The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-07-29
Major Lemain Continues PubIica.
ton Of His Eighteen Years
Experience.
SOLDIERS AND WIVES FLOCCEO
Was Taught That This Was the On.
ly Course to Bring the Natives
to Their Senses.
(By the Associated Press. J

| pisoopi1lLc, July Z Ao.-MdJOE lie
mair is continuing the publication
OF his recollections of the Congo In
dependent states. The major served
8 years in the Congo in command o
native troops. Upon his return tC
Belgium he was notified that ht
would be prosecuted for cruelty to-
ward the men under him, and he re
taliated by beginning the pubica
tion of sensational exposure of the
| revolving conditions prevailing in the
| native army
Aside from painting a black pic
ture of the conditions in the Congo
| the memoirs of Major Lemair re.
veal that the scientific expedition led
by him into the Bairel-Ghaza region
on the northern frontier in 1904, was
an expedition for conquest in dis.
guise. The major declares that King
Leopold gave him personal instruc-
tions to vanquish the Angle-Egyp-
tian forces coming down from Sou.
dan at any cost.
Il cannot be held accountable fol-
these acts the major writes. "a
am only responsible for the complete
execution of the instructions.
Major Lemair admits that on sew.
eral occasions during the expedition
which lasted three years and two
months, he caused native soldiers
and even their wives, to be flogged
He claims that there was no way
other than flogging to preserve the
discipline indispensable to the secu-
rity and success of an expedition
among people accustomed to kill
,.ntI t.,
men. Every instance of fiogging
however, he faithfully reported and
never received word of censure. On
the contrary, he was accorded moth
ing but praise for his conduct of this
expedition and he was even decorat-
ed by King Leopold. No charges
were preferred against the major un.
til the administration decided he had
been too insistent in calling atten-
tion to the frightful and unchecked
abuses in the Congo.
A perusal of Mr.. Lemair's recita
! carries the conviction that he was
devoted to the cause of the blacks
| and was determined to put an end
to the atrocities and disgraceful ad-
ministration. During his Is years
service he crossed Africa twice with
out firing cartridge at native.
When, as young man, Major Le
mair began his work in the Congo
amid the rattle of musketry, the
| banging of cannon and the burning
of villages" he was taught that this
| course was the only one to bring the
natives to their senses.
Continuing, the major relates hi.
repeated and vain attempt to have
| the soldiery under him punished fol
| their ill-treatment of natives. -
| have seen them" he writes, ''kicl
| the poor rubber and ivory bearers
until they fell from exhaustion ant
then torture the unfortunates amit
| howls of laughter. | repeatedly re
ported cases of robbery, murder ant
outrage. but these reports were un
needed"
The major says he once received {
letter from the governor general o
the Congo advising him that his ser
vices were greatly appreciated, bu
saying his reports were full of criti
cisms and could not be transmitted
to Brussels, where only the rosy sid
of things was desired.
Later the major tried to see KIM
Leopold, but he was always prevent
ed by Intermediates. "Findin!
these reports useless" the majo
goes on, Il became pitiless towar'
the soldier brigands in my determi
nation to enforce respect for the ma
tives, and | challenge the admins
tration to produce one single nativ'
complaint against me-
Some of the depositions made b.
VIC mel. who were being conducted t.
the various posts as workers ar
most pitiful. They swore they ha'
been stolen by the soldiers durini
raids, maltreated at the hands of th
men and then either sold to chief
or made to work like slaves. SOM
had seen their parents and childrel
killed before their eyes and other
had been subjected to unmentionabl
indignities.