GERMAN SOUTH-WEST AFRICA.

Evening Star, Issue 15606, 24 September 1914, Page 2

GERMAN SOUTH-WEST AFRICA.

GENERAL BEYERS 'B RESIGNATION. WELLINGTON. September 23. The High Commissioner telegraphs as follows to the Prime Minister under date London, September 22 (0.20 a.m.) : Official: The Press Bureau has published the text of the correspondence between Generals Beyers and Smuts regarding the former's resignation of the post of Commandant-general of the South Africa Defence Forces. General Beyers states that he disapproved of sending commandos to German South-west Africa for the purpose of conquering that territory, and he was surprised that Parliament had confirmed a resolution to conquer German South-west Africa without any provocation towards the Union from the Germans. "The Government," he says. li must be aware that a majority of the Dutch-speaking people in the Union disapprove of our crossing the frontier, and conferences of commandants in Pretoria are an eloquent testimony to this." General Beyers challenged the Government to appeal to the people without making it compulsory to obtain another result. He Baid: "Great Britain has taken part in the war for the sake of right and justice, in order to protect the independence of smaller nations and to comply with treaties; but the fact that three Ministers from the British Cabinet resigned shows that even in England there ia a strong minority who cannot be convinced of the righteousness of the war with Germany. History teaches that whenever it suits her interests Great Britain is ready to protect smaller nations. Unhappily, history also relates instances in which the sacred rights and independence of smaller nations have been violated and treaties disregarded by the same Empire. In proof of this it is only necessary to indicate how the independence of the South African Republic and Orange Free State was violated, and what weight the Sand River Convention was. It was said the war was being waged against the barbarity of the Germans. I have forgiven, but not forgotten, the barbarities perpetrated in my own country during the South African War. In the absence of legitimate grounds for an annexation policy the Government should not endeavor to intimidate the public by declaring that the Government possess information showing that Germany had decided, should opportunity arise, to annex South Africa." General Beyers'a opinion is that annexation will be hastened Sf the British invade German territory without having been provoked by the Germans. " As to the alleged German annexation scheme," General Beyers aays, " this is nothing more than the result of the usual national suspicion attending such matters. Allegations that the Germans have already violated the frontier are ungrounded. Whatever may happen in South Africa, the contest will be decided in Europe. If Germany triumphs, and should decide to attack South Africa, then, even if Great Britain should be unable to help us, we at least would have a sacred and clean case in defending our country to the utmost, provided we stay inside our borders. I accepted the post of Com-mandant-General under the Defence Act, the first section of which provides that our forces are only to be employed in defence of the Union. Should the enemy penetrate our country it will be the British duty to drive him back and pursue him into his territory. Why should we deliberately make enemies? I see no way f taking the offensive, and, sincerely as love this country and people, I must strongly protest against sending our Union citizen forces over the frontier." GENERAL SMUTS'S ANSWER. NOT MUCH LEFT OF GENERAL BEYERS. The Minister of Defence (General Smuts) replied, detailing the circumstances under which the. resignation took place. Ho said: " The terms in which General Beyers endeavors to iustifx his action

