EUROPEAN WAR \ PAPERS E ELATING TO GERMAN ATROCITIES, AND BREACHES OF THE RULES OF WAR, IN AFRICA. Presented to both Houses of Parlinment bv Command of His Hlajestv. July, 1916. LONDON : PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE By DARLING and SON, Limited, Bacon Street, E. To be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from WYMAN AND SONS, Limited, 29, Breams Buildings, Better Lane, E.C., 28, Abingdon Street, S.W., and 54, St. Mary Street, Cardiff; or fl.M. STATIONERY OFFICE (Scottish Branch), 23, Forth Street, Edinburgh; or E. PONSONBY, Limited, 116, Grafton Street, Dublin; or from the Agencies in the British Colonies and Dependencies, the United States of America and other Foreign Countries of T. FISHER UNWIN, Limited, London, W.C. Price 1916. [Od. 8306. 1 GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS (with the under-mentioned exceptions) can be purchased in the manner indicated on the first page of this wrapper. 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The following is a list of some recent Parliamentary and Ofl&cial Publications : — COMMITTEE ON ALLEGED GERMAN OUTRAGES appointed by His Majesty’s Government and presided over by The Right Hon. VISCOUNT BRYCE, O.M., &c., &c., formerly British Ambassador at Washington, Report. Warrant of Appointment. Introductory Observations. Part I. Conduct of German Troops in Belgium. Part II. Breaches of Rules and Usages of War and Acts of Inhumanity in Invaded Territories. 1. Treatment of the Civil Population : — Killing of Non-Combatants ; Treatment of W omen and Children •, U se of Civilians as Screens ; Looting, Burning, and Destruction of Property. 2. Offences against Combatants : — Killing the Wounded or Prisoners ; Firing on Hospitals ; Abuse of the Red Cross and the White Flag. Conclusions. With two maps. [Cd. 7894] of Session 1914-16. Price 6c?., post free 7-^c?. Appendix. 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Reports of the Oflacial Commission of tbe Belgian Government. Preface by Monsieur J. Van Den Heuvel, Minister of State. Names of the Commission of Enquiry. Reports, Nos. 1 to 12, of the Commission; with Illustrations. Appendix : — Instructions to Belgian Authorities issued on 4th August, 1914, and Advice to Civilians; Extracts from the Pastoral Letter of His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines, Primate of Belgium. Price 6c/., post free Vol. II. Reports IN os. 13 to 22. Price 6c/. (Jn the press.') PROTEST BY THE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT against the German allegation that Belgium had forfeited her Neutrality before the Outbreak of War. Price Ic/., post free l^d. THE SECOND BELGIAN GREY BOOK. English Translation, containing only those portions of the book which are material to the position of Great Britain, viz. ; — Part I. — Certain Documents relating to the War and Correspondence on the Subject of the Rupture of Diplomatic Relations between Belgium and Turkey ; Part II. (Section 10 only) deals with the Accusations brought against Belgiiun of having concluded a Military Agreement with Great Britain. (1915.) Price 3c/., post free i^d. COLLECTED DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS relating to tbe Outbreak of tbe European War. This volume includes the British Diplomatic Correspondence and Translations of the French Yellow Book, the Russian Orange Book, and the Belgian Grey Book, each of which has already been published in separate form. It also contains Translations of the Serbian Blue Book, the German White Book, and the Austro-Hungarian Red Book, together with Telegrams and Letters published officially in the Press by the Governments of Great Britain, Russia, and Germany. There are also included, as an appendix to the German White Book, the Report of the Speech delivered by the German Imperial Chancellor before the Reichstag on 4th August, 1914, and, as an appendix to the Serbian Blue Book, the Speech of Signor Giolitti before the Italian (Chamber of Deputies on 5th December, 1914. The preface furnishing a tentative guide to a comparison of the various Official Documents and to their value as a whole ; and a list is given of the principal persons mentioned in the Correspondence, showing their official positions. Price, in paper boards, with cloth back. Is., post free Is. 5d. 7976 y EUROPEAN WAR. PAPERS RELATING TO GERMAB ATROCITIES, ABD BREACHES OF THE RULES OF WAR, IN AFRICA. Presented to botb Houses of Parliament by Command of His IHajestv, July^ 1916. ::v : - LOUDON: PRINTED PNDER THE AUTHORITY OF HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE By DARLING and SON, Limited, Bacon Street, E. To be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from WYMAN AND SONS, Limited, 29, Breams Buildings, Fetter Lane, E.C., 28, Abingdon Street, S.W., and 54, St. Mary Street, Cardiff ; or H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE (Scottish Branch), 23, Forth Street, Edinburgh; or E. PONSONBY, Limited, 116, Grafton Street, Dublin; or from the Agencies in the British Colonies and Dependencies, the United States of America and other Foreign Countries of T. FISHER UNWIN, Limited, London, W.C. [Cd. 8306.] Price 1916. LIST OF PAPERS. Cameroons. 1914. 1. Brigadier-General Dobell to the Secretary of State for the Colonies 28 October PAGE 3 2. Do. do. do. do. 2 December 9 3. Do. do. do. do. 26 December 9 4. Major-General Dobell to War Office 1915. 19 September 15 5. The Senior Medical Officer with the Troops to the General Officer commanding the Allied Forces ... 10 November 17 6. Major-General Dobell to the War Office , 1916. 28 January 17 7. East Africa. I'he Governor of the East Africa Protectorate to the 1914. Secretary of State for the Colonies 11 December 72 8. Colonial Office to Foreign Office ... 1916. 7 March 74 German South West Africa. 1915. 9. Correspondence between General Louis Botha and German 13 February to Military Authorities relative to the poisoning of wells 25 June 74-9 10. Report of Commission of Enquiry into the treatment of Prisoners of War by the German Protectorate Authorities during the late hostilities ... ... 81 ✓ EUROPEAN WAR. P A P E H S RELATING TO GEEMAN ATEOCITIES, AND BEEACHES OE THE EULES OF WAE, IN AFEICA. CAMEROONS. No. 1. Brigadier-General DOBELL to the SECRETARY OE STATE EOR THE COLONIES (Extract.) Government House, Diiala, 28th October, 1914. I attach a series of reports which I called for, all indicating that cruelty, amounting to brutality, has been shown to the native inhabitants by Germans and the soldiers under their command. I have no very conclusive evidence of wounds being caused by expanding bullets but I have specimens of small arm ammunition, taken from German combatants, the use of which is contrary to the provisions of the Hague Convention. Enclosures in No. 1. Evidence on Cruel Treatment of the Cameroon Natives by German Soldiers. Collected by Major Statham, R.A.M.C., D.M.S. The accompanying evidence was collected by me in the Military Base Hospitals established at Duala. A considerable amount of trouble was taken to sift this evidence, and I believe most of it to be reliable. It is, however, difficult to obtain accurate evidence when everything has to be translated. The fact that two of the witnesses who have not been able to communicate with each other for three weeks tell the same story, and the story affects the same case of cruelty, points to there being considerable truth in their statements. The evidence was not taken on oath, but I do not think an oath in any way affects the veracity of an African’s statement. J. C. B. Statham, Major, R.A.M.C. Duala, Director of Medical Services, Allied Forces. 21st October, 1914. 1. Engonu, a carpenter, aged 25 years, made the following statement to me : — " I was asleep in my house at Debombari, about four hours’ walk away, at night, when some black soldiers opened the door and took me to two white men in uniform. I was tied by the hand and led with a rope. The Officer said to the soldiers ‘ Why do you bring any man to me alive ? Go and kill them.’ He then told the soldiers to kill me, and went away. The black soldiers commenced to hack me with matchets, and cut me about till I fell senseless, and I was left for dead. Also my brother was caught on the same night and killed with a knife (matchet). I saw his body as I (7976—2.) Wt. 3455—1050. 20,000. 7/16. D & S. G. 1. 4 was being taken to the white officer. There was a woman with my brother, but I do not know what happened to her.” On examination the man was seen to have three scalp wounds, one skull wound severe, two on the right shoulder, one on the right arm, one on the left shoulder, one on the back, and one on the right leg, all caused by a large, sharp cutting instru- ment, probably a matchet. There were also three on the hand as well as one where apparently the rope had cut into the flesh. Case 2. — Liza, a married woman of 21 to 25 years of age, usually living in Victoria, but who was resident in Duala for a month and a half before the British occupation, made the following statement “ On the 28th of September at Akwa I was just coming out of house, nursing a baby in my arms, and with my husband, when a German dressed in white civilian clothes, fired at both me and my husband, wounding us both. I was fired at twice. This white man had shot other people, and had killed three men and one woman. He was then caught by some troops ” [from her description these troops appear to have been either French or British], “ and taken away, I think to a canoe. The man used a rifle.” Wounds. — This woman has bullet wounds in both thighs. A child that was with the woman was not wounded, but died as a result of illness contracted some days before. This witness speaks broken English. She knows Germans and is convinced that tlie man was a German. She is an intelligent witness. Case 3. — Moses, the husband of the last witness (Liza), who is in the Carriers’ Hospital, states : — “ On September 28th at Akwa, a German civilian at about mid-day, came to the house where I and other people were (eight in all). He killed three men and one woman. He wounded me, my wife, and one other woman. Then two black soldiers caught him and took him away in a canoe, I believe they were British soldiers. I did not know the German.” Wounds. — There was a gunshot fracture of the thigh. This man is an intelli- gent witness, and his evidence, though taken in a different hospital from that in which his wife was lying, corroborates hers. They had had no communication with each other since being wounded. Case 4. — Elizabeth, aged 20, states : — “ I was in the same house as Liza and her husband on the 28th of September. I was running out of the house when I was shot at and wounded by a German civilian, the same man, I think, that shot Liza and her husband. My husband Johannes was with me, but he ran away and escaped.” Wounds. — She was shot through the abdomen, but the bullet passed through the abdominal muscles only. She is pregnant. She is a fairly intelligent witness, and speaks broken English. Case 5. — Apioni, a woman of 40 years, states : — “ I was shot at Banen, near Jabassi, by a German black soldier, about September 29th.” Wounds. — A gunshot wound of the right. [?] This witness is a half-witted woman and it is impossible to get satisfactory evidence from her. Case 6. — Eliza, aged 32, who has now left the hospital, stated before she left that she was passing in a canoe near Tiko, a place near Buea, with several others, when some German soldiers fired at them from the bank and killed two women, and wounded her (Eliza) on or about the 8th October. She was wounded in the right upper arm. Case 7. — Samuel Equera, a native of Bassa, states : — “ When the Germans ran away from Duala and passed through Bassa, a German soldier came to collect carriers, and shot me because I tried to run away.” Wound. — A gunshot fracture of the right elbow. This man is a fairly intelli- gent witness. 5 Evidence as to the Use of Soft Nosed Bullets. Several of the wounded show wounds which may have been caused by soft-nosed or expanding bullets. I do not propose to give particulars of such cases because I do not consider such “ wound evidence ” very reliable, since (1) solid bullets in certain cases can cause explosive effects, difficult to distinguish from those of soft-nosed bullets. (2) The German enemy, both black and white, are using various types of bullets, such as {a) sporting bullets found with civilians, who quite possibly 'had no others, (&) large calibred .450 soft lead bullets, which would flatten to a varying extent on striking. These are used by many of the black troops. As all these types of bullets are being used it is impossible to decide definitely whether a shattered wound has been caused by a solid cupro-nickel bullet deliberately converted into an expanding one, or by one of the various types of sporting bullet being used, or by the .450 calibre lead bullet. I send with this statement, ten specimen bullets taken at Missellili from the pouches of German European prisoners of war, by one of my medical officers. Dr. Sharpe. J. C. B. Statham, Major, R.A.M.C., Director of Medical Services, Allied Forces, Duala, Cameroon Expedition. 21st October, 1914. Report from a German Soldier (Native), 17th October, 1914. ******* He had been instructed by his officer first not to shoot unarmed natives, but after they knew the English had occupied Jabassi he had instructions to kill every native they saw. ******* True copy, J. Brough, Major, 19th October, 1914. General Staff. Extracts from a Report from Lieutenant Kentish, R.E., dated 8th October, 1914. ******* At 9 p.m. we were passed by a German patrol, afterwards found to consist of one officer, four men, and about a dozen labourers. We lay down in the bush and were not seen. Enemy’s patrol proceeded to burn Miang Village. ******* Reached Miang' (Ndulu) on the way back about 5 a.m. and found the town a smouldering heap of ruins. Every house had been burnt except the school. ^ ^ ^ ^ 41; ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ H. E. Kentish, Lieutenant, R.E. Report No. I. Statement of P. J. Dodd, Clerk in charge of the S. O. K. Palm Oil Syndicate, Cameroons. (Written Statement.) What I know about these two peoples shot was that on the 30th ultimo, 1914, this white man, by name Jos. Schmidt, came to Musoko near Abo with three soldiers 6 for the purpose of shutting the river that runs up to Miang and 'when stationed at the same day he found one man in a canoe pulling alone going upward of the river. All at once he took one gun from his soldiers and shoot him right away. I asked him how that meant but he replied by the order of the German Government. There and then he saw another canoe passing down to Duala with four pullers and again he cruelly shoot in and killed one more, altogether two. The rest swam and went away. The three soldiers also are sent on a patrol on the river for the same injury and at times each of them can return with his report stating that Master I killed one and so forth, and all of whom I calculated to be four people. Signed at Duala, 6th October, 1914. P. J. Dodd. Schmidt did not challenge the natives before firing them. — P. J. D. Certified true copy. Duala, H. Gwynne Howell, October 16th, 1914. Captain, General Staff. Report No. II. '^'October 19, 1914. Bele and Bahundu have arrived from Butu on the Dibamba and report that three Germans and about fifty native soldiers from Bonepupa, have come to Butu and destroyed the farms and "houses and killed four Dualas. The names of the Europeans are Damkohler, Schmidt, a Government official, and one unknown. The names of the natives killed are Ekoni, Sassanga, Peembombe, Behane Ekun. On the 7th instant Dikoto Kame and Josef Priso with three others arrived and reported that about 30 Europeans and some 300 natives arrived in the Ndonga District. They are shooting the natives for their British sympathies. Up to date they have killed seven. On the 4th instant Ebangisi Editea arrived from the Dibamba and reported that one European with about 50 native soldiers had arrived on Dibamba Beach, fired on the natives and killed and wounded several. He says that the Germans gave out that they intended killing all the Dualas on account of their English friendship. Certified true copy. Duala, H. Gwynne Howell, October 16th, 1914. Captain, General Staff. Report No. III. Bele, native of Duala living in Tiko, reports ; — Since the English fired on Tiko, six days ago, German native troops have fired on all Dualas they see, and have killed one man and one woman. Their names are Budule, and Ndale, wife of Bebe. Joke, Chief of Dikomba, was fired at and killed by a German Reserve Officer — previously a farmer at Molivi — name unknown, who had been hiding in the Chief’s house. Uwanja Mutasi, of Bonamateki, arrived on the 9th October from that place and reports that twelve Europeans and about 100 native soldiers arrived there from Susa and killed seven native inhabitants. Certified true copy. Duala, H. Gwynne Howell, October 16th, 1914. Captain, General Staff. Report No. IV. Andreas Jengelli, native of Bell Town, left Mbonjo on the Mungo Creek on the 9th October. He states : — There are about ten Germans with 100 native soldiers in Mbonjo. They are shooting natives and burning the countryside. He says they have killed about 30 natives, men and women. * This date is evidently incorrect. It is probably a typist’s error for 10-10-1914. 7 The expressed German statement to the natives is, that the British may conquer the country, but they will find no inhabitants left. Hence the wholesale shooting of the natives. Certified true copy. Duala, H. Gwynne Howell, October 16th, 1914. Captain, General Staff. Report No. V. On board S.S. “ Mole,” October 10, 1914. Toko Masombwa, native of Bonaberi, coming from Njanga reports that 15 Europeans and over 100 native soldiers arrived in Njanga yesterday morning. They fired on the Dualas in Njanga and killed several. They hung the King of Bomking and shot several of his people because they refused to take up arms against the English. They have given guns to three black men, names as follows : Blagojo, native of Togo; Mabala, native of Jaunde; and Dikume, native of Njanga. These men have been instructed to shoot anyone suspected of having British sympathies. Certified true copy. Duala, H. Gwynne Howell, October 16th, 1914. Captain, General Stall. Report No. VI. Duala, October 12, 1914. Statement of Ebongo Joe, late factory clerk for J. Holt and Company, Dibong Branch, Cameroons : — I, Ebongo Joe, hereby declare that on October 2nd news came to Dibong that trouble would begin here almost immediately, so I proceeded to Jabassi for safety, after having locked up the factory. On October 7th I returned to Dibong, and on my arrival found the factory broken open, and, with the exception of 10 bags of kernels, all cargo has been removed. One Duala man, Ebumbo Elokan; one Duala man, Kumba; and several others whose names I do not know but who I could point out, informed me that they were actual eye-witnesses to the arrival of a European whom I know but not by name, accompanied by a policeman from Bodiman. The European instructed this police- man and one Dibong policeman, Jaumke, to break the place open, and then proceeded to remove all the goods. On the same occasion one Duala man, Mahapinja, was shot dead. I do not know whether he was shot by the European or at his order, but the Duala man, Kumba, is an eye-witness, and would be able to give evidence on this point. I do not know the European’s name, but this can easily be ascertained on enquiry. Ebongo Joe. His X Mark. I, Duala man Ejang, corroborate the above statements. They are true in every respect. W itness to translation and signature, (Signed) Edward Dibobe. Certified true copy. H. Gwynne Howell, Captain, General Staff. Duala, October 16th, 1914. 8 Report No. VII. Lieutenant McCallum, attached to Lieutenant-Colonel Cockburn’s column attacking Jabassi, reports on the 12th October : — To-day I interviewed Chief Mfomu of Bodiman who informed me. that a village at the top of a small creek about 600 yards from our anchorage was raided five days ago by German native soldiers, who shot five natives. I reconnoitred the creek and personally saw the graves. Certified true copy. Duala, H. Gwynne Howell, October 16th, 1914. Captain, General Staff. Report No. VIII. James Birrell, native of Accra, in charge of R. and W. King’s Wuri factory, states : — He left Wuri yesterday afternoon. After the “ Fullah ” left for Duala he says, two Germans (including the man Moring, said to be an American) came back to his store and tried to capture any natives about, including himself. This man, Moring, stays at the entrance of the Dibombe Creek and shoots at any canoes passing. When he (Birrell) heard they were looking for him, he fled into the bush and made his way down to Duala. Lieutenant McCallum, attached to Lieutenant-Colonel Cockburn’s column attacking Jabassi, reports on the 13th instant that Ntoko Beecroft came to him on that day and reported that the man Moring had killed an Akwa Town native called Ntona Makuri. The man knows the natives who saw Moring kill this man, but cannot obtain them while the Germans are at Njanga, as they are hiding in the bush. Certified true copy. Duala, H. Gwynne Howell, October 16th, 1914. Captain, General Staff. Report No- IX. Duala, - October 16th, 1914. Statement of Ndumhe Toko. Ndumbe Toko, native of Akwa town, living at Dibamba, reports that two Europeans, named Damkohler and Bruno Schmidt, with 100 native soldiers, many of whom were at Japoma when the French crossed the bridge and ran to Dibamba, are now at Dibamba and have shot four men, besides making prisoners of all Duala men, women, and children they can find. They have burned many of the houses and are spoiling all the farms, cutting down cocoa trees, &c. The following men saw Damkohler shoot men : — Ndumbe Toko. Kina Dika (son of King Akwa). Ewa Tutu (Akwa man). Ndum.be Toko also saw Schmidt shoot and kill a man in a canoe. The man’s name was Sase Ngane. Many women and children have run into the bush, where there is no food for them. Many men have gone into Duala and these men wish to return to get their 9 women and children but are afraid to do so as they are certain to be killed if they are seen. Duala, 16th October 1914. Certified true copy. H. Gwynne Howell, Captain, General Staff, No. 2. Brigadier- General DOBELL to the SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES. Government House, Duala, Sir, 2nd December, 1914. I HAVE the honour to forwmrd for your perusal a translation of a captured message written by Lieutenant von Engelbrechten to Hauptmann Gaisser, lately commanding troops at Buea and Victoria, and now a prisoner of war. 2. I consider the message serves to indicate the attitude of mind of the Germans towards the native inhabitants of the Cameroons, and although our troops must, from time to time, employ native guides it is unnecessary for me to state that natives do not perform the other services indicated by the writer!" 3- Prior to his employment on active service I believe Lieutenant von Engel brechten acted as Private Secretarv to the Governor of the Cameroons. 1/ I have, &c. C. M. DOBELL, Brigadier-General, Commanding the Allied Forces. Enclosure in No. 2. [Translation.] (From Kake, 7th October, 1914, 11.6 a.m.) The water-way between Mpundu and Mbonjo is dangerous on account of the Duala people living on the Mungo River sides. The runner service by canoe is therefore stopped. All loads and letters I shall endeavour to forward via Mundame. The telephone via Mbonjo is still open until further notice as long as it is not destroyed by the Duala people. Several cases of Dualas attacking my soldiers and who openly help the English in taking over from them their safety and outpost service, show them the roads, and communicate with each other by call, horn, and flag signals — enforce on me the safety of my movements, i.e., to treat the Duala natives and their intertrading compatriots on the Mungo, Abo, and Dibombe rivers as combatants in the war, and, in special cases, to treat them as rebels and traitors- I have ordered the destruction of all Duala villages. All Dualas met on the roads carrying weapons (matchets, bows and arrows, spears and also rifles) are to be shot. Prisoners will only be made when they are caught red-handed and can be legally tried and condemned to death. All Dualas still in the employment of the Government in the northern railway part of the Duala district will be arrested and sent under charge to Dschang. Bare district is going to do the same. Von Engelbrechten. No. 3. Brigadier-General DOBELL to the SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES. (Extract.) Government House, Duala, Sir, 26th December, 1914. I HAVE the honour to forward the attached correspondence (Enclosure No. 1) which has passed between Colonel Mayer, commanding the French troops, at present 797fi B 10 at Edea, and myself on the subject of atrocities perpetrated by the Germans and natives under their command on the helpless and innocent inhabitants of this country. The victims are in very many cases women and children and the injuries have been inflicted in the most brutal manner. There can be little doubt that the Germans themselves, if not actually taking part in these enormities, are cognizant of them and in most cases must instigate them. Their object, no doubt, is, while punishing those natives who they think have assisted us, to deter others from doing likewise. Colonel Mayer’s letter of 17th December also proves that we are now engaged in fighting not only the trained and armed troops of the Germans but that they have called to their assistance the inhabitants, who, in contravention of Article 33 of the Hague Convention concerning laws and customs of war on land, are in some cases armed with poisoned arrows. The situation at Edea is not an isolated one; Major Mathieu reports from Kribi that the forces opposed to him are chiefly composed of unorganised hordes of natives who wear no uniform but are armed with rifles, bows and arrows, and spears. Again, Major Law, commanding the British post on the Wuri River, has know- ledge of repeated atrocities perpetrated by German troops and he has sent in many victims to be treated in hospital here- It is difficult to know how to bring pressure on the enemy to put a stop to such brutal m^ethods, but while answering a communication on the' subject of alleged ill- treatment of Germans (Enclosure No. 2) I have protested to Mr. Ebermaier in the strong-est manner possible (Enclosure No. 3). The native question generally in this part of the country is becoming very serious. Those whom the Germans suspect of having British or French proclivities or of having assisted us in any way are attacked. These take refuge inside our lines or near our posts, and there are now many thousand refugees living in the small areas held by us. This results not only in a great shortage of food but the movements of patrols are sometimes considerably hampered owing to the number of these poor creatures who follow in hopes of getting food from deserted farms. **#**## C. M. DOBELL, Brigadier-General, Commanding the Allied Forces. The Right Honourable Lewis Harcourt, M.P., Secretary of State for the Colonies. Enclosure 1 in No. 3. (Colonne expeditionnaire du Cameroun.) Le Colonel Mayer, Commandant les Troupes franqaises, a Quartier- General anglais, Duala. No. 498. Edea, le 17 Decembre, 1914. J’ai I’honneur de vous faire connaitre qu’une patrouille d’une dizaine de tirailleurs allemands, est venue ce matin 7 heures dans un village a proximite d’Edea et s’y est livree a des actes monstrueux, en tailladant a coups de coupe-coupe une dizaine de femmes et des enfants en bas age. Le spectacle de ces etres innocents, refugies a Edea, etait intolerable a voir. Cette patrouille aurait ete envoyee par Monsieur Priester pour se venger d’un de ses chasseurs qui nous avait livre un fusil allemand. La patrouille allemande, en poursuivant les indigenes, est tombee sur une embuscade : six ont ete vus armes de fusils, trois armes de sagaies et de fleches ; Tun de ces derniers a ete tue, le reste a immediatement pris la fuite dans la foret, nos 11 tirailleurs n’ayant pu tirer que quelques cartouches, pour ne pas atteindre les indigenes interposes entre I’ennemi et eux. * * * * * * * Mayer. No. 499. Nouveaux renseignements re^us completants le message No. 498. Les indigenes ont vu cinq allemands europeens accompagnant la patrouille qui assassinait les femmes et les enfants ; Tun de ces cinq allemands aurait ete blesse mortellement par notre embuscade; nous n’avons pas retrouve le corps. La presence de ces cinq europeens allemands prouve bien que c’est par ordre que ces assassinats sont commis. Mayer. Colonne Expeditionnaire du Cameroun. Section d’ Ambulance de Campagne. Rapport relatif aux blesses indigenes admis a l’Ambulance le 17 Decembri 1914. Les blesses indigenes admis le 17 Decembre comprennent 10 femmes, 1 fillette, et 2 hommes ; 1. Guiniene, femme de 21 ans environ : six blessures. {a) Amputation du 5®“® doigt et de son metacarpien, a la main gauche. (b) Amputation du pouce et de son metacarpien, a la main droite. (c) Ouverture de I’articulation du genou gauche, fracture de la rotule, section du ligament rotulien interne. (d) Plaie profonde de la face externe de la jambe droite. {e and /) 2 plaies de la region cervico-dorsale. Toutes blessures causees par des coups de coupe-coupe. 2. Ohohlo, femme de 25 ans environ, quatre blessures. (а) Plaie profonde du cuir chevelu, region parietale gauche. (б) Plaie de la face anterieure du bras droit. (c) Plaie de la face post^rieure du coude droit. {d) Plaie profonde de la cuisse droite, region trochanterienne (coupe-coupe). 3. Gountoie, femme de 25 ans environ, trois blessures. {a) Desarticulation totale de I’epaule gauche, section de tons les muscles, et fracture de la tete de I’humerus par choc direct. (6) Plaie profonde de la jambe gauche. (c) Section de I’oreille gauche et de la moitie gauche de la face depuis la region zygomatique jusqu’au bord inferieur du maxillaire inferieur, interessant tous les tissus, et s’etendant en arriere jusqu’a la region occipitale (coupe-coupe). 4. Loukma, femme de 20 ans environ : une blessure. {a) Plaie profonde du dos par coup de fleche ou de sagaie. 5. Gomouna, femme de 16 ans environ ; deux blessures. {a) Ouverture de I’articulation du poignet droit face dorsale, section de tous les tendons extenseurs et de I’artere dorsale du carpe (coupe-coupe). (5) Plaie de la region cervicale. 6. Guitten, femme de 20 ans environ : une blessure. {a) Plaie penetrante du dos par coup de fleche ou de sagaie. T. Gomoune, femme de 18 ans environ : une blessure. (a) Plaie de la region medio-claviculaire gauche par coup de coupe-coupe. 8. Oundiengue, femme de 25 ans environ : une blessure. {a) Plaie de la region cervico-laterale droite par coup de coupe-coupe. Cette plaie niesure 17 centimetres de long, s’etend depuis I’apophyse trans- verse de Taxis qui est a nu jusqu’en avant de Toreille qui est coiipee transversalement au niveau du conduit auditif. Tous les muscles lateraux du cou, sauf ceux de la gouttiere vertebrale sont sectionnes, et leur retraction donne Timpression d’une enorme perte de substance (coupe-coupe). B 2 7976 9. Chiliky, femme de 25 ans environ ; 13 blessures. («) Section des tendons extenseurs de Findex, du medius et de Fannulaire, a droite. (6) Section du bord cubital de la main droite, interessant les muscles de Feminence hypothenar. (c) Fracture du cubitus gauche par choc direct. (d) Ouverture de Farticulation du poignet gauche. {e, f, g, h, i) 5 plaies paralleles de la region posterieure du cou. {j) Plaie de la face superieure de F'epaule gauche. (^, I, m) 3 plaies du cuir chevelu, dont une interesse la table externe de Fos frontal (coupe-coupe). 10. '^idimhy, fillette de trois ans, fille de Chiliky : Plaies et estafilades de Fepaule gauche. Blessee dans les bras de sa mere. 11. Onihne, femme de 40 ans environ : 4 blessures. {a, b, c, d) 4 plaies de la tete et du cou, dont une interesse la table externe du parietal gauche (coupe-coupe). 