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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 240, 13 November 1914, Page 6

Though operations in South Africa of late been overshadowed by the destruction of theEmdenand the savage fighting in France and Belgium, the news from the Cape goes to show that General Botha is handling a ticklish position with the resourcefulness that characterised his previous work iu the field. De .Wet is liable to give the most trouble because of his inherent and intense hatred of all things British and his -natural guerrilla propensities, which were so impressively evidenced in the last Boer war. So far, the Government troops have met with nothing . but success. In several instances the rebel forces have been broken up and shattered, the" reverse being accompanied by the capture of large numbers of prisoners. It is stated officially that the rebels have been given -'until;' November 21 to surrender their arms, the leaders, however, being excluded. If General Botha can manage to make contact with De Wet and Beyers before that date and disperse their commandos, it is not un? likely that the revolutionaries will be convinced of the hopelessness of their cause, and will lay down their arms. But should the traitorous leaders evade defeat for a, time, their men will not be inclined to surrender without making a bold bid for victory. No word has been received ,of late as to the manner of the assistance rendered by the Germans to the rebels. Germany would be quite content to let her activities rest at having instigated a rebellion in Imperial territory. She is faced with the inevitable loss of her African possessions, and no doubt all her energies will be devoted to resisting an invasion of her colonies. General Botha's task is not an easy one; he has to crush the insurrectionaries and then conquer the Germans in East Africa, and though the job is likely to entail a considerable amount of fighting, the veteran can be relied on to see it through successfully. His work will be simplified by. the sympathy that has been evinced by the major portion of the Dutch population, who have refused to be led away by the specious arguments of De Wet and the ex-Com-mandant of the forces.