must leave a, very painful impression. True, it was known that General Beyers •ntertained an objection ■ war opw&tions in German South-west Africa, but r 1 never received the impression that he would resign. The principal officers were appointed on General Beyers'* recommendation, with his concurrence, and the plan of operations now being followed waa largely recommended by General Beyers at a conference of officers." General Smuts's last instructions before he left for Cape Town to attend a speoial sitting of Parliament were that General Beyers shonld visit certain regiments on the German border. "It was well understood," says General Smuts, " that immediately war operations were further advanced, and co-operation amongst the various divisions was practicable, General Beyers shonld undertake the chief command against German South-west Africa. The attitude of the Government remains unchanged, and was approved by Parliament. The circumstances' in connection with the resignation, have made a, most unpleasant impression on my colleagues and myself, but this unpleasant impression was aggravated by allegations contained in a, bitter attack on Great Britain. The references to barbarous acts during the South African War cannot justify the criminal devastation of Belgium, and can only be calculated to sow hatred and division amongst the people of South Africa. General Bayers forgets to mention that since the South African War the British people have given South Africa entire freedom under a Constitution which makes it possible to realise national ideals along our own lines, and which allows General Beyers to write with impunity a letter tot which ho would be liable in the German Empire to the extreme penalty. As regards his other statements, they have been answered and disposed of. From these discussions it would be apparent that neither the British Empire nor South Africa was the aggressor in the struggle; War in the first instance was declared by Austria-Hungary, and thereafter by Ger<many. Under the circumstances in which the British Government employed their utmost powers to maintain the peace of Europe and safeguard the integrity of Belgium, it is absurd to speak of aggressive action on the part of .the Union, seeing that, together with the British Empire, we have been drawn against our wish and will, entirely in self-defence, I into this war. My conviction la that the paople of South Africa will, in these dark days,' when the Government as well as the people of South Africa are put to the supreme test, have a higher conception of duty and honor than can bo deduced from General Beyers's letter, and the action of the Dutch-speaking section in particular. I cannot conceive of anything more fatal and humiliating than a policy of liployalty in tah weather and a policy of neutrality and pro-German sentiment in days of storm and stress. It may be that peculiar internal circumstances and the backward condition after a great war will place a limit on what we can do, but, nevertheless, 1 am convinced that the people will support the Government in carrying out the mandate of Parliament, and in a manner which is the only legitimate one fulfil our duty to South Africa and to the Empire, and maintain our dearly-won honor unblemished for the future." UNANIMOUSLY CONDEMNED. CAPE TOWN, September 23. The Cape Town Press unanimously condemn General Beyers, emphasising the fact that he deferred his resignation until in possession of the Government plan of campaign. GERMAN CULTURE METHODS. I INDIGNANT REMONSTRANCES. SATAN REPROVING SIN. PARIS, September 22. i M. Anatole France, in an indignant protest against the destruction of Rheims Cathedral, says that the barbarians who invoked the blessing of God have destroyed one of the most magnificent of the monuments of Christianity, and have thus earned eternal infamy. The Allies will inflict a pitiless vengeance on the criminals, but they will notVtain their victory with similar "crimes. NEW YORK, September 22. The newspapers denounce the Rheims outrage. The ' Tribune' declares that it is a piece of vandalism reducing German military methods to the level of the Goths and Huns." Doubtless we shall hear more of the Kaiser's bleeding heart, but no such banalities will blind us to the congenial unsensitiveness of the German nature to the obligations of civilisation." ROTTERDAM, September 22. The 'Berliner Tageblatt' accuses the Belgians of using churches as military works, and declares it is a burning shame, as the German troops have been ordered to protect when possible beautiful buildings of all descriptions. A PERTINENT COMMENT. PETROGRAD, September 22. The 'Novoe Vremya' reproaches British statesmen with not insisting upon completely crushing Germany, and adds: "It is necessary for Europe to burn out the Prussian cancer with red-hot irons.'' MISCELLANEOUS CABLES. Firty-seven thousand refugees, mostly, Belgians, have arrived at Folkestone in the last 21 days. During the past 20 years Germany has established 46 companies engaged in electro-metallurgical mining works; in Russia, with a capital of £9,000,000, which, it is now hoped, will be supplanted by British firms. Japan has presented £2,000 worth of surgical instruments to Russia. The Australian Government will permit one official war correspondent to accompany the Expeditionary Force. The export of brood mares from Australia has been prohibited.

AUCKLAND TROOPS. FAREWELL FUNCTION. Yesterday tho Prime Minister said farewell to the Auckland section of the Expeditionary Force. Troops to the number of 2,200 marched to the Domain, where a crowd of about 14,000 collected, and here addresses were delivered by Mr Massey and Mr C. J. Parr (Mayor). Owing to rain the speeches were very short. After the ceremony the troops marched through. the main streets, where they were cheered by great crowds. In concluding a patriotic speech tho Prime Minister said: ''You will encounter manv hardships, not only on the Icene of operations, but ott the way {hereto, 'but remember that you are enjoying the privileges of making* history. In ages to come millions of people will read with interest of the great events that are taking place to-day, and I hope that they will also read of 'how the New Zealanders distinguished themselves. You will have the privilege of striking hard for right and liberty and against tyranny, and we know that that privilege is safe in your hands. We commend you to the protection of Him without whose knowledge not even a sparrow can fall to the ground. I hope that this cruel war will soon come to an end, but it must be peace with honor, or no peace at all. I hope that in the not far distant future we will have the pleasure of welcoming you back home again." GENERAL ITEMS. Oh Tuesday next Mr'H. D, Bedford is to deliver a lecture a* the Burns Hall on ' The Wars of the British Empire in Defence of Freedom.' The *t<wy of these glorious war* hj An inspiring one, ajid Mr Bedford may be r*lied on to tell Britain's story as it should be told. He will deAl with the thrilling story of the British Navy, the exploits of Drake and Nelson. Tha great waia in Europe will be dealt with, ancf the etory told of the achievements of Marlborough and Wellington. The lecture is ujider the auspices of the Otago University, and Mr John Roberts (the Vice-Chanceilor) will occupy the chair. Musical items will be rendered by the University Muaicai Society. Since the proceeds are to be handed to the patriotic fund, it is trusted that there will be a full attendance of the public