12. Bilomn, homme de 50 ans environ : Plaie penetrante de Fabdomen par coup de feu. 13. Oh, jeune homme de 16 ans au plus Plaie penetrante de Fabdomen par coup de baionnette. En dehors des 13 blesses amends a Fambulance, 7 femmes out ete pansees a Flniirmerie de M. le Medecin Major de l®'^® classe Marque: elles etaient toutes atteintes de blessures di verses par fleche, coupe-coupe, ou sagaie; une de ces femmes ne portait pas moins de 11 blessures. Enfin, d’apres les renseignements recueillis par le Commandant Mechet, il y a eu 15 femmes tuees dans le village de Maflene d’oii proviennent tons les blesses. L’ambulance a anterieurement hospitalise 3 indigenes mutiles par les Allemands, ils sont tons trois morts des suites de leurs blessures. Ce sont ; 1. Bande Mayouga, homme de 40 ans, admis le 29 Octobre 1914 a Fambulance : quatre blessures. (a) Fracture du col femoral par coup de feu. {h) Plaie de la cuisse droite par coup de feu. (c) Destruction de la paroi abdominale (flanc gauche) jusqu’au peritoine par coup de coupe-coupe ou coup de sabre, {d) Plaie par instrument piquant de la region precordiale. Mort le 4 Novembre. 2. lemeque, homme de 40 ans : Fracture esquilleuse de Fhumerus gauche. Entrd le 16, mort le 22 Novembre, 1914. 3. Baya, homme de 50 ans : Plaie de la fesse et de la cuisse droites. Entre le 17, mort le 25 Novembre, 1914. Edea, le 18 Decembre 1914. Pour le Medecin Chef et par ordre, le Medecin Aide-Major de 1®’^® classe Bauvallet. Vu Le Colonel Mayer, Ct. les troupes fran^aises, Mayer. (Colonne expeditionnaire du Cameroun.) Rapport sur les atrocites commises par les troupes allemandes sur les INDIGENES DANS LE DISTRICT d’EdEA. Depuis le debut de notre occupation d’Edea, nombre d’indigenes ont ete massacres dans le district par les patrouilles allemandes; il ne se passe guere de jour qu’un indigene ne vienne signaler de nouveaux meurtres. Les principaux de ces attentats connus sont : Vers le 10 Novembre, massacre de 4 indigenes et 3 femmes a Dehane. Do. destruction du village de Makam. Do. massacres dans le village de Muang-Kong. 13 Vers le 15 Novembre, massacre d’indigenes au village de M’Bengue (Voie ferree). Do. massacre d’indigenes au village de Mapam. 20 Novembre, destruction du village de Bisseng (route de Dehane). 24 Novembre, fuite des habitants de la region de Njok-Sobe, Mapam, Okot sur Edea, devant des patrouilles allemandes qui les terrorisaient. 10 Decembre, destruction de villages dans le district de Jasuku. 17 Decembre, massacre d’habitants dans les villages de Ekola, Karo Njock, Maflene ; 6 indigenes tues a Ekola, 7 indigenes tues a Karo Njock, 2 indigenes tues sur la voie ferree (la plupart des femmes). 20 femmes ou enfants grievement blesses a coups de coupe-coupe. A la suite de ces divers attentats, un certain nombre d’indigenes ont ete soignes dans notre ambulance. Le massacre du 17 Decembre n’est ni plus odieux et ni plus repugnant que les precedents, tons se valent; mais il s’est produit presque sous nos yeux et nous avons vu, pour les avoir soignes a I’ambulance, une partie des femmes et des enfants bless^e. Vers 7 heures 30 du matin, une foule d’indigenes refluait vers nos avant-postes, se disant poursuivis par des tirailleurs allemands, puis arrivaient successivement se trainant ou portes par d’u^utres indigenes une dizaine de femmes et des enfants grievement blesses a coups de coupe-coupe (ci- joint le rapport medical). La patrouille allemande melee a la foule des fuyards fut arretee a coups de fusil par nos avant-postes; nos tirailleurs ont compte 6 tirailleurs indigenes allemands, en uni forme, armes de fusils, et trois autres indigenes armes de lleches et de sagaies; I’un de ces derniers a ete tue. II n’a pas ete vu d’europeens allemands par nos tirailleurs, mais un casque a ete trouve par eux sur la route pres du mort; les indigenes ont affirme qu’il appartenait a un europeen qui avait ete bless6. Une femme indigene blessee et son mari affirment en outre avoir vu 5 europeens marchant derriere la patrouille. D’apres les renseignements d’indigenes, cette patrouille aurait ete envoy^e par Monsieur Priester, pour se venger d’un de ses anciens chasseurs qui nous a livre un fusil pris a un tirailleur allemand, qui venait regulierement dans son village. Quoiqu’il en soit, il reste ^tabli que les grades allemands encouragent, ordonnent, et parfois dirigent eux-memes ces assassinats. ^ 4t. ^ ^ TT "Jr *71* •Jv* Tv* •VT "TT Mayer. Deposition du nomme Et . . . ., de Edea, qui a ete envoys le 17 Decembre pour enterrer les habitants tues par les allemands. A Ekola, j’ai enterre sept cadavres, tons de femmes; j’ai laisse le cadavre d’un indigene de Njog Sobe, pour que les gens de Njog Sobe puissent I’enterrer. Les fe mm es etaient toutes tuees percees de coups de lance ou de coupe-coupe. Elies etaient horriblement mutilees. Plusieurs autres indigenes furent aussi tues par les allemands, mais ils etaient deja enterres par les gens du village. A un village les femmes furent surprises dans leurs cases, d’oii on les a tirees, puis ensuite tuees. Pour deposition conforme, Le colonel Mayer, commandant les troupes fran^aises, Ed4a, le 18 Decembre 1914, Mayer. (Copie. No. 505.) Renseignements du 19 Decembre, 1914. * * * # * # * ' Voici comment les allemands appliquent I’article 46 de la convention inter- national de La Haye. “ Rapport de deux indigenes armes, envoyes par nous hier, IS Decembre 1914, au village de Ngeng Dong, km. 18 de la route de Jaunde,pour verifier si un campement allemand, qui nous etait signale, existait bien en ce point : — Tout le pays entre Ed^a et Ngeng Dong a ete devaste; il ne reste pour ainsi dire pas une case. Le village de Ngeng Dong a ete completement abandonne par les allemands, mais avant de partir les allemands ont tout detruit dans le village, — cases, chaises, tables . , . Edea, le 19 Decembre 1914. Le colonel Mayer, commandant les troupes francaises, Mayer, Enclosure 2 in No. 3. Translation of certified true copy of a document in charge of Don Luis Daban y Ruis, Secretary-General for Spanish Guinea. “ Pass on as quickly as possible to Governor Barrera in Sta. Isabel. I am obliged to request your Excellency to transmit the following communication either by wireless or such other method as may seem most suitable to your Excellency to 1. Brigadier- General Dobell, General Officer Commanding the English and French Forces on the Cameroons Coast; 2. The Governor- General of Nigeria in Lagos : — ‘ Jaunde, 26th November, 1914. I am informed that in Duala white women and children have been made prisoners of war and taken away to English and French Colonies. It is even said that time has not been allowed to pregnant and lying-in women to take away the most wanted necessities for themselves and their children. Further, the prisoners of war who have been taken away have not been allowed the necessary time to secure the property that they were leaving behind against robbery and plundering ; these goods, so left behind, are said to have been plundered. Should these statements, which cannot be proved from here, rest upon the truth, I protest against these violations of the conditions of articles 43, 46, and 47 of the 4th Convention of the Second Peace Conference at the Hague. “ In reference to the, same conditions I may express the expectation that commanders of forces in the places occupied will regard the conditions of Articles 55 and 56 of the said Convention in their treatment of buildings and agricultural undertakings. Ebermaier, Imperial Governor of Kamerun.’ By forwarding these communications to the proper addresses your Excellency will have done a great service to humanity, and have earned the lasting gratitude of many helpless women and children. With the expression, &c., &c., Ebermaier, Governor.” Certified true copy at Santa Isabel de Fernando Po, 7th December, 1914. Luis Daban. Enclosure 3 in No. 3. Government House, Duala, 23rd December, 1914. Your Excellency, I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a wireless message forwarded to me by the Secretary- General of Spanish Guinea, containing a protest made by Your Excellency against the manner in which women and children resident at Duala have been treated, and further accusing the Allied Forces under my command of violating certain Articles of the Hague Convention. 2. I . trust that on being acquainted with the true facts of the case your Excellency will be convinced that the allegations are entirely without foundation, and that the information upon which they are based is completely false. 3. On the surrender of Duala to the Allied forces all women present in Duala were informed that they were at liberty either to remain in Duala or to depart with their husbands, who were prisoners of war. 15 In almost every instance the women decided to leave with the prisoners of war, and in no case was a statement made that any lady was unfit to undertake the voyage. Had this been done an opportunity would have been given her of travelling at a subsequent date or of finding her own way to Europe or elsewhere by mail steamer. 4. A considerable amount of baggage was taken away by the prisoners and deported persons at the time of their departure. Though by international usage the Allied forces are in no way responsible for baggage which prisoners of war are unable to take away with them, steps have since been taken to despatch further consignments of baggage wherever it was possible to identify ownership. In addition, depots have been formed at Duala, Buea, and Victoria, and all property of prisoners of war that could be found and collected has been stored therein and safeguarded. 5. On the occupation of Duala by the Allied troops it was found that the European portion of the town was being overrun by natives. British and French officers were met in the streets by frightened German subjects, who, while imploring protection, stated that not only was their property being looted, but even their lives were threatened. The situation was at once taken in hand, and I did not hear of a single case in which a German subject was molested by any native. 6. I may add that the officers in charge of the Prisoners of War Bureau have received numerous letters from prisoners of war and deported persons expressing their thanks for the way in which they have been treated and the kindness and con- sideration shown them. 7. I now turn to another subject, and take this opportunity to bring to your Excellency’s attention the barbarous manner in which German troops are carrying on warfare, especially in the Edea districts. With regard to this I enclose a report of the cases treated by the French medical authorities, which removes any doubt as to the facts of the case. This report can only contain a small proportion of the unspeakable atrocities actually committed by your troops. It requires no reference to the Hague Convention to point out that the brutalities which have been committed against unarmed non-combatants and innocent women and children are contrary to every principle of civilised warfare and against every dictate of humanity. I am unable to believe that such acts could be perpetrated without the sanction of your military authorities, and in some cases I have reason to think that Europeans were actually present directing operations. In the name of humanity I request your Excellency to put an instant stop to such proceedings. Should they continue I shall be obliged to give directions that any German soldier captured and found guilty of taking part in these atrocities shall be deemed to have forfeited his right to be regarded as a prisoner of war and will be dealt with accordingly. I would also draw your Excellency’s attention to the fact that my subordinate commanders have reported cases of natives armed with poisoned arrows fighting in your ranks. This is contrary to Article 23 of the Hague Convention concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land. I need not point out to your Excellency that for my part I use the utmost endeavour that the laws and customs of war are respected by the troops fighting under my command and expect your Excellency to take similar measure'!. I have, &c., C. M. Dobell, His Excellency, Brigadier-General, Governor Ebermaier, Commanding the Allied Forces, Jaunde. No. 4. Major-General DOBELL to WAR OFFICE. Government House, Duala, Sir, 19th September, 1915. In continuation of my letter No. 32/1915 of 20th July last, I have the honour to inform you that records as mentioned in your letter No. 0154/3927 (M. 0. 5. a) of 9th June are being collected and will be despatched in due course. 2. I am, however, forwarding the attached correspondence and photographs received from the Colonel Commanding the French Contingent in the Cameroons as 16 the case appears to me to be of such a brutal nature, and so clearly unprovoked, that I consider it should be reported at once. I have, &c., C. M. DOBELL, Major-General, Commanding the Allied Lorces. Enclosure in No. 4. (Colonne Expeditionnaire du Cameroun-) Rapport du Medecin xVide-Major de classe Bauvallet, Medecin Traitant a I’ambulance, au sujet d'un indigene Bakoko blesse par les Allemands. Edea, le 6 Septembre 1915. N’Gouape, indigene Bakoko, malingre et chetif, age de 25 ans environ, evacue du poste de la N’Gwe, entre a I’ambulance d’Edea le 22 Aout 1915. Raconte que, trois jours auparavant, etant alle chercher des “ makabos ” dans la brousse, a ete poursuivi et blesse par des tirailleurs allemands. Ne se souvient pas avoir vu de Iblanc avec les soldats noirs. Est revenu en se trainant jusqu’au poste frangais oh il a ete panse par Monsieur le Medecin Major de 1®^'® classe Camus, et par Monsieur le Medecin Aide-Major de 1®^® classe Bozzo di Borgho. Presente a son admission a I’ambulance les blessures suivantes faites par instrument piquant et tranchant (coups de coupe-coupe) : — {a) THe. — (1) Plaie semi-circulaire, de 4 cms. de long, environ, de la region latero-occipitale gauche, ayant interesse seulement le cuir chevelu. (6) Thorax. — (2) Plaie de 17 cms. de long, oblique de bas en haut et d’arriere en avant, s’etendant depuis Fapophyse epineuse de la 2®“® vertebre dorsale jusqu’a la partie moyenne de la clavicule droite. Cette plaie a bords fortement everses interesse toutes les parties molles et les muscles jusqu’au squelette. La face externe du dome pleural est a nu, sectionnee elle-meme ; elle donne, par un large orifice, issue a Fair, a chaque mouvement respiratoire. (3) Plaie de 16 cms. de long, a peu prbs parallele a la precedente, mais un peu plus posterieure et externe, interesse les parties molles, les muscles ainsi que Fappareil ligamenteux de la voute de Farticula- tion scapule-hum^rale droite. Ces deux plaies ont determine un affaissement total de F4paule droite. (4) Plaie par coup de pointe de 4 cms. de long, au niveau de la gouttiere vertebrale droite, de la 6^“® a la 8^“^® dorsale, parallele k la ligne des apophyses. (5) Plaie par coup de pointe de 5 cms. de long, au niveau de la gouttiere vertebrale droite, de la 11^“® dorsale a la 2^“® lombaire, ayant les memes caracthres que la pr6c6dente. (6) Plaie par coup de pointe, parallele au rebord inferieur des fausses cotes, a la face posterieure du thorax, a gauche, s’etendant depuis Fapophyse epineuse de la 11®“® dorsale jusqu’a 7 cms. en dehors et un peu en bas de celle-ci. (c) Membres . — (7 et 8) Sections des faces posterieures des deux avant-bras, avec fracture tota.le des deux os, a quelques centimetres des poignets. Les deux mains ne sont plus reliees aux avant-bras que par les tendons fiechisseurs et un mince lambeau cutan^ ant^rieur. (9) Section des muscles de la region antero-externe de la jambe droite, au tiers inferieur. Les cliches photographiques de ces diverses blessures ont et^ pris par un photo- graphe envoye par le Quartier-General. et sont joints a ce rapport.* H. Bauvallet. No. 182. le 10 Septembre 1915. Vu et transmis, Le Medecin Chef. Passa. See at end of book. 17 No. 362. Vu pour la legalisation des signatures du Medecin Major de 2®”^® Passa, et du Medecin Aide-Major de I®*"® classe Bauvallet. Edea, le 10 Septembre 1915. Le Colonel Mayer Commandant les Forces Fran^aises au Cameroun. Mayer. No. 5. From SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER, TROOPS, to the GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING ALLIED FORCES, NORTH CAMEROONS. (Received in a despatch from the Governor- General of Nigeria, dated 18th December, 1915.) Banyo, 10th November, 1915. Sir, I HAVE the honour to report to you the following flagrant and deliberate action of the German forces during the attack on Banyo hill by our troops on the 4th and 5th instant, and also during the action between the enemy and the mounted infantry on the morning of the 6th instant. 1. The enemy contravened Article 3, paragraph 9, of the Geneva Convention of July 6th, 1906, inasmuch as they repeatedly and continuously fired on myself and stretcher bearers, who were taking a stretcher up to get in Captain Seccombe, wounded, on the morning of November 5th, although we were all wearing brassards and the headman of stretcher bearers repeatedly waved a large Red Cross flag. 2. The enemy were also guilty of contravening section 4, paragraph 2, declaration 3, of the Hague Convention of 1907, by the use of expand- ing bullets, on November 4th, 5th and 6th. With regard to No. 2 I had under my own care five wounded whose injuries had been made by such projectiles, and one other Medical Officer had three such cases; in all these cases there was not the slightest doubt at all that they were caused, not by the large bore .450 rifle used by the enemy, but by soft nosed expanding bullets with a hard casing. I have, &c., F. E. BISSELL, Captain, R A.M.C. (R. of 0.). A/S.M.O. Troops. (init.) W. W. No. 6. Major-General DOBELL to WAR OFFICE. General Headquarters, Duala, Sir, 28th January, 1916. I HAVEjhe honour to forward herewith evidence as to atrocities and breaches of international law by the Germans in the Cameroons. 2. The following documents are attached : — {a) Evidence of natives, affirmed before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, M.A., of the Nigerian Civil Service. (5) Evidence given by British Prisoners of War, released by the Force under Lieutenant-Colonel Haywood in January, 1916. (c) Evidence from French Medical Officers and others, forwarded by Colonel Mayer, Commanding the French Contingent. 3. The Germans adopted a systematic policy of extreme brutality towards those natives who they considered might favour the Allied forces. From a military point of view they obtained a certain advantage by their methods in that the natives were terrified of the Germans and afraid to give information of their movements. 7976 c 18 4. The principal massacres appear to have taken place among the Duala people, against whom special threats were always directed by the enemy. Before our occupation of Duala a great number of Dualas, including their chief, were hanged, and others imprisoned or otherwise punished. The Duaias took no part in the operations, but the Germans appeared to consider that they favoured the British, and required to be treated accordingly. 5. On some occasions it is said that no Europeans were present during the enactiuent of the brutalities described, but sufficient evidence is here available to show that German Europeans encouraged such acts by personally cutting the throats of wounded British soldiers with knives, firing on peaceful inhabitants to terrorize them, and shooting natives without trial. In such circumstances as these it is extremely difficult to obtain the names of the Germans concerned, especially as the natives, as a rule, do not know, or take any interest in, the names of the Europeans whom they see on these occasions. 6. Captain M. J. Parker’s sworn evidence as to the murder of British soldiers is very clear, but, again, it is extremely difficult to ascertain the name of the German concerned. It is to be hoped, however, that the date, place, and facts so clearly described by Captain Parker may ultimately enable these murders to be brought home to the man who committed them. 7. The shooting of the two wounded native soldiers at Garua by Von Crailsheim, which has been described, although contrary to British ideas in this country, and unjustified even on the grounds of necessity, is possibly according to the letter of the law, since they appear, in the absence of any guards, to have made some attempt at escaping from the hospital. Many German native soldiers have been captured by us and a number of their wounded treated in British hospitals. They have been given all the privileges of prisoners of war, but on their side they have not been expected to comply with the usages of civilized warfare, of which they know nothing. The execution at Garua, regarded from this point of view, is an unnecessarily savage reprisal. 8. I have already forwarded with my letter of the 19th September, 1915,"^ a clear case of the brutal mutilation of a harmless native by the Germans, together with photographs of the wretched man’s present state. There are many cases of the same nature now forwarded, and, as Mr. Elphin- stone states in his report, evidence as to almost any number of similar cases is obtainable if more proof of the prevalence of these brutalities is required. 9. I draw special attention to the circular of Von Engelbrechten ordering reprisals. Von Hagen’s speech to his men offering ten marks for each white man’s head, and the murder and mutilation of our wounded. I have, &c., C. M. DOBELL, Major-General, Commanding the Allied Forces. Enclosure A in No. 6. Murders and Atrocities Committed by the German Forces in the Cameroons. Evidence of natives taken before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, M.A., of the Nigerian Civil Government, Chief Political Officer with the British Forces in the Cameroons. Memorandum by Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, M.A., Chief Political Officer. In forwarding the cases of murders committed by the German soldiers, I wish to make clear the following points. 2. It will be observed that in hardly any cases has hearsay evidence been taken; had I done so I could have produced an immense number of cases by this time. I liave tried to avoid circumstantial evidence as well; but, as so frequently happens in murder cases, the circumstantial evidence is of the greatest importance. The usual evidence in the cases heard is : an alarm is raised of the approach of No. 4. 19 German soldiers, all the villagers run away, and on coming back dead bodies are found either shot or bayonetted. To my mind the evidence is good enough, especially as no natives are in the possession of arms except those employed as soldiers or armed police by the enemy or by the Allies. 3. All the witnesses have been affirmed and not sworn. In the course of my experience in West Africa I have long come to the conclusion that for the most part an oath is ineffective and not binding, and therefore, if given, is an absurdity. The vast majority of the witnesses heard are pagans, to whom no form of oath is known or binding; I may add that the Germans were in the habit of “affirming ” and not “ swearing ” a witness. 4. In every case a very close cross-examination has been held on every material point, and I have satisfied m.yself in every case that the witnesses have related what they believed to be true; I have turned away many who were not quite satisfactory under cross-examination. 5. The evidence has been taken, in fact, in exactly the same way as I am accustomed to take evidence in criminal cases. 6. There has been some reluctance on the part of the witnesses to come and give evidence; this I put down to two reasons, the fact that the witnesses had the trouble of coming to see me by canoe or road in the wet season and the fact that the natives can see no object in being put to this trouble. 7. Dates are not known to the natives except in a few cases of the highly educated men; therefore as far as possible evidence has been obtained of how long before or after an occurrence which can be fixed the events related occurred. 8. In man}:^ cases there are discrepancies in the evidence as to whether a certain individual was killed by a gunshot wound or bayonet wound; or whether a soldier first killed one man and then another, or vice versa. To my mind these discrepancies enhance the value of the evidence; I should look with grave suspicion upon evidence taken after a considerable lapse of time from several witnesses who at the time of the occurrences related had been labouring under the most intense excitement known to man, fear of death, and whose evidence agreed on all points. 9. Actual cases proved in which a European was concerned are rare : this does not, however, detract from the fact that the officers are entirely responsible for the acts of the soldiers. As a rule the black soldiers, “ the point,” are without a European; on the point’s appearance the villagers run av/ay. Further, patrols were sent out under no European supervision, whose deeds, if not ordered by the officers, must have been well known. In fact, many of the patrols were, as carried out by the soldiers, merely Duala hunts and looting parties, of whom no question would be asked. A common saying amongst the natives is that the Germans told them that the Allied Forces might take the country but that there would be no inhabitants left. 0 1* bears out the above, being a letter from the Officer Com- manding the German Troops acting on the Northern Railway. 10. The killing of civilians are the only cases gone into by me, except that incidentally evidence is sometimes given of looting. The crime of rape would probably be found to be common if evidence were taken; however, anyone of an}^ knowledge of West Africa knows that the relations between a woman and her husband are on such a different pedestal to that of Christian and highly civilised communities that I have not troubled to go into the question. The fact of women having been taken away by the black soldiers merely shows a gross lack of discipline, but would not be looked upon as a crime in many districts if the value of the women v'as given in cash : too much stress, therefore, should not be laid on such evidence. It should be borne in mind that the civilians killed by the Germans are the natives of a country under their protection, whom they had ruled for many years; the murders were not com matted by an invading army. In fact, owing to the treatment meted out, it was to the invading army to whom the wretched natives fled for protection; they very soon summed up the difference of treatment by the Germans and the Allied Forces. 11. The minutes of the evidence all marked “ A ” are arranged according to villages, to each of which is given a number, A 1, A 2, &c. 1’he cases may be said to form four groups; A 1 to A 14 being cases up the Northern Railway line and the Mungo River as far as Nkongsamba, A 15 to A 21 being cases up the Wuri River. A 22 to A 24 being cases north of Bare, and A 25 to A 26 in the Edea district ; A 27 is an isolated ease in the Abo distriet. # C 2 7976 Enclosure in No. 2, page 20 12. Appendices “ B ” and “ C ” contain copies of letters by British Officers and a translation of a letter from the Officer Commanding the German Forces acting on the Northern Railway line. These bear out the evidence of the cases and the statements made to me by some patients in the hospital whose evidence I was unable to take as I have that of the other witnesses; these statements are attached marked “ D.” 13. I could go on taking minutes of evidence of the murders committed at village after village; but they all have a certain sameness. If more cases are required I can obtain them; I have gone into only a small number of the cases. 14. The German officers concerned in these murders are as follows : The German troops operating up the Northern Railway line were under the command of Hauptmann V. Englebrechten (an Officer of one of the Guards Regiments) : he has been in West Africa for some six years; he was in command of No. 4 Company : after Buea was taken his force was joined by the remnants of the Buea garrison, which has been under Gaiser, who was taken prisoner at Buea. Meinhardt, mentioned in “ A,” was an Officer under Engelbrechten. The troops operating up the Wuri River were under Haedicke, in command of No. 1 Depot Company; with him were Haveman, in command of a police force, Von Gasler, Distler, Kuntz, a trader (probably the Leopold Kuntz mentioned in “A”), Fischer, a trader, Frank (a road surveyor) and others. The troops round Edea were probably under Priester, the District Commissioner at Edea. It should be noticed that certain officers appear not to have allowed their troops to commit these murders, as for instance, Gaiser’s troops in the Victoria and Buea country. K. V. Elphinstone, Chief Political Officer. Case No. A 1. The shooting of Wonja near Misellele. Misellele is a village on one of the creeks flowing into the mouth of the Cameroon River. At this place there is a plantsftion which was managed by a German European named Guse. The German soldiers in the neighbourhood were probably a portion of Hauptmann Gaiser’s command from Buea and appeared to have been placed under his orders. Guse ordered a party of soldiers to visit Bupula, a small village - close to Misellele, to capture Duala men, against whom special threats had been issued by the Germans. (See C 1.*) The victim was woken up in the night by a knock on the door, which he opened. He was immediately shot dead by the German soldiers, who mutilated his body and took one of his hands back with them to report to Guse. Held at Duala, 27th May, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone. Edube Gunale affirmed ; — My husband name is Wonja Muna. He worked for Mr. Guse. Several months ago we were living at Bupula, quite close to Missellele. In the middle of the night I was woken up by someone knocking at the door. There were in the house Wonja Muna and his three wives, myself, Ebele and Esango. My husband went, we all followed. There were three German soldiers. My husband asked what they wanted. They did not answer. One soldier shot him dead. We were all close together. Then the soldiers looted the house. They cut off one of Wonja's hands. They took one woman, Esango, away to Mr. Guse. Edube X her mark. Interpreter and witness to mark ; Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, Chief Political Officer. Certified true copy ; K. V. E. Page 62. 21 Held at Duala, 27th May, 1915. Hide Ebele of Dibombari, affirmed : — One day the two women, Edube and Ebele, came to me and said that their husband had been killed two days before. This was on the 11th September, 1914. They said that Esango had been taken prisoner, and that all their things had been looted. We went away and hid in the bush. After the British had landed at Duala, I came and told about the matter. The woman Esango, who was in prison here at Duala, was released. I was given a letter to go to Misellele. I went with my people. We found our boxes all empty in one of Mr. G use’s stores. Mede Ebele. Interpreter and witness : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Duala, 14th June, 1915. Esango Gunale affirmed : — My husband’s name was Wonja Muna. One night before the English came, five German soldiers came to my husband’s house. There were present himself and his three wives. We were all called out. I did not hear the soldiers say anything. I was about ten yards away when they shot him; they shot twice. I went to fetch my baby so could not get away. I was eaught. One of the soldiers cut off one of his hands with a matchet. The five soldiers took me to the canoe; they took down our boxes to the canoe. We then went to Mr. Guse. He told me nothing but had me put in the guard-room. There were also two men and one woman in the guard-room. I was ke23t all one day. The next day we were sent to Duala. The white man at the Palaver house did not say anything ; I was kept two days in the old prison and was then sent to the new prison. I was eventually released by the English. The soldiers showed the hand to Mr. Guse ; but I do not know if it was taken to Duala. Esango X her mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 14th June, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Duala, 14th June, 1915. Ebele Gunale affirmed : — I was a wife of Wonja Muna, who worked for Mr. Guse. This happened before the Germans had left Duala. The ships had come to the river. One night we were waken up. My husband went out. He was shot at once; he was shot twice. I managed to run away. There were five soldiers. When I came back I saw that one hand had been cut off the body. They were German soldiers. Ebele X her mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 14th June, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. 