJ. Lemaire's recital
carries the conviction that he is
thigh minded man of superior attain
ments, a sincere believer in the fu-
ture of the Congo, devoted to the
cause Of the blacks and determined
10 put an end to the existing atrocious
and disgraceful administration. Dur
ing his Is years service he crossed
Africa twice without firing a cartridge
at a native. On one occasion he en-
tered by way of Zambasi and came
out two years later at the. estuary OF
the Congo. NJ. Recluse, The ce,ebras-
e1 geographer, said this ach evemea-
and its results ranked Lenaaire with
Abbadie, Duveyrie and Livingstone.
His Eyes Opened.
when, as a young man, Major Le-
n,aire began nis work in the Congo
amid the rattle Of musketry, the
banging of cannon and the burning
of villages he says he was taught
that the course was the only oine to
bring the natives to their senses. Four
wears service, however, opened his
eyes to the true reason why Africa
was being deluged in innocent blood.
Since then he had defened the
blacks. pointing out their good quail
ties and upheld the work Of the mis-
sionaries. He realized the danger of
continuance Of irresponsible control
in the Congo. and became cham-
pion OF annexation as the only rem
edy
Continuing. the major relates his
repeated and vain attempts to have
the soldiery under him punished for
their Ill treatment of natives. i
have seen them, he writes Kick the
poor rubhsr and ivory bearers until
they fell from exhaustion. and then
torture The unfortunates amid howls