MARITZ'S HISTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 144, 12 November 1914, Page 2

MARITZ'S HISTORY.

WOUNDED IN BOER WAR I ' GfiRMAN AMBITIONS N AURICA. \ The Times "History of the South I African War," in dealing with the situation an tho western theatre after the expulsion of Herzog and De Wet fnm it m February, 1901, says:—"ln March of that year a young corporal, Oaloman Mantz by name, was sent to organise rebellion in the Kenlhart district. Maritz. by his energy and bravery, rose rapidly to the rank of Commandant. All though the winter and spring of 1901 he was the scarcely disputed master of the Ktnliart and Calvina districts-; and when Smuts,' in October, readied the Calvinia district and made him a general .he had from 600 to 800 well-equipped rebels." * ■:. He was severely wounded in an assault. It is a. strange thing that General Smuts, Maritz's superior in then Boer War, yliould now, as Minister of Defence, bo largely responsible for the work of crashing his rebellion. Upington, on wbioh Maritz's ccaamand is based, is on the Orange River, 90 miles due east of the eouth-*aslt| corner of German South-West Africa.

General Smuts, Minister for Defence, S had something very interesting to sayl about German ambitions in 'South f Africa in a speech made in Parliament | last month. He said it had been con-1 tended that South Africa was German I in its sympathy. He was sure that whatever (tlheir sympathies were the people of his country would do their duty as they had always done, and the better people understood the position the better they would do their duty. All this German talk, all this rumour, of German sympathy, he. maintained, had been spread by German commercial agents and German dealers', and he sincerely hoped that the people would realise that these German agents were placing a dagger into the heart of South, Africa which they were eager to press homo. He could tell the House that the Government of this country was in possession of information which clearly showed tnat the German Government had had its eyes on South Africa for many days. Hon. members ■should understand "that tne Govern-, mont had much more information than private people, and.-without giving away secrets he could tell this House that the German Government had had, and vas. still having, very eager eyes on. the Union, South Africa, was a jewel, and a good many wars m the past had been waged over its possession. Possibly there might be serious wars to come about the possession of this subcontinent.

The military forces of the South African Union are .provided for by the South African Defence Act, 1912. This Act provides for the establishment of Defence Forces comprising:— 1. A Permanent Force. 2. A Coast garrison Force. 3. A Citizen Force. . 4. A lioyal Naval Volunteer Reserve.' 5. Special Reserves. Every citizen between the ages of 17 and GO are liable to render personal service in time of war, and those between 2V anil 25 are liable to undergo a prescribed peace training with the 'Active Citizen Force spread over i't period of four consecutive yearsl. The Act states, however, that only 50 ner cent, of the total number liable to peace, training shall actually undergo that training unless Parliament makea financial provision for the training of a greater number. The establishment of Rifle Associations, which are mentioned in the cable messages to-day is a. mariked feature of the Act; citizens between the ages of 21' and 25, who are not entered for peace training with the Active Citizen Fqree, are to be compelled to undergo training during these four years in a Rifle, Association, thus ensuring that, ill course of time, all citizens will at . least know how to handle and use a nlle . Provision is also made in the Act for the cadet (raining of boys between the ages of IS and' 17 in urban and other populous areas wnere facilities can conveniently be arranged. Existing militia and volunteer units established under the )at,e Colonial Government have been embodied in the Active Citizen Force. Though the local forces may still be said to be in a state of transition, considerable progress 'ha3 been made with the reorganisation under the new Defence Act.

The permanent force—-South African Mounted Riflemen—was established in April 1, 1913. nn-1 the training of the ipersonnel commenced shortly after wards; A course of instruction was held last year at the military school at Bloeinfontein, for the purpose of training staff officers for the military districts. The Union is divided .into thirteen military .districts, and one subdistrict.

I The Cape, Garrison Artillery was constituted as the First Division, of the South African Harrison Artillery, and a movable armament company of Garrison Artillery was formed .at Durban by the, transfer of the personnel of two batteries of the late Field Artillery Militia of Natal. Of the late members of militia, and volunteers, .vfll'l have been transferred to the Act ; ve Citizon Force, 'of which the whole of the ' sonucl will be provided by the voluntary entries of citizens in their twentieth and twentv-first rears, which amount to .10,271. A cadet organisation is ftlwavs in e?:i*tcnee, and numerous ride associations have been formed. There was a considerable force of Imperial troops in the Union before the war, but no donlit aJI or most of iheae have been recalled.