GERMAN SOUTH-WEST AFRICA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12729, 12 April 1904, Page 3

GERMAN SOUTH-WEST AFRICA.

(Received April 11, 11.7 p.m.) LONDON, April 11. Major Glasenapp’s force in Southwest Africa had three and a-half hours’ fighting at Thorn Forest, a thick busli near Okaharue. Lieutenant Noerr and 31 men were killed and 16 wounded. There were 92 llereros killed.

(By Mail Steamer.) BERLIN, March 19. Colonel Leutwein, Governor of German South-west Africa, reports severe fighting there on March 13th. The Germans were forced to retreat with the loss of seven officers and 19 men killed and five wounded. The tight occurred near Owilokororo, with the Tetjo tribe whom Major Glasenapp was pursuing. The news made a disappointing impression in Berlin, since it involved the most severe losses that the Germans have yet suffered and because it was hoped that the worst was over. In view of this it is possible

that reinforcements will be sent to Africa.

In the Reichstag, Derr Bebol, the Socialist leader, referred to the German campaign against the Hereros, saying it had taken on a character prejudicial to Germany’s interests and honour, since all Hereros were killed and no prisoners taken. He referred to a letter from Veterinary Surgeon Baumgart, asserting tliat no quarter was given and that every black was shot down. Dr Baumgart himself boasted that he had massacred wounded natives like a cannibal. “Therein can be seen,” continued Herr Bebel, “how far even our educated people are becoming brutalised. Let us not deceive ourselves with the belief that the present occurrences in South Africa make a demoralising impression only on the troops there. The descriptions sent must also have a demoralising and brutalising effect on the German people.” Herr Bebel added: “Reports of the Rhenish Missionary Society show that things are by no means as bad as reported by the papers friendly to the Colonial Office. These reports show that the Hereros spare whites who prove to be not Germans, like English, Boers, and Danes. It appears, therefore, that some of our countrymen have so ill - treated the Hereros that- they have generated a fanatical prejudice against Germans in general. Samuel Maheroero, chief of the Herros, continues the missionary report, has given orders that no harm be done to non-Germans, missionaries, women or children, but that German men be shot down without mercy.” The missionaries further stated that Hereros begged pardon of white women wounded by stray shots in fights, saying that they did not wish to hurt defenceless women. Herr Bebel also said that after Easter the Socialists would demand the answer of the Colonial Office on those matters. Dr Arendt. a Conservative, doubted

the veracity of the writer of the letter mentioned. He said that at any rate it must be agreed that “the Hereros have devastated, plundered, and de-

stroyed in a frightful manner.” He added: “Our only concern now is to help our countrymen, without inquiring into the causes of the rebellion.”