OFFICIAL NEWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2281, 15 October 1914, Page 6

OFFICIAL NEWS

THE REBELLION AT THE CAPE The following telegram received by His Excellency the Governor from the Secretary of State for the Colonies is based upon the report to the Home authorities of the Governor-General of South Africa on the mutiny or, rebellion that has broken out in ,the Union. Since the resignation of General Beyers as Commandant-General of the Citizen Forces there have been indications that something was wrong with the Forces in the north-west of the. Cape Province, which were placed under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Marit.v The Government arranged to send Colonel Conrad Brits to take over the command. On October 8 Colonel Brfts sent a message to Maritz to come' in anS report to him. To this message Maritz replied most insolently that he was not going to report to anyone, and all he wanted was his discharge, and Colonel Brits must come himself and take over 'his command. ' ' .'.'.■ Brits then sent Major Ben Bouwer to take over tie command. On arrival at Maritz's camp Bouwer was taken prisoner with his companions, but personally was subsequently released and sent back with an ultimatum from Maritz to the Union Government to the effect that unless the Government guaranteed before 10 o'clock on Sunday morning, October 11, that ttojy should allow Generals Hertzog, De ,Wet, Beyers, Kemp, and Muller to meet him where he was, in order that he might receive instructions from them, ho would forthwith make an attack on Colonel Brits's forces, and proceed further to invade the Union.

Major Bouwer reported that 'Maritz was in possession or some guiis belonging to tho Germans, and that lie held the rank of General Commanding the, German troops, had a force of Germans under him in addition to his own rebel command. Ho had arrested all those of his officers and men who were unwilling to join the Germans, and had them sent forthwith as prisoners to German South-West Africa. Major Bouwer saw an agreement between Maritz and tho Governor of German South-West Africa guaranteeing tho independence- of tho Union as a Republic, and ceding Walfisoh Bay and certain othor portions of the Union to tho Germans, and undertaking that Germans would only invade tho Union on the invitation of Maritz. Major Bouwer was shown numerous telegrams and holio-niessages dating back to the beginning of September. Maritz boasted that he had ample guns, rifles, ammunition, and money from the Germans, and that he would overrun .tho whole of South Africa. In view of this state of affairs, the Government has taken most vigorous steps to stamp out the rebellion and inflict condign punishment on all rebels and traitors, and a proclamation declaring martial law throughout tho Union will appear in Gazette Extraordinary to-day,' October 12, 1914. The Dominions' Aid. Following is a copy of a telegram re■««•<s by His Excellency, tho Governot

from tho Secretary of State for the Colonies, October 13: —"The Commonwealth of Australia has offered another brigade of light horse and a brigade train and field ambulances complete. This offer has been most gratefully accepted by the Army Council.

Hor Royal Highness the Duchess of Connaught has sent £57,000, subscribed by the women of Canada for hospital purposes. Of this sum, £20,000 will he utilised in the purchaso of motor ambulance cars. Each car will be inscribed "Canadian "Women's Motor Ambulance." The balance will bo used to build, equip, and maintain a naval hospital with 100 beds, to bo named "The Canadian "Women's Hospital." Her Majesty the- Queen has graciously consented to be patroness.—(Signed) Harcourt." The Battle in France. The Prime Minister has received the following cablegram from the High Commissioner: — London, October 13, 11 p.m. Official.—Cavalry actions are proceeding on the Left Wing of the -Allies in the region of la Bessee, Hazebrouck, and Estaire. Tho enemy's attacks between Arras and the Oise failed, especially between Lassiguy and Roye. Progress has been recorded on the Allies' centre on a plateau oh the right of the Aisno below Soissons; also east and south-west of Verdun. Night attacks on the right wing in the Yosges, north of .St. Die, were repulsed. Heavy losses were inflicted by the Fusiliers on tho Germans, 200 of whom were killed and 50 taken prisoners. The French had 9 killed and 40 wounded. Paris reports that the Germans only occupy the suburbs, of Antwerp, and that twenty-four forts on.tho Scheldt are still holding out. There is no official statement from London. '• On the Eastern Frontier. A desperate struggle is in progresson the East Prussian frontier, the Germans retreating north-west of Lyck, and destroying bridges in South Poland. Reports from Berlin and Vienna idicate a check to the Russians in Galicia. Russians state that they abandoned the siege of Przemysl to put themselves in a strategical position to meet the Austro-German army. There has been further bomb-drop-ping in Paris to-day. "-. ' APPRECIABLE PROGRESS BY ALLIES. Official.—The Allies' left wing has resumed the offensive in the Bethune district, which is'opposed by cavalry. Progress is recorded between Albert and.Arras, and also in the Berryaubac district. There.has been slight advances in the West Argonne and'on the. Meuse. The Allies are holding the heights, of the Meuse east of Verdun, ancT have gained a little- ground in the Apremont region. Lille, which was previously held by Territorials, has. been occupied by a German armv corps. .A summary of the operations indicates appreciable progress by the Allies at several points. The Austrians are trying to re-form their forces west of Przemysl. SIEGE OF PRZEMYSL CONTINUING. London, October 14. Reliable.—The 'Belgian Government has removed from Ostond to Fiance. It is now stated; that the siege of Przemysl is proceeding. '.■.-. The Germans are moving heavy guns from Antwerp to their extreme left It is reported that the Kiel Canal has been closed to permit the Germans to experiment with new heavy guns fixed on Dreadnoughts. There- is no official statement _ concerning., the German occupation of Ostend.

.At a meeting of the' Christehurch Committee of the Liverpool Fund, tho treasurer reported that tho total receipts to date were £2243 17s. fid • navments, £817 Is.: balanco at the bank S 16s. Bd. About £1200 will remain after accounts have been paid. The committee decided to provide certain articles for members of the reinforcements contingent.—Press Association. ~' The number of persons upon main electoral roll'for Oarnaru district for tho forthcoming election is 6609, or 372 fewer than that of last election, when the number of persons on tho roll was 6981. This is said to be partly due to tho earlier closing of the rolls this election, and also ,to the new system of making up tho rolls, winch it is claimed will give a cleaner initial roll, leaving fewer names do strike ott than was formerly tho case.

An examplo of what appears to nave been misdirected consideration is reported in connection with steps taken to relieve men out of work in Christchurch. For some time past, says an oxchango, orders for groceries have been issued to relieve necessitous cases. It is reported that one of these orders for 15s. was duly presented recently. The whole amount was spent, the sum of ss. 6d. being spent on eight sticks of tobacco. The man who presented the order is understood to have fivo persons depending on him, and the fact that so much was spent on tobacco seems to indicate either that ho misrepresented tho actual state of things in his household, or that ho thought moro of providing for himsolf than for tho3o depending on him. Messrs. Abraham niul Williams, Ltd., hold a cattle sale at llarton on Octobor 20, and n sale of horses at Mmerston North on' October 17. • Miss Una Carter, of the Wellington Gas Company, will conduct free public demonstrations on gas cookery ou dates advertised in this issus,