SOUTH AFRICA'S LOYALTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 63, 8 April 1909, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICA'S LOYALTY.

T|ere has been leas heard from South Africa during the past lew weeks than Mm other of the Overeea Dominions of the Empire. There is, however, the Dunedin Star points out, no reason to think that the whole of the South African colonies are not deeply interested in the question of Great Britain's naval supremacy. The future of South Atfiea as a united, free, and growing community under the British flag, equally with Canada, Australia, and Mew Zealand, is for some generations to coiue dependent on Great Britain maintaining absolute command of the opeu sea. It was this that enabled her to cope success ully with the Boer Republics in ISOU and l!)Ut), and it is the assurance this supremacy gives that alone permits of South Africa, whether continued as a Federation or as separate States, to develop unassailed frcm without. -Mr Kruger, before lauuehii'j his ultimatum, had convinced himself that a rush iiito Natal and a few early successes in the lielil would compel European intervention and enable him to make terms with his enemy at the gate. The President gained his series of brilliant victories, hut that was all. Nothing on which he had counted followed. .President Steyn, General Botha, and General Do La Key had a much wider vision than hud President Kruger, and from the first hour tliey foresaw the end. They knew that sv long as Great Britain was supreme at sea nothing human could prevent her final triumph. By this means she was able to pour in men so persistently and continuously that every avenue ot hope was closed, and one of the greatest -feats in modem or ancient history—the successful passage of two hundred thousand odd men over vast stretches of ocean—was quietly accomplished. The command of ! the sea, to stare the case briefly, saved South Africa to the Empire. Now, alter the lapse of half a dozen years, a South Africa that is no longer torn with sanguinary conflict or extreme racial rivalries has brought home to her, in common with the rest of the Empire of which she is proud to form a part, the possibility of that sea supremacy, which means so much to her, being seriously challenged —to-morrow, if not to-day. Possibly it is difficult to bring home to many ol the Dutch element in the interior ' the full significance of what is meaui oy naval supremacy. The back-country Boer lias, never probably seen the sea ; his life has beeu passed amid the open spaces of a seemingly limitless veldt; his children know nothing of the joys of a tumble in the ocean surf. The ignorance is not international and is, we arc a I raid, shared by some who are not Dutch and who have less excuse. So far as South Africa is concerned, the Admiralty has done something to bring home to the people a knowledge of what the Navy means. The visit of Admiral Percy Scott's cruiser squadron last year to the chief ports, and the visits of his officers and men to Pretoria and other places, created an excellent feeling, and vividly 'impressed themselves upon the Hoc;; imagination. And the moral lias been taken to heart. vontcmporaneouslv with the wonderful change that has conio over the political outlook, there is an ever-growing recognition of the fact that the Dutch in .South Africa are henceforth inseparately linked, for good and ill, with the British. The two will become one and indivisible, and they will be this even sooner than was hoped should days of storm and stress fall up. on thorn. Of this we have encouraging proof in the result that followed on the outward and visible expression of the true sources of the Empire's strength as represented by the four cruisers of Admiral Scott : in the many and e;v.nest assurances of General Botha; and now in the desire of those who but yesterday were ranged in bailie against us to give a practical demonstration of their loyalty and faith. Whatever S.outh Africa may decide jn the matter of naval J defence, whether by way of increased subsidy or gift of battleship*, it i* pleasant to learn that, in the unwished- | for event of a European war in which Great Britain may be involved, it will be a vain (picM should the enemies of England seek for help 171 any shape or form in the old Boer Republics. u We are for the Elag'' is now tin- rallying cry in South Africa. Mr De Villiers (At-torney-General and Minister of .Mine*) declared in the Transvaal Assembly: "ftouth Africa would stand as one man with jjie Empire. 5 ' There may be those who may prefer deeds to words (concludes our Diiiicdin contemporary), but to the 111ajonly who can recall the state of public sentiment hv the Transvaal Kepublic }ow than ten years ngn words such as these, ami the spirit that inspires them, constitute one of tue most marvellous contrasts in modern history, and place South Africa steadily in line ■with the rest of the Empire