Defense.—Toward the end of the World War all the British troops stationed in South Africa were withdrawn and the Union itself provided all military forces necessary for its defense. These were raised under the Defense Act, which makes all citizens liable to service within the Dominion. Only a certain proportion of the younger men, however, are annu ally enrolled and trained. These form the Active Citizen Army, the members of which, after four years, become members of the Citizen Reserve Force, until the age of 45. There are also a Coast Gar rison Force, a Permanent Force, and a National Reserve, the latter comprising all citizens between the ages of 17 and 60 not belonging to any of the other forces. Boys between 13 and 17 are com pulsorily enrolled in a cadet corps, wher ever this is possible. During the World War 136,070 white and 92,837 natives en listed from the Union. All of these, with the exception of an infantry brigade and several other white units, as well as some 3,000 officers of the Royal Air Force, were used in the operations in Africa.
Agriculture and Production.—In 1918 the total acreages under cultivation were as follows: Cape Province, 3,152,209; Na tal, 1,106,618; Transvaal, 3,012,844; Or ange Free State, 2,814,893. In the same year the total production of wheat in the entire Union was 600,000,000 pounds, oats 335,000,000 pounds, of maize 1,942,, 000,000 pounds. Other important crops were barley, rye, kafir corn, peas and beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, tobacco, and sugar. The live-stock in 1918 consisted of 6,852,000 cattle, 781,000 horses, 84,500 mules, 554,000 donkeys, 314,000 ostriches, 30,000,000 sheep, 8,000, 000 goats, 1,000,000 pigs, and 9,500,000 pou:try. The export of wool in 1918 amounted to over 115,634,000 pounds, of mohair to over 19,600,000 pounds, of hides to over 12,500,000 pounds, of skins to over 30,275,000 pounds, and of mealies to over 509,000,000 pounds. Both the production of cotton and sugar is on the increase. The total extent of forest reserve areas in 1919 was about 2,092,000 acres. The importance of the dairying industry is steadily growing, and in 1918 the pro duction of butter amounted to about 20,000,000 pounds, and of cheese to about 6,000,000 pounds. Irrigation is becoming of greater importance every year, and in 1917-18 the government expenditure for irrigation amounted to more than £500, 000.
Manufactures.—As a result of the World War and the shortage of shipping facilities caused by it, the local manufac tures of the Union received a great im petus. Among the most important indus
tries are the production of leather, cement, beer, matches, tobacco, dynamite, soap, rope, furniture, vehicles, etc. The indus trial census of 1917-18 showed a gross production of £60,828,440 in 5,919 facto ries, with a total capital of £53,171,000, and an average number of employees of 134,211, of whom 49,908 were white.
Mining.—Gold mining is the chief source of the Union's wealth. In 1918 the total amount of gold mined was 18, 252,000 fine oz., valued at £35,759,000. The total value of diamonds was £7,115, 000 and of coal £3,225,000. Copper, tin, lime, silver, salt, and asbestos are other important mineral products, and the total value of the mineral output of the Union in 1918 was £47,737,738. In the various mining industries there were employed in 1918, 295,804 persons, of whom 32,820 were white.
C ommorce.—The total value of imports and exports, exclusive of specie, in 1913, the last year previous to the World War, were respectively £41,828,841 and 166, 569,364. In 1918 they were respectively £49,487,168 and £32,949,237. Over 50% of the imports of general merchandise in 1918 came from the United Kingdom, about 14% from British possessions, or a total of over 67% from the British Em pire. The United States leads all the foreign countries in imports, with a total value of £6,771,238, or 13.8% of the total. Japan, the Belgian Congo, Sweden, Bra zil, Argentine, Switzerland, France and Holland are the other countries from which imports of considerable value are made.
Shipping and Communications. — In 1918 the total number of vessels entered from overseas was 1,036, of 2,989,000 tons net, and the total number of coast wise vessels was 1,780 of 2,541,000 tons net. Upon the formation of the Union the former state railways of the several colonies were merged into one system, the South African railways, which is under the control of the Union Govern ment. In 1919 the total mileage was 9,542, representing a total capital ex penditure of over £93,000,000. For 1918 19 the gross earnings were over 215, 000,000, and the net loss, after payment of interest, £896,267. At the end of 1918 there were 2,623 post-offices, 15,951 miles of telegraph line, and 3,214 miles of tele phone line.
Banks.—The five banks of the Union in 1918 had a subscribed capital of £10, 515,900, of which over 15,000,000 was paid in, and deposits of over £72,000,000. In the same year the number of deposi tors in the government savings banks was 288,833, with deposits of over £7, 200,000.