The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-12

sulting practically in the extermina-
tikn of the three tribes involved The
Hereros We're reduced from $4,000 to
1900, the Hottentots from 10000 to
80, 900 to 12,S00. Thus 80 per cent of
the Herero people disappeared and
more than half of the Hottentots and
Berg-Danaras shared the same fate.
How it was dope-was to supersede
the lenient Governor Leutwein by the
notorious Governor Trotha, fresh
from Germany to East Africa, where
he suppressed the Arab rebellion by a
wholesale massacre.
Ordered Women and Babes Killed.
Governor Trotha issued an extermi-
nation order. the terms of which pro-
vided that no Herero man, woman.
child or babe was to receive mercy or
quarter. ....
xiii every one of them; take no
prisoners" he said in these orders.
Evidence that the order was only too
story of Governor Trotha's former
groom who described how he once
was ordered to kill young Herero
woman. He refused in disgust, where
how to do it and then he held the
dripping bayonet in his face. An Off
GER and German soldiers were stand
ing around, but none interfered in be-
half of the woman.
Another reliable witness who was
with Governor Trotha for two years
testified that he knew of no instance
Of prisoners being spared. Even after
the rebellion surviving natives Jared
but little better. ~
One of the most significant docu-
ments in the report is secret circular
by Governor Hertz in 1919 and ad-
dressed to magistrates in which he re-
fers to the desperate feeling becoming
prevalent among the natives. The
reason" he states. which unanimous
ly Is given for this fact is that the
brutal excuses of Europeans against
natives are openly increasing. It is
regrettable that even police officers be-
come guilty of such offenses inz q few
cases and that such offenses are not
punished by the courts of law in a
way that they ought to be according
to a sense of justice to the natives.
Gross Bestial Conduct.
Acting Secretary Gorgas supplied a
sworn statement from natives which
gives some idea of the reign of terror
existing among them.
He adds: The instances of cruelty.
injustice and barbarism might be null
tiplied almost indefinitely. Instances
of gross bestial conduct, which for
sheer depravity and immortality are
well nigh unbelievable, are also con-
talned IN the Tile OF aIIlQaVlts, put
they are hardly fit for publication"
Part two of the report deals at
length with the position of the native
before the law. The ordinance gov
erning criminal jurisdiction over the
natives contained provisions repugnant
to every conception of justice.
The natives. were not tried in ordi-
nary courts but by officers who also
did police duties and had authority to
delegate their judicial powers to sub
ordinate officials. Imprisonment in
chains and flogging were allowed not
only for serious crimes. but as dis.
culinary measures on the application
of an employer or for offenses against
the master and servants law or for
characterization. continued idleness or
neglect of duty.
From the records of German courts
1t Is clear that native evidence was
habitually disregarded and that the
natives were kept in a state of fear.
| No opportunity of redress was open to
| them and they dared not go to the
notice with complaints Grimes by
Germans. however. against wives were
| reviewed by the courts.