important to her in view of her interests in the East, Great Britain had

e had lost their status. The latter in reality only held an area along the coast of her possessions, a great proporti

to and included Delagoa Bay and Louren?o Marquez, while the

attacks by natives, and the constant raids by hordes of Kafirs caused

OLONIES IN A

y permission

e east and north-east borders, over the more fertile and naturally resourceful portions of

escape from subjection to any form of government excepting their own patriarchal control. Their story hardly comes within the scope of t

Great Trek of 1836, and they spread out ever seeking freedom from restraint. They came into collision with the Zulus under

ked on and established a separate settlement, with Potchefstroom as

command of the British forces at the Cape, dispatched a continge

om Durban to Grahamstown, covering the distance of 37

with the result that a fresh exodus of Boers occurr

ere pressed on-being continually told that they could not shake off their al

nt a military force to the assistance of the natives. And so they were harried until they were allowed to establish th

l, but after General Colley's defeat and death at Majuba the indep

1882 the Transvaal completed a convention with the Portuguese Government under which the former was

n of Walfisch Bay, Angra Pequena, as well as Possession, Ichaboe, and other islands on the south-west coast in the name of the Dutch

ds were annexed at different times between 1861 and 1867, and Walfisch

field as far as actual occupation went, in spite of its

of country, comprising Great Namaqualand and Damaraland, would have been lost to Great Britain; yet British statesme

overnment of the Cape to annex Great Namaqualand and Da

rman missionaries, urged that the country might be declared British and be

step an Order in Council should be passed, empowering the Cape Parliament to legislate for the purpose of annexing the coast up to the Portuguese boundary; and that in the meanwhile no time shoul

tions on the subject, but the Imperial Government co

d were disturbed at the unsettled state of the native territories of the Cape Colony and the recu

, that the Orange River should be maintained as the north-western boundary of the Cape Colony, and that the Government

d and Damaraland, and from the natives of those territories, was for the annexation of the islands o

e minds of the British statesmen, and they were merely conce

y of forming "Trade Colonies" were not undertaken by the German Government until well into 1884, the promoters and orig

remen and Hamburg merchants had made many not unsuccessful effort

newspaper published a communication from its special correspondent in Berlin-headed "The First German Colony"-rep

an flag to be hoisted over it. The semi-official Post declares that this is the most practicable kind of colonisation, because it avoids international difficulties. In spite of the statement ... that the German Government avoids giving

s in a nutshell: the continued expansion of Germany fro

of actually annexing territory, though it was a straw whi

influence," and the subterfuge resorted to was the establishment of trade centres by merchants who would claim the protection of the German flag; albeit it could not be ser

n Government and public. Foremost amongst these was Herr Ernst von Weber, and the enunciation of his higher ambitions for his country, in a remarkable article published in 1879, not only

ion by which Englishmen might be inspired to found a new Empire in the African c

to realise this ambition; urging in support that Germans had a peculiar interest in the "

that the Transvaal Boers had "the most earnest longing that the German Empire, which they

surrounded and misled Paul Kruger, the German is barely tolerated by the Boers, and vervluchste

w-a gentleman, in his mind, associated with a watch w

ugh a Dutch dialect is in almost universal use, he would indignantly repudiate a suggestion that he is bou

ants who were sent out to the eastern province of the Cape Colony in 1820. Many of these trekked with the Boers owing to dissatisfaction at being denied politi

by great Britain, it was merely because of repugnance to

urces of the Transvaal, von Weber points to the possi

s immigration of Germans would gradually bring about a decided numerical preponderance of Germans over the D

on both the west and east coasts of Africa, where factories could be established, branches of which, properly fortif

ador in Berlin for a report; and this, when received, assured the Government that the plan had no prospect of success, because the German Government felt more the want of soldiers th

itish Government was therefore quite satisfied that "the plan had no prospect of succes

at the map of South Africa will show how feasible it was for Germany not only to curtail the expansion of Br

of German Government agents, bountifully assisted in their object by the

" Between it and the Transvaal Republic lay another unprotected area stretching across the Kalahari so-called "desert" and including Bechuanaland, the happy hunting-ground of missionaries and Matabe

blic with access to the east coast at St Lucia Bay, then the Cape Colony was shut in by very circumscribed borders for ever from her Hinterland; wh

on. There was an enormous and fabulously rich extent of country stretching up to and beyond the Zambezi, occu

the German set out with the mailed fist wrappe

work in the Transvaal. The Boer Government had concluded an agreement with the Portuguese whereby they obtained an outlet to the east

na chiefs, and overtures were made by German emissaries from the Tran

FRICA I

h which Germany hoped to shut in Cape

zulu, who had succeeded Cetywayo as King of Zululand, and with him negotiations were entered into, the

th the Zulus, with its memorable disaster to the British arms at Isandhlwana and the deplorable death of Prince Victor Napoleon. In 1881 we were defeated by the Boers at Laings Nek and Majuba, the little war

le in view of the importance of the issue at stake, which was the

Thomas Upington, and John X. Merriman; and these continually pressed their views upon the Home Government, while Rhodes, who had formulated his own ideas as to the des

ble to the consummation of his ideals; for if he had had to rely upon the Ho

he Cape statesmen. Their protests, and especially the individual efforts of Rhodes, stirred the Home Government into sav

the Boers, but it was not until 1885 that a successful issue was arrived at aft

the north through Bechuanaland was obviated, but

o set out from the Transvaal in search of a concession from Lo Bengula were unsuccessful

a British firm (De Pass, Spence & Co.) had purchased from the native chiefs a large tract round about Angra Pequena, an

ritory from the Orange River to the Portuguese border, but the Government could not be induced to do anything more towards acceding

