The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-09
In South Africa.

For the vague reason that there are other
civilized powers in South Africa besides
the Cape Colony, the Government of that
colony has decided on the creation of
a permanent military force. During the
last session Of the Cape Parliament
a Defence Commission was appointed
to report on the military requirements
of the colony. That commission has now
reported, and recommends the establish
ment of a standing force of 1900 men, in
Guiding the already existing Cape Mounted
Rifles, which Is about LOO strong. As
the white population of the colony Is
only some four hundred thousand out
of a total of about one million six
hundred thousand, this will consti-
tute a tolerably heavy burden on its re.
sources. The colony is to be divided into
five military districts, and service is to be
compulsory on all white males between
eighteen and sixty years of age. A large
increase Is recommended to be made in the
garrison of the Cape peninsula, the artil-
lery to be provided with heavy guns, and a
reserve of two thousand burghers to be
formed. AS the conclusions of the report
of the Defence Commission were largely
~ tho u Div
ish military experts, they are approved Of
by the English home Government.
In order to gain popular support for the
military expenditure called for by the re-
port Of the commission. the pro-imperialist
press and party In the Cape Colony are
striving in every way to inflame public
sentiment against the Transvaal and Ger
many, the other civilized powers particu-
larly aimed at. The assembling of an i'm
posing naval force at Delagoa Bay Is
acknowledged to be for the purpose
Of demonstrating the determination of
England to permit no pro-German influ-
ence to have free play In South Africa, and
with the object Of being on the spot when
the decision of the Swiss jurlsts In the
arbitration case of the Delagoa Bay rail
way Is delivered, as 1t is expected to be
shortly. In England 1t is not only believed
but it is said to be we'll known that the
decision will be against Portugal. AS
Portugal is practically In a bankrupt
state and will be unable to meet
the claim for compensation, which Is large,
1t is intended to take advantage of the
situation, and propose some arrangement
by which, while Portugal retains the SOW
ereignty OF the province OF Mozambique,
England will obtain the practical con.
troll OF the points, such as Delagoa Bay
and Beira, she more Immediately covets.
In other words, the Portuguese East
African territories will be E~gyptianized,
and what Is called the Transvaal-G German In.
trigue would be completely checked. 1t ia
now only about ten years ago that the In
trigue for the ~re-conquest of the Transvaal
and the supervising of the independence Of
the Boer States In South Africa began. The
first symptom of 1t was the sending
out by London stock brokers In the conf,
dence of the Foreign Office in Downing
street of confidential circulars to theiI
clients holding Portuguese stocks, which al
that time were in considerable favor IN
England, as they Melted nearly 8 pei
cent. to the investor. The holders were
warned to get rid of their Portuguese
securities as quickly as possible. Is compli
cations were likely to arise between Eng