Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-29
CRUELTY IN CONGO
BY KINGS ORDERS
Mai. Lemair's Exposure of
Atrocities in Africa.
PUTS BLAME ON LEOPOLD
Complaints of III Treatment of Blacks
Disregarded.
BUTCHERIES IN NATIVE ARMY
Lemair's So-Called Scientific Expe-
dition of 1904 Was an Ex-
petition of Conquest.

BRUSSELS July 29.-Maj Lemair is con-
tinuing the publication Of his recollections
| Of the Congo Independent state. The major
served eighteen years In the Congo in COM
mand Of native troops. Upon his return to
Belgium he was notified that he would be
prosecuted for cruelty toward the men I'M
der him. and he retaliated by beginning the
publication Of sensational exposure of the
revolving conditions prevailing in the native
| army.
Aside from painting a black picture 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 expe-
dillon for conquest in disguise. The major
declares that King Leopold gave him per-
sonal instructions to vanquish the Anglo
Egyptian forces coming down from the
Soudan at any cost Il cannot be held ac-
counta BILE for these acts the major writes;
Il am only responsible for the complete ex-
ecution of these Instructions"
Maj Lemair admits that on several occa-
sionS during this expedition, which lasted
for three years and two months. he caused
native soldiers and even their wives to be
fogged. He penetrated to regions never
before reached by a white man and inhab-
tied by wild tribes and cannbals, and he
claimed that there was way other than
fogging to preserve the discipline indispen-
sal bic to the security and success of an eX-
petition among brigands accustomed to KILL
raid and capture and to i'll treat women. In
every instance Of flogging. however, he
faithfully reported the facts and never re-
ceived word of censure.
Praised for Cruelties.
On the contrary, he was accorded nothing
but praise for his conduct of this expedi-
ton, and he was even decorated by King
Leopold. No charges were preferred against
the major until the administration decided
he had been too insistent In calling atten-
ton to the frightful and unchecked abuses
in the Congo.
The statements made by Maj Lemair are
supported by documentary evidence and the
testimony of Italian officers who were
called by their government from the Congo
when information came to hand as to what
was going on there.
A perusal of NJ. Lemair's recital carries
the conviction that he is a high minded
man of superior attanmentS, a sincere be-
lever in the future of the Congo, devoted
TO the cause of the blacks and determined
to put an end to the existing atrocious and
disgraceful administration. During his
eighteen years service he crossed Africa
twice without firing cartridge at a native.
On one occasion he entered by way of Fam
best and came out two years later at the
estuary of the Congo. NJ. Recluse, the cele-
and its result ranked Lemair with Abb
babe, Duveyrier and Livingstone.
Lemair's Work in Congo.
When, a young man, Maj Lemair be-
gan his work in the Congo "amid the rat
tie of musketry. the banging of cannon
and the burning of villages" he says he was
taught that this course was the only one to
bring the natives to their senses. Four
years service, however, opened his eyes to
the true reasons why Africa was being
deluged in innocent blood. Since then he
had defended the blacks, pointing out their
good qualities, and upheld the work of the
missionaries. He realized the danger of
continuance of irresponsible control in the
Congo and became a champion of an
nexation as the old remedy.
Continuing, the major relates his re-
peated and vain attempts to have the SOL
diery under him punished for their ill treat
ment of natives. Il have seen them he
writes, kick the poor rubber and ivory
bearers until they fell from exhaustion,
howls of laughter. l repeatedly reported
cases of robbery, murder and outrage, but
these reports were unheeded.
The major says he once received a let
ter from the governor general of the Congo
advising him that his services were greatly
full of criticisms and could not be trans
mitted to Brussels, where only the rosy side
of things was desired.
Later the major tied to see King Leo
pold, but he was always prevented by inter-
mediares. Finding reports useless" the
major goes became pitileSS toward
the soldier brigands, in my determination
to enforce respect for the natives. and
challenge the administration to produce one
single native complaint against me-