2‘2 Held at Misellele, 11th September, 1915. Fritz Williams, clerk for Guse at Misellele, affirmed : — Guse had two soldiers who lived in the stable. I do not know what day this happened but I have the date in my office. One day Guse sent the two soldiers to Bopula. He ordered them to see if any Dualas were there, and to catch them ; and if any English launch came to come and tell him. They were sent off in the morning. They went by canoe. They returned very early the next day; T saw them. They brought two women and some ehildi’en n.nd some three boxes. They told me to telephone to Guse that they had killed a Duala man ; I did so : he told us all to come up- We came up to Guse. The soldiers said they had killed Wonia Muna as he had refused to come with them and had thi’eatened them with a cutlass. They produced a hand cut off. They after- wards hung the hand up by the waterside on a stick. Guse said he had not ordered the soldiers to kill the man. only to catch him. Fritz Williams. Witness to signature : Htbitssi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Misellele, 12th September, 1915. Fritz Williams says that the date on which this occurred was the 13th Sep- tember, 1914. K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O., 12th September, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Case No. A. 2. Occurrences at Bonandale. A party of German soldiers under a German officer suddenly appeared at Bonandale, a village near Bonaberi. The first thing the inhabitants knew ms that the ])arty opened fire on them. The Europeans with the detachment took part in the firing and a number of harmless people were killed. Held at Duala, 20th May, 1915, before Mr. K. "V. Elphinstone. Epeya Ndumbe of Bonandale, affirmed This occurred before the Germans left Duala. One day, about 2.0. o’clock p.m., I heard shots when I was inside my house and a lot of shouting. I ran out and saw every one running away. I saw some German soldiers along the Bonaberi road. I ran into the bush. As I ran I saw four men drop : Eboko Ndoko, Wunja Muangyangwa, Esume Dimwamwa, and Penda Bell. I hid in the bush. They must have remained in the town about two hours. I saw them as they left and I counted them — two Europeans and ten soldiers. I did not go back till 10.0. o’clock p.m. There were some other men already returned. I was shown three other bodies : Munjongi Ekwaka who belongs to my village and two other men who belong to Bona Puja, near Bojongo. They had taken some of our canoes but they did not loot the houses. Epeya Ndumbe X his mark. Songo witness and interpreter : A LBERT SoNGO. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : G. A. R. 23 Held at Diiala, 27th May, 1915. Sole of Bonandale affirmed : — One day about 2.0 o'clock [).m. I was in the village I saw some German soldiers and two Europeans come in. We did not run away. Suddenly one European shot oh ; Munjongi Ekwaka (a woman) fell down ; she was about 150 yards from me. I know that this was the woman as I saw her body at that place when I came back. We all ran away and the soldiers shot at us. In the morning I returned. I saw lying dead, Eboko Ndoko, Masongo Yoko, Bonampako, a woman Kum : these had all been shot. Sole X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : G. Robertson. Held at Diiala, 27th May, 1915. Belle Makong affirmed : — When I heard that the Germans were coming I ran away with other people. I heard shots going off, but I was not present. When I came back I was shown my brother’s body; his name is Penda Bell. We buried him that evening. Penda was a fisherman. ^ Belle Makong. Interpreter and witness : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : G. A. R. Case No. A. 3. Murders at Bomono Ba Mbenge on the 30^// Sei)tenil)er, 1915. Bomono ba Mbenge is a village close to Bonaberi. The murders described were carried out by German native soldiers under the command of a German European. The case is very similar to the previous one described and is typical of the many murders that appear to have taken place under the direction of European officials. Quotations from translation of letter dated 19th December, 1914, from Dr. M. A. Harberlin “ On the 29th of September the German soldiers burnt the Duala town of Dibombari and shot several Dualas and the same thing happened in Bomono ba Mbange-” Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 21st May, 1915. Dibanda Mundingo Ox- Bomono ba Mbenge affirmed ; — I wrote the date of this but I have not brought it along. One night I was woken up by shooting and shouting. I ran av/ay into the bush. I only saw some of my people running. I hid all night in the bush. In the morning I came back with other people. We found every thing intact in the village; but we found killed with gun shots Njo Esambi and Kame Ndi men and Ngobo Mpa woman. There was also one woman Edimo To, shot in the 24 leg : she is alive. I heard afterwards that a white man was with the soldiers. I did not see the soldiers who did this, myself. The English had not come up then. Dibanda Muuingo X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Albert Songo. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C P.O. On the 28th May, this witness returns with the paper on which he had written down the date ; 30th September, 1915. K. V. Elphinstone. Certified true copy : G A. R. Duala, 28th May, 1915. Mudingo Akame of Bomono BA Mbenge affirmed : — One night I was sitting in my house with another man. We heard shots. We ran away. I did not see soldiers. Next morning I came back I saw my brother, Bonanga Matiki, dead, shot through the body. •Mudingo Akame X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 28th May, 1915. Certified true copy : G.' A. R. Duala, 28th May, 1915. Njimi of Bomono Ba Mbenge, affirmed : - Some time ago, I was sitting outside uiv house talking. Suddenly I saw two German soldiers and one European coming. We all ran away because we had heard the Germans were shooting people. While I was running I heard several shots. I came back next morning. We found dead, Ngolo Mpa, a woman dead, shot through the chest, and wounded, one woman. Edimo To. I heard that there were other people shot, but I did not see them. Njimi X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O., 28th May, 1915. Certified true copy ; G A. R. Duala, 28th May, 1915. Mukuro Esambi of Bomono Ba Mbenge affirmed : — One night, about 9 o’clock, several months ago, I was talking to some friends. Suddenly we heard several shots and we all ran away. I did not see the soldiers myself. I came back next morning; I found my brother, Njo Esambi, killed. He had been shot through the thigh from the back. After we had buried him I went away. Mukuro Esambi X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O., 28th May, 1915. Certified true copy ; K. V. E. 25 Case No. A. 4. Murders at Bonamateke. Bonamateke is close to Bonaberi. Two men were shot and another wounded by German soldiers. Duala, 28th May, 1915. Andreas Mekwari affirmed ; — On the 29th September I heard a shot. Some people came running and said that the Germans were coming. We all ran away. I went with two men, Kinja Toto and Epanja Songe. We went to a house in the bush. About middle day two German soldiers came; they ordered us out. I asked them whether they would kill us. Then one soldier stuck his bayonet into my face. When I saw blood I thought I should die. We began to run away. My two friends were immediately shot dead. I was shot through the belly. I fell down and the soldiers left. Andreas Mekwari. Interpreter and witness : , Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 28th May, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Witness has no scar on his face, but has a scar on the left side of his belly. K. V. Elphinstone. Case No. A. 5. Murders at Dibombari. Dibombari is close to, and to the north of, Bonaberi. Meinhardt, the German mentioned by the witnesses, was originally an official in the German Forestry Department and was employed on the outbreak of war as a non-commissioned officer with the force acting under the orders of Hauptmann von Engelbrechten on the northern railway. Von Englebrechten’s instructions as to the treatment of natives have already been referred to and are given in C.l. In the presence of Europeans a number of men were shot, and one man had his throat cut after being tied to a tree. Quotation from troMslation of letter dated l^th December, 1914, from Dr. M. A . Harberlin. “ On the 29th of September the German soldiers burnt the Duala town of Dibombari and shot several Dualas, and the same thing happened in Bomono ba Mbange.” Certified true copy : K. V. E. Duala, 21st May, 1915. Eyum Njanga of Bwelelo, Dibombari, affirmed : — I was in my house about 29th September. Some people came running into my town from Ngori, shouting that a white man had killed two men. All the people began to run away. I remained in my house looking out. I saw some German soldiers come ; they came up to about 50 yards. I then saw a white man coming on a horse behind. I know him, his name is Meinhardt. He shouted in German for the headman, that is me : I know m- 7976 D 26 “ Hauptling.” I got out of the window, and hid in the bush. During the night I saw the houses burning and I heard shots when I first ran out. Next morning I went to Bonaberi and reported to the officer. I went back to my village the same day. Then I found a great many houses burnt ; but the soldiers had not looted the place. We found Lobe Penda still alive, shot in the right upper arm (he died the same day when we were taking him to Bonaberi). We found Ndia Njanga with his throat cut; he had been tied by the body, arms and forehead to a plantain. We found Ekwe Wanga shot dead outside his burnt house — he had small-pox. Kolo Sefo was shot in the foot ; he is alive now. Eyum Njanga X his mark. Albert Songo, Witness and Interpreter. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, Chief Political Officer. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Duala, 28th May, 1915. Etame Ekwe of' Bwelelo, Dibombari, affirmed : — One day some time ago, I was sitting outside my house. I saw some German soldiers and one European coming. I know this European, but not his name; he looked after the labour. They came some 200 yards up to where I was. I heard a shot. When we asked why they had shot I was told that one of the soldiers had shot a pig. I saw the soldiers trying to catch some people to carry the carcase. We all ran away. They caught one old man who carried the pig. Next day I came back. The soldiers had come again during the night and had burnt part of the town. I slept in another part of the town. Early the next morning we saw soldiers coming. We all ran away; but my brother, Ekwe Wanga, had fever and could not run. I only heard one shot. After some time I came back and found Ekwe Wanga dead, shot through the body from left to right; he was lying five or six yards away from his house. I buried him. While doing so I heard another shot. Etame Ekwe X his mark. Interpreter and witness : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, Chief Political Officer. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Duala, 28th May, 1915. Kam Ebonge of Bwelelo affirmed : — I was away from the village. I came back early one morning and was told that the Germans were shooting people and that they had burnt some of our houses. I climbed up a pawpaw tree to get a pawpaw. I saw four German soldiers and a European coming. So I shouted to the other men. We all ran away in different directions. As I ran I heard a shot and then Lobe Penda call out he was shot. I only heard one shot. I came back again afterwards the same day and found Lobe Penda alive but shot in the left upper arm. We carried him away to the British, but he died on the road. Kam Ebonge. Interpreter and witness : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, Chief Political Officer. Certified true copy : K. V. E. ^27 Case No. A. 6. Murders at Yandong. i^andong is a village in Dibombari. The incidents mentioned probably occurred during the first week in October, 1914. By this time the local natives were so terrified of the Germans that the mere rumour of their approach was sufficient to make them run away. Belange Pokossi probably means that the British had reached Maka and not Majuka, which is much further north and was not then in our hands. The third witness confirms this supposition. Duala, 31st May, 1915. Edimo Modi Yandong (Bakoko I), afiirmed These events occurred at the end of September, 1914. I was fishing. A messenger came to me warning me not to go home as a German white man and soldiers had come asking for me- I went away to Bonaberi and informed the officer. He sent soldiers with me and Eyung Njanga. We never reached my country as rain came on; the soldiers went back. I went to sleep at a small farm. While there a messenger came and told me that Toko Mitsha had been killed by the Germans. The next day I went to my village. There I found Nyambi Mitsha, a man, and Bolanga Nyambi, both dead. The former had been shot in the arm and back, the latter in the back. There were also two men wounded, Mise Mbongo and Belinge Pokossi. Edimo Modi. Interpreter and witness ; Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 31st May, 1915. Certified true copy : G A. R. Duala, 1st June, 1915. Belange Pokossi affirmed : — There was one European and some German soldiers who lived in our town for two days. They took one man away and we heard he had been shot. The news came that the British had arrived at Mujuka. I heard shots in the town and ran away. I was shot through the right shoulder. I went to the doctor at Bonaberi. Belange. Interpreter and witness : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st June, 1915. Certified true copy : g; a. r. Duala, 1st June, 1915. Mise Mbongo of Yandong affirmed : — I had run away and was living in the bush. I heard that the British had reached Maka. I went to try and find food. We went several of us together. When near our village we sent one man into the village to see if all was clear. He came back and said the soldiers were there. We then ran away. I met one German soldier in the bush who shot me in the arm. Mise Mbongo X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st June, 1915. Mise Mbongo has a scar on the right upper arm. . K. V. Elphinstone. Certified true copy : g; a. r. n o 797 »> Case No. A. 7. Murder at Mbonjo. Mbonjo is a village on the Mungo creek, 15 miles north-west of Bonaberi. A launch came up on the 5th October, 1914, and was fired on by the Germans living in the village. The headman had ordered the inhabitants to leave on the advice of a German-European officer. They went and hid in the bush. Some German soldiers went out to look for them, found them in the bush and caught four men; these four were found in the village on the arrival of a British patrol on the 7th, shot, with their hands tied behind their backs. The Germans returned after the British left and killed at least two men; a girl being killed in a neighbouring farm. Held at Duala, I7th August, 1915. Dipanda Mpo of Mbonjo affirmed : — I was in Duala when the English landed. I went up to Mbonjo. The Germans were in the town. Our headman told us to go to the bush. We all went. I went with my young brother Esenge. I found his body all swollen up on October 7th near the village under a plantain; he had been shot. He had left me two or three days. He had obviously gone to cut some plantains and been shot by the Germans. Dipanda Mpo X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. I7th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, l7th August, 1915. Tiki Tonga of Mbonjo : — I live at Nkondoko which is one hour from Mbonjo. During the night of the 7th and 8th October, in the evening, some German soldiers came into our village. We all ran away; but my sister Ngo Ntonga was caught by them. I heard her screaming. I came back three days after. I saw no wound; the body was swollen up inside her own house. I saw no marks on her body. Tiki Tonga X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. I7th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, I7th August, 1915. Epupa Mbongo of Mbonjo affirmed — We were many of us hiding in the bush at the beginning of October. Some German soldiers came on us and caught four men and six women : I was there. I afterwards saw two of them dead in Mbonjo ; Mongo Ngale and Dipanda. Epupa Mbonjo X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. I7th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 17th August, 1915. Kune Lore of Mbonjo affirmed ; — On the 5th October I oi’dered all my people to leave the tov^^n and hide in the bush. This we did. The same day a launch came up ; the Germans who had been some time in my country fired on the launch and she went back. We had run away because of the ill-treatment. On the 6th the Germans set to work to catch us. I had collected some of our people in the bush. We saw some German soldiers coming; they told us not to run away; we did not believe them, so we ran. Four men and six women remained as the soldiers shot at us. I hid in the bush and saw the soldiers take Dipanda, Jombe Ewan, Mongo Ngole and Eyango Ewane and the six women ; I followed behind ; they went to Bakundu. I left them there. We got the women back afterwards. On the 7th some English soldiers entered Mbonjo; but the Germans had left. I saw the bodies of the four men already named : they had all been shot in the back ; their hands were tied behind them still ; they were lying within fifty yards of each other in the village along the road. Kune Lore X his mark. Interpreter and witness : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. I7th x\ugust, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, l7th August, 1915. EpanaNjombe of Mbonjo affirmed : — On the 7th October the English came into Mbonjo. On the 9th I came into Mbonjo and saw the dead bodies of Muenie and Nyambe. On the 7th I and other men, including Mueme and Nyanibe, came with the English; these two men remained in the village when we left. I never saw them again alive. ' Epana Njombe X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark ; Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certihed true copy : K. V. E. Mote Keme of Mbonjo affirmed : — On the 5th October the launch came up the river and fought with the Germans. I was not present, but my father told me as follows : My brother Ndongo Toko swam across the creek after the fight as he thought the Germans had gone. He went to the village with our father. When he got close to the village he was shot dead. My father ran away. I saw the dead body afterwards. I also saw the bodies of Mueme and Nyambe in the barracks where the Germans had been. The bodies were rotten. Mote Keme X his mark. Interpreter and witness : Dibussi Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. I7th August, 1915. Certified true copy : Held at Duala, 31st August, 1915. Monge Masango of Mbonjo affirmed : — The Germans were in Mbonjo some time. One day a German told us that we had better leave the village, as if there was a 80 fight we might get shot. I went with my brother Nkame Masango to our farm. Two days later we saw two German soldiers coming; we ran away; I heard a shot, and two days later I found the dead body of my brother. When I returned after- wards to Mbonjo I saw several dead bodies lying about. Monge Masango. Interpreter ; Etia. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 31st August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 31st August, 1915. Nobi Ewani of Mbonjo affirmed : — The headman told us to go into the bush. I hid in the bush some days. There we were told that the English had entered Mbonjo. I came back the same day. I saw the dead body of my brother Penda Ewani. He was lying just outside his house; he had been killed with a bayonet and his genital organs had been cut off. I returned to the village two days after we had left it. Mbonjo is in two parts ; the slave and the free vijlages. I and my brother lived in the slave part. The English soldiers were in the free part. While we were crying the English soldiers came to us. Nobi Ewani X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 31st August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V E. Case A. 7 (a). Murders at Babenga. Babenga is on the Mungo creek. Some soldiers woke up the inhabitants during a night probably during the first week of October. The headman collected all the people; they were told by the soldiers that they were going to remain there as a post. When the people heard this they were afraid that the soldiers would ill-treat them, so they began to go. The soldiers immediately began to shoot them, killing four men. Held at Duala, 1st September, 1915. Maka Ewane, headman of Babenga, affirmed Many months ago, one night I was woken up by a knocking on the door. I went out and found eight German soldiers; they said they wanted to see all the people. I went round to each door and called every one. Then the soldiers said they had orders to keep watch in our village. When the people heard this they began to run away, as they were afraid that the soldiers would behave badly. The soldiers began to shoot. They shot Londo Ngando, Masango Etuke, Munyange, and Fine Boy; they all died. I ran away. I went to Duala to report the matter and returned to Babenga the next day; we buried all four. The British soldiers came the same day. Maka Ewane X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st September, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. 31 Case No. A. 8. Eocecutions hy German Native Soldiers in the Balong Country. Bewang is in the Balong country. The soldiers caught twelve men and brought them to a post at Bewang and put them amongst the carriers. During the night they were called out and shot; one man escaped by hiding amongst the carriers. It appears that no European was present at these executions. Held at Duala, 28th September, 1915. Mbane Nambe of Balong affirmed : — The Germans were at Bewang, close to Balong. One day a message came for the headman. He ran away. The next day some German soldiers came and tied up twelve of us. I was allowed to go and get a sewing machine. We were taken to Bewang and put among the carriers; this was at night. Presently we were called out. I hid among the carriers. When the rest went out they were shot at once. I believe that there was no European present. As soon as I heard the shots I ran away. Mbane Nambe X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Case No. A. 9. Reprisals on the Native Population at Susa for Interference with German Soldiers. Susa is a town consisting of several scattered villages on the Northern Railway. For several days about the 19th October, 1914, the German soldiers kept on shooting down the natives. Held at Duala, 13th August, 1915. Dipanda Mapoko affirmed : — This happened many months ago. One day, in the morning, I saw three German soldiers come into our village, Makimha, which is about forty minutes’ walk from Susa. They first walked through the village and back again; they did no harm to us. We thought it would be a good thing to catch them. We sent one man to call the British ; they did not come for a long time. Then the soldiers began to walk away. We collected together and thought we could catch them. The soldiers told us to keep away from them. We followed them, so one soldier shot Ewane Dikune dead ; we all ran away. When the English soldiers came up we found the dead body of Ewane. They also wounded a small boy. Toko Tua. One Sunday evening we buried a small boy. My brother, Mise Mapoko, went that evening to Mbomo Mbomo. The next day a small boy came and told me of a dead body. I went and found Mise killed with a bayonet. This happened before the death of Ewane. Mise was killed on the 19th October, 1914. Ewane was killed a week after, about. The day Mise was killed there was a big fight at Susa and Lala . Interpreter and witness : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 13th August, 1915 Certified true copy : K. V. E. Dipanda Mpoko. 32 Held at Duala, 13th August, 1915. Basuka Wang of Susa affirmed : — ^My father went away to Bomono. I heard that he had been killed by the Germans. Some four days after I went put and found the dead body of Nkapa; he had been shot from behind. Ekumi Matuki told me he had been shot by the Germans. Besuka Wang X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 13th August, 1915. Besuka Wang recalled : My father died with Ewane. Besuka Wang X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 14th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. - Held at Duala, 13th August, 1915. Elong Ntoko of Bonaberi BA Susa affirmed : — This happened the same day that Mise Mapoko was killed. Bony, a Malimba man, came and told us the European at Susa had sent him to tell us all to go into Susa as the Germans were coming. We started away at once. Before we all got out we saw many German soldiers coming ; they began firing at us. We all ran away. We came to Susa railway station and went and lay down behind the English troops. The Germans came but were eventually driven off. In the evening I went out and found the body of my brother Mbange Ntoko behind n house in the village : he had been shot in the back. Elong Ntoko X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 13th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 13th August, 1915. Warubumbu of Mankula, a Susa town, affirmed : — One day some time ago we heard that the Germans were coming, and the English : the Germans ran away and came to our country. They scattered all about the village, which they eventually burnt. There were two Europeans with them. I ran away but I saw the soldiers shooting at my people. The next day the English came; they went the same day towards Mangamba. I came in and saw the dead bodies of Warubange, and Shunanga men and'of Ndale, a woman. This was a few days before the death of Ewane. Ntin told me that a European shot at him but missed. Warubumbu X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 13th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. 33 Held at Diiala, 13th August, 1915. Mbomo Mbomo of Susa affirmed ; — do not know the date of this, but it happened some months ago- The British soldiers were at Susa railway station. At 9.0 o’clock one morning, we saw nine German soldiers and one European coming down the road. We had two men whom we used to keep watch on the Germans; these men came in early in the morning and said the Germans were coming. We waited ready for them. I saw them coming down the big road. I saw the European : his nartie is Meinhardt. He used to work at Susa, I ran away to the English soldiers at Susa station. The English came out — six Europeans and many soldiers. The soldiers had green caps on. We did not find the Germans; they had gone. We found the dead bodies of Mise Mapoko, Ngoko Sanga, and Bokoto : these men had all been killed with a bayonet; the bodies had been dragged into the bush. Mise Mapoko was drunk that morning. Some other men were, I hear, shot afterwards ; I do not know personally about this. Mbomo Mbomo X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibusst, Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 13th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 14th August, 1915. Mateke Ewane of Bonaberi BA Susa affirmed : — Many months ago, one morning, the German soldiers came into our village ; I was caught and tied up with six others. During the day at some distance the Germans fought the English. In the evening I was set to build a shelter. I then ran away : during the night I met my brother Mbape Kwati ; in the early morning we went to a farm to get something to eat. We were on a cross road when suddenly a German soldier shot my brother ; he was within a few paces of us. I saw my brother drop. After two days I went and buried the body. My brother was killed a few days before the death of Mbange Ntoko. Mateke Ewane X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 14th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, the 14th August, 1915. Ngong Toya of Susa affirmed ; — The British were at Susa railway station; the}^ had been there some ten days. In the early morning two German soldiers came into the village. I did not see them at first; I heard my brother Ngoko Toya cry out; I ran up and saw two German soldiers and in the distance a European. I ran away to the bush and hid but came back in the evening. During the day I heard much shooting; that was the day there was a big fight. When I came back I saw my brother’s body; he had been killed with two bayonets. I heard that Mho Boto also had been killed that day. This occurred the same day as Mise was killed. Ngong Toya X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 14th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. 7976 E 34 Case No. A. 10. Murders at Kake. These murders are scattered over a w^eek about October Idth and onwards. The Germans were continually sending patrols through these villages, shooting and bayonetting any natives whom they met. On October 14th the soldiers arrived by train and shot at the group of villagers collected to see the arrival of the train. Held at Diiala, 16th August, 1915. Moto Toto of Kake affirmed : I am a brother of Mbonko, one of the Kake headmen. One day in October last, the Germans came to our village and tied up Nbonko and Nta, headmen, and others. The English were at Mpaka. Nta ran away. The Germans ran away when they heard that the English were coming; before running away they shot at the English. Three days after they came back again. This time they came by train. When the train stopped, some of our people collected at the top of the road to look. As soon as the soldiers were out, they began shooting the people. They only shot one man, Ngole Ko, as every one ran at once. They wounded Nkongo, Mukulu, and Oto who died subsequently. They then burnt the village. This happened on l7th October, 1914. Moto Toto. Interpreter and witness : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 16th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 16th August, 1915. Daniel Mbasi Ko of Kake affirmed : — In October, the same day that the Germans shot Mbongo Mbom from the station, they killed my brother. King Ko. After all ran away, he and I came back to fetch some things. I had taken some things out of the house w'hen I saw the German soldiers close. I called King Ko and ran away. I heard one shot. I went to Susa to the English; they came cut at once, but the Germans had left Kake. I found the body shot right through the body. Daniel Mbasi Ko X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark ; Dibussi. