Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-09-12
GERMAN CRUELTY
In AFRICA
BARE BY BRITON
British Government Replies to
Hun Secretary of State;
Natives in Fear
BY Associated Press

London, Sept. ia report con-
tanning evidences of the brutal meth
ods employed by Germany in the ad-
made public to-day by Edmond II.
L. GorgaS, acting secretary of the in
terror, Union of South Africa, con-
stitutes the British governments re-
pl. to DIR. w. S. Solf. the German
secretary of state for tie colonies.
that Germany would demand the re-
turn of her colonies at the peace con-
ference.
The report is one of the most sem
sational ever issued in connection
with German colonial methods and
constitutes an indictment of German
fitness to rule the black native of
Africa. The evidences upon which
the report is based are taken from
official German documents at Wind
hoek, from sworn statements by ma
tive chiefs and by Europeans famil-
lar with the country and from the
writings of Governor Leutwein, who
held office from 1894 to 1905; DIR.
Paul Rohrback, DR.. Karl Dove and
others. The following statement by
Acting Secretary Gorgas is interest
ing: ,
THE native opinion here is unani-
mously against any idea of their ever
being handed back to the tender
mercies of Germany. Any suggestion
of the possibility of an act of this
kind on the part of Great Britain
produces the utmost CONSERVATION
Agreements Disregardcd
When the Germans first arrived,
says the report, they entered into
agreement with the native chiefs but
these became scraps of paper and
the natives were fraudulently depriV-
ed of their best land. Traders and
settlers robbed them of their cattle,
which was their only wealth, and the
law subsequently prevented the ma
tives from possessing large herds OF
stock. The natives thus were driven
to work at ridiculously inadequate
wages and often never were paid.
They were treated like slaves and
their women folk were maltreated
habitually by the Germans who took
them into forced concubinages. These
were some of the things which goad-
ed the natives into rebellion, which
was suppressed by ruthless cruelty,
resulting virtually in the extermina-
ton of the three tribes involved.
THE Hereros were reduced from
so 900 to $4,000, the Hottentots from
900 to $500, and the Berg-Dam.
aras from $4,000 to 1880. Thus so
per cent. of the Herero people dis
appeared and more than half of the
Hottentots and Berg-Damaras shar-
ed the same fate. How it was done
was to supercede the lenient Govern
or Leutwein by the notorious Gov
ernor Trotha, fresh from Germany
to East Africa, where he suppressed
the Arab rebellion by a wholesale
massacre. Governor Trotha issued an
determination order" the terms of
which provided that no Herero man,
woman, child or babe was to receive
mercy or quarter.
Trotha Orders Executions
Kill every one of them; take no
prisoners" he said in these orders.
Evidences that the order was only
too faithfully carried out is recorded
in a story of Governor Trotha's form
er groom, who described how he once
was ordered to kill a young Herero
woman. He refused in disgust, where
upon a German soldier showed him
how to do it and then held the drip
ping bayonet in his face. An officer
and German soldiers were standing
around but none interfered in behalf
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 aft
err the rebellion surviving natives
Jared but little better.
THE instances of cruelty, injustice
and barbarism might be multiplied
almost indefinitely. Instances of gross
bestial conduct which for sheer de-
pravity and immortality are we'll nigh
unbelievable also are contained in
the file of affidaVits, but they are
hardly fit for publication"