The Dominion. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1916. A NEW SOUTH AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2890, 30 September 1916, Page 6

The Dominion. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1916. A NEW SOUTH AFRICA

'A. new, and a happior, era seems to bo opening in South Africa. After a protracted period of internal strife there are now_ many indications that the old-existing political and racial enmities are approaching extinction. It would have been curious, after the reoent experiences, had those enmities survived. The hard logic of indisputable fact has proved irresistible: even on the backveld clearer, and better, conceptions, touching the real position of the country, prevail. The chimera of Germany's power, as of Germany's benevolent rule, appears to have almost entirely disappeared. It is ..chiefly to the 'Germans themselves that enlightenment is duo. _ The Germans, ;and proGermans, within the Union cruelly misled a considerable section of the Dufcch-speaking t population, and, by sheer mendacity, induced sorno thousands to take up arms against the Government, and against Great Britain. That was one side of the German character that was revealed; tho other side was discovered by the Boers who made their homes in German South West, and in German East Africa. To the Boers living within the Union German rule was depicted as something just short' of unalloyed bliss. Germany was described as all-powerful, with a paternal care for tho well-being of every one dwelling under the protection of her flag. All that was needful to secure the blessings of the. Kaiser's rule was the Boers to rise- in lebellion, join the Germans, and drive the British from South Africa. But those Boers who actually experienced Germany's methods in South-West Africa have had a vory different tale to tell. After the South African War soma hundreds of Boer families left the Union, the majority, allured by high expectations of generous treatment, settling in the two German provinces. But, according to a statement made by General Smuts more a year ago, all the Afrikanders with very few exceptions had returned from German West Africa to the Union. Many of those who'entered the latter territory were from the Cape, and, having joined with the Free State and Transvaal Dutch; -were rebels. But the penalties originally prescribed against rebels were gradually modified,' and from 1906, all Afrikanders were free to return without let or hindrance.

In German West Africa tho few who had bought farms and had difficulty in disposing of them were compelled to remain, ■ much against their will. According to letters written by these men, and since published in such newspapers as Oris Land, and the Cape Times, they received extremely callous treatment from .what one justly incensed Dutchman describes as the "Kaxseb's myrmidons." They were looked upon by the Germans, says one as being "no better than white Kaffirs." They were debarred from the privileges of_ the Church, denied all political rights, and the richest of- them wore regard-. ,Ed as having no social status. Just before the war broke out this same correspondent, wrote to General Smuts, for himself and on behalf of all the Boers in his district, some forty in number, inquiring if they could be provided with land within British territory; "for," he explains, "our position had become intolerable." "God be thanked," his letter proceeds, "a Gideon was raised up for us in the person of General Botha, who has set us free from what appeared to be a cultured, learned, and civilised nation, but which in reality' is a nation of barbarous oppressors." Tile Boers who migrated to German East Africa were also promptly ■ made aware that, however much tho Germans might flatter them while they were British subjects, they assuredly were not wanted in German territory. But British East Africa was near, and very gladly did the majority of the wanderers seek the shelter and protection of the British Flag. That, under British rule, fchcy wero

both free and contented is cvidenccd by tho fact that when the Germans invaded British East Africa, tho Boers, former burghers of the Gape and of tho Republics, fought shoulder to shoulder with the British settlers, and with Britain's regular troops. _ Tho fow Bocra that remained within German territory, so far as can ba judged, refused to fight on behalf of the Germans, and, in consequencc, with their wives and qjiildren, were locked up in gaols. General Smuts, said a recent report, had liberated nino Boer families, comprising some sixty individuals, in his march through German East Africa.

Tho wido publicity given throughout South Africa to the infamous treatment received by tho Boers in both provinces, has created a revulsion of feeling towards the Germans in most DutcJi-speaking communities, with the resiilt that within tho Union the star of tho British is now clearly in tho ascendant. Thero have been rumours of another rebellion taking place; and it is quite possible that, as alleged, two Nationalist leaders may nave been saying indiscreet things on the baekveld. But no grounds whatever seetn to oxisfc for believing that any portion of tho Dutch population contemplate rebellion. The Dutch are without arms, have no promise of outside aid, and, since the last 'rebellion, they have learned by bitter experience the hollowness of Germany's vaunted friendship. Though enlightenment has reached, and is spreadingj among the electors it is doubtful if, for a' littlo time, , that enlightenment will bo reflected by all the Nationalist members of Parliament. The last general eleotion fcpolc place nearly a year ago,- at a lime when pro-Germans were preaching their evil doctrines, before the real nature of German rule had been revealed, befofe the might of Great Britain had been disclosed, and while yet the Dutch believed what thev were told of a coming worldwide victory for the Germans.! Even then the anti-Botha, anti-British votes sufficed to return only 26 Nationalists to a House of 130 members. Since then South Africa has witnessed many stirring, unexpected, and historic events. Conspicuous among these was the wonderful" rally of Dutchmen, young and old, to fight for the British Empire. There i 3 French, Huguenot, blood, to probably the majority of so-called Boer families, and the' thought that, onco again, French and British aro fighting side by, Bide has doubtless helped greatly to remove old acerbities, and bring about tho grand and promising spectacle of Boers and British together pursuing the flying Germans in East Africa, and fighting the eame common enemy on the battlefields of Europe.