Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-28
REVOLT OF BOERS
MORE SERIOUS, BUT
OF LIMITED SCOPE
Individual, Not National,
Grievances Inspire South
African Rebellion, Says
War Expert.
By j. W. T. MASON


NEW YORK, Oct 2s.-The mutiny OF
General De Wet and General Beyers in
the Union OF South Africa is a more
serious affair than the initial revolt led
by Lieutenant Colonel Maritz.
De Wet and Meyers have far higher
qualities of leadership than Marltz pos
sesses and their prestige is capable of
exertlng more pressure on the Beers to
join the uprising. Nevertheless, the
chances are very much against serious
consequences following the attempted
revolution.
AT most the British troops in South
Africa may have to be kept within their
own boundaries during the war, this pos
slbly saving the German colonies from
capture. This would be in itself de-
cided victory for Germany, but such an
outcome is by no means certain.
The attitude OF Portugal will play an
important part in the development of
the situation. Eleven thousand Portu-
guese troops are believed to have been
taken to South Africa on British trans
ports since the war began. Germany's
inva sion of Angola indicates Berlins be-
lief that the troops are destined for use
against the German colonies. to forestall
which Germany has begun an offensive
campaign against Portuguese possessions.
The Portuguese probably will not be
used to suppress the South African up
rising, unless the situation becomes very
serious. They will doubtless be sent into
German East and West Africa to prevent
German assistance being sent to the
Beers and to prepare the way for British
operations II the Boer revolt can be
quickly suppressed.
Three considerations work against the
success OF tho MaritZ-De Wet-Beyers mu-
tiny. The time that has elapsed since
the Boer War has given an opportunity
for the Beers to compare their greater
prosperity under present conditions than
under the Kruger regime. Secondly the
Beers are not hero worshipers. They are
individualists, which fact made them such
guerrilla fighters during their
war against England Il years ago.
That same trait will now work to cause
each Boer. very largely. to make up his
own mind for himself In the present
crisis. Despite the prestige of De Wet
and Beyers. the Beers probably will not
be stampeded into mutiny en- mssse.
The final, and without doubt the most
important, fact that will operate against
a serious revolt Is the full self-govsrn-
ment Great Britain has granted to the
Beers. The British possessions In South
Africa where Britons predominats among
the white population have been united
with tho Transvaal and tho Orange River
Colony. where the Beers so far outnum-
Der the Britons as 10 give them a racial
In the South African Govern
ment. In actual fact, therefore, despite
the British victory in the South African
war, the Beers now rule the Britons there
under a Parliamentary regime.
The Beers possess as much freedom, in
fact, as II they were wholly independent,
and they enjoy greater prosperity and
have their freedom guaranteed without |
charge by the British imperial forces
These circumstances seem 10 lead to the |
conclusion that the present revolt will |
be largely confined to those Beers who |
have personal, and not national. grudgss |
and spite to repay