The Sun FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1914. TRAITORS IN THE CAMP.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 228, 30 October 1914, Page 6

The Sun FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1914. TRAITORS IN THE CAMP.

General Botha has apparently not forgotten; altogether; the art of war. He has already got into closo touch'with General Beyers—so close, that the latter's commando, after losing 80 fully armed men, was forced to take to its heels in headlong flight. This is not an auspicious beginning for the rebels. Either Beyers, in spite of the fact that he was possessed of dangerous inside information, and had been plotting for some time, has not received the support he anticipated, or the descent of the Government force took him by surprise. If General Bottia can catch the flying rebel leader, the latter should be made an example to all traitors. The tendency to "play the game" at all costs! against intrigants and foreigners who j have pro-German sympathies has in the near past operated to Britain's disadvantage. It has been shown that this leniency has been abused by strangers within her gates. They have taken advantage of the characteristic anxiety" of the British authorities to do nothing that savours of inflicting hardship on foreigners. The official statement of the situation in South Africa shows that the Government was s|n T are of the preparations that were being made for armed resistance, but withheld its hand in an effort to preserve peace without bloodshed. Had Beyers and de Wet the German instead of the British authorities to deal with, they would never have been allowed to go so far. The German policy with traitors is to act, and act quickly, on mere suspicion; and this method certainly saves a lot of eventual trouble. It is only recently that the imperial authorities at Home, spurred on by the Press of the country, began to deal with suspects with the gloves off. And results have demonstrated that Arm action was not taken before it was .necessary. - An army of the enemy's adherents has been arrested and placed in custody. Doubtless this collection includes ma'ny innocent and genuinely; friendly people, but' Britain can, afford j;b. take no chance at this stage of the war. Old associations probably restrained General Botha from capturing•". and incarcerating Beyers and-de Wet merely because they were acting suspiciously, but the apprehension of these ringleaders then would have saved the Government >much vexation and- anxiety.