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 16th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 16th August, 1915. Nkwanko of Kake affirmed : — Three days after the Germans had shot at our people in the village from the railway station, I and my brother Ngole Ko went to Kake to fetch some cotton goods left there. We went into the house. After a bit I saw some German soldiers close by ; I ran away, but Ngole Ko was shot. I went to Susa and brought back Nkongole. We saw the dead body of Ngole Ko and buried him. We went to Susa. The next day I went back with my uncle Bonambela to find food. We saw the German soldiers and ran; but he was old. I heard him cry out : “ I am dead.” Five days afterwards, when the English had driven out the Germans, I went back and found the body; his belly had been cut open with a 35 knife. My brother, Ngole Ko, was shot on the l7th October. It was Mbongo Mborrl shot from the station, not my brother. Nkwanko X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 16th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 23rd August, 1915. Tiki Koko of Kake affirmed ; — I do not know the date. The English had come to Susa; the Germans had gone to Mujuka. One day we saw some German soldiers coming into our village; there were three Europeans with them. They began to catch some people; I ran away with others. They caught two men. I ran to Susa. I returned the next day and saw these two men dead ; they had been bayonetted both in the bush near the houses ; they had run away and been caught. Their names are Kofon and Titi Nyaka. The next day again I saw the body of Nkombe Dia; he had been shot inside his house. I heard about King Ko being killed ; he was killed some three or four days before Kofon. Tiki Koko X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 23rd August, 1915. Certified true copy : K V. E. Held at Duala, 23rd August, 1915. Ngolo Njeki of Kake affirmed : — This happened when there was a big fight at Susa. I was living at Susa. I went with my brother Titi Nyaka to Kake to get food. We had got inside Kake by Titi’s house; he was picking plantains; I was quite close. Suddenly Titi called out : “Ngolo, I am caught.” I saw two German soldiers kill him with a bayonet. I ran away to Susa. The English came out and fought the Germans at Kake. I buried my brother the same day as the Germans ran away. Titi was killed some eight days after King Ko. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Ngolo Njeki Affirmed before me : K, V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 23rd August, 1915. Certified true copy : K V. E. X his mark. Held at Duala, 23rd August, 1915. Nta Mulombo of Kake affirmed : — These events happened in October when the English were at Susa. One day when the German soldiers were in a village, they came and told us that they had killed Penda Makuti and Ngoso Etoke. They were killed in a small village quite close. I went with others and buried them. I do not know why these two men were killed. They were in amongst the houses and had been shot. The name of the village is Pupa. Some eight days after we were told that Kombe had been killed. We went out and found the body on the road to 86 Kundang. I cannot say that he had been shot by the Germans, but the Susa people told us he had been. I heard about King Ko being killed ; he was killed after Penda but before Kombe. Nta^Mulombo X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 23rd August, 1915. Certified true copy : K V. E. Case No. A. 11. Murders at Miang. These events occurred during the latter half of October or during November, 1914. Several men and women were in the house of Ngolo Mwele. The guests left about 10 p.m. One of them was shot. Ngolo Mwele then went and hid with his wives. They saw the soldiers go to the house of Mpondo, who had just returned to his house. Mpondo opened the door and was shot at once. After a bit, Mundo, one of Mpondo’s wives, who ran out of the house to escape, was shot at, but missed. Then the soldiers entered the house, killed the other wife of Mpondo and brought out a youth Sepo Nusade ; he was told he might go, and whilst going was wounded twice. Held at Duala, 16th August, 1915. Mundo, wife of the late Mpondo, affirmed : — One day some months ago, late at night, some one knocked at the door of the house. My husband Mpondo opened the door and was immediately shot dead ; he called out once. The soldiers then called but we did not answer; there were in the house myself, another wife Matio, and a boy Sepo Nusadi. After a bit I looked out and saw a soldier standing some little distance away. I told Matio we must run for it. She refused; I slipped out and was shot at twice but was missed. I then hid close by. The soldiers went to the house, went inside and shot; the next day we found Matio under the bed, dead. The soldiers brought out Sepo. They did not shoot at once; they left him with one soldier. Sepo went away and was shot twice by the soldier. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 16th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Mpundo X her mark. Held at Duala, 16th August, 1915. Ngolo Muele, Headman of Miang Abo, affirmed : — I do not know when these events happened; but the British troops were in Kake, but not at Jabassi. Six soldiers came and stopped in my country ; they used to be constantly changed from Susa ; they were under Meinhardt who used to come to my village. One night my brothers Makola and Mpondo and the latter’s wife Matio Longo were in my house. About 10.0 Makola went out to his house; I accompanied him some of the way; 1 turned back and heard a shot ; I never heard the soldier call ; the next day I saw the dead body which I buried. I ran away with my wives; I watched and saw three soldiers come to my house and knock; they then went to Mpondo’s house; Mpondo and his wife had in the meantime returned to their house. The door was opened 37 and Mpondo was shot at once. The soldier went some little way oft'. After a bit Mundo, Mpondo’s wife, ran out, was shot at but missed ; the soldiers then went to the house and shot Matio inside the house. The soldiers all went away. The next day I buried all three bodies. I heard also that the same night they shot Miyungu Nkwat in my village, but I did not see this. The soldiers burnt some houses. • The village was then deserted. I heard that the soldiers came back the next evening and burnt some more houses down by the waterside; they have certainly been burnt. After the soldiers had shot Matio they went inside and found Sepo Nusadi, a Duala boy of Bonaberi ; he was brought out, but when they saw he was lame some of the soldiers did not want him shot; one did ; so he was left with this soldier who told him to go; he went, and was shot twice; he fell down and was left for dead. He recovered however. . Ngolo Muele X his mark. Interpreter and witness : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 16th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K V. E. Held at Duala, 23rd August, 1915. Sepo Nusadi of Bonaberi affirmed : — I live at Miang. Some months ago I was living in the house of Mpondo. There were in the house Mpondo, myself and his two wives, Matio and Mundo. During the night Mpondo was called out; he went out and was shot at and killed. After a bit I looked and saw four German soldiers. After some time Mundo told Matio to run with her. She refused. Mundo ran out and was shot at twice.* Then two soldiers came into the house ; they lit a lamp. They found Matio under a bed ; they kicked her ; she came out from the bed ; they killed her with an axe. They then found me hiding. They took me. They told me to show them the headman’s house. I showed them. They then let me go. I ran away and was shot at three times. The first shot missed me, the second got me in the left fore-arm and the third in the left shoulder. Two soldiers came and looked at me; they asked me if I was dead. I was left there. Sepo Nusadi X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 23rd August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Case No. A. 12. Looting and Murder at Ndo Mianja. A party of soldiers arrived at Ndo Mianja, looted the place and made some of the natives carry away the loot. On the road one man tried to escape and was shot and two other men bayonetted and killed by hitting them on the head with a stick. On the way they also caught a man at a farm, tied him up and cut his throat. This occurred on the 15th November. Held at Mujuka, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone. Mbunge of Ndo Mianja affirmed : — One day, some months ago, some seventeen German soldiers came to my town; there was no white man present. They said that they were looking for Dualas. I said there were none. They, however, caught thirteen of us. They looted the village. They tied us all in a line, gave us loads to carry and made us start. They took us along the Kumba road. After we had gone some distance they killed three of my men. Muketti asked the soldiers if he could not he loosed so that he could carry the load on his back. This was done. While he 38 was fixing the load he bolted into the bush, but was immediately shot in the head. Two other men, Elonge Penda and Obassi, tried to bolt, but could not as they were still tied up. One soldier fixed his bayonet and killed Obassi; another soldier beat out Elonge Penda’s brains with a heavy stick. We then went on to Kumba, sleeping one night on the road. Here the soldiers ran away, as the English soldiers were coming. The soldiers were Bamums. Mbunge X his mark, 30th April, 1915. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Certified true copy : £ V. E. Held at Mujuka, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone. Epite of Ndo Mianja affirmed : — Some months ago several German soldiers came into our village. They called the headman, the previous witness, and asked if there were any Duala men present. The headman said no. The soldiers then tied up some thirteen of us. They looted the village and put the loads on our heads. When we were on the road they killed three men. Elonga Penda was loosed by the soldiers as he wanted to carry his load on his back. He tried to run away and was at once shot. Two other men tried to escape. One, Obassi, was killed with a bayonet, the other, Muketti, was killed with a stick. Epite X his mark, 30th April, 1915. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi, Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 30th April, 1915. Certified true copy ; K. V. E. Held at Duala, 6th July, 1915. Bataka of Mungo affirmed : — I was staying at Xdo Mianja. On 15th November I saw nineteen German soldiers come into the town about 9.0 o’clock or 10.0 o’clock. The soldiers caught all the fowls and looted all the houses. I was arrested with others. We were tied up; we were given loads to carry. We started away on the Mujuka road. Muketti could not carry his load further, so he was killed by hitting him with a stick on the neck. Obassi tried to run away; he was killed with a bayonet. As we passed Mukori Jemba’s farm, they caught Dibobe of Balung. They tied him up and cut his throat with a knife. On the way I got loose and threw myself into the water and got away. Bataka X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 6th July, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Case No. A. 13. Murders and Brutalities at Koto ISduru. Much the same story as A. 12, except that the soldiers murdered a small boy before leaving the village. One old man was suddenly bayonetted on the road. The soldiers also killed a man found on a farm. 39 Held at Mujuka, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, 30th April, 1915. Ngodi Bobe of Koto (Nduru) affirmed : — ^Some months ago nine black German soldiers came into our village during the morning. They said they were looking for Dualas; we said there were no Dualas there. They caught hens and sheep. They looted our boxes as well. They then said we must carry these loads for them. We were roped together. My father and my young brother were given loads as well as myself. When we had gone some way, my father said that his load was too heavy. The soldiers would not let him change his load; after a bit the soldier who was looking after him, put his bayonet into him three times. He died at once. Before leaving our village, for some reason which I do not know, a soldier picked up my small brother by the feet and dashed his head into the ground; he did this twice and then kicked the body. The boy was only four or five years old and he died at once. We were not allowed to bury him. I do not know these soldiers; they were all Yaundis. At one place the soldiers left us to go and loot a farm. I and two other men ran away; they shot at us four times. We went into Mbonjo where tlie English soldiers were. This happened in October. Ngodi Bobe X his mark. 30th April, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, 7th August, 1915. SoNA Balumbe of Koto (Nduru) affirmed : — Some months ago some twelve soldiers came to our village; they were German soldiers. They tied several of us up and looted the houses. They then tied us up. They made us carry the loads. After starting from the village they killed a small boy by throwing him on the ground ; he was left dead. They then killed an old man who was with us. After that near a farm I managed to escape in a river. The soldiers shot off but hit no one. SoNA Balumbe X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 7th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, 7th August, 1915. Kum Mbusi of Koto Nduru affirmed : — This occured some time ago. Twelve German soldiers came into our village one morning. They looted the houses and tied up some of us. We were then tied together and started away with the loads. After a' bit one old man who could not carry his load was killed with a bayonet. On the road they caught a young boy who also belonged to our village; his name was Ebobusi. A soldier picked him up and threw him on the ground till he died; the soldiers said he was a Duala. After that they killed a man called Dibobi in the Earm Sono Sombi; he was also killed with a bayonet. After a bit I managed to escape along a river. Kum Mbusi X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 7th August, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. 40 Case No. A. 14. The Murder of Natives at Dihamha. On the 2nd October, 1914, the soldiers began shooting the people who tried to escape across the river at Dibamba. Kua Tutu affirmed : — At Dibamba my house is just across the creek from the house of Mr. Damkohler, in which was living Mr. Schmidt. When war broke out Mr. Damkohler went away; Mr. Schmidt came and sat down. During peace time one soldier and one clerk are alw'ays at Dibamba. They had orders to have all the town cleaned, which was done by the people. All the bush at the bank of the river was cleaned. One day we heard guns from the Yapoma direction. On the 2nd October I asked Kina Dika, who is my friend, to come and drink; he came across the creek. He came across about 2.0 o’clock. We had sat together a very few minutes when I heard a gun fired. I stood up and saw people running away, some to the bush and some crossing the water by canoe and swimming. I saw several soldiers the other side of the creek. I did not see any white man. The soldiers were shooting. I saw one man shot in a canoe, Ekwona Songe ; he was shot dead and he fell into the water. I have never heard of his body being found. I then ran away. I do not know of any white man being present except Mr. Schmidt. I heard that two other men were shot, Bekima Dibobe and one other man. Duala Tutu would probably know about this; his house is next to mine. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 23rd March, 1915. Certified true copy : T. B. J. Kina Dika affirmed : — I am a Duala man. I was told that the order was that no Duala man should come into Duala from Debamba wdiere I had gone to. One day I heard guns from Yapoma way. We did not know then that war had begun. On the 2nd October I was asked by a friend, Kua Jutu, to cross over the creek and drink with him. I went about 2.0 o’clock, and sat down with him on the verandah of his house which is close to the waterside. In a very few minutes we heard guns going off close by across the river and saw people running away into the bush and trying to cross the river by canoes and by swimming. I saw one man shot whilst in a canoe; I saw a soldier on the bank shoot him; the man’s name is Ekwona Songe. I do not know the soldier, a black soldier. I then ran away. (No signature.) Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 23rd March, 1915. Certified true copy : t; b. j. Case No. A. 15. The Murders at Bodiman P ersonally Directed by German Europeans. These murders occurred from October till well on in November at the time when the British troops finally withdrew from Jabassi and went to Dibombe ; some occurred before the first attack on Jabassi on the 8th October, when a patrol launch, “ Soden,” re-named “ Fulah,” first went up the river. Marauding parties visited all the villages mentioned, killing indiscriminately. Held before K. V. Elphinstone at Duala, 30th August, 1915. Nyame Bunju of Kukuruko affirmed : — After the English came back from Jabassi the first time the Germans came and killed Nyamsi. The Eulah came to my country and we were told to run away. We did not. We heard the Germans were coming. We all ran away. I saw Nyamsi shot by the German soldiers. I 41 saw about eight soldiers but no European. I heard many shots. I came back in the evening and found the following dead : Nyamsi, Ndutu Nakala, Nyamsi Ngandu, and Makong Susu ; all had been shot. I also saw the dead body of a woman, Dumbu Sum, shot. Nyame Bunju X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone. 30th August, 1915. Certified true copy : T. B. J. Held at Duala, 30th August, 1915. Mapoko Dinde of Bonaseke affirmed : — This happened the day after the “ Eulah ” came down from Jabassi. We were frightened and ran away. Everyone began to run. I heard a shot ; I was with Elongo Yam. Elongo Yam was shot while we were still in Bonaseke. I hid and saw five German soldiers. I came back and buried him the day the troops went up to Jabassi. Mapoko Dinde X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark ; Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : T. B. J. Held at Duala, 30th August, 1915. Nta Bosambi of Bonaseke affirmed : — This happened during October, 1914. The launch “ Eulah ” went up to Jabassi and came back the same day. I was at Ngange, a Bodiman town. The next day I suggested that my father and I should leave the town as we were afraid of the Germans. While we were talking I saw three Europeans and three German soldiers come into the town. As soon as we saw them we ran away. They shot my father at once in the back ; he dropped down dead. I returned and buried him the day that there was the first big fight at Jabassi. The same day we buried several other bodies. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 30th August, 1915. Certified true copy : T. B. J. Nta Bosambi X his mark. Held at Duala, 31st August, 1915. Bele Etame of Bonakwako affirmed ; — The English had not come up to Jabassi, but one of their launches, the “ Soden,” had. The “ Soden ” came up and the English landed and burnt a shelter of the German soldiers. The next day the Germans came back; I saw four black soldiers and one European, Leopold Kuntz. They began to loot the houses and to shoot at us. We all ran away. I ran off and hid where I could see. I only saw Ngale Nkwe drop ; but when I came back the next day I saw the dead bodies of Ngale Nkwe, Nkame Ngale, Ntome Ngale, Mbende Bekima. I went off to Wuri after this. Bele Etame. Interpreter : Etia. ' Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 31st August, 1915. Certified true copy : T. B. J. 7976 42 Held at Duala, 31st August, 1915. Togo Nyami of Bonatame affirmed : — This happened when the British wep still in Duala ; they had not yet come up to Dibombe. One day the “ Soden ” called at our village; she went up stream; I spoke to the English on board; she came back and went down stream the same day. That night some German soldiers came; I saw the soldiers and I heard that there were Europeans but I did not see them. We all ran away and hid in the bush. In the early morning Bonge Sole, who was with me, said he would go and see if the Germans had left ; he went and I heard a shot. After that I heard several shots. In the evening I came back and saw the following dead bodies, Bonge Sole, Longo Difom, Noang Kwedi, Mbongo Ngong, Lolo Ngunde, Wonga Nyamsi, Njok Bekima, Ndoki So, Penda Esom, Beloki Esom, and Twede Ndifom; all had been shot, Togo Nyami X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphtnstone, C.P.O. 31st August, 1915. Certified true copy : T. B. J. Held at Duala, 31st August, 1915. Etube Nfomun recalled : — On the 3rd October I ran away as I have already said. I went and hid at Nkodi. On the 5th October a shot went ofi and I ran away; after that I heard more shots. I came back and saw the following dead, a woman, Ngobe, and four men, Bonanako, bayonetted, Diwonjo Nto, Nyama Ngungu, and Kunda Nfomun, all shot. I was told that two German soldiers and three police had done this; they had looted the village. Etuka Nfomun, Interpreter : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Egphinstone, C.P.O. 31st August, 1915, Certified true copy : T. B. J. Held at Duala, 31st August, 1915. Nfomun of Bodiman affirmed — I am headman of Bodiman. I received a letter from a German European, Kuntz, to come and see him at Nsakke. He had a farm at Nsakke. We got in a canoe and came to Nsakke; we arrived in the late afternoon; I do not know the date. The British were in Dibombe; they had not gone yet to Jabassi. While we were still in the river the Germans began shooting at us. They shot Ngole Nyong; he fell into the canoe; the canoe capsized; we all swam ashore. I got away to Madimba. There presently I saw a launch, the “ Soden ” ; I got a canoe and told the British ; they said they had already heard from my son. When we were shot at, I saw two Europeans amongst the soldiers ; but I could not say if they shot at us. Nfomun X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphtnstone, C.P.O. 31st August, 1915. Certified true copy : T. B. J. r 43 Held at Duala, 31st August, 1915. Etuke Nfomun, son of Nfomun, headman of Bodiman, affirmed : — My father received a letter from the Germans telling him to come to see them at Nsakke. We went by canoe. My father was in the canoe. As we came to the landing place the German soldiers opened fire upon us and killed Ngole Nyong. We all ran away. This happened on the 3rd October, 1914. Etuke Nfomun. Interpreter : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 31st August, 1915. Certified true copy : T. B. J. Held at Duala, 31st August, 1915. Shoge Nyemi of Banokata affirmed — One day many months ago, some time after midday, I saw two Europeans and several German soldiers come into our village. We began to run away. The soldiers began to shoot off. I saw three men shot, Musongo Shoge, Ngole Yong, and Ntsama Nyambe. I did not see the Europeans shooting. I ran away. I have never returned to my village. This happened during the time when the British were at Jabassi. I heard that other people were killed, three women and two other men. Shoge Nyemi X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 31st August, 1915. Certified true copy : T. B. J. Case No. A. 15 (a). The Murders at Bonasongali hy the German Forces. These murders probably occurred after the 9th November, 1914. A German force with six German Europeans entered Bonasongali and murdered nine people, including two young girls. Held at Duala, 15th September, 1915. Saboso of Bonasongali Bodiman affirmed : — The Germans were living at Bonetame, about two miles from my village. One day I was sitting in my house, a small boy, Dina So, came and told me that the Germans had arrived. I heard shots and at once ran away. I hid where I could see; there were six Europeans, many German soldiers and carriers. They were shooting the people; they also bayonetted some. There was one small girl not yet married, Kunga Ngale, who was caught and bayonetted. They killed Binangale, Longo Sali, Makonge Nyamsi, Njoba Bunjr Bonakferi, Afondo Nkadi, a small girl, Mbule Nkake, Soppo Bilaso, and the young girl, Kunga Ngale. The same day these soldiers went on to attack Dibombe. This occurred after the English left Jabassi. I came and buried these people the next day. Saboso X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : T. B. J. F 2 7976 44 Case No. A. 16. Murders at Mandimha Bodiman. This occurred after the 9th November, 1914. A party of soldiers entered Mandimha by night and killed six people. Held at Duala, 13th September, 1915. Bonanjen of Bona N yam si affirmed : — I w'ent to live at Mandimha. One night I was woken up by one of the men sleeping in the house ; he said the Germans were coming. I ran out and swam across the river. I saw a German soldier before running across ; I heard several shots. I came back the next day. They had killed several people. They had bayonetted Yamusi, who was eventually sent to hospital. Bonanjen X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark ; Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 14th September, 1915. Menga Muele of Bonangang affirmed : — I went to live at Mandimha. One night I was woken up by a knock at the door and told that the Germans were coming. I ran away and hid. I saw some German soldiers come into the village and two Europeans. They shot at the people running away. They killed several. I saw the dead bodies the next day when I returned. I saw three dead bodies. Nenga Muele X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 15th September, 1915. Ngale Munyele of Bona bono Bodiman affirmed : — I was living at Mandimha. One night I was sleeping under the cocoa trees. We had a scout along the road to tell us when the Germans were coming. We were told they were coming. We ran away. I could see the German soldiers coming as it was moonlight. They shot my father Seme Longo, Ndutu Ngang, Bona Ngale, Lambe, a woman, Boba, a woman, and Longo Lambo. This happened after the English left Jabassi. Ngale Munyele X his mark Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Case No. A. 17. Murders at Ndoghonon. A party of German soldiers came into Ndogbonon, shot several people, looted and burnt some houses and carried ofi^ six women. They killed four men and four women. This occurred during May, 1915. 45 Held at Duala, 29th July, 1915. OwuN, HEADMAN OF Ndogbonon, affirmed -When I was away some Germans came to my village and killed four women and four men and also took away six women. The names of the four men 'Kula, Miel, Ndumu, Bias; of the four women killed Ungelenge, Umanin, Ngeng, Numakit; of the six women taken away are Unanjama, Unatia, Munihambat, Umikomf, Umaho, Elok. I did not see the dead bodies myself • I only heard about it. OwuN X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark ; . Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 29th July, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 30th July, 1915. Nye of Ndogbonon affirmed : — This happened about two months ago. One evening I heard shouts and came out of my house. Everyone was running away. I saw two German soldiers ; they were shooting off. I saw Kula fall down ; I afterwards saw his dead body. I ran away into the bush. I came back next day. I saw the dead bodies of Kula, Miel, Ndumu and Bias (men), and of Nemakit, Ngeng, tJngelenge, and Umanin (women). The soldiers had taken away Onanjama, Unatia, Umikonif, Munihambat, Omaho, and Elok. I heard these women shouting; they have never come back again. Nye X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 30th July, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 30th July, 1915. So OF Ndogbonon affirmed : — I saw two German soldiers and other people come into our village about two months ago. I saw the soldiers shooting because I ran away and hid where I could see the soldiers. They shot my wife Ngeng; I saw her drop. They burnt six houses. They shot altogether four men and four women; they tied up six women with ropes round their necks and took them off. The next morning, when other people came back, I came out of my hiding place. We buried the bodies. I did not see any white man. So X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 30th July, 1915. The above is also confirmed by Nyola, who also saw the soldiers. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Case No. A. 18. Murders at Jahassi. These murders occurred in the scattered villages of Jabassi from October, 1914, to the end of July, 1915. In each case parties of soldiers entered the villages and shot down everyone they could. At the end of July, in Jabassi, a party of soldiers 46 and carriers under a European caught a woman, let her go, and then shot her ; they also shot another woman and her small boy. Held at Duala, 9th September, 1915. Nyamsi Koto of Loktoka, Jabassi ; — One day the Germans came to our village. We ran away. We hid at Nkunge. The next day some German soldiers came and shot at us. I ran away and hid; I could still see the soldiers. They shot four men dead; they also bayonetted these men on the ground. I was then told to go down to Wuri. Nyamsi Koto X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : \ K. V. Elphinstone. Witness recalled: About six weeks ago we. One day I saw some German soldiers come in. getting some of their stuff, Bekima and Kombe. day and the Germans left. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : K. V. E. some of us, went back to Jabassi. Two men were shot as they were The “ Soden ” came up the same Nyamsi Koto X his mark. Held at Duala, 9th September, 1915. Ntuma Njontek of Bonadisake, part of Jabassi, affirmed : — This happened the first time the English went up to Jabassi ; they went back to Dibombe. I was in Bonadisake. One day nine Europeans and 380 German soldiers came; they passed through ; they came back again. I ran away. I received a message that I should come back. I refused. The next day I was in Nbonge; three soldiers came. I was tied up by them. I was brought before an officer. Presently we heard shots from Jabassi way., I was let go. When the soldiers came to Mbonge they began to shoot the people. They killed Bekubisa, Haia, Jene, Nyama, Man j ole, Mutonga, Se, Mbanda, Manbonga, Makongo, Dehon, Lolo, Ngontong, Pern, Djumbi, and others. I saw all the dead bodies two days after. Ntuma Njontek X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 9th September, 1915. Njaka, headman of Jabassi, affirmed : — The English soldiers went to Jabassi; they went back to Dibombe; I went with them. I was sent three days after to Jabassi. I went to Bonabike. After two days I saw some German soldiers come into the village; I ran away. The soldiers passed through and went to Jabassi; they came back. I received a message from Hoffman by a woman that I must send him food. I did not do so. This was in the evening. I went off with many of my people to Ndoghot, a Jabassi village. Early the next morning some German soldiers came in and began to shoot. I saw some soldiers. I had a gun; I shot back at them. I ran to Ndokoko. • The next day I started for Dibombe. I met some German soldiers in John Holt’s plantation; they did not see me. I shot off; they ran away. I went to Dibombe. I was then told to send for all my people. I 47 They came and reported as killed : Ndip Loa, Yundo Ngopata, Ngobi Ngundi, a small boy, Malong Ngundi; Ngobi Ngundi was a woman. I myself saw all these people drop. They also told me of other people killed. About six weeks ago I was back in my village when we heard some Germans were coming. We all hid. They passed through. They came back with carriers carrying planks. When in the village they caught a woman. After questioning her they let her go and then shot her; her name was Siliki. I could see this. Then a man carrying palm oil met them. He was going into his house; they did not speak to him ; they shot him. After this I saw a European. I know him ; he looked after the palm trees at Jabassi. I do not know his name. Then they shot a woman, Dikabo, and her small son; they tried to run away. The name of the small boy is Mbenga. They also bayonetted Nkondo, whom they caught and tied up. The “ Soden ” came up that day. Njaka X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 9th September, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Case No. A. 19. Murders at Ndogojamme. On the 7th October a party of soldiers under two Europeans shot two men in the morning in Ndogojamme. They afterwards returned in the evening and shot a woman and bayonetted a young girl. Held at Duala, 30th August, 1915. Baser Nloka of Ndogojamme affirmed : — This happened on the 7th October, 1914. I wrote this date after the events in a book. A small boy came running and told us all to run away; his name is Ngwale Misadi. We did not know why. He asked if we had not heard the shots. We said “ Yes ” ; and he said the Germans had shot two men. We then all ran away. I hid and saw two Europeans, one riding and some twenty German soldiers. They passed through the village on the road to Jabassi. After they had gone we came back. I went and saw the two men dead, both shot, Gegele and Ngamgon; we buried them. After that we heard some shots again; it was now midday. We all ran away. I crossed the creek. Presently we heard that the Germans had passed through. My wife, Mukuri, who is a leper, told me afterwards she saw the Germans pass through. . We came back and found the dead bodies of a woman, Njoli, and her daughter, Ndutu, a young- girl; the former had been shot, the latter bayonetted. The next day I sent to Jabassi to find out if the British had arrived. The British had arrived; so we went there. On the way we found the dead body of my uncle, Ngenu Dingon ; he had been shot in the back. We took his body into Jabassi. Dingon Langem said he was present when Ngenu Dingon was shot by the Germans. After that I went to live at Ndogopo. (Signed) Baser Nloka. Interpreter ; ^ Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 30th August. 