882.00/950: Telegram
The Minister in Liberia (Mitchell) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 4:49 p.m.]
49. Referring to the Legation’s telegram 39, March 21, 4 p.m., Travell arrived Monrovia April 19th from Kru Coast, reported to Barclay who requested written report by April 23rd. Travell and his commission spent 6 days of conference with Government side; 5 days in interior conference with native War Council followed by 2-day conference with friendly natives on Government side at Sasstown. Saw all chiefs, both friendly and belligerent, as well as Liberian army officers. Estimated number of natives living in bush 12 to 15 thousand. Great shortage of food owing to loss of crops and cessation of farm work. Estimated number of warriors 2,500. Ruling chief Juah Nimley.
Nimley, strongly supported by his people, refuses to return to the coast towns unless the soldiers are withdrawn. It is thought such a move would imperil the lives of the friendly tribes, particularly the Niffu, Sobo and New Sasstown peoples, who are regarded as traitors by rebellious tribes.
[Page 714]The war began November 10th. Colonel Davis used every precaution to avoid conflict. His leniency gave natives idea that the Government was weak. Natives had been misled by the spreading of propaganda that the coming of International Commission meant end of Liberian Government authority. Davis found natives so hostile and defiant of Government that conflict was practically unavoidable. Representations of atrocities on Kru Coast have been greatly exaggerated in reports by the press. Colonel Davis believes that these exaggerations have been stirred up by propagandists living in Monrovia.
Casualties Government side 5 soldiers killed, 39 wounded, 1 officer slightly wounded. Casualties to friendly natives 32 men, 13 women, 7 children killed. Casualties to rebellious tribes 81 men, 49 women and 29 children killed. Government found 86 bodies of enemy. Statistics of wounded rebels not available. Approximately one-third of rebel casualties were women and children killed by stray shots and burned in villages. Number of villages burned 44—22[21] large, 23 small; all villages Sasstown tribes as well as Boro, Wisapo, and Dio tribes burned except 12 small towns and 1 large town in Boro interior.
Colonel Davis maintains that burning of the villages was military necessity in order to bring Nimley and his people under subjugation in accordance with orders of November 21st confirmed by Barclay December 23rd after ultimatum from Davis to Nimley that all guns, spears and cutlasses [be] surrendered. Colonel Davis went as special commissioner with civil authority to settle the many outstanding disputes between tribes. He made no demands for taxes. No evidence to show that retaliation was intended on account of evidence given to International Commission although some of the native leaders may have feared this. Number of soldiers originally on patrol 200, later increased to 300 after hostilities commenced. Sixty thousand round [s] of ammunition used, much of which misfired. Full report of Commission by mail.28 Copy to Reber by airmail.
- In his despatch No. 177, April 23 (882.00/962), the Minister transmitted to the Department copies of two reports of the Commission: (1) the majority report, prepared by the two Liberian members, Messrs. Coleman and Russell, and (2) the minority report, drafted by the Chairman, Mr. Travell.↩