Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-24
SITUATION IN
SOUTH AFRICA
IS EXPLAINED
Consumption Order for Pur-
pose of Raising Additional
Army Against Instruction
lists Interpreted,

London, Jan. 4.--n the South Az
rican governments announcement
that ii has been found necessary to re-
sort to CONSUMPTION for the raising of
an additional army agatrst the iiIsm-
rectionists. some German and Dutch
papers find hints that the situation in
South Africa is more serious than has
been heretofore admitted.
A later dspatch from Pretoria an-
nounces that classes / and Of the
national reserve In the whole of the
Transvaal have been called out ex-
cept in the Witwatersrand area and in
the northwest. The dispatch states
that all citizens between the ages of
II and 45 not serving in any other
portion Of the defense force may be
called upon.
The official communique from Pre-
toria is not of an alarmist nature, and
frankly states the reasons for resort
ing TO coascription. The communique
says
Situation May Become Acute.
an dealing with The rebellion the
government did not rely on volun-
teers alone. and, although the rebel
lion has been suppressed, it Is clear
that, IL me rebel leaders in German
Southwest Africa succeed, the situa-
ton may again become acute.
THE government consider they
would not be justified In relying who'll
" upon the voluntary principle to
ward off the danger which threatens
every citizen of the union. In view
of the danger of invasion, 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 be-
tween guarding the borders from in
yasion and dealing with the enemy be-
yond the borders, The government
considers that the burden of this eff
fort should not be borne entirely by
those who volunteered their services
Another reason for not relying ON
the voluntary principle Is the attitude
OF the rural population. There Is
very large section Of the Dutch-speak-
ing community with the most excel
lent military qualifications and war
experience, who are perfectly ready TO
give their services in freeing South
Africa from the menace OF German
militarisn, but who have funda-
mental prejudice against tho prnci-
pie Of volunteering shortly, their at
titude is that if the government re-
qnire their services, they should COM
mandeer them.
Machinery of CONSUMPTION.
"A proclamation is. therefore, being
issued today. providing tho legal ma
chinery ta meet this feeling.
While maintaining its undoubted
constitutional right To demand the
personal service Of all able-bodied cit
izens, the government desires to avoid
imposing unavoidable hardship. The
proclamation, therefore, calls upon
certain areas 10 contribute reason
able quota of the men required, leav-
ing the local Officers to make the
most suitable selections, retaining,
however, the right Of legal compul-
sion.
The government express their con-
fidence that compulsion will be I'M
necessary and that citizens Will rem
der in the German Southwest African
campaign as willing and loyal SER
vice as they did with such brilliant
success in the suppression of the re-
bellion.'