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. 48 Case No. A. 20. Murders and Executions at Bewang. Describes how on two separate occasions parties of natives were caught. They were then made to go to an orange tree to pick oranges in turn and were shot as they did so. In the one case the party was first taken before an officer, who told them they would be killed as they had not provided the troops with food. One witness’s evidence is probably mistranslated, as he says they were told to cut down the orange tree; but this may very well have been a mistaken order. Whether this refinement of cruelty originated from the European or soldier is not stated. Held at Duala, the 28th September, 1915. Mam Bitok of Bewang, J abas si, affirmed : — When the Germans were driven out of Jabassi they came and stopped in my village. There were four Europeans and many soldiers. One night they tied up twenty of us. They took us the next day to Ntongla, who lives a little distance away. We were tied up in a house. The soldiers said they would kill us because we did not give them food. I do not know if the Europeans knew about this. We were taken out in turns and put to cut down an orange tree. As each pair cut the tree, they were shot by the soldiers. ' I was kept to the last with Mbum Teke. I came out of the house and saw the dead bodies; there must have been eighteen of them lying there. We were told to pick some oranges. We went to the tree; we were shot at. Mbum dropped; I was hit in the left thigh, but ran away. I was the only one who escaped. I hear that altogether thirty-nine men have been killed out of our village; but this was all I saw. , Mam Bitok X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, the 28th September, 1915. Njemon Titi of Bewang affirmed : — This happened when the Germans had been driven out of Jabassi. The Germans came and lived at Bewang. The British had not been into our country. One night the soldiers tied up eleven of us. We' were taken before an officer who said that we were to be killed because we gave the British food. We were taken away and told to fetch oranges from a tree in turn; as the men went they were shot. The orange tree was near the station. I was missed and ran away. There were still five men left. We were shot at in the evening. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Njemon Titi X his mark. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy ; K. V. E. Case No. A. 21. Murders at Ndokobao. Describes the murders of several inhabitants of the different villages forming Ndokobao; this occurred about October 16th to 20th, 1914. 49 Held at Duala, 1st September, 1915. Ngo Esenge, headman of Nyangwa, affirmed : — One day many months ago the English came to my village. I gave them eggs, bananas, and pineapples. They v^ent and fought with the Germans; they came back and went away towards Jabassi. The same day at sunset the Germans returned. I ran away because the German police, Manjaka, who was afterwards killed by the Germans, said that he would tell the Germans that I had helped the English. I hid where I could see; I saw eight Europeans and thirty soldiers. They began shooting; they killed Senge Nko, who ife my father, Manteya, Beyum, Mangi, Mpeki, all men, and a small girl, Ngondi, who was killed with a bayonet. Ngo Esenge X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark ; Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. N- 1st September, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 1st September, 1915. Titi Makumbe, headman of Ndokobao, affirmed : — The Germans were at Mukunda; close to my country. They used to come to my village. After the English had been at Jabassi two days the English met the Germans at my village and drove them out. The Germans had previously told us not to be afraid and run away. The Germans ran away. The English reUirned to Jabassi. At sunset two German Europeans and fifteen soldiers came into my part of the village Ndogobok, they passed on to Nyangwa which joins on to my village. Suddenly I heard shots. We all ran away. The next day I returned and found dead Senge Nko, Manteya, Beyum, Mangi Sengi, Mpeki, Mange Esenge, all men, and, Ngondi, a small girl. Titi Makumbe X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Etia. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st September, 1915. i Certified true copy ; K. V. E. Held at Duala, 2nd September, 1915. Titi Benga of Ndogbok affirmed I live at Ndobisang, a part of Ndogbok. Some ten days after the English took Jabassi, some German soldiers came into Ndobisang; they did not ask us any thing; they began to shoot; we ran away. The next day I buried Ekam, Bejen, Mongwan Jam, Masat, and Maleng Ngale, all men. They had all been shot. I saw the German soldiers myself, about six. Titi Benga X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 2nd September, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 2nd September, 1915. Musik of Ndogbok affirmed Soon after the English came to Jabassi some German soldiers came to our village, Ndogbatong, part of Ndogbok. They began 7976 Q 50 shooting us. I ran away and came back the next day. I saw the German soldiers myself; I did* not count then. I came back the next morning and found the dead bodies of Matanga, Beleba and Nyaka, all shot. Musik X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark ; Dibussi. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 2nd September, 1915. Certified true copy ; K. V. E. Held at Duala, 2nd September, 1915. Njaki Ngolo of Ndogbok affirmed : — In the afternoon two or three days after tlie English had come to Jabassi the German soldiers passed through our village towards Jabassi; presently they returned and as they were passing through the village they began to shoot at us. They shot Mbika and Nduma. This was a few days before they came again and shot Mabon. I buried Mbika and Nduma the next day. Njaki Ngolo X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 2nd September, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 2nd September, 1915. Manga Marimba of Ndogbok affirmed : — One evening I saw some German soldiers come in. We all ran away. I was sitting with three men, Nabon, Tito, and Nambo; they all ran off and were shot. The Germans came from two sides. The Germans slept at our village that night. The next morning I came in and buried the three bodies. Manga Marimba X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 2nd September, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 2nd September, 1915. B.A.YEK OF Ndogbok affirmed : — The English drove the Germans out of Jabassi. About seven days after this, some German soldiers suddenly came in and began to shoot. They shot Senge, who was building his house. I saw him drop. I ran away. I came back afterwards and buried Senge. Seven days after the German soldiers came again, six soldiers; they came by day time. They began to shoot at once; they killed Nvangi, and Elonga. I ran away. The next day I buried Elonga. Bayek X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 2nd September, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. ol Held at Diiala, 2nd September, 1915- Etonbi OF Nyangwa ; — One evening many months ago the Germans came and shot my brother Koto. The Germans had fought with the English; some time aftej- that the Germans killed my brother Koto. One evening six German soldiers came into the village. They passed me. They asked where the headman was ; they were told Jabassi. They at once began to shoot. I saw my brother Koto fall down. I ran away. I came back the same night and buried him. I also helped to bury Sumkumbi; he had been shot. This occurred about six or seven days after the death of Beyum, Nangi and others. Etonbi X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark ; Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 2nd September, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 2nd September, 1915. Iyo Iko of Nyangwa affirmed : — I was living in Nyangwa. One night I was woken up by shots. I ran out of my house. I ran away from the direction of the shots. I ran with my brother Kuntoko; we ran up against another lot of German soldiers who fired at us. My brother dropped; I ran away. Two days after when the Germans had been driven away I saw the body and buried it. Kuntoko’s death occurred six days after that of Beyum, Nangi and others had been killed. My village is a little distance from that where they lived. Iyo Iko X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 2nd September, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Case No. A. 22. An Incident at Mburuku. Proceedings of an Enquiry held at Bare into the Circumstances in whicli Egaihoncj of Mhuruku and his Wife were Killed. About the 19th February a man and his wife were proceeding along the road and were shot dead by two soldiers. Proceedings of an Enquiry to ascertain the circumstances under which Ngaibong of Mhuruku, and his Wife Eyaka, were killed at Mburuku by two iiatice German Soldiers {names unknown) on or about the IMh Eebruary, 1915. Firstly : Duma affirms : — I live at Mburuku. One evening, about three months ago, I saw four native German soldiers on the road near Mburuku. The road leads from Nkongsamba; the soldiers were guarding it. Ekuku and I were in the busli close by. We saw Ngaibong with his wife Eyaka coming along the road; when they had passed the soldiers who were concealed beside the road, and were about 15 yards from them (indicated), one soldier fired his rifle and shot Ngaibong, he fell down; the woman then ran and she was shot at by another of the soldiers and killed. Two of the soldiers then followed. Ekuku and I, we ran to Langum (Elengum). The two bodies were left lying where they had fallen. 797(i G 2 .52 Ekuku and I returned ten days, later, and found the bodies still there- That of the woman was on the road, and the man’s was in the grass a few yards away. We buried them in the grass near to the road. Duma X his mark. The above statement of Duma was taken and affirmed before me at Bare this 19th day of May, 1915. (Signed) Wm. Corsellis, Political Officer- Certified true copy ; George A. Robertson. i^econdly : Ekuku affirms : 1 live at Mburuku. About three months ago Duma and I were in the grass, behind a bush on the Nkongsamba-Mburuku road. It was about 5.0. p.m. I saw four native German soldiers, who were on guard and in the grass beside the road. I saw Ngaibong and his wife Eyaka come along. After they had passed, and were about fifteen yards beyond the soldiers, one of the latter fired at Ngaibong, who ran a little way into the grass and then fell. I did not go to him then. When Ngaibong was shot, Eyaka ran away along the road. Another soldier fired at her; she fell down on the road. I saw her body after she fell. The four soldiers then went out to look at the bodies, and then returned to where they had been in the grass. We ran away to Elengum. Ten days after, Duma and I came back and found the bodies, Ngaibong’s in the grass, and that of Eyaka on the road. We buried them in separate graves near to the road at Mburuku on the Nkongsamba side, quite close to where they had been - killed. I do not know any of the soldiers’ names. There were European German soldiers at Mbuombong, about one and a quarter hour’s march from Mburuku. I only heard two shots fired. I could not identify the two men who fired if I saw them again. Ekuku X his mark- The above statement of Ekuku was taken and affirmed before me at Bare this 19th day of May, 1915. (Signed) Wm. Corsellis, Political Officer- Certified true copy : Geo. a. Robertson. Case No.. A. 23. A n Enquiry held iit N kongsamba concerning Miirders and Floggings by German Officers and Soldiers at Nsanju. [With a Photograyh^ of one of the Survivors.) A party of soldiers entered Po-Ewasum and caught five men. They bayonetted one man and took the remainder to Nsanju. Then they were brutally flogged by order of a European; they were also continually beaten by the soldiers. One man was taken away and either hanged or shot. They were kept eight days without food or water. On being released one man had to be carried and died on the road. A photograph of one of the victims is attached. (B/24/15.) Political Officer’s Office, Nkongsamba, 7th June, 1915. Herewith forward a copy of the proceedings of an enquiry concerning the murder of a native of Po-Ewasum named Yimgbasa, and also the maltreatment of three others, by German Europeans, at Nsanju on or about the 11th May, 1915. 2. Captain Norton Harper kindly took a photo of one of the victims a few days after the arrival of the latter at N’Samba, which I will send you. Wm. Corsellis, To Political Officer. The Chief Political Officer, Duala. See at end of book. Charge against German European of maltreatment of natives; also of causing the death of a native of Po-Ewasum, named Yunghasa, on or about the \ith May. 1915. Firstly : Ewangbil affi,rms : — I live at Po-Ewasiini. Seventeen days ago twelve native German soldiers came to my town. One was named Bele of Jaunde. They caught five of us, myself, Ngodala, Nsule, Enono and Yunghasa in the town and afterwards they caught Ilolo in the market. We were running away when we heard that the Germans were at our town and they caught us and took us to Nsanju ; four of us. It was about 8.0. o’clock at night when we reached Nsanju. They took us and put us in a house and tied us up with bush ropes. These marks on my arm were made then (lacerated wounds around both arms at elbows). There were five Europeans (Germans) at Nsanju. One of them, whom I do not know, gave the order to have us tied up. Then any soldier who had a stick came and flogged us (marks shown on head and all over body). I did not see when they actually hanged Ilolo- One white man outside shouted to the German soldiers to bring out Ilolo as he was going to be hanged. Eight soldiers took him out about thirty yards from the house. I heard Ilolo say, I have worked for Germans twice, you must not kill me.” The white man said, “ I do not care about that.” Ilolo’s town was Ndonia. I heard nothing more and have not seen Ilolo since. Q. Did you hear any shots after you heard Ilolo speak ? A . Yes, one shot near the house. Q. Did you see anyone killed by Germans ? A. Yes, Ewangwa. It was at Muanlo. Two native soldiers held him down and one soldier had his bayonet fixed on his rifle and ran it through the back of Ewangwa’s neck and also through several parts of his back. Ewangwa died at once. The soldiers left his body there. Yungbasa was flogged by order of one of the white men and was given twenty-five strokes with a thick elephant hide whip. I also saw native soldiers flog him each time they came to the house either night or day with sticks also rifles, and held his mouth if he tried to shout. They also flogged him with the flat of their bayonets. I was with Yungbasa when he died on the road near Mamang ; we had been eight days tied up by the Germans and had no food or water during that time. Yungbasa died the same day as the Germans let us go ; he was not able to w^alk alone and we had to help him when we were let go. The five white men were there and saw us go and saw the condition we were in- No white man ever came into the house to see us. Q. Would you recognise any of the white men or native soldiers beside Bele i f you saw them again ? A. No. Ewangbil X his mark. W itness to mark : Ewane. The above statement of Ewangbil was taken and affirmed before me at Nkongsamba, this 28th day of May, 1915. (Signed) Wm. M. Corsellis, Political Officer. Secondly: Enono afiirms ; — I live at Po-Ewasum. About seventeen days ago twelve native soldiers came to our town. I heard this and ran away with Yungbasa, Ewanbil, Nsule. Ilolo and others. The twelve soldiers caught us. Ewangwa was was us also. I saw one native soldier kill Ewangwa with his bayonet. Two men put him on thegroundon his face and the third took his bayonet on endof his rifle and ran it through the back of his neck. Ewangwa died at once. This was beside the road near Muanlo. The body was left there- Yungbasa, Ewangbil, Nsule also witnessed this. Ilolo had not at this time been caught as he was in the market. No white man was there then. Later I saw the soldiers who caught us catch Ilolo in the market (Eshi). They then took the five of us to Nsanju. We met five European Germans there; one of them told the soldiers to take us into a house and tie us up. These marks are from being tied up (lacerated wounds on both arms at elbows). This was at night. I saw Ilolo taken out by eight native soldiers after a white man outside had shouted that “ Ilolo had told the English where the Germans w^ere and he was going to be hanged.” I heard Ilolo say, “ I have worked twice for the Germans.” The white man said, “ I don’t care.” I heard one shot after this. I don’t know what happened to Ilolo after that. I have not seen him since, dead or alive. Before killing Ilolo one white man said to give me twelve on my buttocks. I was given twelve by a native soldier with an elephant hide whip (buttocks very much lacerated). The native soldiers flogged me every time they came near me (suppurating sores and scars all over back, neck and shoulders). Yungbasa was flogged and given twenty-five strokes on the buttocks by order of, and in the presence of, a European German. Then the native soldiers flogged Kim also when they came into the house both with sticks and the flat of their bayonets. They kept us tied up for about eight days; they heard that the English were coming and they took us up to Ngungu, then they heard the English had gone so they brought us back again. They gave us no food and no water for eight days. Then on the eighth day (two days after we had returned to Njangu), the same day as they let us go, Yungbasa died from flogging and want of food and water. He was a young man, and had not been sick before the Germans caught him. Q. What did you do with Yungbasa’s body ? A. We left his body as we were unable to carry it- He died at Mamang; the people there are friendly to the Germans and always tell them when the English come or go. They gave us no food. Q. Would you recognise any of the white men or native soldiers again if you saw them ? A . No, except Bele, a native soldier who flogged some of us. Enono X his mark. Witness : Ewane. The above statement of Enono was taken and affirmed before me at Nkongsamba, this 28th day of May, 1915. (Signed) W. M. Corsellis, Political officer. Thirdly : Nsule affirms ; — I live at Ngowanisim (Epoewasum). Seventeen days ago twelve native German soldiers came to my town. I knew one of them named Bele; when we heard they had come to Epoewasum we ran, but they caught Yungbasa, Ngodala, Enono Ewanbil and myself and took us to Njanju. They flogged Ewanbil and Nsule on the road. Ilolo was at Eshi market and was caught; they then took the six of us to Njanju. When we reached Nsanju we saw five German Europeans. I do not know if they were soldiers or not. One white man told the soldiers to tie us up. They tied us up inside a house. One white man ordered me to be flogged the next day. I was given twenty-five strokes on my buttocks with a big piece of elephant hide (buttocks lacerated and suppurating). Ewanbil, Yungbasa and Nsule also were flogged. They were taken out one by one. They held our mouths shut while we were being flogged. The night of the day on which we were flogged I heard a white man shouting “ to bring out the man who had helped the English as he was going to hang him.” Ilolo was taken out by eight soldiers. I heard him say, “ I worked for Germans at Essossong.” The white man said, “ No, you have cloth you got from English.” I did not hear any more or see Ilolo since. I heard one rifle shot after he had been taken out. The native soldiers flogged us every time they came near us with sticks, also the flat of their bayonets. Q. Was anyone else killed beside Ilolo? A. Yes, Ngodala Ewangwa. He was killed on the Muanlo road. Two native soldiers held him down and another stabbed him with a bayonet through the back of his neck and also in his back. He died at once, his body was left on the side of the road. This happened the same day as we were first caught. Q. How many days were you tied up ? A . Eight days in all ; we were four days at Nsanju, then they took us to Ngunju for two days and then back to Nsanju for two days, then we were let go and Yungbasa died that same day. One white man told us to carry him. We were unable, but helped him a little way along the road, but he died at Mamang. We left his body. Q. What do you think he died from ? A. Flogging and starvation. We asked often for food and water, but they never gave us either for eight days. Q. Did the white man know you had no food nor water ? fl . Yes, because they never asked if we had any. 65 Q. Would you know any of the white men or native soldiers again if you saw them, except Bele ? A. No. Witness : Ewane. NwSule X his mark. The above statement of this 28th day of May, 1915. Certified true copy : T. 'B. J. Nsule was taken and affirmed before me at Nkongsamba, (Signed) W. M. Corsellis, * Political Officer. Case No. A. 24. The W oundings and Hangings at Mfolhe. A party of soldiers entered Mpoibe about the 15th March, 1915. They shot at the people. When the inhabitants returned they met sixteen men hanged and two small boys lying dead on the ground. Held at Huala, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, C.P/TO., 1st April, 1915. Bekuka of Mpole affirmed : — About two or three weeks ago some people came into our village saying that the Germans were coming. One man, Njie of Orkot, had a wound in his hand. We all tried to cross the river. We stopped and watched them shooting the people and burning the houses. They left off in the evening. About three days after we went back to our village. I saw sixteen men hanged and two small boys dead on the ground. Bekuka X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibusri. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st April, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O., 1st April, 1915. Mbenge of Mpolbe affirmed : — About two weeks ago the Bwadibo people came running into our village in the late afternoon. We all ran away and crossed the river by canoe. I went across with Mue, the headman; the Germans shot at us as we crossed. When we got across we watched the soldiers shooting and some of the village being burnt : this went on till the evening. The next morning we went to Edea to report this. After three days I was sent back with three others, Kuka, Bokongo, and Njie. When we got to our village we saw eighteen dead people; sixteen of these had various wounds and had been hanged with native-made rope. There were no women hanged. There were also two small boys lying dead on the ground. Mbenge X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st April, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. 56 Case No. A. 25. Hangings and Murders at Ndonga. . The Germans had an engagement with the French on the 12th March, 1915; the Germans tried to cut the line at Elang. Before the engagement the Germans had caught several men ; during the night the Germans retired and on the way hanged three men. There were two Europeans in charge. Duala, 25th March, 1915, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. SoNGE Betote, headman of Ndonga, affirmed : — About twelve days ago I saw some German soldiers coming to my town. I ran away and summoned the French. The French came about 4.0. o’clock, and they fought till 6.0. o’clock. The Germans then left. There were two French killed. Early next morning we followed the tracks of blood left by the Germans; about half a mile on these tracks we found five of my brothers hanged on trees; two were on one tree, the other three on different trees. Their names are Molom, Beke and Kinganga. They were hanged with rope looted from my town. We took the bodies down and buried them at home. Kuo Kinge was tied up by the Germans, but got away. He informed me that there were two German white men present with the soldiers. SoNGE Betote X his mark. Interpreted by ; Dibus SI, witness to mark. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 25th March, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O., 1st April, 1915. SoNGE Betote recalled ; — I found only three men hanged, not five. The facts are that I found three men hanged and I heard that two others had been shot. SoNGE Betote X his mark. Witness to mark : Dibussi, Interpreter. Affirmed before me ; K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 25th March, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 1st April, 1915, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. SiNGA OF Mbanda affirmed : — Some little time ago I went towards Ndonga. I was there caught by the Germans. I was tied up. There was a lot of shooting and the enemy appeared. During the night the Germans left- In the morning they hanged three men, Molom, Beke, and Kinganga. I afterwards escaped after being taken further. When they hanged the men the two white men went to see. SiNGA X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st April, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V E 57 Duala, 1st April, 1915, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Ndumbe Musongo affirmed ; — I am a Duala man trading at Ndonga. I was coming from market to Ndonga when I saw three Ndonga men tied up by two German soldiers. They called to me and I went up ; the three soldiers were Yaundis. T was then taken with these three men to Ndonga and then tied up. There were two white men and some forty soldiers ; there were tied up six men and one woman, all Ndonga men. When the shooting began we were placed behind a house with two soldiers to guard us. During the night the Germans retired ; we did not go far as they did not know the road. In the morning three of the Ndonga men were taken some little distance away and hanged; I could see this done. They were named Molom, Kinganga, and Beke. We afterwards went to Esa near Sanaga. The German white men sent some soldiers to get fish. We heard two shots and I was told by their guide Esawe of Malimba that two men had been shot. I escaped afterwards. Ndumbe Musongo X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st April, 1915. Certified true copy : K. W E. Case No. A. 26. Butchering of Women and Children at Tsobumbombi. On the 13th February, 1915, a party of German soldiers appeared at Tsobumbombi. The people tried to run away but as they were caught they were killed or wounded with matchets. Some of the survivors have terrible matchet wounds. Nine women and girls were heard, and relate that as they ran away they were hacked about with matchets. Duala, 1st April, 1915, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Gunyen of Tsobumbombi, a woman, affirmed : — One day in the morning, some two months ago, we heard the Germans were coming. I ran out of my house. I was caught in the village before I could get away. One soldier then wounded me with a matchet. (Witness has scars on both knees, on the back of the neck and right shoulder.) I fell down and I was left there. Gunyen X her mark. Interpreter and witness to mark ; Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st April, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Gautoni, a woman of Tsobumbombi, affirmed : — I was in my village when I heard that the Germans were coming. I ran out but was caught by a soldier outside the village. A soldier wounded me with a matchet on the left upper arm and left ear. My son about four years old had his foot wounded by the same soldier. My husband, Awondantet, hearing me, came back; but when he saw me fall he ran away; I saw him caught by several soldiers. The same soldier who had 7976 H 58 wounded me, I saw knock him down with a cutlass, hitting him on the back of the head and cut open his belly with his matchet. Gautoni X her mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st April, 1915, Certified true copy : K V. E. SiRiKi OF Tsobumbombi affirmed; a young married woman : — One day I heard that the Germans were coming. I rushed out of my hut and was caught at once by a soldier who drew his matchet and tried to kill me. (Witness has healed scars, two on the left wrist, two' on the right hand, two on the back of the neck, one on the left shoulder.) I fell down and was left. I saw the same soldier kill my boy child who was still at the breast. I saw afterwards four German white men pass. SiRiKi X her mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st April, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Dunuini, a young girl of Tsobumbombi, affirmed : — I was living in my village. In the morning time two soldiers appeared. We then all ran away; but I ran into a number of soldiers. I was caught by one. When he saw others running fast he drew his matchet and wounded me on the right wrist. He wanted to cut my head off but I put my hand at the back of my neck. (Witness has a large scar on the right wrist, a small scar on the back of her neck, and is unable to use the fingers of her right hand.) This occurred about two months ago. Dunuini X her mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 1st April, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Held at Duala, 2nd April, 1915, before Mr. K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Banyel of Tsombi, a woman, affirmed : — I heard people saying that the German soldiers had come. We all began to run away. I ran into a party of soldiers. I was caught by two soldiers. They wounded me on the head and left ear with a cutlass. (There is a scar on the back of the head and left ear.) Banyel X her mark. Interpreter and witness to mark : Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 2nd April, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. 59 There are in addition four more witnesses who give much the same evidences, all carrying scars of wounds, and one small child whose mother is said to have been killed. K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 3rd April, 1915. Certified true copy : K. V. E. • Case No. A. 27. Murder of Ndame at Abo. On the 8th February a man was caught by a patrol. He was taken some distance away and shot on the bank of a river near Nsakka on the Njanga river. Held at Duala, 9th September, 1915. Eyum of Banduka affirmed : — On the 8th February I went with my father to collect palm kernels near Mpobo. I saw some German soldiers coming with carriers. I told my father. He did not believe it. I went and hid. They caught my father and took him along to Nsakka on the Njanga creek, near the waterfall. I followed behind. When they got to the waterside one soldier shot him. I do not know why. They burnt his load of kernels and oil. They then went into Nsakka and shot a woman. My father’s name is Ndame, the woman’s Mujongi. Eyum X his mark. Interpreter and witness to mark ; Dibussi. Affirmed before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Case No. B. 1. A Report by Commander R. S. Sneyd, R.N. Government House, Duala, 8th June, 1915. Commander R. S. Sneyd, R.N., has reported to me that when the “ Fullah ” engaged the enemy at Etima on the Nyong River on 28th May he observed the enemxy firing on canoes containing parties of the native men, women and children, who could not by any possibility be supposed to have any hostile intention. Commander Sneyd has made this report as it may, at some future date, be desirable to have actual witnesses of such actions on the part of the enemy. He is glad to be able to report that on this occasion the canoes and their occupants escaped damage. Following is the translation of two passes taken from the bodies of two natives armed with flint-lock guns, who were killed at Etima on 28th May, 1915. 