The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1915. LOUIS BOTHA’S SUCCESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 62, 13 July 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1915. LOUIS BOTHA’S SUCCESS.

Tho great success of General Louis Botha in Soutli Africa in repressing the serious rebellion against Britain and obtaining tho complete and unconditional surrender of the German forces at Windhoek, after a remarkable campaign, is the more noteworthy because tiro work of crushing the uprising and restoring peace and order in the land was undertaken by men who, but a few years before bad fought side by side with many of the defeated rebels against Britain and in that campaign had fought with greatest bravery against British troops. It must he allowed that no more remarkable justification of British policy towards South Africa, and to her colonies generally, could over be given than tho splendid loyalty displayed by Generals Botha and Smuts and the great mass of the Boer people, in the crisis they have just passed through, ft is now undoubted that the rebellion in the South African Union was the outcome of German intrigue, and a part of .the foolish dream of Potsdam that, by any means, Britain was to be stripped of her possessions and dependencies. The Germans probably thought that the time was ripe and that the Boers would welcome German interference as a signal lor their liberation from British rule. But how vastly they were out in their calculations is now proved. England’s generosity to the Boers alter the war was too deeply felt and too warmly appreciated by tho better type ol Boer to allow them to think of throwing her over for Germany. There were unfortunately, som© traitors in high places, hut they have all been brought lew and. if not dead, must to-day bitterly lament their folly in listening to the wiles of German trea-son-mongers. Sooth Africa in lidding herself altogether of the curse of German rule, is taking the course of wisdom and courage. Christian de Wet. who, areh-rcliel as he proved, is n.jiv deservedly chewing the end of rellee-

lion within prison walls, is deM-riU'd as moiv (him a disappointed man; h> is it religious fanatic of a particularly dangerous kind. N'amnv. bigoted, and fciiporalitimis, lit l Inis been for years limit 1 ! - the <i.>111i11;11ion of a liner pro-

pliet, vau Eensburg. who combined bitter detestation of the British with a curious faculty for prediction 01 second sight. For many years the Boois of the old school had discussed the prophecies of this “seer ol Lichtenhurg.” They had tallied of the dream of the seven bulls lighting, and finally overcome by one great grey bull (German Wilhelm to suit their fancy) and the vision of “the.number Id on a dark cloud, from which blood issued, and then General de la Hoy returning home without Ids hat.” When the conspirators summoned a meeting for the loth of August last the Boers openly discussed the mystic significance of van Bensburg's prophecy ; but when on that fatal night of September Idtb de la Hey was shot and his body was brought home in solemn state, De Wet and his followers hailed the complete fulfilment of the “seer’s” 'prediction. Thus, in sonic measure. Ibis old fanatic may be unaccountable for his actions, and the leniency shown him at his trial is the more easily understood.