The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-14
MARTIAL LAW
DECLARED IN
SOUTH AFRICA

1
and supplies from Canada, India, AUS
tralla and Africa.
For this reason the announcement by
the Official News Bureau to-day that
"a portion Of the Dutch population IN
| the Cape colonies had revoted against
British control and had Joined with
| German troops, came as a severe blow
to all England. 1t vas believed that
the period OF danger for the solidarity
Of the empire had passed and British
oflcialdom had been happy in the
/ thought. that the administration OF re-
cent years had borne fruit that meant
much at this time.
| The official press bureau las Issued
the text OF a telegram received by the
/ Secretary Of the Colonies from the
/ Governor-General OF South Africa as
/ follows:
Ever since the resignation OF Gen.
/ Beyers as Commandant-G General Of the
citizens force there have been indica-
! lions that something was wrong with
the forces in the northwest Cape
/ province which were placed under COM
mand OF Lieut.-Col. 3. G. Maritz.
/ The Government at once arranged to
send Col. Conrad Brits to take over the
command from Lieut. Maritz. on
/ the otn lnsWnt tOl. BfltS sent mes
sage to Col Maritz to come in and re-
port to him. To this message Col
Maritz replied in a most insolent man
uer that he was not going to report to
anybody. All he wanted was his dis
charge and Col. Brits must come him
self and take over his command
Major BOWER a Prisoner.
"Col. Br!ts then sent Major Ben
Bouwer to take over the command
on his arrival at Col. Maritzs camp
Major Bouwer was taken prisoner with
his companions but personally he was
subsequently released and sent back
with an ultimatum from Col Maritz to
the Union Government to the effect
that unless the Government guaranteed
to him before 10 o'clock Sunday morn
ing. the nth OF October that they
should allow Gems. Hertzog, lie Wet.
Beyers, Kemp and Muller to meet him
where he was in order that he might
receive Instructions from them he
would forthwith make an attack Oh
Col. Brltzs forces and proceed further
70 invade the Union.
Major ben Bouwer reported that Col
Maritz was in possession OF some guns
belonging to the Germans and that he
held the rank OF General commanding
the German troops. He had a force Of
Germans under him in addition to HE
own rebel command He had arrested
all those of his officers and men who
were unwilling to Join the Germans and
had sent them as prisoners to German
Southwest Africa.
Major Bouwer saw an agreement be-
tween Col. Maritz and the Government
of German Southwest Africa guaran-
ieeing the Independence Of the Union
as republic. ceding Walsh Bay and
certain other portions OF the Union to
Germans and undertaking shat the Ger
mans would only invade the Union on
the invitation OF Col. Maritz Major
BOWER was shown numerous tele-
grams and hello messages dating back
10 the beginning Of September. Col.
NLaritz boosted that he had ample guns.
rifles. ammunition and money from tho
Germans and that he would overrun the
whole Of South Africa.
in view of this state OF affairs the
Government is taking the most vigor-
Gus steps to stamp out the rebellion
and to inhict condgn punishment on
all rebels and traitors.
"a proclamation declaring martial
law throughout the Union will appear
in gazette extraordinary to-day. Mon
day. the 18th Of October, 1914.
BUXTON,
Governor General Of South Africa"
There is no doubt that Germany "a
behind the revolt. 1t is RENE mbercd
here now with bitterness that Col
Maritz is the very man who was sent
by Great Britain, in 1904, in command
o ,tl
Germans in suppressing "A revolt of the
native Hereros In German Southwest
Africa. Marlta, a general at that time
was engaged by Gen. Trotha, com
mand,r of the German forces, as mil
itary adviser, and commanded the main
army In the expedition against the ma
lives.
Gen. Marits Ambitious.
Apparently the connections made al
that time with the Germans In South
west Africa, have been renewed and
Maritz has yielded to the lure OF being
one OF the founders Of new republic
In 1904 1t was an openly expressed hope
in Cape Town German circles that Ma
ritz and the 500 Beers under his com
mand would remain on German terri
tory and become German subjects. A,
inc expiration or the rebellion he re-
turned, however. and has been an i'm.
pbrtant factor in military affairs since
The army which has gone over to the
Germans Is one of four sent into the
field when the Union Cover meut, led
by Botha, decided upon the Conquest OF
/. German Southwest Africa as their
method OF aiding the home government
which was thus relieved OF great task
How large Maritz's command is no one
seems to know now, but It is assume
that II Is fairly formidable. Joined e
the well armed and equipped German
troops II may be more than an equa
! for the loyal forces.
1t Is now learned that the Germans
have been prosecuting seditious pro-
paganda for several years. The procla-
nation makes this direct charge
German influence has penetrated even
into the Southwest Transvaal and other
, Dutch districts although messages from
Cape Town and other Dutch centres
declare the loyalty Of the Beers and
instance the resolutions drawn up at ar
: emergency convocation OF the South
African party as soon as news of the
revolt had become known.