Government through the German Colonisation Society, established a trading station at Angra Pequena and commenced, in accordance with

itz exercising rights of proprietorship over a large portion of territory which he claimed t

mporting large quantities of arms and ammunition a

ns were accordingly made by the German to the British Government, pointing out that German subjects had substantial interests in and about Angra Pequena in need of protection, and inquiring whether the Britis

xcept as regards Walfisch Bay, the Home Government would lend no encouragement to the establi

if Great Britain were not agreeable to providing protection for the lives and properties of German subjects, the German Govern

nderlying design to establish a territorial footing in South Africa. He disclaimed any intention other than to obtain protection for the p

1884 that the choice lay before them of formally annexing South West Africa from th

mmunicate with the Government of the Cape Colony and invite that Government, in the event of South West Africa being de

outh-western coasts, and that he would obtain a report from the Cape, as it was not possible without more precise information to fo

free to proceed with his own arrangements, while the British Forei

a report from their Chargé d'Affaires in Berlin, and were again lulled into complaisant inactivity by being assured that the amount of "protection" intended to be afforded

German Government had any intention of establishing crown Colonies or of a

fice assumed a more pertinent nature, and to the un

of the German Government, whether Great Britain claimed suzerainty rights over Angra Peque

ted at the delay at home in annexing the south-west coast, resolved to take action on their own account, and set off

he spot to prevent a collision between the British and Germans, as t

and her Commander was able to report, on her return to Simon

le British sovereignty had not been proclaimed excepting over Walfisch Bay and the islands, the Government considered that any claim to sovereignty or jurisdi

a permitted of doubt as to the legal claim of the British Government, as well as to the practical application of the same; the German Government having clearly in mind the avowal

did not claim sovereignty in the territory, but as a matter of fact

tory was based, and what provision existed for securing legal protection for German subjects in their commercial enterprises and proper

ermany of any other ambition than to secure pro

an assurance that the British Government was prepared to undertake the protection of German subjects; but the British Government shrank from the i

though they did not hesitate to offer to do so as soon as a cabinet me

the British Empire of the whole of Great Namaqualand and Damaraland from the Orange River to the Portuguese border, th

efiance of Great Britain's claims; but our Government, fondly embracing the idea that Germany had no intention of acquiring the territory but was only solici

n German publications as "the Birthday of the German Colonial Empire

uisitions north of Orange River being entitled to German protection. You will dec

le territory; but communications continued betw

ent of Great Britain's "legitimate rights," stated that no such infringement could be pleaded inasmuch as in Englis

established by Germans. He added in his address to the Reichstag that "if the question were asked what means the Empire had to afford effective protection to German ente

ranville declaring that in view of the definitions which had been publicly given by the British Government of the limits of Cape Colony, the clai

ghts concerned, and it was decided that an Anglo-German Commission should be appointed to inquire into and settle all conflicting claims; but it is not of record that, excepti

German flag waved over the whole extent of South West Africa from the Orange River to the borde

coast of Zululand, and proceeded to repeat the stratagem he had followed in Angra Pequen

lethargy, and a British warship was dispatched to St Lucia Bay, over which, by virtue of a treaty made wi

own as Stellaland, Goshen, and Rooigrond; but this was eventually saved to Great Britain by vigorous individual action on the part of Ceci

pedition under Sir Charles Warren had proceeded to the disputed areas and pe

te," and the well-laid scheme for a Germa

reat Britain, and by an agreement between Germany and Portugal. Under the terms of the latter the northern boundary of German South West Africa, between that Colony and Portug

Cape Colony and was placed under the Colonial administration in 1884,

he loss of more territory unless it was beneficially occupied, sent, at

at Germany should "have free access from her Protectorate (South West Africa) to the Zamb

gical importance, enabling them to establish in time a system of co

less apparatus in the world was installed, and this

ion at Windhoek, the capital of German South West Africa, and with

as no more than the annexation of South West Africa, for it is by no means unthinkable that there was a possibility that in addition to the south-west the Germans might have drawn a wide bel

