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Military History – South Africa – Europe – England 19th Century
.Article – Online Historic Information | Military
.Page 332
Water.—In Bloemfontein the supply is insufficient, and it is also bad. The clothes of thousands
have for months been washed in a small dam of stagnant water only occasionally freshened by rain. It
is foul. Many other Camps need washhouses.
Overcrowding.—This is very great. Privacy is impossible. In some camps two, and even three,
sets of people occupy one tent, and 10, and even 12, persons are frequently herded together in tents of
which the cubic capacity is about 500 c.f. In Mafeking and Norvals Pont this trouble is not nearly so
bad.
Shoes, Clothes, and Blankets.—At first khaki blankets were plentiful. Now they are getting
scarce, and there is much need in various places. The nights are very cold.
Warm clothes are universally wanted. Those people burnt out are, of course, very bare, and have
only been relieved by English, Colonial, and Dutch help. Recent importations have been allowed to
bring more with them of both bedding and clothes. Quite recently the Government has provided a
little flannelette and dress stuff. Shoes are needed everywhere.
Sanitary Accommodations.—This is very inadequate to the number of people. They are separate
for men and women, but otherwise wholly without privacy, open to the sun and the rain. Where
properly looked after by the authorities all is sweet and clean, but elsewhere, notably Bloemfontein,
the effluvia is terrible, making it impossible to approach within fifty yards, unless with nose and
mouth tied up. The effluvia reaching one side of the camp makes those tents at times unbearable, and
has resulted in tonsilitis and various throat troubles. The people feel these places a terrible
degradation.
Each camp has now rough, but useful little hospitals. Many necessaries were lacking in these,
which I have supplied. The death rate in most of the camps is high. In Bloemfontein it is terrible ; 172
deaths had occurred up to the date of my leaving. On Sunday, April 28, fifteen persons died in that
camp. It figures out to about 25 per cent.
The camp life is felt to be purposeless and demoralising. Mothers are anxious to get young girls
out of such an atmosphere if the means were forthcoming to place them in boarding schools.
Education is now provided in a partial way for some of the children in some of the camps.
Accommodation cannot be got for all. This is due to the energy of Mr. Sargant, Education
Commissioner. There have been a few abortive attempts at recreation here and there, but most lack
heart to enter into them. Something should be done in this direction.
To sum up. There is no doubt that the general discomfort could be vastly alle14 viated by
attention to the points mentioned, but it should bo clearly understood that they are suggested only by
way of amelioration. The main thing is to let them go. The ruin of most is now complete, but let all
who have friends or means left go. Above all one would hope that the good sense, if not the mercy, of
the English people will cry out against the further development of this cruel system which falls with
such crushing effect upon the old, the weak, and the children. May they stay the order to bring in more
and yet more. Since Old Testament days was over a whole nation carried captive?
The following recommendations are those which were forwarded by me to the War Office by
request of the Rt. Hon. St. John Brodrick.—I have, etc.,
EMILY HOBHOUSE.
June, 1901.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Having, by the kindness of Lord Milner, been enabled to visit various women’s camps, and
bring succour to the people therein detained, I venture to urge the following improvements :
1.
In view of the hardening effect of imprisonment upon the hearts and resolution of the
women—of the imperfect supply of tents or other shelter—of the scarcity of food—the
difficulty of transport—and the appalling effect of camp life upon the life and health of the
people, and in support also of recent statements made in the House of Commons, I urge :
That all who still can, should be at once allowed to go :
b.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
viz., those who, themselves penniless, yet have friends and relatives in Cape
Colony ;
c.
Those who have means and could support themselves in the Cape Colony, or in
towns on the line ;
d.
Those who have houses in towns to which they could go ;
e.
Those divided from their children who wish to find and rejoin them.
Free passes into towns for all equally wishing to find work there.
Equality of treatment, whether the men of the family are fighting, imprisoned, dead, or
surrendered.
In view of the size of the camps, the sickness and mortality, a resident minister in every
camp, or free access to anyone living close by.
That, considering the countless difficulties ahead, and the already overcrowded state of
the camps, no further women or children be brought in.
That, considering the mass of the people are women, and seeing the success in
organization of the Matron at Port Elizabeth, a matron, conversant with both languages, be
appointed in every camp. Many would undertake this voluntarily. I do not consider this so
necessary in the case of Norval’s Pont.
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