1 . Notice. Partisans may not fight against hostile troops, but on the other hand they may fight against our own natives who have risen, or have incurred the guilt of treason against the country (Landesverrat). ( 24 ) wner, Mba. The Military Commander, Von Hagen. Chief, Village, Nku-Bikue. Bipindi. (EwusoJc.) H 2 7976 Notice. Ongba is ordered to accompany a carrier, Bikue-Neryge. — Banler(?). ( ?) 19th May, 1915. Chief Political Officer, Duala. For information. C. Fuller, Captain, Senior Naval Officer, Duala Case No. B. 2. On the Nyong River — Extract from a Refort hy Lieutenant Carter, R.N. C.P.O. Extract from Report by Lieutenant Carter, R.N., Commanding Nyong Flotilla : — “ On 12th June fifteen men, eight women and three children arrived at the Nyong refugee camp from Mbakahe, a place in the bush about twelve hours north-east of Mbea. They had lived in hiding there for about six months, but the enemy attacked them on 8th of June, killing two men and taking away five women and one child.” Case No. B. 3. A Report hy Captain A. Giles, 1^^ Battalion Nigeria Regiment. During the first operations against Jabassi I was assisting to keep com- munication with the aid of signallers from my own battalion. As this was a river operation, I was for the most part on the bridge of a branch boat. As we passed various villages the local inhabitants came out and cheered us ; many of them shouted to us and holding their heads with one hand pretended to cut their throats with the other. The native pilot interpreted to me and told me that the villagers were very pleased to see us as the Germans had killed a number of them. Not long after we saw at different times three corpses floating down the river and also the bodies of two children. While garrisoning Jabassi, villagers were frequently coming in asking for patrols to be sent to their districts as German soldiers were collecting carriers and shooting headmen who did not produce the required number; they stated that the Europeans were always one to two days behind and that the native soldiers were ” on their own,” looting and murdering. These stories were discredited as we could never round up any of these alleged parties. On finding they were not believed the local natives started to bring the corpses of their murdered relatives. I saw two of these and doubtless should have seen more only for the fact that they had been carried for two days and our commanding officer objected to their being brought on to the verandah during lunch ! On proceeding from Jabassi to Nyamtam I personally saw three corpses of villagers, but did not examine them as they were very decomposed ; also, in one or two villages were empty cartridge cases where no fighting occurred. Somewhere near Fondonera on the way to Dschang a native was found very badly cut about ; he stated that he had once been a policeman and took his discharge some years ago. On a German officer telling him to become a soldier he demurred and was ordered by the white man to be taken into the bush and dealt with. Some of the native soldiers took him away and left him for dead ; he had one eye gouged out, was minus an ear and had three large cuts to the bone on his right arm. There were many lesser wounds — all had been done with a matchet. At Nkongsamba the villagers brought in the same sort of stories that one heard of at Jabassi. 61 One afternoon all the women and children of the village of Mho came running into Bare seeking protection. They said the Germans had been there, killed numbers of them and had burnt the village ; as they were speaking we could see flames and smoke in the distance. The king of Mbo who was under our protection at JNkong- samba said that about fifty of his people had been wiped out. I never actually saw any dead bodies of the local inhabitants in this district. Later we heard that the kings of Manengoteng, Ndunge, and Melong, also that of Dschang, had been killed. A. Giles, Duala, Captain, 7th June, 1915. 1st Nigeria Regiment. Certified true copy : K. V. E. Case No. B. 4. A Letter from Caftain Feneran, 1st Battalion Nigeria Regiment. Dear Elphinstone, The following cases of German ill-treatment of natives I have notes about. Owing to the circumstances of the cases most of them are based on hearsay evidence only. There were many cases reported from round Jabassi when I was there, but 1 Old not take note ot them, also round Bare : — (1) On I7th October, 1914, a large number of natives came into my camp at Jabassi and stated that the Germans were firing at them whenever seen on the Jabassi-Nyamtam road. (Report only.) (2) On 24th October, 1914, a Monrovia man named “ John,” a German reservist, was brought in to me by the natives. He was accused of murdering two women. He was, I believe, tried by court martial. (3) On 27th October it was reported by natives that the German black soldiers were murdering natives at Makundi, a place about two and a-half hours from Jabassi. Two dead natives who had been shot were brought in from Makundi on the evening 28th. I saw the bodies and had them buried. (4) On 31st October, at Jabassi, a patrol of mine got into the village of Ndokbeli on the main Jabassi-Nyamtam road, following up a patrol of Germans. Captain Porter was in command of the patrol and Lieut. Allen was with him. White men were seen with this patrol. One old man was found dead from a bayonet wound and one young girl was killed. They had only just been killed. One native was brought in wounded (gunshot). I saw the wounded man on 31st and the corpses on 4th November. (5) On 2nd November, 1914, a wounded native came in, having been shot by Germans on the main road. I saw this man and sent him to hospital. (6) On 31st December, 1914, a patrol of my company brought in a German native soldier. He had been very badly cut about by matchets in the head, back, face, and arms. He- stated that it had been done by order of the white German under-officer. The man’s injuries were so severe that one of his eyes had to be removed. The place he was found at was Fona Donepa, on the main Dschang road. Dr. Johnson and Captain Booth, R.A.M.C., operated on this man and know about the case. I saw him brought in and helped Captain Howell question him. (7) At Bare, on 11th January, a mounted German patrol, consisting of about six white men and one native, came within six hundred yards of the Bare fortifica- tions. On being fired at they returned towards Melong at a gallop. About fifteen minutes afterwards several shots were heard in the direction of Hamman’s farm, and natives came in and reported that two women had been killed there. The women belonged to Mbo town, and probably Ndama, the interpreter at Bare, who is brother of the king of Mbo, probably could get you first-hand evidence. Several wounded natives came in who had been shot by the Germans when they burned Mbo village. The Mbo people could give you all the evidence you want, T think. Mbo mentioned is the Mbo village near Melonga, and not that near Dschang. Yours sincerely, E. C. Feneran, 1st Nigeria Regiment. 62 Case No. C. 1. Co'py of Instructions written hy Lieutenant {now Hauptmann) von Engelbreckten, of the Prussian Guard, who was commanding a German Force on the Northern Railway. [See No. 2.*'] Case No. D. Three Statements taken from Patients in the British Hospital at Duala. The following are statements made to me by patients in the hospital. These have all now been discharged : — Emanuel Maye was shot near Dihani whilst in a canoe by himself. The wound is described as serious in thigh and scrotum. Admitted to hospital, 16th February, 1915; discharged, ^20th April, 1915. Mpopo, of Batanga, was shot while in a canoe near Dihani, while going to buy food. He was admitted 25th January, 1915, suffering from gunshot wound (thigh), very dangerous. Ndoe (F.) was in a canoe when going to her farm; was shot in the arm near Dihani. Admitted, 16th February, 1915; discharged, 20th April, 1915. K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O., 13th June, 1915. Enclosure B. in No. 6. Statements by Ex-Prisoners of War. Sivorn Statement hy Mr. Newport Wright. Duala, 28th January, 1916, Newport Wright, sworn : — I complain about the way in which we were sent from Kribi to Ayos Hbhe; we were sent by motor lorry to Bipindi; we were only allowed to take a small portmanteau and were given two broken camp beds for the use of four persons; we had not any blankets, food or cooking pots; at Bipindi we fortunately met Mr. Sonnenberg, who gave us food and telephoned to the Govern- ment at Kribi about cooking pots. He told me that the answer which he received was, “ what do prisoners want with cooking pots?” All the way to Ayos Hohe we were compelled to beg provisions from various Europeans whom we met. In Ayos Hohe we were tormented night and day by mosquitoes and the rations issued to us were both insufficient and of bad quality. Feldwebel Mayer told me that he would willingly swear that some of the money to be spent on the prisoners of war was being misappropriaJed by the Camp Commandant; he further told me he was absolutely disgusted at the way the camp was being run. On account of this we were compelled to sell our clothes and borrow money to buy “ chop ” from the natives to keep ourselves from starving. In Ayos Hohe we had a fair amount of freedom, but in Kolmaka Mr. Jameson, Solomon, and myself were placed in a separate fence in a house that had previously been used for keeping pigs in- We were unable to get sufficient exercise. In January, 1915, I applied for permission for my wife to leave the camp. I received the reply that she could go to Bata or stay with the American Mission at Metet as a prisoner of war on parole ; she accepted the latter and was compelled to sign a document stating that if she did anything detrimental to Germany or her allies she would be shot. I was informed that Ebermaier did this because the German ladies in Buea were compelled to sign a similar document. When the camp was moved to Kolmaka in Augqst my wife was only two hours away, so she wrote to me that she had made an application to bring our son to visit me ; the reply which I saw received by the Commander of the camp from Oberst Zimmermann read : — “ I am very sorry for Mrs. Wright and child, but I am compelled to refuse her per- mission to visit her husband on account of the brutal treatment of the enemy to our married people in the Colony.” At the same time my wife wrote that she had requested permission to send me a few small things in the way of “ chop,” but the reply was, “ Mrs. Wright may send things to the camp if she agrees that they be divided among all the other prisoners.” page 9. 63 During the rainy season the American Mission told us they sent us “ bushels of garden truck,” but we did not receive any. About the treatment of natives. I saw Von Hagen of Ebolowa arrest my clerk and put him in chains for the simple reason he had been to England. Later, Assessor Lange took the civil charge of the Ebolowa station and the boy was released and kept as an ordinary prisoner of war. Mrs. Dager, an American missionary, told me that Obam Elum of Makalat, Ebolowa district, was tied up to a tree and shot by the order of Von Hagen because he was unable to supply enough carriers- I have seen large wounds and bruises on the native prisoners of war caused by soldiers flogging them because they have requested to go to the rear at night. I am of opinion that had these people complained to the camp authorities they would have got no redress, and the soldiers would only have made things worse for them. Breaches of International Law. I was told by Mr. Schultzick that at the beginning of war Von Hagen made a speech to his soldiers, when he promised ten marks for each white man’s head. I went to Von Hagen and complained about it, pointing out the seriousness of such speeches; he replied, “yes, I have made a speech to the soldiers, but rest assured, Mr. Wright, I will protect such an old friend as you-” Newport Wright. Sworn before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. Statement hy Dr. W. A Trumyer, Medical Officer, Nigerian Field Force. Two members of the West African Medical Service, Dr. Lindsay and Dr. Trumper, were taken prisoners by the Germans at Garua in August, 1914. Applications on two separate occasions were made by them to the Governor, Ebermaier, for their release in accordance with Geneva Convention and the replies thereto are attached. On receipt of War Office telegram of 27th August, 1915, a list of German subjects taken prisoner in the Cameroons and a bag of letters was forwarded to Governor Ebermaier by Major-General Dobell, C.M.G., D.S.O., together with a letter asking whether it was proposed to further retain these officers as prisoners of war. On 29th November, 1915, a copy of the arrangements made for the mutual exchange of medical personnel was forwarded to Governor Ebermaier, but to neither of these communications has any reply been received, though the receipt of the bag of letters was acknowledged at the time. Nothing further was known of these officers until their release by the Column under Lieutenant- Colonel Haywood, D.S.O., on 8th January, 1916. Jaunde, 13th February, 1915. On the Report of Vlth ultimo., I. No. 78. The English Surgeon, Dr. Lindsay, is to be informed that I cannot accede to his request for liberation, since it has been proved that England is detaining German civil surgeons as prisoners of war, while reciprocity of action is, through England’s fault, not guaranteed by the administration of the Geneva Convention. For this purpose I refer to the order of the 4th February, 1915, Kr. 6465, containing a protest sent by the Hamburg doctors to the doctors of England. As long as this reciprocity is not guaranteed, it is unnecessary to examine into and decide the question whether English doctors employed with the African troops are employed exclusively iu medical work, and whether therefore Article 9 of the Geneva Convention applies to Dr. Lindsay. Ebermaier, 64 Jaunde, 15th November, 1914. ^ As long as the English military command in Africa keeps imprisoned German civil doctors, who have no relations whatever with the fighting forces, I must decline to go_ into a further examination of the questions of fact and law, as to whether English military and Government doctors here in Africa are exclusively to be employed for the purposes enumerated in Article 9 of the Geneva Convention of 6th June, 1906, or whether in particular they have only practised, and were only intended to practise, during the war in a certain limited activity. The measures adopted in regard to yourself must therefore still stand. I cannot allow your liberation. (Signed) Ebermaier. Duala, 23rd January, 1916. With reference to report asked for by Captain Stretton the following have been my own experiences as prisoner of war in the Cameroons. ^ The attitude of military officers towards Doctor Lindsay and myself was in- variably courteous. The same could be said also of officials till we arrived at Jaunde. When we arrived at that place, however, we were marched into the fort and left standing in the sun for about twenty minutes before a great number of natives who were sitting down. As no one took any notice of us, we got out our chairs and sat down under one of the trees. Because of this, the civil officer in charge (Dettinger) said that we must be more modest in our behaviour, that we must not mention the Hague or Geneva Conventions again, that we should go to the Prisoners’ Camp at Ajoshohe as ordinary prisoners and not as officers, &c., &c. Lieutenant H. W. Brown, who was taken into Garua with us, was treated in every way as well as was possible, and was given a military funeral. The native wounded prisoners were also well treated in the native hospital, but two who escaped after I had left Garua were caught about twelve miles away, brought back to Garua and shot by order of Hauptmann von Crailsheim. With regard to the native troops, there can be no doubt that they kill wounded left on the field. It was reported to us at Garua that Colonel Maclear was killed in this way. The European Germans either cannot or do not wish to control their men at such a time. The native prisoners of war who were sent from Garua to Jaunde had chains round their necks, but these were, I believe, removed at Jaunde. The history of the prison camp is too long to be given here in full. The site of the first camp (Ajoshohe) was bad, being an ex-sleeping sickness camp, the worst place for mosquitos I have yet been in, and having no sanitation but what the prisoners themselves provided. The water, however, as in most German stations, was good. Nearly every one was on parole and we were able to obtain a fair amount of exercise. The food was insufficient in quantity and poor in quality, but could be, and was, supplemented by purchases made by the interned. Such purchases, however, were at very high prices and were mostly contrary to camp regulations. Three Europeans for minor offences were confined in a small brick cell which had been used as a dynamite store and which was infested with jiggers. I had been asked to report on this building and had reported that it was unfit for the confinement of Europeans in a tropical country. At Nkolemaka, the second camp, to which we moved at the beginning of August, 1915, there were very few mosquitos and conditions, except as regards exercise, were better, especially after a new under-officer replaced the one we had had before. The commandant of the camp very seldom visited the camp, and left nearly everything to the second-in-command. The native traders from British and French Colonies were collected in the same places as ourselves. 65 They were knocked about by the native guard and no notice was taken of complaints. They were badly fed (cassava and plantain), and as far as I know only received a minute ration of salt twice in fourteen months. They were robbed of or had to sell nearly everything they possessed. The health of the prisoners, con- sidering the conditions, has been surprisingly good. Native soldiers insufficiently controlled by Europeans are the chief agents in ill-treating the natives of the country. They take women, &c., as they wish, and the natives fear to complain. Hauptmann von Crailsheim defended his action in taking Doctor Lindsay and myself prisoners by — 1st. — That war in the colonies was uncivilised and did not come under the Hague Convention. 2nd. — That by depriving the Nigerian Government of our services he might prevent the despatch of further columns against the Cameroons. 3rd. — He also refused to believe that we were non-combatants. W. A. Trumper, Medical Officer, Nigerian Field Force. Statevieiit by Dr. J. Lindsay, Medical Officer, Northern Nigeria. Duala, 24th January, 1916. I have seen the statement of Doctor Trumper and agree with the statements contained therein. I attach two communications* from the late Governor of the Kameruns in reply to two applications from me to be released in accordance with the Geneva Con- vention. I may add that during my imprisonment no pretence was made of utilising my services. James Lindsay, M.B., Ch.B., Medical Officer, Northern Nigeria. Sivorn Statement by Caftain M. J. Parker, Sierra Leone Battalion, West African Frontier F orce. The D.A.A. and Q.M.G., I SEND you herewith a sworn statement by Captain Parker. His evidence is very clear except as regards the identity of the individual European. The Hauptmann Priester could hardly have been at Hamann's farm ; he was probably at Yaunde. But this individual, whose name may or may not have been as described, was probably one of the many Europeans enlisted for the war. 27th January, 1916. K. V. Elphinstone, Chief Political Officer. Held at Duala, 17th January, 1916. Maskell j. Parker, sworn; — I am a captain in the Sierra Leone Battalion, West African Frontier Force, and was in action at Hamann’s farm on 3rd February, 1915. At about 11.0 a.m. I was wounded and was eventually captured by the Germans. Shortly after I was hit I fell asleep; at least I remember nothing till I woke lip suddenly just before dark finding one German native soldier pulling my broken leg, three others pointing their rifles within a few inches of my face, another holding a bayonet over my left shoulder, while a sixth was stripping me of mv 7976 * On i)p. (liJ-GL I 66 equipment, &c. One of the soldiers then said he was going to shoot me. 1 told him not to do so, whereupon he said he would tell his master. Presently his master (a European) came up, whose name I am almost certain' I was afterwards informed was Pri ester. He looked at me for some time watching his men strip me and take a ring from my left hand, which he refused to return to me. I asked him to move the soldiers away so that I could get a little air. He said : “ I cannot move them; they will not obey me.” He then produced a small operating knife about six inches long, and said : “ Do you want to live or die? It is quite easy to relieve people’s sufferings with this.” I told him I only had a broken leg and wished to live. One of the soldiers seemed to have an idea that Priester did not intend to kill me, and said : “ Why do you not kill this white man; you killed the other white men.” At this moment a German European dispenser came up, whose name I believe to be Kla ; he came to where I was and told Priester and the native soldiers to move away. They did not do so, however, till he had loaded his rifle and threatened to shoot anyone who did not instantly leave me. The dispenser, having examined my wounds, went a short distance away with two or three of the soldiers to find a suitable stick for a hammock to carry me away- Two British native soldiers were lying wounded about five yards to my left, who asked for water. I looked round and saw Priester and one soldier standing by them. Priester told the soldier to get some water. As soon as he left, Priester stabbed them one after the other in the throat, with the result of immediate death- Not content with this he came round in front of me and cleaned his knife on his puttee. I do not know the nature of the wounds of these two men, but as they were able to talk coherently after lying in the sun for six or seven hours, there is to my mind little doubt that they might have been cured. T do not think that I should be able to recognise Priester again ; it was dark, and Priester was dirty and unshaved. I could not say what (if any) badges of rank he had on. He struck me as not being of the type of a commissioned officer. M. J. Parker. Sworn before me : K. V. Elphinstone, C.P.O. 27th January, 1916. Statement by Mr. R- Taggart of the Niger Company. Treatment of Natives. I have been concerned in the following cases of ill-treatment of natives ; — {a) On or about the 23rd of September, 1914, two wounded English soldiers, who had been captured by the Germans at Garua, ran away from the hospital where they had been left practically unguarded. Two days later they were taken and brought in by natives. A German officer, Lt. Suren, and some soldiers marched them round the town and they were then taken to a hill behind the fort and shot. I, myself, saw them being marched past the hospital and heard the shots- The German commander, Hauptmann V. Crailsheim, told me the same evening that they had gone down on their knees to him and begged for mercy, but he regarded it as his duty to shoot them. (&) On the 20th August, 1914, the Niger Company’s labourers, clerks, &c., in Garua to the number of twenty-three, including one boy of about seven or eight years of age, were taken to the fort, put in irons and locked in a cell for three days and nights, no arrangements being made for food or anything else. Later on seventeen of them were sent down to Jaunde in chains and for a considerable part of the journey of two months had to carry loads. When we left Kolmaka they were still with the Germans, with the exception of two who had died. (c) In December, 1914, my boy, Toby, whom I had brought from Nigeria, was accused of gambling in the camp, and, although he was sick at the time and there was practicallv no evidence against him, he was sent as a prisoner from Ayos to Akonolinga. He was there kept in chains for about six months, and when I met him in Akonolinga in August, 1915, he was in a wretched state. Attempts which I made through our camp Commandant to have him removed to the native prisoners’ 67 eamp met with no success and he must still be with the Germans, probably as a carrier. R. Taggart. Breach of International Law. When I was first arrested by Hauptmann V. Crailsheim on the 13th August, 1914, I pointed out to him that, as a trader, I was protected by the Congo Act of 1884, in which there is a clause relating to the Niger and its tributaries- He admitted that my claim was good and released me, but, acting under instructions from J aunde, re-arrested me a week later. I then made a protest in writing to the Governor, and in Jaunde received a reply from him to the effect that, though he admitted the application of the Congo Act, he considered the signatories were not thereby deprived of the right to take what steps they deemed necessary for the protection of their respective Colonies. R. Taggart. Duala, 24th January, 1916. Statement by Mr. G. F. Oglesby of the Niger Company. T beg to complain that nineteen of the Niger Company’s yard labourers, many of whom were German subjects, and also two native servants and two coloured clerks "wtjre, at the outbreak of war, put in a cell with chains round their neck, and left there for three days and nights without any official attention whatever. Food was only obtained through those who had wives. One of the two native servants men- tioned above was a small boy who could not have been more than seven years of age, but who was only released after several days upon a protest being made to Captain Crailsheim by Mr. Taggart and myself. About the 22nd September, 1914, the labourers were sent, always on the chain, and with their women, from Garua to Yaunde, where they were kept at work. 'During the war, two of the men died, but no official notification was sent to Mr. "Taggart or to me. On the evacuation of Yaunde by the Germans, no attempt rappears to have been made to repatriate these men, and I have lost trace of them. Geo. F. Oglesby. Duala (Cam.), 24th January, 1916. Enclosure C in No. 6. -Atrocities, Woundings, and Murders of the Native Inhabitants of the Cameroons. Beports forwarded hy Colonel Mayer, French Army, Commanding the French Contingent. Colonne du Cameroun. (No. 1650.) Edea, le 7 septenibre 1915. Le Colonel Mayer, Commandant les troupes fran^aises du Cameroun, a Monsieur le Major-General Commandant les forces alliees, Duala. Objet. — Violences des Allemands envers les indigenes. JAi I’honneur de vous adresser ci-joint quatre rapports concernant des violences dont les Allemands se sont rendus coupables envers les indigenes. 7976 I 2 68 Nous avons eu a constater bien d’autres violences semblables surtout dans les premiers mois de la campagne; nous savions que c’etait une habitude chez les Allemands et nous n’avions pas cru devoir les signaler specialement. Mayer. Colonne du Cameroun, Bataillon N° 1. Certificate I. Certificat medical. Nous soussignes, Dreneau, medecin-major de 2® classe, Marque, medecin-major de 1®*'® classe, et Cettou, soldat infirmier au bataillon N“ 1, certilions avoir donne nos soins a deux femmes indigenes qui nous out declare avoir ete blessees par des Allemands. La premiere, soignee a Eseka le 16 mai, presentait des plaies par coups de sagaie a la partie superieure de la cuisse droite, a la paroi abdominale, et au sein gauche. La seconde, soignee a Wum-Biagas le 20 mai, portait de profondes blessures par coups de coupe-coupe a la region cervicale posterieure (ayant mis la colonne vertebrale a nu), dans les deux regions scapulaires, a la face dorsale des deux mains et a la face posterieure des deux jambes. En outre, un jeune homme d’une quinzaine d’annees, atteint d’un coup de coupe- coupe a la face posterieure du coude gauche, a ete rencontre le 19 mai au moment ou la colonne debouchait sur la route de Jaunde, venant d’Eseka. Blesse par des tirailleurs allemands, ce jeune homme a ete panse a Wum-Biagas les 20 et 21 mai 1915. ’ Dreneau. Cettou. Marque. Edea, le L*' septembre 1915. Medical Certificate 1. (Translation.) We, the undersigned, Dreneau, Medecin-Major of the 2nd Class, Marque, Medecin-Major of the 1st Class, and Dresser Cettou, 1st Battalion, certify that we have treated two native women, who state they have been wounded by Germans. The first, treated at Eseka, on the 16th of May, presented spear wounds on the upper surface of the right thigh, on the abdominal wall, and on the left breast. The second, treated at Wumbiagas, on the 20th of May, bore deep wounds made by a matchet at the back of the neck, which exposed a portion of the vertebral column; others, in the region of the shoulder blades, at the back of both hands, and the backs of both legs. Besides these, a young man of 15 years of age was met on the 19th of May, when the column, coming from Eseka, debouched on the Jaunde Road. He had been wounded by German native soldiers and suffered from a wound made by a matchet at the back of the left elbow. This young man was treated at Wumbiagis on the 20th and 21st of May, 1915. Dreneau. Cettou. Marque. Edea, 1st September, 1915. Colonne du Cameroun. Bataillon N“ 1. Certificate II. Certificat medical. Nous soussignes, Dreneau, medecin-major de 2® classe. Marque, medecin-major do I®""® classe, et Cettou, soldat infirmier au bataillon N° 1, certifions avoir vu, le 19 mai 1915, sur la route d’Eseka a Wum-Biagas, les cadavres d’une femme indigene et de son enfant %e de quelques mois. Ces cadavres, etendus sur le ventre, au bord 69 de la route, portaient tous les deux a la region anale des traces de plaies par instrument piquant et tranchant (sagaie ou baionnette). ' Dreneau. Cettou. Marque. Edea, le 1®'' septembre 1915. Medical Certificate II. (Translation.) We, the undersigned, Dreneau, Medecin-Major 2nd Class, Marque, Medecin- Major 1st Class, and Cettou, Military Dresser, 1st Battalion, certify to having seen, on the 19th of May, 1915, on the road betv^een Eseka and Wumbiagas, the bodies of a native ’women and child a fe’w months old. These bodies, lying on their abdomen by the side of the road, showed the marks of wounds in the anal region caused by some piercing or cutting instrument (spear or bayonet). Dreneau. Cettou. Marque. Edea, 1st September, 1915. Colonne du Cameroun. Place d’Edea. Certificate III. Le medecin aide-major E. Raynaud a Monsieur le Commandant du 2“® Bataillon. Mon Commandant, Vous m’avez demande un rapport sur les atrocites commises pas les Allemands depuis le debut de la campagne. Ces atrocites sont si nombreuses en Europe et si universellement connues que je n’ai pas cru devoir noter toutes celles dont ces barbares se sont rendus coupables au Cameroun. En voici seulement quelques exemples ; Le 30 Septembre, au village de Japoma, un cadavre d’indigene est trouve au milieu de la route, le ventre largement ouvert et Tintestin hors de la cavite abdominale. La mort remontait a deux jours environ. Le 7 Juin, un indigene venant des environs de Makondo est amend a Fambulance d’Edea avec une large plaie de la region cervicale anterieure. Le cou avait ete sectionne au dessous du menton, entre les deux muscles sterno-cleido-mastoide et la plaie s’etendait en profondeur jusqu’a la face posterieure du pharynx. Le 29 Juillet, trois femmes furent surprises dans les environs de Banjob; Tune d’entre elles fut tuee, I’autre eut la malleole externe gauche completement brisee par une balle ; la troisieme regut de nombreux coups de coupe-coupe sur tout le corps, notamment dans la region cervicale posterieure; tous les doigts etaient sectionnes a leur base; et I’oreille gauche completement decollee; la branche montante du maxillaire inferieur et I’os maxillaire etaient fractures. Le 31 Juillet une femme se presentait au poste de Ngwe avec une blessure s’etendant depuis la base du cou, jusqii’a Farticulation scapule humerale et en profondeur jusqu’a I’omoplate. Le 22 Aout, un indigene etait apporte des environs de Banjob a I’ambulance -d’Edea, pour plaies multiples par coup de coupe-coupe ; avec plaies pen^trantes par balle de la poitrine et de I’abdomen. A Kribi, le 9 Decembre deux tirailleurs furent atteints par des balles en plomb de tres fort calibre, qui furent extraites en presence des infirmiers du bataillon et du Docteur anglais Monsieur Miller. Dr. Raynaud. Edea, le 31 aout 1915. Cameroon Column, Edea. \ Certificate III. (Translation.) From Medical Adjutant E. Raynaud to the Commandant of the 2nd Battalion. My Commandant, You have asked for a report on the atrocities committed by the Germans since the opening of the campaign. These atrocities are so numerous in Europe and so universally known, that I had not thought it necessary to note all those of which these barbarians have rendered themselves culpable in the Cameroons; but here are only a few examples : — On the 30th September, at Japoma village, the body of a native was found in the middle of the road, the abdomen opened up and the intestines lying outside the abdominal cavity. The death took place about two days earlier. On the 7th June, a native, coming from the neighbourhood of Makondo, was brought in to the ambulance at Edea with a large wound on the front of the neck. The throat had been cut below the chin between the two sterno-cliedo-mastoid muscles,* and the wound extended in depth to the back wall of the pharynx. On the 29th of July, three women were surprised in the neighbourhood of Banjob — one of them was killed. Another had the external portion of the malleolus of the left foott completely shattered by a bullet. The third received numerous cuts with a matchet all over the body, especially at the back of the neck. All the fingers were cut at their bases and the left ear completely cut off. The ascending ramus of the lower jaw and the maxillary bone (cheek bone) were fractured. On the 31st July, a woman arrived at Ngwe Post with a wound extending from the base of the neck to the shoulder joint and reaching down to the shoulder blade. On the 22nd of August, a native was brought from the neighbourhood of Banjob to the Edea ambulance with numerous matchet wounds and penetrating gunshot wounds of the chest and abdomen. At Kribi, on the 9th of December, two tirailleurs were hit by leaden bullets of large calibre, which were extracted in the presence of the battalion dresser and of Dr. ]\Iiller, an English doctor. Dr. Raynaud. Edea, 31st August, 1915. Colonne expeditionnaire du Cameroun, Post de la Ngwe. Certificate IV. Ngwe, le 2 septembre 1915. Le Chef de Bataillon Gesland, Commandant le poste de la Ngwe, a Monsieur le Colonel Commandant les Troupes Francaises, Edea. Objet : Au sujet d’indigenes mutiles par Tennemi. En reponse a votre demande de renseignements au sujet des mutilations dont auraient ete victimes les indigenes ref ugies aupres du poste de laNgwe, j’ai IJionneur de vous faire connaitre qu’un certain nombre de nos proteges ont ete blesses par des coureurs allemands (tirailleurs ou partisans) dans la zone qui echappe a notre surveillance immediate et dans laquelle ils vont rechercher les tubercules et les fruits necessaires a leur subsistance. * Muscles joining breast bone to the side of the head and neck. t Outside of left ankle. 