NY'S WIRELESS SYST

from the mouth of the Orange River, which separates it from the Cape Colony in the south, to the mouth of the Cunene River, which divides

d at 200,000; but this latter is probably a high calculation, in view of the num

eir annexation of Damaraland and Great Namaqualand was

rtered company, incorporated by the Government, which

ritish, and there the huge deposits

atives with the might of Germany; but the Hereros who occupied Damaraland nev

mans found great difficulty in dealing with the "Hottentots," as the natives were termed; and the German effort

ipal Herero chiefs crossed the borders of the Cape Colony, where they were routed by Major Elliott's force of police and their leaders cap

hanked and duly dec

ants of Great Namaqualand and Damaraland were really unpromising material for such a purpose, n

iminals and cattle thieves, who had fled from the C

Colony is little else than an arid, waterless waste; in fact the

ndition prevailing all along the coast, for even at Port Nolloth in Lesser Namaqualand, south of the Orange River, the inhabitants depend upon

een used at various points on the coast to provide

and contains no surface water; although good results have been obtained by drilling to

flesh, and who kept secret the places where they obtained water. Many of these are pools hidden beneath the earth'

atches in the driest parts of the Kalahari, and on these police patrols

t the land gradually rises to an elevated tableland, possess

farther north the country

ilar to that valued in Australia for sheep, is found in abundance, but towards the north and coming under the influence of a rainfall the land, while there is n

nearly the whole country is suitable for sheep and goats. With energetic deve

ng the Orange River, a breed of hardy ponies exists in a semi-wild state. In t

carries a plentiful supply of a milky sap which has been manufactured into a fair quality of rubber; but the

was, in 1913, estimated at 240,000, wool-bearing sheep 660,000, and other sheep, including Persians,

heir land was confiscated by the Germans, and, as Dr B?nn stated in a reading upon the Co

ocated to companies and Boer settlers, the av

domesticated; but the German traders preferred as a rule to rely for their suppl

nguin eggs and seal skins on the islands off the coast, while a few degrees north

re of the less valuable "hump-backed" variety, but

ds; and as for the Boer settler, beyond a little coffee and sugar, he has learned to rely only upon the resources of hi

s of marble, varied in colour and of a quality equal

the attention of prospectors but has never been found in payab

almost entirely British, and Johannesburg fi

on and asbestos are known to exis

profitably; but the principal mining industry is di

e found in the loose sand on the foreshore under conditi

under supervision; but there are a few individual digge

disposed of under State agency, who occupy the same relative position to t

s, etc., have also been discovered on the islands, and in 1906

Pudding Island they not only discovered that a tug, dispatched by a Cape Town firm, had visited the island and claimed discoverers' rights,

ere a large five-tower wireless station was built, which could under the most favoura

t Swakopmund at the mouth of the Swakop River close to W

sents a contrast to some of our Colonies where the means of communication are

in the country, indicating the

de the Germans select Swakopmund as the principal point on the co

h the line from Luderitzbucht at Keetmanshoop, and the lines, as in

ost iniquitous one"-was of great importance to Germany's aspirations in the interior, inasmuch as Germany aimed at the construction of a German line

it, and under a heavy penalty no

mans is, however, now in course of construction fr

and Cape Colony. It has been said that where you find Boers you may be sure to find t

n the Germans meted out to those Boers whom they employed as transport-riders during the Herero campaign, the sam

t it is a territory of vast possibilities as a pastoral land, and as there is at present all over the world a shortage of me

ome time been preparing for the anticipated inevitable war with Great Britain, and a much larger num

ed at no less than 15,000, wit

he South African Union, which was to be overrun with the assistance of the Boers-

y held an utterly false conception of the re

d issued a circular to the Boer farmers on the border, calling upon them "to free themselves from English dominion so long and unwil

neutrality on the part of the Union, but the Boer leaders

ans found in the Union Premier, General Louis Botha, that, to the German mind, incomprehensible being, a man imbued with the sense of the very highest i

Union was swept by a wave of intense patriotism, revealed in the promise and o

es of their intense loyalty, with offers of help; while t

for defence purposes; but on his assurance that the Union was able to undertake its own defence, t

rid of the British garrisons; and a few days after when a state of war existed betw

ifles was attacked by 250 Germans with three maxims

hrough his treachery, two squadrons of the South African Mounted Rifles and a section of the Transvaal Horse Arti

; and the Germans adopted the method employed against themselves by the Hereros, who w

ke into open rebellion. He was, however, easily dealt

water and the impossibility of moving large bodies of men across waterless tracks i

st the Germans in South West Africa was

heir otherwise unsullied careers by jealousy and petty spite against General Botha personally, and not animated by any anxiety to come under German dominion-though de Wet's principal grievance against the British

ignorant Boers, General Botha ordered a further mobilisation in the Union, and decided to take the

he latter was defeated and fled, subsequently

ed force had commenced blowing up railway lines and destroying bridges, and

Beves, arrived off Luderitzbucht on 19th Septem

ation, telephone and condensing plant. The town was searched for arms, and a large

n; and having returned with the principal German officials as hostages, the officia

aid to have three years' provisions and stores, and had removed from

rmally annexing the town, and providin

paid their wages in German goodfors; and these expressed their delight at the British occupation. The goodfors were cas

te German residents of Luderitzbucht were loud in their expressions

a few days Schuckmannsburg, near the Zambezi River, surrendered to them-and