Africa.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 53, 29 October 1914, Page 5

Africa.

THE REBELLION. EX-BOER GENERALS JOIN THE MOVEMENT. London. October 28. Official.—Christian De Wet and General Beyers have headed a rebellion in Northern Orangia, Western Transvaal. They seized the Government officials at Heilbrou, and took them prisoners. A train was stopped at Reitz, and the defence force taken from it and disarmed. The Government is taking drastic measures.

A NOTED BOER LEADER. Christian Rudolf De Wet was born in 1854. tie was the .chief commandant of the Orange Free State army during the Boer war (1899-1902). He was born in the Smithfield district of Orange Free State, and took part in the Boer war of 1880-1. He was appointed general after Nicholson’s Nek where he

brought about the sufrender of two British battalions and a mountain battery (October 30, 1899), and on the death of General Ferreira he was appointed chief commandant of the Free State army (February 1900). At Blauvvbank, or Waterval Drift, he captured a large convoy (February 15). After the Boer defeats at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, and Bloemfontein (all March, 1900), De Wet with a few [hundred men, ambushed Broad wood at [Sauna’s Post, and captured a convoy and six guns (March 31). Four days afterwards, 470 prisoners of war fell into his hands at Reddersburg (April 3.) He was driven across the Vaal out of the Orange Free State (October 9), and defeated at Bothaviile (November ,0); but a fortnight later lie captured the garrison at Dewetsdorp (November 23). When Lord Kitchener commenced his great ‘sweeping’ movements against the Boer forces, Do Wet slipped through into Cape Colony (February 10, 1901), but, re-crossed, the Orange River, ■having lost all his guns, ammunition, transport, and many men (February 28.) De Wet was frequently ‘cornered,’ but always escaped, and was still at large when the peace negotiations began. He signed the peace terms at Vereeniging (May 31, 1902). He accompanied Botha and Delarey to England .in September, 1902.

MARITZ WOUNDED IN LEG.

Capetown, October 27. Official.-‘-The enemy a,t Kiemoes comprised'Germans arid,German Boers. Maritz was wounded in the leg, but the wound is not dangerous. The South African losses were seven wounded. Many of the rebels surrendered at Kakanias, including several wounded, Capetown, October 28. A further 124 of Maritz’s rebels, including five officers, have surrendered.

PRESS COMMENT. (Received 10.0 a.m.) London,- October 28. The Morning Post is optimistic regarding General Botha’s ability to early suppress the outbreak. The Chronicle is deprecatory in its reference to the civil war, which it likens to that of the United States fifty years ago. The Times says the rebellion is in no wise so serious as may .seem at the first glance. Apart from General Botha’s enormous personal influence, the weight of duty and opinion is solidly against the rebels. If the latter are relying on German aid they will b« rudely disallusioned. WEST AFRICAN PORTUGUESE POSSESSION INVADED. (R«««iv«d 10.0, a.m.) Lisbon, October 28. German troops have invaded Angola, a. Portuguese province in West Africa, with a population of 4,000,000. Portugal is sending warships hmnedialmly. PREMIER BOTHA AT THE FRONT. (Received 10 a.m.) Pretoria, October 28. Official: General Botha, has gone to the front.

CONGO FREE STATE.

GERMAN FORCE DEFEATED AT LAKE TANGANYIKA.

(Received 10.0 a.m.) London, October iS

It is officially reported that the Belgians completely defeated the Germans on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.

The Congo Free State was constituted in IRB3, with Leopold 11., of Belgium as sovereign. In 1890 King Leopold bequeathed his interest in the State to tlio Belgian Government,

and in 1908 if was formally annexed to Belgium. The Governor-General resides at Boma, at the mouth of ihe Congo .Hi ver. Among the chief exports are rubber, ivory, nuts, and palm oil, tlie bulk of the trade, being with Belgium. The army consists of 10,736 natives commanded by European officers. The area of the country is estimated at 900,000 square miles, and the population is believed to be about 8,000,000. The State .stretches from the east coast right buck tu the Nile nnd Lake Tanganyika, which form the western boundary.