71 Les blessures faits a ces malheiireux out revetii un caractere de mutilation dans deux cas : 1° pour la nommee Nkonzaga (Chef Bozla de la region de Si Ndongi) atteinte d’une blessure a la tete causee aux moyen du coupe-coupe : cuir chevelu lacere et detach^. L’int4r4ss^e a declare, en outre, que sur sept autres indigenes en compagnie desquels elle se trouvait, cinq ont ete massacres et deux autres emmenes par les quatre tirailleurs allemands qui les avaient assailli. Les faits ont eu lieu le 19 aout a Si Ndongi, village d’origine de ces indigenes. 2° enfin, particulierement pour le nomme Babec (captif Liogbako) assailli le 20 aout pas trois tirailleurs allemands dans la region de Song-Simont (Elogubon). L’etat pitoyable de cet indigene a ete decrit par le Medecin-Major de 1®^® classe Camus dans les termes suivants : “ Cet homme etait mutile affreusement a coups de coupe-coupe : 1 ° sur le cote droit du cou, il portait deux entailles horizontales peu profondes ayant entame superficiellement les masses musculaires; une troisieme entaille qui, vraisemblablement avait suivi les precedentes, avait ete causee par un coii]) d’une violence extreme ayant entame jusqu’aux vertebres cervicales toute la masse musculaire du cou. Cette troisieme entaille partait de la face posterieure du cou jusqu’a une ligne perpendiculaire passant par le lobule de Eoreille droite. La plaie qui en etait resultee etait largement beante, tons les vaisseaux d’ailleurs peu importants qui avaient ete sectionnes s’etaient taris par suite de formation de caillots obliterants ; “ 2“ les deux poignets pendaient retenus seulement par quelques tendons de la face ext^rieure de I’avant-bras ; les parties molles et les deux os de chaque cote avaient ^te sectionnes nets par un coup violent de coupe-coupe ; “ 3“ le blesse portait enfin dans le dos; dans la gouttiere vertebrale droite et au niveau des reins, trois autres coups d’instrument tranchant ayant produit des d^gats purement musculaires mais assez profonds.” Cet indigene, apres un pansement sommaire, a ^te dirigd sur Eambulance d’Edea le lendemain, 21 aout, par le convoi d’evacuation. Ngwe, le 2 septembre 1915. • Gesland. Cameroons Expeditionary Column, Ngwe Post. Certificate IV. (Translation.) Battalion Commander Gesland, Commanding Ngwe Post, to the Colonel Commanding French Troops at Edea. Ngwe, 2nd September, 1915. Subject : — Mutilation of Natives by Enemy. In reply to your request for particulars on the subject of the mutilations of which the native refugees at Ngwe have been victims, I have the honour to inform you that a certain number of our protdges have been wounded by German native soldiers or partisans outside our protecting zone, where they go to collect roots and fruits necessary for their sustenance. The wounds inflicted on these unfortunates have assumed the character of mutilations in two cases. Firstly, a woman named Nkonzaga (Chief Bozla, District Si Ndongi), suffering from a wound of the head caused by a matchet. The scalp was lacerated and detached. The victim declared, that of seven other natives whose company she was in, five were massacred, and two others led away by the four German soldiers who attacked them. This incident took place on the 19th of August at Si Ndougi. their native village. 72 Secondly, finally and particularly, the case of Babec (captured Liogbako), who was attacked on the 20th of August % three German native soldiers in the district of Song-Simont (Elogubon). The pitiable state of this native is described by Mddecin-Major, 1st Class, Camus in the following terms : — “ This man was frightfully mutilated by blows from a matchet : (1) On the right side of the neck, where he showed two shallow horizontal gashes which had cut open the muscular mass superficially. A third gash, which had probably followed the preceding ones, had been caused by an extremely violent blow, and had cut through all the neck muscles as far as the cervical vertebrae. This third gash extended from the back of the neck, as far as a perpendicular line drawn from the lobe of the right ear. The resulting wound was gaping widely. All the small vessels which had been cut had, however, been closed by the formation of obliterating clots. “ (2) The two wrists hung suspended only by a few tendons of the back of the fore-arm. The soft parts and the two bones on each side had been cut clean through by a violent blow of a matchet. “ (3) The wounded man had also sustained on the back, to the right of the vertebral canal, and in the neighbourhood of the kidneys, three other blows from a cutting instrument, which had produced purely muscular but fairly deep wounds.” This native, after a preliminary dressing, was sent to the ambulance at Edea on the following day, the 21st of August, by the evacuating convoy. Gesland. Ngwe, the 2nd of September, 1915. No. 7. EAST AFRICA. The governor OF THE EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE to the SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES. Government House, Nairobi, Sir, British East Africa, 11th December, 1914. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a copy of the Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry into the treatment of wounded by German forces. I have, &c., C. C. BOWRING, Governor’s Deputy. Enclosure in No. 7. Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry held at Kedongai by order of Captain H. H Sandbach, Commanding East Africa Mounted Rifles, on 29th September, 1914, to inquire into the alleged shooting of our wounded by the enemy on the 25th September. President. Major H. S. Laverton. Members. Captain Bingley. Lieut. E. D. A. Gooch. The Court having assembled proceed to take evidence. 1st Evidence . — Lieut, the Hon. A. Bailey, having been duly sworn, states that : On the 25th, during the action on the southern slope of the Ingito Hills, I had orders to retire my men and leave one section on the left to hold the enemy. As I was about to retire, I met Sergeant Simpson who told me my men had gone back. I then saw Lance-Corporal Barridge standing by Trooper Elliot. I said, “ Is he hit ? ” and he replied, “ Yes, may I stay with him ? ” I replied, “ Bring him out 73 quickly, if you can, on a mule.” I then went and saw no more of either of the two men. A. Bailey. 2nd Evidence . — Sergeant J. J. Scally, East Africa Mounted Rifles, having been duly sworn, states that ; During the action on the 25th September, I received orders to retire, and, on going about twenty yards to the rear, I saw Trooper Elliot lying on the ground. I asked him where he was hit, and he replied, “ Through the leg.” I said, “ Can’t you move at all,” and he said, “ No.” I said, “ We are retiring and you are lietter ofl where you are, and if you try to move you will be hit again.” When I left him he was perfectly sensible. J. J. Scally. ^rd Evidence . — Trooper W. Hesseltine, Mgadi Defence Force, having been duly sworn, states that : During the action on the 25th September I was about the last to leave in our centre. As I was retiring I saw Lance-Corporal Barridge stooping over a wounded man, whom I afterwards learnt was Trooper Elliot, and the last thing I saw was Barridge falling. About half a minute before Barridge fell, I saw Elliot moving his head. I had previously heard Barridge call out to our men, “ Don’t shoot this way, there are wounded men here ”; then he turned round, waved his arm and spoke to the Germans, and evidently pointing out wounded men to them. He had no rifle in his hands at the time. W. Hesseltine. ^th Evidence. — Captain C. J. Wilson, Medical Officer, East Africa Mounted Rifles, having been duly sworn, states : On the morning of the 26th I visited the scene of the fight, and, as far as I know, was the first person to do so. I found, myself, seven bodies lying in the bush, and the men with me afterwards found the eighth body. Trooper Elliot’s body was identified by one of the men with me; on him I found three separate wounds, one through the lower part of the thigh, one in the right cheek, apparently caused by a bullet which had come out at the back of the head, taking away a large part of the skull, and a third, a clean wound on the left of the neck, and was such a wound as might have been caused by a bayonet or knife but could not have been caused by a bullet. In my opinion, I do not con- sider that the wound in the leg could have caused his death. I found Trooper Buffer had a wound on the left side of the chest and a bayonet wound on the left side under the ribs. All the other wounded had only one wound each which I saw, all of which had apparently caused instantaneous death. As regards the body of Trooper Sommerville, I found a wound high up on the right side of the chest, which, in my opinion, was where the buffet had entered. It was larger than to be caused by an ordinary solid-nosed buffet, and the wound of exit on the right side of the back was large and jagged, and, in my opinion, the wound was caused by a soft- nosed buffet. C. J. Wilson. 5th Evidence. — Sergeant A. J. Simpson, East Africa Mounted Rifles, having been duly sworn, states that : During the action on the 25th September I passed close to Trooper Elliot on my way across to the left flank. He was lying on his back and I asked him what was the matter, and he replied : “I am shot through the leg.” I never saw him again tiff next morning, when I found him lying in the same spot with a buffet wound through the head and what I should say was a bayonet wound through the back. A. J. Simpson. Opinion. Having carefully considered the above evidence, the Court are of opinion that there is not sufficient evidence to show that our wounded were deliberately put to death, but the Court is of opinion that the enemy were using soft-nosed buffets. President : H. S. Laverton, Major, East Africa Mounted Rifles. Members: A. C. Bingley, Captain, Officer Commanding “ E ” Squadron, East Africa Mounted Rifles. E. D. A. Gooch, Lieutenant, “ A ” Squadron, East Africa Mounted Rifles. 7976 K 74 No. 8. COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE. Downing Street, Sir, 7th March, 1916. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Bonar Law to request you to inform Sir E. Grey that in the War Diary of the General Officer Commanding, East Africa, the following appears under date 1st January, 1916 : “ Our motor ambulance was attacked on the Tsavo-Mgima road yesterday morning, four miles from Crater Hill. The driver was killed and one of the occupants wounded. The ambulance was clearly marked in several places . with the Geneva Cross and was flying a Red Cross flag.” I am, &c., H. J. READ. GERMAN SOUTH-WEST AFRICA, No. 9. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN GENERAL LOUIS BOTHA and the GERMAN MILITARY AUTHORITIES. I. (Received in Colonial Office from the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, 19th April, 1915.) Headquarters of the Forces of the Union of South Africa in the Field. Sir, 13th February, 1915. I HAVE the honour to address the following communication to you in connec- tion with certain matters which have come to my notice. I am unaware if the fact is within your personal knowledge, but on the occupa- tion of Swakopmund by the forces under my command it was discovered that six wells from which water was to be drawn for human consumption had been poisoned by means of arsenic. In some instances bags full of the poison were found in the wells. This act is, as of course you are aware, a violation of the terms of Article XXIII. {a) of the Hague Reglement, which “ especially forbids ” the employment of “ poison or poisoned weapons ” as a means of injuring an enemy. I have no doubt that the forthcoming campaign will be conducted with the fullest vigour by the soldiers of either party, and with the energy which every country expects from those who fight its battles, but I venture to hope that you will sternly discountenance the continuance of such a disgraceful practice as that to which I have referred. If the practice is persisted in, I shall, though with reluctance, employ such measures of reprisal, by the destruction of property or other means, as may seem to be advisable. After the war has ceased, however, whatever its outcome may be, in South Africa the people of both countries will presumably continue to live in close proximity to each other, and while, as I have said, the campaign will no doubt be prosecuted with vigour on both sides, I shall be glad to know that I can rely on your co-operation to prevent any bitterness which is avoidable. Any repetition of the shameful occurrence to which I have referred will pro- duce a feeling on the part of the troops- 1 command which will lead to regrettable actions which it is entirely within your power to avoid by discountenancing practices which, while perhaps causing unnecessary loss of life, will not retard by a moment my advance, nor deter my troops from doing their duty. In the meantime, I must hold the Officer Commanding the German troops at Swakopmund or at the military post nearest to that olace at the date of our occupa- tion as responsible for the act of poisoning to which I have referred. Failing this officer, the responsibility must, of course, rest on the officer in supreme command. I shall similarly regard any officer responsible, and, being responsible, as liable to pay any proper penalty for his act, who resorts to such actions in the future, I 75 trust, however, that my representations to you will result in your troops refraining from such deeds. I have, &c., LOUIS BOTHA, General, Commanding-in-Chief the Forces of the Union of South Africa in the Field. The Officer Commanding the German Forces in German South-West Africa. II. (Received from the Governor- General of the Union of South Africa, 19th April, 1915.) Extract.* (Translation.) Karibib, Deae Sir, 21st February, 1915. I ACKNOWLEDGE receipt of your writing of the 13th February, 1915. You have not seen fit at the time to reply to my predecessor’s complaint that troops under your command were carrying on warfare in a manner which is contrary to international law. Nevertheless, I would not hesitate for a moment to inform you of the punisli- ment of any person guilty of such a crime, if such person existed on our side, but I am sorry to say that you have been the victim of a gross deception. You and your troops know that since the beginning of the campaign (and you may convince yourself of this by referring to the papers published in your own country) the troops under my command have orders, if they can possibly prevent it, not to allow any water supplies to fall into the hands of the enemy in a form which allows such supplies to be used by either men or beasts. Accordingly the officer who was in charge when Swakopmiind was evacuated had several sacks of cooking salt thrown into the wells. These are your “ bag full of poison.” As you allowed us the necessary time, we tested the water by letting human beings and animals drink it, but we found that the salting of the water could be rendered ineffective in a short time. Thereafter we tried kopper dip, and we found that by using this material any enemy occupying the town would for some time have to rely on water brought from elsewhere. As this method would not prevent careless people drinking the water, a notice was put up in terms of instructions at every place which had thus been dealt with, and thereby all possibility of inflicting injury to the health of the enemy by unchi valrous means was forestalled. I know that I can rely on my officers, but in this case I went further, and sent the oldest officer of my staff to Swakopmund to examine what had been done. He reports to me that he saw these notices before the town was occupied by the enemy. Please convince yourself of this fact by asking any “ gentleman ” amongst your troops who was present when Swakopmund was occupied, and then judge who fights herewith “ poisoned weapons ” by misrepresenting facts and hiding the main points of the issue. ^ m * * * * * With regard to your threats, I think I am acting in terms of your wish^ if I publish them broadcast, but I fear that they, as well as your captain, with his well known “ Remember,” will only cause hilarity among the population of German South-West Africa. With greatest esteem, General, I have, &c., Franke. To the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, The Troops of the Union of South Africa. General Louis Botha. * Colonial Office Note: The documents marked “Extract” contained passages dealing with other matters ; these passages. have been omitted. 76 III. (Received from the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, ' 19th April, 1915.) Extract. General Officer Gommanding-in-Chief, Union Defence Forces in the Field, Swakopmund, Sir, 28th February, 1915. I HAVE the honour to inform you that your letter of the 21st February, in reply to my communication of the 13th idem, has reached me to-day from my outposts. I note your explanation as to the use of poison in the 'water at Swakopmund, and regret to observe that the action apparently receives your support. I had hoped that at least your higher authorities would express their regret for the occurrence. As a trained regular military officer of long experience you must be aware that the terms of Article XXIII. (a) of the Hague Reglement, already quoted by me, are an absolute prohibition of the use of poison, under any conditions whatever, and that no matter how many notices may be displayed, the breach of international law and the offence against the customs of civilised warfare are in no degree lessened by a statement to the enemy that the breach and offence have been committed. I must therefore adhere to my statement that I hold the Officer Commanding the German Colonial troops in German South-West Africa personally responsible for this disregard of civilised usage. I would observe, incidentally, that from the reports of my officers, whom I see no reason to disbelieve, no notices were to be found at the water when our forces reached it. I also beg to reiterate my hope that the forces under your command will refrain from similar actions in future. ^ ^ -V- -V- -v- ^ "n* -Tv* ^ ^ ^ '7*' As regards the last paragraph of your letter, I regret that I do not follow the allusion to the “ Captain,” and prefer to think that the more responsible and reasonable section of the German population in German South-West Africa will regard a protest against the use of poison with less “ hilarity ” and more concern than your remarks would lead me to suppose. I have, &c., Louis Botha. Lieutenant-Colonel Franke, Commanding the German Colonial Forces in German South-West Africa, Karibib. IV. (Received from the Governor- General of the Union of South Africa, 22nd May, 1915.) Command of Imperial Troops of the Protectorate of German South-West Africa to the Commander of the Troops of the Union, General Louis Botha. Extract. Windhuk, Dear Sir, 11th March, 1915. I CANNOT agree with your interpretation of Article 23 of the Hague Con- vention. “ Poisoning ” I understand to mean secretly adding matter which is injurious to the health of human beings. What, on the other hand, has been done with my permission, and will continue to be done, is merely effecting a change in the natural condition of the water in order to deprive the enemy of the use of this means of existence, which under South African conditions can only be replaced with difficulty. If your officers fail to pay attention to notice-boards measuring 25 by 50 centimetres you must order that your troops in future are only to use water in German South-West Africa after it has been chemically examined. ******* I have, &c., Franke. Photograph of the message sent by Captain Kruger, referred to on page 77. The translation of the message is as follows : — Gabib (meaning the patrol at Gabib) has been instructed so “ far as possible to contaminate the Ida Mine. Observe extreme “ caution on entering Swakop and Ida Mine, and do not water there “ any more.” 7976 i ■ -'t ■y •^f i "'In. •t •=- jT 77 V. (Received from the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, 3rd May, 1915.) Extract. Field General Headquarters, Union Forces, Sir, 22nd March, 1915. I HAVE the honour to inform you that I am in possession of the following- message sent by Captain Kruger, of the Forces under your command, on the 10th instant, to Outpost, P forte : — “ The patrol Gabib has been instructed thoroughly to infect with disease the Ida Mine. Approach Swakop and Ida Mine with extreme caution and do not water there any more.” I have questioned most carefully educated officers and men among the prisoners I have recently captured from you, and while they all express disgust and horror at the idea, they agree in saying that “ to infect with disease ” is a correct translation of the original, and the only conclusion possible is that water has again been poisoned by the introduction on this occasion of bacterial matter designed to produce an epidemic of disease, and that this has once more been done by the forces under your command. I know you by repute as a gallant soldier and cannot bring myself to believe that you countenance such a practice as that to which I refer above. The employ- ment of poison is, as I have before pointed out, a gross breach of the laws which govern civilised warfare and is a cowardly method of injuring an enemy to which no soldier should stoop. There may be some explanation of the message which may throw a different light upon the matter, and, if this is so, I shall welcome such an explanation. If no explanation is forthcoming, may I once more ask that you will set your face against such practices and instruct your forces to abstain from such acts, which can only bring dishonour on their action and their service. I shall be glad to receive your early assurance that you have forbidden the use of poison and that you will deal severely with any contravention of your orders. As the matter appears to stand, and in view of the fact that a recent Reglement provides that nations must accept responsibility for the illegal acts of their soldiers, it will be necessary at the conclusion of hostilities to consider carefully the action of Captain Kruger in the matter with which this letter deals. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ I have, &c., Louis Botha, General, Commanding-in-Chief the Forces of the Union of South Africa in the Field. Lieutenant-Colonel Franke, Commanding German Colonial Forces, German South-West Africa. VI. (Received from the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, 22nd May, 1915.) Extract. Telegram. From General Botha, Swakopmund, to Defence, Capetown. IQth April, 1915. 0210. Following for repetition from self to Governor Seitz, Windhuk, begins : ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ •VT* "A* •TT Tv* ^ ^ Been compelled advise your military commander reserve to myself right to destroy anything as act of reprisal for flagrant breach of Hague Convention by poisoning water which spite representations Colonel Franke tells me he will persist in. Suggest you peruse correspondence this subject between Colonel Franke and myself when feel sure you will throw weight your influence against cowardly practice which will disgrace your nation. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ■A* ends. 78 VII. (Received from the Governor- General of the Union of South Africa, 22nd May, 1915.) Extract, Translation of German Radio message from Seitz, Windhuk, to General Botha, Cape ToTvn, handed in at Windhuk at 5.15 p.m., and received here at 5.16 p.m. on the 23rd April, 1915. In reply to your telegram,* I beg respectfully to inform you of the following : It is not true that we have ever used poison to make waterplaces useless. VIII. (Received from the Governor- General of the Union of South Africa, 5th August, 1915.) General Headquarters of the Forces of the Union of South Africa in the Field, 19th June, 1915. Your Excellency, With much regret I find myself compelled to bring to the notice of Your Excellency a further instance of water poisoning by the German troops. The delay in advising Your Excellency of this case has been a consequence of my desire to be sure as to all the relative facts before taking any steps. I am now in possession of full details and sworn statements. The latter have been sent to my Government for transmission — as in previous similar instances — to the British Government. On the farm Bulsbout on the Swakop river, on the 1st May, 1915, on the occasion of the last advance by my troops, water from two wells, on being tested by the trained analysts — whose services are necessary with all portions of my forces in consequence of the systematic poisoning resorted to by Your Excellency’s troops — gave a strong arsenic reaction. The water from these wells was thus dangerous to human life, and, no doubt, had it been used for drinking in its strongly poisoned condition, as at any time might have occurred, the death of some of my soldiers would have been the result. I merely bring this to Your Excellency’s notice and do not desire to labour the point of the breaches of the Hague Convention which have been committed in con- sequence of the deliberate policy of poisoning adopted by the Commander of Your Excellency’s military forces, for my views have been fully and clearly expressed in this connection already. Though the death of Union soldiers by means of poison will have no influence on the campaign, I feel it once more incumbent upon me to ask Your Excellency to consider if such methods are politic; as to their inhumanity there can be no doubt. It will be necessary for my troops again to advance, and I should be glad to think that the fight can be fought fairly and cleanly. Though the placing of notices on poisoned water does not in the smallest degree lessen the breach of international war law committed by the use of poison, which is unconditionally forbidden, the Commander of Your Excellency’s forces has on a l)revious occasion stated that instructions had been given that notices of poison were to be displayed. The most careful search on the occasion to which I refer above failed to reveal any trace whatever of warning notices. I have, &c., Louis Botha, General, Commanding-in-Chief the Forces of the Union of South Africa in the Field. His Excellency Dr. Seitz, Imperial Governor, German South-West Africa. First Witness. Gideon Daniel Pienaar, sworn, states — I am a Lieutenant in Keidelherg “ B ” Commando, Right Wing, Second Mounted Brigade. I was in charge of the Advance Guard on 1st of May, 1915, when our Commando proceeded up Swakop River and * No. VI. 79 reached the farm Bullshout. We got there about 12.30 p.m. I have been shewn Map 15, and f. 5. would about indicate the true situation of farm aforementioned. The Analyst accompanied my troops and we were together when the farm Bullsbout was reached. Then we took immediate steps to examine and investigate all water supplies. On the homestead there are in all six wells, with two windmills. Our investigations commenced with windmill No. 1 to side of “ Packhouse ” (the central building in sketch). This windmill is connected by a pipe with well Alfha and also by a pipe with Reservoir A. The latter will be about 20 feet by 20 feet in area and is a strong cement work. All water samples taken from windmill here referred to and from well Alpha and Reservoir A. were found to be absolutely pure and uncontaminated. The Reservoir A . was completely full up to the top on our visit. We then proceeded to windmill No. 2, situate as in sketch about 250 yards N.W. from central packhouse. This windmill No. 2 is connected by pipes with a well Beta and by a pipe with another Reservoir B. The latter reservoir will be about 25 feet by 25 feet in area and also is a strongly cemented work. All samples of water taken from this source were found pure and uncontami- nated. Then we proceeded to well Gamma in which the water is raised by a hand syphon pump. Well Gamma is situate on sketch about 200 yards from Reservoir A . Water sample taken gave very strong arsenic reactions. In my presence Analyst Loxton tested this well three times in succession to ensure correct report. It was strongly poisoned. I then saw that the well was marked. Then we proceeded to well Delta, wherefrom water is raised by handpump. There we also got a sample of water and analyst also reported it as strongly poisoned. We also marked this well. G. D. Pienaar, Lieut. Gideon Daniel Pienaar, continued ; — The first dynamite discovered was on top of No. 1 windmill, and it was set with a detonator so that it could go off directly by any swift turn of wheel. I instructed Burgher Smith of my troop to remove charge and he did so. There were twelve sticks in the charge. Then Burgher Smith was sent by me to examine windmill No. 2, on which a similar charge of nine sticks of dynamite were discovered. I subsequently discovered about the homestead several contact and fuse mines unexploded. Just about this time Colonel Collins and Brigade Major Brink came up and in their presence we found in the packhouse as aforementioned (central in figure) a box of detonators, about 500 sticks of dynamite, and a quantity of fuse. Here also we found a garden spray and a large quantity of arsenic. G. D. Pienaar, Lieut. Sworn before me at Camp of 9th M.B.F.A., at Okasise, this 6th day of June, 1915. J.P. for Cradock, C.P,, Okasise, 6th June, 1915. P. Skinner-Clark, Major, S.A.M.C., 0/C 9th M.B.F.A. Second Witness. Vernon Thomas Loxton, sworn, states : — I am Sergt. Analyst attached for duty to Right Wing of Second Mounted Brigade. I generally accompany advance guard and on morning of May 1st, 1915, I was in company of Lieut. Pienaar of Heidelberg “ B ” Commando, when we reached the farm Bullsbout. I have been shewn Map 15, and F. 5 would approximately express the true situation of farm referred to by me as Bullsbout. We reached farm about 12.30 p.m. and I immediately commenced testing water samples. I have had the evidence of Lieut Pienaar read over to me and I endorse the whole of his statements. I have also seqn and examined the rough map-sketch made out by Major Skinner-Clark and am of the opinion that this sketch is as approximate to real positions as could be. It is a true representation. Water samples from wells Alpha and Beta and from Reservoirs A. and B. were tested by me and were found free from any contamination or poison. Water samples were safely drinkable. Water samples from Gamma and Delta wells were then tested repeatedly, and from both strong arsenic reactions were obtained. Copper testing plates were almost black. I was of the opinion that they had been deliberately poisoned by a strong solution of arsenite of sodium. I saw and examined the several 80 parcels of dynamite found strewn about homestead. I also saw detonators, fuses, and dynamite attached to Windmill. I subsequently discovered an unopened box of sodium arsenite (and so marked) containing from 60 to 70 lbs., together with a garden spray. V. T. Loxton, Sgt. Analyst. Sworn before me this 6th day of June, 1915, at Camp of 9th M.B.F.A., at Okasise. P. Skinner-Clark, Major, S.A.M.C., O/C 9th M.B.F.A., J.P. for Cradock. Sergeant V. T. Loxton, sworn, states : — Further to my evidence given before Major Skinner-Clark, on the 6th June, 1915, in connection wJth the poisoned wells at Bullsbout, I did not see any notice stating that the water in the wells was poisoned, although I looked for such notices. I was with the advance guard, and was with the first party to visit the wells. Lieutenant Pienaar, Private Smith, and Sergeant- Major Frazer were with me, and were the first of our troops at the wells. None of them reported the presence of notices on the wells, marking them poisoned. V. T. Loxton, Sergt. Analyst, Attached to 2nd Mounted Brigade. Karibib, 15th June, 1915. Sworn before me this 15th day of June at the Offices of the D.A.D.M.S., Karibib. G. D. Maynard, Major, D.A.D.M.S., Northern Force, IX. (Received from the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, 18th August, 1915.) Extract. 