PART IN THE WORLD WAR Defence of South Africa.—At the Imperial Conference of 191I Botha had familiarized himself with the foreign policy and the military resources of the Empire. Accordingly, when war was declared against Germany in Aug. 1914, Botha, contrary to the view of many of his Dutch supporters, at once declared that South Africa, as a part of the Empire, was at war also. He offered to assure the defence of South Africa by the Union forces alone, so that the Imperial troops might be recalled for service in Europe. Further, on the invitation of the Imperial Government, he agreed to invade German Southwest Africa. But this was much further than a section of the Dutch in South Africa were prepared to go.
While preparations were being made for the campaign, C. F. Beyers, the commandant-general of the Union forces, and S. G. Maritz, the commander on the German border, revolted and in October were joined by De Wet.
Before the end of the year it is estimated that 12,000 rebels were in arms in the Transvaal and the Free State. Though all the leaders and most of the rank and file of the rebels had been his comrades in the South African War, Botha never hesitated as to his duty to suppress the rising. But, to avoid racial feeling as much as possible, he employed purely Dutch commandos of his loyal followers for the purpose. Moreover, in the two short cam paigns in the Transvaal and the Free State he took command him self, saying, "It is my duty and it is the only thing for me to do." Little fighting was needed to quell the revolt: on Oct. 28 he de feated Beyer's force in the Transvaal ; early in November he took the field against De Wet in the Free State; and on Dec. 2, De Wet himself was captured; while on Feb. 3, 1915 Maritz's force sur rendered. After this brief civil war, described by Botha as "the saddest experience of his life," he showed a wise clemency in his punishment of the leaders and at the end of two years had re leased all the prisoners.
Conquest of Southwest Africa.—He then turned his attention to the conquest of German Southwest Africa, delayed by the re bellion, and again took the chief command. He divided the Union forces, this time composed of men from both white races, into four columns, he himself taking under his immediate orders the column that started from Walvis Bay. In March 1915 the four columns started on a converging movement into the country, sweeping all the Germans before them. The chief difficulty came from the sandy and largely waterless country, which, in spite of an excellent organization of transport and commissariat, told heavily on the troops. Most of the fighting fell to Botha's own column, which occupied Windhoek on May 12 and obtained the final surrender of the German forces on July 9, 1915. After this Botha took no further share in active fighting, though with Smuts he helped to organize the South African Brigade for serv ice overseas as well as the expeditionary force sent to German East Africa.
He was indeed much needed at home, for after the election of Oct. 1915, when his majority was seriously reduced, he had no easy task in governing the country, partly with the support of the Unionists. Some of his Dutch supporters were still discontented, and in 1916 and again in 1918 created trouble which, under any one but Botha, might have led to another rising. His last voyage to Europe was to attend the peace negotiations of Versailles in 1919, as one of the delegates for South Africa. There he im pressed all those present by his sound judgment, always used on the side of moderation, especially towards the conquered foe ; for he never forgot that his own people also had been conquered and, as he said on signing at Versailles on June 28, 1919, "To-day I look back in thought to May 31, 1902." He landed at Cape Town on July 24, already a very sick man, and on Aug. 28, 1919, died at his beloved farm, Rusthof in the Transvaal. The secret of Botha's power over every man who came into contact with him was his absolute sincerity, due to his simple belief in the guiding hand of God, combined with a chivalry and courtesy springing from a truly loving nature. "Never kill a man if you can capture him, or he will never have a chance to be sorry," was one of his sayings, illustrated by his every action. The service of this noble man to Britain and to South Africa can hardly be exaggerated. He fought a clean fight to the end against the whole might of Britain, but having once given his word to become with his people a part of the empire, he was better than his bond, and added to the best traditions of British statesmanship by his example, especially in doing all that in him lay to weld into one harmonious nation the Dutch and British elements in South Africa. "You in England," he said in 1911, "have given us the hand of friendship, and we have taken it and shall not let it go." BIBLIOGRAPHY.-W. Whittall, With Botha and Smuts in Africa Bibliography.-W. Whittall, With Botha and Smuts in Africa (1917) ; H. Spender, General Botha (1919) ; Earl Buxton, General Botha (1924) . See also bibliography to SOUTH AFRICA, UNION OF.
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