Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-12
Evidence of Brutal Methods
Employed by Germans
Made Public.
REPLY TO DEMAND
FOR RESTORATION
Report BY Edmund Gorses, Acting
Secretary Of Interior, Union Of South
Africa, Story Of srutaIities, oppres-
sion, earbarity and Robbery n
African Possessions-Evden Based
on Official German Documents.

London, Sept. IA report contain
ployed by Germany in the administra-
ton of her colonies in Africa, by Ed
mund l.. NJ. Gorges. acting secretary of
the interior, Union Of South Africa,
constitutes the British governments re-
ply to DR.. Fl. s. Solf. the German secre-
tary of state for the colonies, that Ger
many would demand the return of her
colonies at the peace conference.
The report is one Of the most sensa-
tional ever issued in connection with
German colonial methods and Is consid-
cred an indictment Of German fitness to
rule Africa.
The evidence on which the report is
based is given from official German
documents and sworn statements by
native chiefs and by Europeans familiar
with the country and from the writings
Of Governor Lutwein. who held com
mand from 1894 to 1905: Dr. Paul Rebr-
back, DR.. Karl Dove and others. Alto
gether the report refutes in detail DIR.
Soils recent claim that "Germany's
pre-war humane treatment Of the ma
tive races won for her the moral right
to besa great colonial power"
Natives Oppose Hun Rule.
In view of this claim the following
statement by Acting Secretary Gorges
is interesting.
"The native opinion here Is unani-
mously against any idea Of their ever
being handed back to the tender
mercies Of Germany. Any suggestion
NP ~ Nf ind hn ~ of
Great Britain produces the utmost con-
sternation."
The report shows that the first twen-
ty-fiv years Of the German rule in
South Africa was an unbroken record
Of official bad faith. private oppression.
cruelty, barbarities and robberies, cul-
minating in the Herero and Hottentot
rebellions. During the first seventeen
years there was no law for the natives
Such protection as the law provided
finally was furnished, but the order to
exploit the natives as laborers re-
manned.
Moro Scraps Of Paper
The Germans entered into agreement
with the native chiefs but these be-
came scraps Of paper and the natives
were .fraudulently deprived Of their
best lands. Tradtfs and settlers
robbed them of their cattle, which was
their only wealth apd the law pre-
vented the natives from possessing
large herds Of stock. The natives were
thus driven to work at ridculously
inadequate wages and often never
were paid. They were treated like
slaves and their women folk were
habitually maltreated by the Germans
who kept them in enforced con-
cubina=e. These were some OF the
things which goaded the natives into
rebellions which were suppressed by
ruthless cruelty resulting practically
in the determination OF the three tribes
involved.
Three Tribes Almost Exterminated.
The Hereros weer reduced from So
900 to 1890: the Hottentots from co.
900 to $500, and the Berg Da amaras
from 10000 to 12,s0o. Thus so per
cent of the Herero people disappeared
and more than half Of the Hottentots
and Berg Damaras shared the same
fate.
How it was done was ts supercedn
the lenient governor Lutwein by the
notorious governor Trotha, fresh from
Germany to East Africa, whore he
suppressed the Arab rebellion by
wholesale massacre. He Immediately
issued an determination order the
terms Of which provided that no
Herero man. woman. child or babe
was to receive mercy or quarter.
Kill every one OF them: take no
prisoners" ne said in these orders.
The governors groom records how
he was ordered to kill a woman. He
refused and then German soldier
showed him how to do It, and held MS
blood dripping hayonet in his face.
~ ...
Use Prisoners as Shields.
Amst erdam, Sept. 12.-About twenty
five British prisoners are confined much