AFRICA ALRIGHT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 53, 29 October 1914, Page 6

AFRICA ALRIGHT.

UNION GOVERNMENT ALIVE TO THE.POSITION.

ACTIVITY IN ORANGE FREE STATE AND WESTERN TRANSVAAL.

The Prime Minister has received the following from the Commissioner, dated Loudon, Octouer 2i -

Official.—The Governor-General of South Africa has informed the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the Union Government has issued the following announcement: “The Government announced with deep regret that at the instigation of a certain prominent individual a number of burghers in Northern Orange Free State and the Western districts of the Transvaal have been misguided enough to defy the authority of the Government and make preparation for armed resistance and rebellion. The Government, although they have been for some days aware of these rebellious preparations and have been taking steps to deal with the situation, have spared .j)0 efforts to preserve peace without bloodshed. Now, however, the Government learns that in the Northern Orange Free State, the burghers’ military requirements are being commandeered under the authority of General Christian De Wet, and in Western Transvaal under the authority of General Beyers. Armed rebellious commandos are already in existence, and the town of Heilbron has been seized and the Government officials . made prisoners. A train was stopped at Litz and armed citizens of the Defence Force were taken therefrom and disarmed. In these circumstances, the duty of the Government is clear. They are determined to deal with the matter with a firm hand, and are taking all the necessary steps to this end. The very great majority of citizens of every province in the Union are thoroughly loyal, and detest every idea of rebellion. When aware of the situation they will undoubtedly give the Government every assistance in restoring order, and will be careful to abstain from giving the rebellion movement encouragement or support. All loyal citizens in the Union must therefore be 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 disobedience under the Defence Act need nof> fear any action against them on that ground on the part of the Govtrnmont so long as they remain quietly at home and abstain from acts of violence or hostility against the authority of the Government. V .

BEYERS, THE TRAITOR.

RECENT LOYAL STATEMENTS IN ENGLAND. United Press Association. (Received 1.55 p.m.) London, October 28. Bevers visited 'England in 1912, when he spoke in public df the deep appreciation reposed in them by the Imperial Government, and said thay were certain to prove worthy of such confidence. He attended the German war manoeuvres as the Kaiser’s guest and studied the army methods. It was well*known in South Africa that strong opposition existed to taking the offensive against the Germans in South-West Africa, not only among the Hertzogites, but among the burghers supporting the Government particularly in the western district of the Transvaal, Orangia and some of the Cape districts. Tins section declared they would fight to the last if the Germans invaded the Union, but that they saw no reason for taking the field themselves.