The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-18
SITUATION IN SOUTH
 AFRICA SERIOUS England Forced to Resort to C0nscriptiOn to Quell
 Disorder

London January 17.--(Correspondenc of the Associated Press)-In the South African governments announcement that it has been found necessary to resort to conscription for the raising of an addi- tional army against the insurrectionists' some German and Dutch papers find hints that the situation in South Africa is more serious than has been heretofore admit ted.
 A latter dispatch from Pretoria an- nounces that classes and of the na- tional reserve in the whole of the Trans yaal have been called out, except in the
 Witwatersand area and in the northwest. The dispatch states that all citizens be-
 tween the ages of 17 and 40 not serving in any other portion of the defense force may be called upon.
 The official communique from Pretoria
 is not of an alarmst nature. and frankly
 states the reasons for resorting to con- scription The communicate says: Tn dealing with the rebellion the gov- ernment did not rely on volunteers alone, and, although the rebellion has been sup pressed, it is clear that, if the rebel lead CTS in German Southwest Africa succeed, the situation may again become acute.
 s'The government considers they would not be justified in relying wholly upon the voluntary principle to ward off the danger which threatens every citizen Of
 the union. In view of the danger of in-
 vasion, it will be necessary to employ much larger forces than at first intended in order to destroy the enemy and rebel forces. so that they may never again menace the peace of South Africa. There can, therefore, be no distinction between guarding the borders from invasion and the prevention of invasion by dealing with the enemy beyond the borders. The gov ernment considers that the burden or tnls effort should not be borne entirely by those who volunteered their services. Another reason for not relying on the voluntary principle is the attitude or the rural population. There is a very large section of the Dutch-speakng community with the most excellent military qualifica- tfons and was experience, who are per- fectly ready to give their services In freeing South Africa from the menace of German militarism, but who have fundamental prejudice against the princi- pie of volnteering shortly, their attf- | tude is that if the government require l their service. they should commander them.
 "A proclamation is, therefore. being is-
 sued today. providing the legal machinery l to meet this feeling.
 "While maintaining it's undoubted con- l stitutional right to demand the personal service of all abie-bodied citizens. the gov ernn,ent desires to avoid imposing avoid | able hardship. The proclamation, there fore, calls upon certain areas to contribute
 a reasonable quota of the men required leaving the local officers to make the
 most suitable selections, retaining, how ever, the right of legal compulsion.
 "The government expresDes Its conh' dence that compuision will be unnecessar, and that citizens will render in the Ger man South West African campaign a' willing and loyal service as they did witt such brilliant success in the suppression
 of the rebellion."