Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-13
AFRICAN SOLDIERS
IN REVOLT; MARTIAL
LAW ESTABLISHED
Deposed Commander Cen
eral, Colonel Maritz, Joins
Troops With Germans
Against British Rule.
LONDON, oct. 10.


Martial law has been proclaimed
throughout South Africa. following dis
covery of plot by Colonel M&ritzs COM
mand looking toward establishment of a
republic in the northwest Cape provinces.
The bureaus statement recOunts that
there has been a certain amount of dis
affection since the resignation of Com
mandant General Beyers and that the
South African Government finally deter
mined to supersede Colonel Maritz, COM
manding in the northwest Cape province.
Colonel Maritz dehed the order remov-
ing him and forwarded an ultimatum to
the Cape Town authorities declaring he
would invade the Union unless permitted
to meet and consult with Generals Beyers,
Hertzog and De Wet-all anti British
leaders,
Colonel Maritz promptly arrested all
loyal soldiers in his command and sent
them prisoners into German Southwest
Africa. He Is now at the head of a
force of German troops, armed with Ger
man guns. in addition to his own rebel
command.
The bureau states that the German
Governor of Southwest Africa has agreed
to support Maritz and to guarantee the
independence of the republic which he
proposes to establish, cedlng to the pro-
posed republic Walhsh Bay ana other
ports now in the possession of Germany.
THE Colonial Government" the bureau
states. lis taking vigorous measure to
crush the rebellion and 10 punish the
traitors"
General c. G. L. Beyers resigned as
commander OF the defense forces Of the
union of South Africa on September Is, as
a protest against the invasion of German
Southwest Africa by British forces. II is
pertinent 10 note that in his letter Of res
ignation General Beyers brought In the
name OF Colonel Maritz TO corroborate
him, on this point he said:
THE allegation made in Parliament
namely that the Germans already have
violated our frontier, are unfounded, see
the official report Of the information hu-
reau, corTobOrated by Lieutenant Colonel
Maritz and his officers. who are on and
near the frontier Of German Southwest
Africa.
Apparently the Government lonEed for
some transgression by the Germans Of
German Southwest Africa. but have been
disappointed In this. for so far not
single German soldier has crossed the
frontier AS you know very well Che
letter IS addressed TO General Jan Chris
tian Smuts, Minister or Defense ana FL
nance of the Union Of South Africa. the
report is perfectly correct regarding an
involuntary transgression on the frontier
some time ago and the rendering Of an
apology for so doing. Whatever may
happen in South Africa, the war will be
decided In Europe in any case. So IL Ger
many triumphs and should decide to at
tack us then, even II Great Britain should
be unable TO help us, We shall at least
have a sacred and clean cause in de-
fending our country to the utmost, pro-
/ yided we stay inside Of our borders
! meanwhile.
"As the circumstances are l see no
| way of taking the offensive, and as I
/ sincerely love my country and nv peo-
/ PIE I must strongly protest against the
/ sending % union citizen forces over the
/ frontier Who can foreteu when the lire
| the Government has decided TO light shall
endg' \