El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-22
south AFRICAN
LEADER RESIGNS
Commandant General of De-
fence Forces Disapproves
Conquest Campaign.

London. Eng, Sept, 22.-BecaUse Of
his disapprOval OF the action OF Great
Britain in sending commands 10 con-
uuer German southwest Africa, Brig
Gen. Christian Frederick Byers, com
mandant general Of the union Of south
Africa's defence forces, has resigned
his post
Gen Byers and the reply Of Cen Jan
Christian SHUTS. minister Of finance
and defence Of the South African Union,
were made public by the official press
bureau Monday night
Gen. Byers reminds Gen SHUTS that
in August he disapproved Of the send
ing OF commanders forces Of BOer
trOOps). to conquer German southwest
Africa. and expresses surprise that par
lament confirmed the resolution Of
the government TO conquer the German
territory without any proVOcaUOn TO
the Union by Germans. He insists that
a majority Of the Dutch people in the
Union disapproved Of crossing the Ger
War Not Righteous.
Referring to a statement that Great
Britain had taken part in the European
war for the sake Of justice and TO pro-
tect the independence Of smaller ma
lions and comply with treaties Gen
Byers points TO the resignation OF two
British ministers as evidence that a
strong minority cannot be convinced
Of the Righteousness Of war with Ger
many"
As TO the protection Of smaller ma
lions Gen Byers says;
Former Barbaritfes-
'I have only TO indicate how the in
dependence OF the South african re-
public and of the Orange Free State
was violated and of what We thought
the Sand river convention was thought
this war was being waged against the
barbarity Of the Germans 1 have for
given but not forgotten all the barbar-
nov tat TOD
ing the South African war With very
few exceptions all the farms, not to
mention many towns. were so many
Louvains of which we now hear so
Gen. Byers denied that the Germans
invaded South African Union territory
and declared: IF they did the Dutch
and British would fight side by side in
its defence" and that he would gladly
lead them
SHUTS Scores Byers-
Gen SHUTS, in his reply to the letter
of resignation, said that all the plans
for operations against German south
west Africa were made in consultation
with Gen. Byers and that his sugges-
tons were largely carried out
Your bitter attack on Great Britain,
Gen SHUTS continues, not only IS en-
tirely baseless. but most un1usufiable,
coming as IL does in the midst Of
great war.
Your reference TO barbarous acts
during the South African war cannot
Justify the criminal devastation OF Bel
Eium and can only be calculated TO SOW
hatred and division among the people
Of South Africa"
Cen SHUTS refers TO the freedom
given South Africa by Great Britain,
(which allows you to write a letter for
which YOU would. without doubt, be
liable in the German empire TO the eN-
IRENE penalty"
SAYS Coast Threatened.
The minister goes on to say that the
coast Of the South African Union IS
threatened that mail boats have been
ba1d nm and that her borders have been
Invaded by the Germans and concludes
by declaring
60. canot conceive OF anything more
fatal and humiliating than me OF
LOYALTY in fair weather and a policy OF
neutrality and pro-Germau sentiment IN
DAYS Of storm and stress