The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-12
Natives Were Enslaved,
Women Maltreated, Whole
Tribes Exterminated
"KTLL EVERYONE"
WAS ORDER GIVEN
No Law For The Black
Man And No Chance To
Get Justice
lgv Aeeoefatss Press.l

( London, Sept. 12.-Reports contain
ing evidence Of the brutal methods
employed by Germany in the admin
istration of her colonies in Africa
made public today by Edmond M. L.
Georges, acting secretary Of the in
terror, Union Of South Africa. con-
stitute the British governments re-
ply to DIR. M. Solf, the German sec
retary Of state for the colonies that
Germany would demand the return OF
her colonies. at the peace conference.
The report is one Of the most SEN
sational ever issued in connection
with German colonial methods and is
considered an indictment of German
fitness to rule the black native OF
Africa. The evidence on which the
report is based is taken from German
official documents.
The report shows that the first 25
years of German rule in southwest
Africa was an unbroken record of
official bad faith, private oppression,
cruelty, barbarities and robberies,
eliminating Ia the Herero and Hot
tentot rebellion. During the first II
years there was no law for the na-
tives. Such protection as the law
eventually provided indicated consid-
erations OF humanity but the order To
exploit the natives as lahorers re-
manned. . .s.ag 3D.
More "scraps Of Paper.7
When the Germans first arrived,
eass tire report entered sSjstc
reeIncnta WITH me nst VI chief bat
these became scraps OF paper and the
natives were FRAUD ditler tlg aeprtvsd Of
tiers robbed them Of their cattle,
law subsequently, prevented the nay
tivas from possessing large herds OF
stock. The natives were thus driv-
en- to work at Tidiculously irladequatei
wages anu often never were paid.
They were treated like slaves and
their women folks were habitually
maItreateds by the Germans, who took
them into forced concubinage.
These were some of the things
which goaded the natives into rebel
lions which were suppressed by ruth
less cruelty resulting practically Ia
tho determination of the three tribes
involved. The Hereros were reduced
from $4,000 to Ii, 100; the Hottentots
from 10000 to $500 and the Berg
Damares from 10000 to 1890. Thus
80 per cent Of the Herero people dis
appeared and more than half OF the
Hottentots and Berg-Damaras shared
the same fate. How IL was done was
to supersede the lenient Governor
Leutwein by the notorious Governor
Trotha, fresh from Germany TO East
Africa, where he suppressed the Arab
by a wholesale massacre.
Governor Trotha issued an EXTERN
nation order" the terms OF which
provided that no Herero man, woman,
child or babe was to receive mercy
or quarter. 80 = ~ .
r"Take No Prisoners".
kill every one OF them; take no
he said in these orders,
Evidence that the order was only too
faithfully carried out is recorded in
story of Governor Trotha's former
groom, who described how he once
was ordered to kill a young Herero
woman. He refused in disgust,
wIereupon a German soldier showed
him how to do 1t and then he held
the dripping bayofiet in his face. An
officer and German soldiers were
standing around but none iaterfered
in behalf of the woman.
Another reliable witness, who was
with Governor Trotfa for two years,
testified that he knew Of no instance
of prisoners being spared. Even after
but little better.
But one of the rnost significant
documents in the report is a secret
circular by Governor Heitz in 1912
and addressed TO magistrates IN
which he refers to the desperate feel
ing becoming prevalent among the
natives.
"The reason" he states, which
is given for this fact Is
that the brutal excesses Of Europeans
is openly increasing. It is regrettable |
that even police officers become gull |
ty of such offenses in a few cases
and that such offenses are not pun
isIled by the courts OF law in a way
that they ought 70 be, according to a /
sense of justice to the natives.
Reign of Terror.
Acting Secretary Gorges supplies
sworn statements from natives which /
gives some idea of the reign of terror
existing among them. He adds.
The instances Of cruelty, Injustice \
and barbarisn might be multiplied |
almost indefinitely Instances of /
gross bestial conduct which for sheer
deprayity and immortality are well |
nigh unbelievable, are also contained /
in the file Of affidavfts, but they are
hardly lit for publication"
Part two of the report deals at !
length with the position OF the ma
tfves before the law.
The ordinance governing criminal /
jurisdiction over the natives con-
tanned provisions repugnant 10 every