GENERAL BOTHA'S TASK

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27, 2 February 1915, Page 7

GENERAL BOTHA'S TASK

A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE SADDEST EXPERIENCE OF HIS LIFE. Apart from the rounding-up of two 0» three stray bands, the rebellion is officially regarded as ended, states the Johannesburg Star of 21st December. General Botha, having completed the first stage of his task, has gone to Standerton, to spend a few days oh Iris farm. After Christmas he will prepare for the second stage, namely, the campaign in German Soutn-woat Africa. In the course of an interview with a - representative of lleuter's South African Press Agency before his departure, General Botha expressed the opinion that the position of affairs within tho Union no longer presented a barrier to his taking the field against the Germans. He considers that now the rebellion i* over no fears need be entertained of a. recrudescence of trouble among the people of the Union. One thing needful —and on this General Botha lays great stress— is that all' sections of the loyal population, Dutch and English alike, should abstain from words and actions which might exasperate feeling. He says in effect : "Let tho dead past bury its dead. ' "I am sure my English friends will understand what is expedient," observed General Botha, "when I tell them that continued denunciation of rebels may wound just those whom I know Englishmen have no deßire to wound. I mean the Dutch who have been responsible for quelling this rebellion. Not many years ago they and the rebels were fighting side by Bide against England. For tho Loyalist Boers in these later days it has been an unhappy, indeed a tragic, ordeal to have to hunt down and _ fire on men, some of them their relatives, many of them their frineds, who were once their comrades in arms., These men in many cases have already met with their just punishment. Their wrong-doing and their fate are matters of most acute grief to tKeir kinsmen j and bitterness may unwittingly be provoked if our English fellow countrymen continually em- - phasise the infamy of acts which they are not alone in detesting. Dutch loyalists have discharged a painful duty out of a sense of honour, and, having 'elatives and friends often among the rebels, they regard the whole rebellion as a lamentable business, on which the curtain should be rung down with as little declamation,, as little controversy, and as little recrimination as possible. To those who call for the infliction of severe penalties on the , ringleaders I ~ wish to say : Be sure justice will be done. In due time courts will be constituted to deal with these men. 1 ' Concluding, General Botha* said : — "Foi? myself personally the last three months have provided trip saddest experience of all my life. I can say the same for General Smuts, and, indeed, for every member of the Government. The war— our South African war — is but a thing of yesterday. You will understand my leelt ings of loyal commandos, when among the rebel dead and wounded we found from time to time men who had fought in our ranks during the dark days of that campaign. The loyal commandos have had a hard task to perform. They have performed it, and will be vindicated. Let that be enough. This is ho time for exultation or for recrimination. Let us spare one another's feelings. Remember we have to live together in this land long after the war is ended." Turning to the task which lies ahead, General Botha said :— "ln suppressing the rebellion the Government has had tho most hearty co-operation of both races. Let us have the same co-opera-tion in German South-West Africa. Tho undertaking before us is a difficult undertaking, but if we all do our duty it will be carried to a successful conclusion. Now that German territory has become a refuge for Maiitz and other rebels, it is more than ever necessary that wo should persist in our operations there. We cannot tolerate the existence of & nest of outlaws on our frontier, a menace to the peace of tho Union." Speaking of the services rendered by his friend and colleague, General Smuts, who from the beginrting has been the ever-vigilant, ever-resourceful eye and brain at headquarters in Pretoria, planning, co-ordinating, and, in t consulta* tion with tho Commander in Chief, directing, General Botha could not say enough. "Nobody can ever appreciate sufficiently the great work General Smuts has done — greater than that of any other man throughout this unhappy period. At his post day and night, his brilliant intellect, his calm judgment, his amazing energy, his undaunted courage have been assets of inestimable value to the Union in her hour of trial."