TROGITIES IN AFRICA

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1918, Page 4

TROGITIES IN AFRICA

BESTIAL DEPRAVITY. LONDON, September 12. The horrors of German colonial rule with all its savage disregard of human life are exposed in a report- issued today by Mr E. 11. Gorges, Administrator of South West Africa. It is based on German Government records found at Wiiullmk, sworn statements oy Europeans and native chiefs and writings of (the German Governor Lieutwoin (1894-1905), and others, in addition to the natives own accounts of their sufferings. In defiance of their agreements with tbe native chiefs given in the name of the Kaiser the German Government deprived the natives of most of their best land. Traders and settlors robbed them of their cattle—their only wealth —and reduced them almost to a state of slavery. Their women were habitually maltreated by tbe Germans who took them into forced concubinage. They were in tbe end goaded into rebellions which, were suppressed with deliberate and ruthless cruelty. POLICY OF EXTERMINATION. The Germans were not content with n mere suppression of the Herero rising; they decided upon the practical extinction of the whole tribe. For this pur pose Governor Lieutwein, who was apparently regarded as too lenient, was superseded by Troth a, who issued an “extermination order” in terms of which no Herero—man, woman, child, or babe—was to receive mercy or quar. ter. “Kill every one of them,” he said, “and take no prisoners.” These orders were only too faithfully carried out. A native who was onee a groom to Trot-ha described how h P was once order ed to kill a young TTerero woman-who had been captured. He refused in disgust, whereupon a German soldier show ed him how to do it, and then held th e bayonet, dripping with blood, be fore his face. Seven Herero leaders who wont to the German camp to discuss peace terms were bound land shot. Three chiefs were invited by tbe German commander to come in and make peace and promised thaT their lives and possessions would Be spared. Witlii 70 Herero soldiers they were treacherously surrounded and butchered by tbe Germans. Everywhere men, women and children were slaughtered in cold blood Men were strung up to trees by the neck with wire and allowed to die of slow strangulation. At one place 25 prisoners—men, women and children were burned to death. “Evidence of violation of women and girls is overwhelming,” says the report. “ but so full of filthy and atrocious details as to render publication undesirable.” As with the Hereros, 05.000 of whom vanished in seven years, so with the Hottentots and other native races—one long record of unspeakable horrors. Even after the suppression of the rebellions, tlie natives who survived fared little better,

Mr Gorges says: “Instances of cruelty, injustice, and baTbar,ism might be multiplied almost indefinitely. Instances of gross and bestial conduct, which for sheer depravity and immorality are well-nigh unbelievable, are also contained in the file of affidavits, but they are iiartllv fit for publication.” NATIVES AS SLAVES. The crimes, which were committed wholesale by the German Government, wore continued by individaul farmers, who treated their native servants' as slaves whom they might torture and kill. One German brute named Cramer was charged with eight eases of gross cruelly. Among his victims were two women whose hacks were flayed wy.h floggings and who died from their injuries. The German court sentenced him to four months’ imprisonment and a fine of £135! Two photographs in the report show the ghastly nature of the injuries inflicted on the, women. After the surrender of the Protectorate to the Union military forces courts were set up to deal with criminal offences, and a number of illustrative cases are quoted in the'report. Two elderly natives, a man and a woman, were arrested on a charge of theft and sentenced to be shot by a German courtmartial consisting of Limit. Venuleth, Corporal Schultz?" and Corporal Rapeeki. Venuleth was tried for murder, and the court, commenting 011. the trial of the natives, said: “The whole procedure was bad, Venuleth was at once president and complainant. The only evidence was his own remarks and a statement by Schultze. No charge was made against the natives. They wore not present; no evidence was led: they were convicted and sentenced in their absence. They were found guilty and shot. It is difficult to mention any principle of justice and law which has not been violated if this court really meant to try these natives.” A native hoy who had been maltreated by Ludwig Dohliug, a farmer, ran home, hut was brought back. The boy’s mother tried to rescue him and was shot three times bv the farmer. Two Germans-, a man and a woman, were standing by while this took place. A German police 'officer, Frank .Tuzek, recaptured and lashed a boy who bad run away from bis service. The boy’s bands were tied behind him and bis feet put in leg-irons. Juzek kicked him severely and stamped on him. Next day the boy was dead. Sueli treatment of natives, it was repeatedly shown, had the approval of the German police authorities. The return of tbe country to the Germans would be regarded by the, native tribes as ibe greatest disaster in their liistory. Already the Germans have been frightening the natives with threats of thrashings and hangings as soon as their rule is restored.