SOUTH AFRICAN REBELLION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 717, 31 October 1914, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN REBELLION.

ANOTHER FORCE DEFEATED. THE LEADER CAPTURED. Received this day, 10.10 a.m. Capetown, Friday. !' Colonel Alberts completely defeated the rebels under Ciasßen near Nichtenburg. Classen was wounded and captured. LEADING CITIZENS LOYAL. ' ' f DE WET'S BOGUS CLAIMS. BEYERS' COMMANDOES SCATTERED. * Received this day, 8.45 a.m. Capetown, Friday. The attitude of the leading citizens throughout the country is quietly confident. De Wet is advancing extraordinarily bitter nationalist differences, and hag proclaimed a mushroomlike independent republic in Northern Orangia with Heilbron as the capital. He uses his bogus authority in attemrjting to commandeer the more ignorant burghers under the threat of confiscation of their property. Dutch papers unanimously denounce the rebellion. General Botha reports Beyers' commandoes have scattered and are unlikely to re-unite. Beyeri has fled in an unknown direction Mr Merriman, in a speech denouncing the rebellion, said he attempted to persuade Botha not to risk his valuable life on the battlefield.. Botha replied: "1 would not ask tho Dutch people to enter into conflict with their brethren unless I led them personally."

REBELS NEAR PRETORIA. ROUTED BY BOTHA. Wellington, Thursday. The High Commissioner reports from London on October 28th:— "The of South Africa reports that General Botha loft Rußtenburg, in the Transvaal, 61 miles west of Pretoria, yesterday morning. He "came in touch with General Beyer's men during the forenoon, and drove them in headlong rout the whole day. He captured 80 fully, armed rebels. The pursuit continues. A COMMANDER'S DUTY. 1200 LOYAL BOERS. Capetown, Thursday.

Major Braud, an ex-Republican general, who is in command of 1200 burghers, called up his commando and announced that the rebellion had broken out. Ho recalled the peace made between Britain and the Boers at Vereeniging. whereto Generals Beyers and De Wet had affixed their signatures, and he said, howsver bitter was the war, he could not take up arms against his own people. It would be his holy duty to stand by the Government. He offered a free pass to a.jy member of his commando desiring to return home instead of proceeding to German South-west Africa. Only four applied. THE REBELS SURRENDER. Received Friday, 10.50 p.m. Capetown, Friday. Twenty-four rebels surrendered to Vahderventer at Bromndvles., DE WET AND BEYERS OUT. London, Wednesday.

It is officially stated that General Christian De Wet and General Beyers, late commander of the South African Defence Forces, headed a rebellion in Northern OrangiaJJ arid Western Transvaal. They have seized the Government officials at Heilbron, in Orangia, 125 miles south of Johannesburg, and taken them prisoners. A train was stopped at Retiz, fifty miles south-east of Heilbron, and a defence force taken from it and disarmed. The Government is taking drastic meaures to suppress the new rebellion. General Beyers visited England in 1912 and spoke in public of the deep npreciation of the Boers at the confidence reposed in them by the Imperial Government. He was certain that they would prjve worthy of Buch confidence. He attended the German war manoeuvres at the Kaißer's guest, and studied German army methods. It was well known in South Africa that strong opposition existed to taking the offensive against German Southwest Africa, not only among the Herzogites, but among the burghers supporting the Government, particularly iii the western district of the Transvaal, in Orangia, and in Borne Cape districts. This section declared that they would fight to the last if the Germans invaded the Union, but saw no reason for taking the field themselves.

MARITZ FORCE DEFEATED. Capetown, Wednesday. It is officially stated that the rebels under Colonel Maritz, who attacked the South African garrison u't Kiemoes on Thursday, comprised Ger mans and German Boers. Maritz was wounded in the leg, though not dangerously. The South African losses were seren wounded. Many rebels surrendered at Kak:imasj where Maritz was reported yesterday to ?hava been completely defeated, ' including several wounded. Maritz retreated to Schuitdrift, abandoning camp stores and a wagon load of ammunition. I A later cable message from Capetown states that 124 Maritz rebelß, a^^nds! r -

GOVERNMENT'S ACTION

BURGHERS THOROUGHLY LOYAL. Wellington, Thursday. Toe Prime Minister has received tho following cable from tho High Commissioner, dated London, October 27th : It is officially stated that the Gov-ernor-General of South Africa, Vificount Buxton, nan informed tho Sncretary of Statu for tho Colonies thut the Union Government has issued the following announcement: — "The Government announces with deep regret that, at tho instigation of certain prominent individuals, a number of burghers in tho Noithorn Orange Stato and the western diotricts oE the Transvaal have been misguided enough to defy the authority of the Government, and make preparation for armed resistance Mid rebellion. "The Government, although they have been for some dayn aworo of these rebellicua preparations, and been taking stops to deal with tho situation, havo spared no efforts to » preserve peace without Bloodshed. Now, howevor, the Government learna that in the Northern Orange Free State the burghers' military requirements are being commondeercd under the authority of General Christian do Wet, and in tho Western Transval under the authority of General Beyers. "Armed rebellious commandos ure alreadyjfin existence, and tho town of Heilbron has been seized. Tho Government officials made prisoners, and a train stopped at Litz, and an armed citizens' forco take there from and disarmed. "In these circumstances, the duty of tho Government is clear. They are determined to deal with tho matter with a firm hand, and are taking all necessary steps to this end. "A very great majority of tho citizens of every province in the Union are thoroughly loyal, and deteat tho v v cry idea of rebellion. When aware of the situation they will undoubtedly give the Government every assistance iin restoring order, and will be careful to abstain from giving the rebellious movement encourage ment or support. "All loyal citizens of the Union must tiiereforo bo' specially alert and prepared to give the Government all information when called upon, and every assistance in their power. Citizens who have been guilty of disobediencre under the Defence Act need not four any action against them on that ground on the part of tbe Government so long vb they remain quietly at homo and abstain from acts of violonco or hostility against the authority of tho Govonroent."