THE HERO OF AFRICA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3992, 27 July 1915, Page 5

THE HERO OF AFRICA.

FURTHER HONORS FOR GENERAL BOTHA. DISCOVERIES IN THE CONQUERED TERRITORY. PREMATURE GERMAN MAP. SPEECH BY THE UNION PREMIER.

CAPETOWN, July 25. Tiie University of Capetown lias conferred a doctorship of laws on General Botha and Mr Smuts and General Merriman. Tho students uproariously ovationed the recipients. Tne Duke of Connaught, who is Chancellor of the University, cabled congratulalations.

General Botha, in a speech, said that when one saw the Dutch and English sitting oil one bench who in South Africa dared break tlie friendship ? ’Loo much blood had already been spilt in South Africa. Ho uttered a warning against a continuance of bitterness.

General Smuts, speaking at tlie citizens’ banquet to General Botha, said that when tlie defence system had developed in a decade South Africa, would possess one of the finest fighting forces in the world. They had won South-West Africa, a valuable country, which would support a large white population. Having .lone die. •' duty in complying with Imperial wishes, they must now ask themselves : Are wo going to stick i<> the country so brilliantly conquered? r t seemed as clear* as noonday that »f South-West Africa did not Delong to the Union, in tho future ihe dav v'oiilcl come when the Union would hgloifg to German West Africa. if they wanted peaceful development • f South Africa let them stick to vhit they had and make others under d ied (he world over that they were determined to hold what they had. It was now the Union’s plain duty to assist in the European struggle. 1 lie Government hoped thousands of volunteers would be forthcoming. The joqu italics and value of sea-power v-eio were plainly manifested in the SouthWest African campaign, as prior to the Falkland Islands battle the Get- I man Pacific squadron was such a serious menace that it hung up the campaign for six weeks. General Botha declared that the most interesting discovery made in German South-West Africa was a I German map drawn on the basis of a supposed peace at Rome in J 916, | which showed the whole of South Africa south of the equator as a Greater German Empire, with the smallest portion marked “Boer reservation.” He had also received information tliat tho German Government had corresponded with the Kaiser, whose answer was, “I shall not only recognise South Africa’s independence, but ever guarantee it, provided a rebellion is started immediately.” Tho Germans in Damaraland, he said, hung and shot several natives in cold blood. The Germans’ attitude towards the natives os a grave menace to the Union, and afforded ono reason they could not give up iho country.

He referred enthusiastically to the contingent, which showed tliat South Africa was prepared to continue to do its duty on the battlefields of Europe, and show the world that it- stood for freedom and justice. (Received July 26. 8.30 p.m.) General Smuts estimated that the rebellion anil the operations in Darnaraland would cost £16,000,000. The casualty lists showed an almost identical number of English and Dutch names. General Botha stated that lie now knew that Maritz communicated with the German Governor as early as 1913 and received an encouraging reply, and the Kaiser’s telegrams followed those negotiations. The natives under German rule hailed our victory as a deliverance. General Botha expressed profound disgust at the German treatment of natives and said little value was attached to their lives. KITCHENER’S ARM Y. TRIBUTE FROM' GERMAN PRESS. AMSTERDAM. July 25. The “Kolnische Zeitung.’’ in an article on. Brirain’s new army, pay.-- a high- tribute to .Lord Kitc-liotier’s organisation and talent. Even Germany in envy must admit a pi riorniance of first rank. Although the new army is composed of largely itderior elements, it will soon become- valuable, and. ii is the greatest mistake' to underestimate it.

THROUGH ENEMY EYES. OFFICIAL GERMAN REPORT. AMSTERDAM, July 25. A German communique states :—We blew up an enemy blockhouse on tho Argonno. The enemy occupied a small part of our trenches at Budasapt. We bombed Dunkirk fortress with several shells. We captured Russian trenches at Jesia, south of Kovno, also in tho, vicinity of Dembowo, 10 kilometres north-east of Suwalki. We crossed the Narew along tho ontire front south of Ostrolenua to Pultusk. Our troops south-east of Rultusk are approaching the Bug, while, despite tenacious opposition we reached the NasielskGzowo line. Wo occupied several positions west of Bionic. We stormed Bistanow. Lbiska- and Jazchirrew, south of Warsaw. Tho situation in the. south-eastern ineatro is unchanged. AUSTRIAN REPORT. (Received July 26, 11.45 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, July 26. An Austrian official message says: The enemy’s attempt to cross the Bug south of Krylov failed. The Italians made desperate night attacks on our positions on the positions on the border of tho Doberdo plateau, but failed with heavy enemy losses.

THE SS m< SQLD3ERS. YESTERDAY’S ' BULLETINS. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 26. 'J'he following is the official summary. of ilio. bulletins from the military hospitals for tlio twenty-four hours prior to noon to-day : Trentliam.- —Of serious eases one (appendicitis) was removed to the Wellington Hospital for operation. Tne condition of. three was the same. One had shown slight improvement, but was still serious, Four had slightly improved, and twelve had improved. Wellington.—One (pneumonia) no improvement; two (meningitis) no improvement; two'(phthisis) condition serious; one admission, not serious; one discharged. The other eases were improving. Kaiwarra. —No serious eases; eighteen discharged. . Palmerston North. —No serious cases. The particulars regarding ail cases have still to be supplied. Tauheronikau. Measles eleven; sore throats ten; rheumatism one; minor surgical cases five; lymphangitis one; varicocele one; varicose one; lumbago one; no serious eases. Waikanae. —Condition of one ' serious case improved ; admissions seven ; discharges thirteen. Present totals are: Measles thirty; minor surgical two; convalescent thirty-seven.