The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-03
What VIII the South African Natives
Do in the Event of War?

The Native Department OF the Cape
Colonial Administration has publicly de-
MED that there Is anything abnormal in
the actual attitude Of the natives Of South
Africa. very different view is expressed
by the South African Ne,rs a recent number
OF which is before us. That widely circu-
lated newspaper asserts from unofficial
sources, which it entirely credits, that the
native mind Is greatly disturbed by the
rumors Of impending war between the white
peoples, and that, in all likelihood, the
first shot interchanged between Beers and
Englishmen will prove the beginning OF
serious difficulties with those native tribes
that are still practically in state OF bar
bariSm. There was a time, 1t says, when
the impression was widespread that natives
hated every Dutchman and loved every
Englshman. That time, according to the
South African Necs, has passed. 1t be-
leves that a contest between the white
races in South Africa will provoke a far
reaching and determined effort on the part
OF the natives to eliminate white rule.
The South African Ners begins by point
ing out that the Colonial Native Depart
ment has been more than once shortsighted
and misled. The Colonial Government OF
the day, for instance, did not believe that
cattle-kiling mania had seized the Kaflr
nation. This, however, turned out to be
the case. The last Matabole rising, with
its long death roll Of white settlers, for
whose blood the instigators OF the Jameson
Raid will have to answer, found the officials
unprepared and ncredulous. Then again.
the Sprgg Government from q fail
ure to recognize the gravity Of a
crisis, omitted to send the police patrol
which Commissioner ROBINSON asked for,
though it would thereby have spared the
colony many valuable lives, half million
of pounds sterling and the disgrace inflicted
by the murder of unarmed prisoners.
What happened just before the Mutlny in
India has too often occurred in South Africa.
We refer to the fact that the officers of
every regiment which mutinied expressed
confidence up to the last moment that their
men were loyal.
The information upon which the warning
| is based comes, it appears, from number
OF sources Independent OF each other. In
one case it is plainly announced that in
case of war between England and the Trans
vaal certain British settlers in the more
scattered and unprotected outposts OF the
native Territories would have to take steps
for mutual defence. Another informant,
| said to be one Of the most experienced and
! least aarmist Of the English settlers in the
| Territories, does not hesitate to predict
that the talk of war, once started in the
Transvnal, will set fire to the whole
of native South Africa. The Matabeles are
silent and sullen; several Of the Rhodesian
mines have had to close down because nc
labor is prOcurable. KHAMA's son and his
brother are unruly, and KHAMA is old and
his tribe numerous. Even among the native
kraals in the Cape Colony the belief is eur
rent that there is to be another cattle
killing soon, and that this time the white
men will be driven into the sea once
| for all
The most serious information published
10y the South A fricdn Neics comes from Bias
utoland, 1t is well known that the numer
Gus, rich and wcll-armed BasutO nation il
practically independent. The Basutos hole
a high place in the estimation of othel
tribes. What the Zulu was score OF year,