File No. 882.20/9.
It is my belief that conditions in Liberia are becoming constantly more
involved, and feeling that the Department ought to have the fullest and
best information on every important factor entering into the situation,
I have requested Major Young to make a report on the present state of
the Liberian Frontier Force.
His relation to the Frontier Force since coming to the country has given
him ample opportunity to acquire full knowledge of its condition. His
views, I thought, would be valuable to the Department. It was with this
idea in mind that I asked for this report, a copy of which accompanies
this dispatch.
[Inclosure—Extract.]
The American Military
Attaché to the American
Minister.
American Legation,
Monrovia,
October 9, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor, pursuant to your
request, to make a report on the present state of the Liberian
Frontier Force, the connection and doings of the American officers
therewith, and their progress in its reorganization, as follows:
These officers, three in number, arrived here May 1, 1912, and were
given sleeping rooms in a furnished house by the President, and have
taken their meals at my mess.
[Page 666]
The first week after their arrival they made an official call upon
the President in company with the American Minister and myself. The
next day a similar call was made upon the Secretary of War. To both
the President and the Secretary of War these officers expressed
their willingness to go immediately to work. But they were informed
that their commissions would be first issued, and that they would
thereafter be duly notified as to the pleasure of the Secretary of
War in this regard. The Liberians, following the custom of all
tropical peoples, are given to tedious delays. Accordingly the issue
of the commissions to these officers was delayed until the end of
the month, and thereafter nothing was given them to do until nearly
two months later. Fortunately I had upon arrival laid out a course
of study for them, which they took up and thus broke the tedium of
waiting.
In the month of June, pursuant to the request of the President and
the Secretary of War, I drew up a plan for the complete
rehabilitation of the Frontier Force, which force, upon all sides,
was confessedly demoralized and the soldiers of that part of it
which were at the camp and about town, their officers having lost
complete control of them, were on the verge of mutiny. I found that
they were neither fed nor paid. This nonpayment dates, for some of
them, three years back. The money for their pay had been “jobbed” by
the Interior Commissioners and their officers. Both the President
and the Secretary of War were unable to tell the number of men,
officers, or guns, or even the whereabouts of the forces. The
Secretary of War frankly avowed that he was a preacher and knew
nothing of his duties as Secretary of War, and that the portfolio
had been thrust upon him. It would be thought that he would have
welcomed someone to get the affairs of his office going for him, as
he had only two assistants, neither of whom knew his duties as such.
I volunteered my services to him upon this confession of his lack of
knowledge of how to fit up his office and get things moving right.
He seemed extremely glad of such proffer of my services, but aside
from my rehabilitation scheme and making some tracings of frontiers
and a model pay roll for him, he has delayed this office matter
until this date. Although under the new scheme the Government would
be saved money both in rations and clothing, there seems to be
pressure being brought to bear somewhere to delay things and make
the same “jobs” as of old with the resident foreign merchants in
this regard. The noneffectiveness of the American loan agreement, a
dislike of Americans, and the leaning toward the English on the part
of many influential Liberians, all have contributed to the delay of
things necessary to put this force fully on its feet, as I desire to
see it. The commission of Colonel Lomax, as such in the force, has
never been revoked. * * *
Despite the instructions given by letter by the President to the
Secretary of War to that effect, Major Ballard is only tacitly in
command of the entire force, his instructions from the Secretary of
War being that he was to assume Charge of Camp Johnson and the
troops there according to the scheme submitted. It should be here
stated that the President of the Republic has shown every possible
interest in the plan for rehabilitation of the force, and has lent
all encouragement possible, so far as the exigencies of his position
would permit. The failure of the American loan to go into effect has
paralyzed his plans, and has had a depressing effect generally upon
every project for the betterment of the country. Still they are
waiting and hoping for the new receivership, and allowing the
undertaking of everything not absolutely obligatory to delay from
month to month.
The American officers have received, all told, since coming into the
Liberian service last March, less than $200 American gold each; and
it must be borne in mind that living expenses are perhaps greater
here than anywhere else in the world. Everything in the way of
staple foodstuffs must be imported into the country; bread, butter,
meat, sugar, coffee, tea, milk, sometimes even cabbage and potatoes.
Add to this the fact that these officers have families in the United
States, it can be felt how very discouraging are the circumstances
under which they have had to work. They were, by terms of their
contract, to be paid by the General Receiver, and what they have
received has been through his kindness in making overtures to the
Secretary of the Treasury.
The trip of Captain Brown into the interior with Secretary Morris;
the taking over, reenlistment and reorganization of the Frontier
Force, and the training and bringing some order into it by Major
Ballard, assisted by Captains Brown and Newton; the second trip of
Captain Brown, in August, from Grand Bassa to the interior, under
the most trying circumstances, and where he now is with 52 men; the
replacing of the mutinous troops commanded by a worthless and
disobedient officer at Cape Palmas by Captain Newton, with 100 men,
in the month
[Page 667]
of September;
the preparatory departure of Major Ballard for the different
frontiers with 100 more, are some of the things accomplished by the
American officers which mark the progress made in its
reorganization. I submit that this is much, with soldiers that were
not really such formerly, but, rather, a set of brigands under
officers who were wholly without professional knowledge and who were
alone bent on plundering the people.
The force at present consists effectively of a battalion having three
American officers (one major commanding and two captains commanding
the companies), four Liberian lieutenants (of doubtful efficiency),
and a rank and file of 354 enlisted men. There are about 400 Mauser
carbines and a very little ammunition in the hands of the force at
present.
The force lacks much yet in the shape of getting it supplied from its
regular staff departments conducted with system and according to
business methods. It must have guns and ammunition, regular pay,
food and clothing; it must have sufficient material for officers who
have at least ability to read and write well, good bodies, good
common sense, and good intentions. There is a dearth of men from
whom to make such officers in the Republic. The old Liberian
officers of the old force can not be trusted in it again for
service, either on the frontiers or elsewhere. I believe the future
officers must come from young men of perfect honesty and having the
other qualities before mentioned. Again the separation of the
military officers from the purely simple functions of commissioners
is a thing that must be brought about right early. Such a dual
position is altogether damaging to the Republic, in that it places
too much authority in the hands of the same man and brings about the
oppression of the tribesmen who are to-day the best asset to the
Republic. These officer-commissioners have stolen from the natives
their women and children, killed their men, purloined their food,
ivory and other possessions; and have in general brought about all
the dissensions and wars waged on the frontiers, together with the
defection of the natives. The reforms needed in this regard will
never and can never be brought about unless the United States
undertakes it, and the loan agreement goes into effect.
Pursuant to the spirit of my orders, my connection with the force has
been that of helper and adviser. I have done everything short of
taking actual command of troops in aiding this reorganization. I can
promise everything for it if the American loan agreement goes into
operation. If the loan doesn’t take place, I submit that but little
can be hoped for either with respect to the force or anything else
that looks to the betterment of things in the Republic. * * *
No man can lift himself by his own boot-straps, neither can a nation
or people. Liberia must be essentially and materially aided, and
that right early, or we shall all be made ashamed, while the
English, French, and Germans rejoice at our weakness and
discomfiture.
Roads must be built, the country explored and surveyed, and I can
only see the United States charged with the direction of these
things, if they are to be accomplished, for Liberia has not the
means nor the men to do so.
I am [etc.]
Charles Young,
Major, 9th Cavalry.