25th June, 1915. Your High Well Born, I acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant. ******* You again refer to the alleged contravention of the Hague Convention by poisoning water. I must place on record that water places have in our country to be regarded as war material, which will assist the enemy, and may therefore be destroyed- Accordingly when the Union troops began to invade the Protectorate, the la‘c Commander of the Army of the Protectorate, with my sanction, ordered that, should our troops retire, the water holes were to be rendered useless. We never thought of poisoning the water holes, for in the few isolated cases where, owing to lack of other means. Cooper’s dip, imported from the South African Union, has been used, the health and lives of your people have been safeguarded by the erection of warning signs at the water holes rendered useless through Cooper’s dip. This has already been communicated to you by the Officer Commanding in his letter of the 11th March last, and he has laid special stress on the fact that he reserves to himself the right also in future to render water useless. The order to use poison as a means to carry on war has never been given. On the contrary, the use of poison has been specially prohibited. By the measures we took, we only intended to render water unfit for use. There never existed the intention to poison human beings. Any charge of such a nature I absolutely spurn. With reference to the alleged poisoning of the water hole on the farm “ Bulbout,” I beg to say that this, if it is a fact, cannot be laid at the door of our troops. Above all, I must ask you in no way to connect this action with the Officer Commanding of our troops. The Officer Commanding has never given an order to poison a water hole, and would never have allowed such a thing if it had been brought to his knowledge Yours obediently, Seitz, Imperial Governor To General Botha. 81 No. 10. (Received from the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, 6th May, 1916.) To His Honour the Administrator of the Protectorate of South West Africa. Report of Commission of Enquiry into the Treatment of Prisoners of War by THE German Protectorate Authorities during the late Hostilities. The Commission was appointed by Government Notice No. 28 of 20th October, 1915, by the Military Governor to enquire into and report upon the treatment received during internment — {a) By members of the Union Forces who were captured by the German Pro- tectorate Forces during the recent hostilities in this territory and held as prisoners of war. (5) By non-combatants of British and other nationalities who were resident in this territory when war broke out and were detained by the German Protectorate authorities as so-called political prisoners. The Commission sat at Otavifontein on 4th, 5tk, and 6th November, at Tsumeb, on 8th November, and at Windhuk on 11th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 29th, and 30th November. Hauptmann Schmidt, of the Imperial German Army, and Herr Regieruingsrat Karlowa appeared before the Commission on behalf of the German Protectorate authorities and cross-examined witnesses and called rebutting evidence. Facilities were given them to call the necessary witnesses. The Commission took all available evidence (avoiding mere repetition), in the Protectorate of members of the Union Defence Force and civilian prisoners of war, and now presents the following report along with the notes of evidence taken and annexures, including a statement handed in by the German representatives. As a result of the evidence led before us we are satisfied that there was on the part of the German authorities a complete lack of organisation and preparedness for the reception of prisoners of war, and it is to this fact we must attribute some of the difficulties and trouble that arose. The Officer commanding the German troops in the field was alone responsible for their custody and treatment, but he had naturally very little time to devote to the matter. The various internment camps were situated in different districts of great extent, and each fell under the control of the Etappen Kommander or military officer in charge of the district, but he seems to have been merely a medium of communication between the commanding officer and the camp commandant. In the hands of the latter was the real control. There was no proper central control and no one to give a quick decision in such complaints as insufficiency of food, and there was no system of general inspection, medical or otherwise. Such a lack of system is all the more remarkable in a people always famed for the efficiency of their organisation. The difficulties were increased by the situation of some of the camps, especially that of Fransfontein, where the main body of the combatant prisoners were confined. To make it inaccessible to the advance of the Union troops, and to make escapes difficult, it was put in the wilds, well to the west of the railway, and as a result the forwarding of supplies over a bad road was a matter of great difficulty. Most of the combatant prisoners were taken after the fight at Sandfontein, and the evidence put before us was chiefly from this source. After the surrender they were most courteously treated by Col. von Heydebreck, the German Commanding Officer, who congratulated them on their gallantry and promised them good treat- ment, and there is no doubt that he was sincere in this. Flis death shortly after- wards was a matter to be regretted by the prisoners of war. After the fight the British wounded were attended to by two of their own doctors, Holcroft and Dalton, and were put under shelter for the night. They had some stretchers, most of which were borrowed and used by the Germans for their own wounded, with the result that serious cases had to lie on the floor. The only lamp the doctors had was also borrowed by the Germans, and the Union doctors had to dress their wounded in the dark. They had two ambulance wagons, the mules of which were borrowed by the Germans to transport their own wounded L 7976 82 to the hospital at Warmbad and afterwards sent back, the British wounded in consequence getting to hospital some thirty-six hours later than the German. The rule throughout was apparently — Germans first. After they reached hospital the British wounded were in all cases well cared for and treated. The Union doctors wei-e not sent back to their own lines. Dr. Holcroft was sent to Outjo with the officers, and Dr. Dalton to Fransfontein with the men. The unwounded prisoners were marched to the railhead, and part of the escort consisted of mounted and armed natives. A German officer told Capt. Welby, in pi’esence of Lieut. Scott, that if they attempted to escape they would be followed and shot by the natives. This is a breach of the etiquette of war between white races in South Africa. At the railhead the officers and men were separated, and the remainder of this report will deal with ; — I. Officers, II. N.C.O.'s and Men. III, Officers and Political Prisoners in Windhuk Gaol, IV. Political Prisoners at Okanjande, V. Native Prisoners. I. Officers. The officers on reaching Windhuk were marched to the Civil Gaol. They protested strongly against this, and after two hours’ detention they were given quarters in the Fort. There the senior officer, Capt. Welby, sent in a complaint against the first day's rations, which certainly did not err on the side of plenty. The following morning they were paraded in the Fort, when Dr. Seitz, the Governor of the Protectorate, rode up and addressed them in a state of indignation against the officers and theii' complaint, his whole tone and demeanour being in a very marked contrast to that of Col. von Heydebreck. He used words to the following enect, speaking in English ; — “ I understand you have made a complaint about your rations. You should be very thankful for what you get. We did not invite you to this coLintiy. ^ You invaded our country and fought us with natives. You also used dum-dum bullets at Sandfontein, and now you complain of your food. We are not like you English people, with your beefsteaks and your ham and eggs. We are a frugal people; we have a small piece of bread and some coffee for breakfast, but you English must have your beefsteaks and 3 mur ham and eggs.” On Capt. Welby remonstrating with him and pointing out that they did not get the rations they were entitled to, Dr. Seitz said, “ It’s a lie,” and again referred to our using natives against them. He said it was a shame that we should come into his country, and that it was a lie that we were escorted by armed natives from Sandfontein. In our opinion language such as this used by an official in Dr. Seitz’s position to officer lu’isoners of war is an unjustifiable indignity. The next day the rations were increased. Subsequently when written complaints were sent to Dr. Seitz complain- ing of insufficient rations no answers were received. Fro-m Windhuk the officers were removed to the camp at Outjo on 4th October. There they undoubted^ suffered from insufficiency of food. The evidence of Dr. Holcroft was not available, but from the character and intelligence of the witnesses, as well as the figures they gave us, we entertain no doubt on the point. The evidence of loss of weight by the officers was very significant. Capt. Hale, who is a very spare man, lost 14 lbs., and Lieut Gwatkin, who went into the field in very hard condition after a strenuous football season, had by March lost 21 lbs., a weight he had not been down to for fifteen years. Numerous complaints, written and verbal, were made, but no substantial redress was made. In the early part of 1915, when Col. Franke was in the neighbourhood, he visited the camp at the request of Capt. Welby. He listened to the complaint, satisfied himself that the officers were under- fed, and told his adjutant that the ration was not sufficient and must be increased. The latter replied that it could not be done, as the scale was fixed by Dr. Seitz’s order, and no increase was made. No evidence was led by the German representatives to controvert this, although Dr. Seitz and Col. Franke, the late Governor and Com- mander respectively, are still in the Protectorate. Between them must lie the responsibilitv for the insufficient food issued to the prisoners. It was suggested at the enquiry that the reason was that supplies were short, but no evidence was led in support of this, and it appears from the evidence supplied by the office of Col. Harvey, the A.Q.IM.G. of the Union, that at the surrender more than two months’ supplies of 83 grocery rations for the German troops were taken over, without allowing for a certain amount that might have disappeared at that time, while the supply of meat in the country was practically unlimited. After the escape of Lieutenant Wakefield and Lieutenant Gwatkin, the rations of the remainder were cut down. Hauptmann Trainer, staff officer to Col. Franke, in his evidence explained that this was done not as a punishment but as a disciplinary measure. The distinction is a fine one, but what is apparently meant is that it was to prevent saving up rations with a view to escape. There was no evidence that this had been done or could be done in view of the limited ration, and this step seems to be quite unwarranted. The proper precaution is to restrict the liberty of the remain- ing prisoners, and this w^as effectually done, but it was accompanied by sanitary arrangements which were extremely offensive, a very real grievance which continued for some weeks before it was remedied. The officers were treated with courtesy by the German officers in charge of them. To this there was one marked exception in the conduct of Lieut, von Stulpnagel, who was camp commandant for some time. His whole treatment of his prisoners was harsh and irritating, and he went out of his way to make himself disagreeable. This fact does not seem to be in dispute. He was in Windhuk during the sittings of the Commission, and was not called as a witness. The officers were removed from Outjo, to avoid the British advance on 18th May. Hauptmann Ohlenschlager, the then Commandant, read out an order that they must give their parole not to escape on the journey to the railway at Otjiwarongo or they would be put in chains at night. They indignantly refuvsed and protested. The Commandant apologised for the order and eventually arranged that they completed the whole journey in daylight, and so obviated the necessity of carrying it out. This order was an unjustifiable indignity to the prisoners. Who is respon- sible for it is not clear. Col. Franke ordered special precautions, but afterwards disclaimed ordering chains, and Hauptmann Ohlenschlager apologised for it. Between them it passed through the hands of Major Wehle, Etappen Kommander, who may be responsible for it. After spending a night at Otjiworongo under very unsavoury and filthy condi- tions, the officers were sent north and detained at Namutoni until they were released on 6th July. They were kept on the same reduced diet until 26th June, when for the first time they received a full ration and began putting on flesh rapidly. By a singular coincidence the N.C.O.’s and men who were then at Otavifontein also received a full ration for the first time on the same date, while the political prisoners in camp at Okahandja, which was further south and earlier reached by the Union troops, received a similar concession on 23rd May. It was denied by one of the German witnesses, but the inference is almost irresistible that this extraordinary coincidence of concessions was due to the advance of General Botha’s army and the prospect of release. II. N.C.O.’s AND Men. After a short stay at Windhuk in quarters that could not be called suitable or sanitary, the men were sent on to Camp at Fransfontein, lying some eighty miles to the north-west of Outjo. Here we have again the same story of short rations, reduced almost to starvation point. The German Director of Supplies, Intendanturrat von Lagiewski, gave evidence as to the rationing of the German troops. It appears that they make a very proper distinction between field troops and garrison troops, the former drawing a fuller ration, but all the German troops in the campaign drew a field ration, even although merely guarding prisoners. He gave us a scale of diet drawn up for the prisoners on 6th October after consultation with the German medical officers. How that scale works out in practice we are not prepared to say. We are satisfied that the men did not receive it but something considerably less. All the figures as to rations we got from the men and all the general evidence support this statement. Lieutenant Meyer Gossler, the camp commandant, frankly admits in his evidence that the prisoners only got half the rations that the German troops got, and that they lost weight in consequence. We listened at first with surprise almost amounting to incredulity to a series of witnesses detailing that they were so hungry that any exertion made them feel faint, of men waiting in a queue for hours for the privilege of catching blood when an ox was killed, of boiling the soft parts of the hide to extract nourishment from it, and other evidence of a ravenous feeling, but we were soon able to satisfy ourselves that it was all true and that the men were most of the time M 797fi 84 in a half-starved condition. The older men stood it better, but the younger men were very much distressed. The evidence of the men was fully borne out by Dr. Dalton, Captain in the S.A.M.C., who was in medical charge. He gave his evidence with some heat engendered by his recollection of his experiences, but we look -upon him as a thoroughly reliable witness. In our opinion the men suffered very consider- able and quite unnecessary hardship through the issue of insufficient rations at Outjo; but they picked up again very quickly on the issue of full rations, and we have no evidence of any permanent ill-effects. We recognise that in some cases at least as a matter of temperament men will suffer from the effects of confinement, and we make allowance for that fact in making the above statement. The scarcity of food was aggravated by the shortage of shelter and of clothing. Only one-third of the men could sleep under shelter at night. Now we know that in a climate like that of Fransfontein it is no hardship to sleep out of nights provided you are sufficiently clad and that it does not rain or is not too cold. These men were there during the rainy season, and before they left in the middle of May it was getting very sharp at night. They were insufficiently clad, for most of them had only one blanket, and many of them were short of trousers and boots. Clothing soon wore out, and the men could not replace it on repayment as the officers could. Many of them wanting trousers had to go about in kilts or loin cloths of sacking, and wore sandals of raw hide. The absence of boots was a genuine hardship, and many of the men suffered from septic sores on their feet, some of them very severe, caused by wounds from the rough quartz ground on which the camp lay. There was no scarcity of clothing in stock, as is shown by the evidence from the Union Quartermaster’s Department, but the issues were quite inadequate. The men were gradually re-clothed, some before they left the camp in the middle of May, but all not before they were sent to Otavifontein, and even Tsumeb, shortly before their release. We have evidence of men making the railway journey to Otavifontein clad in helmet, tunic, shirt, loin cloth and sandals, a spectacle for the women and natives who saw them on the road. We ma}^ safely say that the experience of the N.C.O.’s and m.en was a very severe one. They came through it with surprisingly little sickness. That this was so is due to their being picked men in the prime of life and that the situation of the camp was a healthy one. It is fortunate that sickness was so slight, for the hospital arrangements were rudimentary and the supply of medicine totally inade- quate, in spite of repeated remonstrances from Dr. Dalton. From Outjo the men were sent to Otavifontein on 18th May. There they all slept in the open, but fortunately most were by this time better clad, for it can be very cold there by the water in May and June. The reduced rations were continued till 26th June, when Col. Franke apologised for the previous shortage. He said it was not by his orders but was caused by a misunderstanding, and thev received full rations thiat dav for the first time, to their great satisfaction. From there they were removed to Tsumeb. where for ten days before their release they lay in a barbed-wire enclosure miserably inadequate in extent and with sanitary arrangements so disgust- ing that a longer detention was almost certain to have led to a serious outbreak of sickness, but it was evidentlv only intended as a temporarv place of detention. III. Officers and Political Prisoners in Windhuk Gaol. Windhuk Gaol is the best prison in the Protectorate. We have examined it, and are of opinion that it cannot be called a good prison according to modern ideas of penal treatment. The appliances for seclusion and restraint are in some cases almost medieval. It was infested by bugs, which, in spite of many efforts, have not yet been wholly eradicated. The sanitary arrangements were orimitive. The chief gaoler was a man, Meyer, who it is hardly denied was very harsh and almost brutal in his manner. He seems to have been as temperamentally unfit to have control of prisoners as gaoler as Lieut, von Stulpnagel was in his capacity as camp commandant, while Herr Todt, the visiting magistrate, did not strike us as being at all a sympathetic person. In this gaol were confined for different periods and under varying conditions a number of British officers, including Capt. Lembcke. of the British Army, Capt. Borrius of the Defence Force, Capt. Gearv, 1st S.A.M.R.. and Capt. Munro, 5th S.A.M.R. Capt. Lembcke seems to have been in some respects favourably treated, for we have the evidence of a German officer that he was detailed to take him along with Mr. Scotland, a political prisoner, out for drives. The worst case is that of Capt. Geary. He was taken prisoner at Sandfontein. where he was acting as Intelligence Officer of “ A ” column. Although in uniform he was subjected to the following indignities ; (1) He was confined in a civil gaol and not under military detention. (2) He was kept in solitary confinement for six and a half months in a cell 13 x 7 feet. (3) The cell was infested with bugs, and the whole surroundings were unsavoury and insanitary. (4) His food was coarse and insuffi- cient. (5) He was treated harshly and callously, and was threatened with confine- ment in a dark cell if he was found looking out of his window or speaking to anyone. (6) He was only allowed a short period of exercise morning and evening, and that in a yard along with convicted criminals. (7) No charge was laid against him, and no heed was paid to his protests. As a result of his treatment he has been on sick leave since his release. He has recently been passed by a Medical Board as fit for service, but he still bears evident traces of the hardships he has suffered. The Germans regarded him as dangerous, and were entitled to take special precautions. Their proper course was to subject him to strict military detention under civilised conditions. The steps they took, and persisted in deliberately in spite of his protests, of confining him without trial in a civil gaol under harsh and degrading conditions were wholly unjustified. He was treated as a criminal and not as a prisoner of war. The case of Capt. Munro differs only in degree from that of Capt. Geary. He was taken prisoner in British territory in the Kalahari on 19th February, 1915, and for some unknown reason was sent to Windhuk Gaol and subjected to treatment similar to that of Capt. Geary, although taken prisoner as an officer in uniform. Fortunately for him this detention only lasted twenty-four days. When he com- plained of being treated as a criminal he was visited by Lieut. Kalter, of the German Army, and threatened with ten days’ solitary confinement for his complaint. When he replied that he had already served that period, all the satisfaction he got was to be told that he would get six months if he was not more civil. There were also confined in the gaol at this time a number of so-called political prisoners. These were non-combatant enemies of the Germans, mostly British, who were in the Protectorate when war broke out and were arrested there. We took the evidence of a number of these, including Davis. Burton, Blake, McGra^^^ Lotery- man and Niederluitman. The last four were detained for varving periods before being sent to camp at Okanjande. Davis and Burton, who had been resident in the Protectorate for ten years, were for some unknown reason confined in Windhuk Gaol for seven months under circumstances of great hardship. For some time they were only allowed exercise in the prison yard with criminals, but later on they were given exercise outside under guard. The gaol was then crowded, and they had to sleep ten in a small cell. The door was locked at night and not opened under any circumstances for twelve hours. There was a good deal of dysentery amongst the prisoners, and the resulting sanitary conditions were verv disgusting. IV. Political Prisoners .a.t Okanjanpe. Some three hundred political prisoners, men, women and children, were confined in camp at Okanjande, eleven kilometres East of Otjiwarongo. It is not easy to see why women and children were interned, and the suggestion of Hauptmann Ebeling, the camp commandant, that the women came voluntarily with their husbands, is only true in a limited number of cases. We are satisfied that the rations issued here also were insufficient. When complaints were made the reply was that the prisoners could not draw more, but that they could purchase more. The shortage of food did not press very hardly on the prisoners because many of them were in a position to get their own supplies. There is evidence that there were hardshijis on the journey to the camp and on reception, a fact which seems to have been due to want of system. There was no resident medical officer, and the nearest doctor was seven miles away. There was some sickness and a few deaths in the camp, and the siigrgestion has been made in the case of two of the deaths that they were due to neglect. These allegations are more easily made than proved, and we do not find that the facts are established. V. Native Prisoners of War. A number of native non-combatants enijiloyed by the Union Defence Force were made prisoners at Sandfontein. A few affidavits were laid before us made by these natives which afford 'prima facie evidence that their treatmeot as prisoners of war show instances of hardship and in one or two instances of what would be according to our ideas cruelty. It is doubtful if the terms of the reference cover the case of these natives, but assuming that it does there is one consideration that prevents 86 us pursuing the matter further. The treatment to which these natives were entitled as prisoners of war is by analogy that given by the Germans to corresponding natives in their military employ. Now it is a matter of common knowledge that the German treatment of natives in the Protectorate, and their ideas of what constitutes cruelty to natives, differ very widely from ideas prevailing in the Union, and the members of the Commission have a good working knowledge of how far these ideas are carried in practice. In these circumstances we did not consider it necessary to lead evidence on the subject, and we make no report on any alleged ill-treatment of these natives. In our opinion 1. The withholding without cause of sufficient rations from the officers, and of sufficient rations and clothing from the N.C.O.’s and men, were a breach of the Hague Rules of War, Art. 7. 2. The following acts constitute breaches of the laws and usages of war, as laid down in the Manual of Military Law (1914 edt.), p. 234. {a) The detention and treatment of Captains Geary and Munro in Windhuk Gaol, — Pars. 87 and 90. (b) The detention of political prisoners Davis and Burton in Windhuk Gaol, — Par. 90. (c) The address of Dr. Seitz to the officers in Windhuk Fort in October, 1914, — Par. 87. {d) The order issued to the officers at Outjo on 18th May, 1915, that they must give parole or be put in chains at night on the march to Otjiwarongo, — Par. 87. M. R. GREENLEES, Chairman. W. W. RUSH, Lt. Col., W. S. BRIDGE, Major, Members. 7976 See Page 16 . See Page 16 . See Page 16. yjjB Page 52. FOREIGN OFFICE. Treaty Series, 1916. 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[Cd. 8232.] Price Hd., post free 2d. No. 14. — Further correspondence between His Majesty’s Government and the United States Government respecting the Rights of Belligerents. {In continuation o/[Cd. 7816].) [Cd. 8233.] Price 2^d., post free 3-^d. No. 15. — Further correspondence between His Majesty’s Government and the United States Government respecting the Rights of Belligerents. {In continuation q/’[Cd. 8233].) [Cd. 8234.] Price 3d., post free 4d. No. 16. — Further correspondence with the United States Ambassador respecting the Treat- ment of British Prisoners of War and Interned Civilians in Germany. {In continuation of [Cd. 8108].) [Cd. 8235.] Price 9d., post free Is. 2d. No. 17. — Correspondence with the United States Ambassador respecting the Transfer to Switzerland of British and German Wounded and Sick Combatant Prisoners of War. [Cd. 8236.] Price Id., post free l^d. No. 18.— Report by Doctor A. E. 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Price Id., post free 2d. EUROPEAN WAR. PAPERS RELATING TO GERMAN ATROCITIES, AND BREACHES OF THE RULES OF WAR, IN AFRICA. Presented to both Houses of Parliament bv Command of His Hlajestv* July^ 1916. LONDON: PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE By DARLING and SON, Limited, Bacon Street, E. To be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from WYMAN AND SONS, Limited, 29, Breams Buildings, Fetter Lane, E.C., 28, Abingdon Street, S.W., and 5L St. Mary Street, Cardiff ; or H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE (Scottish Branch), 23, Forth Street, Edinburgh; or E. PONSONBY, Limited, 116, Grafton Street, Dublin; or from the Agencies in the British Colonies and Dependencies, the United States of America and other Foreign Countries of T. FISHER UNWIN, Limited, London, W.C. [Cd. 8306.] Price 1916.