Liberia: Description, History, ProblemsStarr, Frederick
History
Liberia: Description, History, Problems
Starr, Frederick
Liberia
While President Barclay was in London, he was approached by Capt. Mackay
Cadell, who had served in the South African War; Capt. Mackay Cadell
desired to be put in charge of the frontier force which it was believed
that Liberia would organize in response to the British demands; he was
not actually engaged by the President, but put in his appearance in
January, 1908, ready for business; his employment was opposed by many,
but finally, largely in order not to offend British susceptibilities, he
was engaged, given the rank of Major--some question has been raised as
to exactly _how_ he came to carry the title captain--and was authorized,
with the help of two British assistants, to organize the frontier force;
he was also given authority to employ ten or more sergeants and buglers
from Sierra Leone; it was naturally assumed that the force in general
would be composed of Liberian natives. Major Mackay Cadell promptly
began active work; barracks were erected upon the edge of Monrovia, and
soon 250 men were enrolled for service. Their uniforms, arms, and
ammunition were bought from Great Britain--so that the whole enterprise
was good for British trade; it is not clear, however, why the caps and
other articles were stamped with the crown and other emblems of His
British Majesty’s service. Matters were going nicely, but it began to be
suspected that a considerable number of the new soldiers were British
subjects, and it was asked whether some of them had not served upon the
Sierra Leone frontier force. These suspicions and doubts led finally to
a protest from the French Vice-Consul who claimed that the force being
organized was actually “a British army of occupation” which the Liberian
Government was permitting to be organized in Liberian territory; he
demanded that an equal number of French officers and of French subjects
be added to the force. The Liberian Government inquired of Major Mackay
Cadell with reference to the matter; he denied that there were any
British subjects on the force, and depending on his answer, the Liberian
Government denied the fact to the French official. Meantime, Major
Mackay Cadell was making himself variously useful to the Monrovia city
government; he undertook without compensation, the command of the city
police force as chief of police; in place of the loyal Kru police, he
put in Mende soldiers from the barracks; he also performed the functions
of street commissioner, tax collector, city treasurer, and other duties
until, finally, the citizens decided to dispense with his free services;
he declined, however, to resign, and presented a large bill as the
condition upon which he would deliver up the city property entrusted to
him. (We quote from Ellis.) On October 27th Major Mackay Cadell was
further questioned in regard to the composition of his force, and a
report was demanded; it was then found that at least 71 out of the
little army of 250 were actually British subjects; more than this, no
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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