THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE.
The names, reading from left to right, are: Back row--Sir Alfred
Bateman, Sir Francis Hopwood, Hon. W. S. Fielding. Sir M. Ommanney.
Middle row--Mr W. Holderness, Sir J. Anderson, Sir J. Forrest, Sir W.
Mulock, Lord Onslow, Hon. W. Patterson, Rear-Admiral Custance, Lord
Selborne, Mr Gerald Balfour. Front row--Sir Robert Bond, Mr R. J.
Seddon, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Mr Chamberlain, Sir Edmund Barton, Sir A.
Hime, Mr Fuller.]
Much might be written in confutation of the many alarmist reports as to
the decadent condition into which British trade has fallen of late
years, but, after all, is this worth while? Admitted that, inflated with
our past prosperity, we have slumbered on undisturbed by the thought of
what the to-morrow will bring, it would need greater imagination than
the prospective garnering of the two thousand five hundred millions
sterling which it has been shown is likely to fall into the lap of the
world's traders as the result of the future expansion of South Africa in
less than fifty years, to suppose that our manufacturers have
suddenly become bereft of their senses not to seize the most of their
opportunities. It is easy to decry their enterprise, to compare their
alleged shortcomings with the activities and the asserted "pushful"
tendencies of their competitors--thus advertising the latter at their
expense--but how much of foundation is there in such reports? The brief
statistics with which this article is accompanied--and they have been
confined to the narrowest possible limits--conclusively show that, so
far as South African trade is concerned, British manufacturers are more
than holding their own; and there cannot be the least doubt that they
will continue to do so in the years of prosperity and expansion that are
before the sub-continent, provided they are assisted by the ungrudging
efforts of labour. This is a matter which need not be intruded here, but
it is one upon which the maintenance of our supremacy in the world's
markets will depend, and it is one, too, which could be more profitably
discussed by those whose apparent mission is to belittle everything that
is British in favour of those who, in South Africa as elsewhere, are
striving to wrest our commerce from us. As has been shown, the future
outlook for trade in that country is of the brightest, and that we shall
not prove equal to the task of maintaining our position there is a
contemplation that does not come within the scope of probability.
THE FUTURE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTABULARY
VIEWS OF MAJOR-GENERAL BADEN-POWELL
Believing that a short account of the origin and object of the force
known as the South African Constabulary for the Orange River and
Transvaal would be interesting to those anxious for the prosperity of
the new Colonies, General Baden-Powell, the originator of the
highly-practical scheme, was invited to contribute to this volume a
brief _resumé_ of his important work. The General in his reply said, "I
am very sorry that it is quite impossible for me, under present pressure
of work, to contribute an article;" but he kindly furnished an outline
of his scheme, which serves to enlighten home-staying people regarding
the importance of this irregular arm of the British service.
In brief the General writes:--
"I can only say of the South African Constabulary that it is
not formed on lines exactly identical with any other Police
Force, although in many respects similar to some.
"A Military Mounted Police is a bugbear to most administrators,
as being an expensive luxury; but I think that it is rather
like what a steam-engine is to a Boer farmer--once he knows how
to apply it to the many uses of which it is capable,
independent of what has been the practice of his
predecessors--it will be found to be an economy in place of a
luxury.
"I have schemed the South African Constabulary to that end,
viz., as the machinery for performing many duties not hitherto
included in the province of Police; and my one hope is that it
may be found effective for the purpose.
"It is the best paid force of its kind, and by careful
selection and elimination I expect it to be the best in
quality.
"It numbers at present 10,000 whites and 1000 natives, but
these numbers will be liable to alterations as the country
progresses.
"It is divided into four separate self-contained Divisions
carrying out the duties of District and Town Police in the
Transvaal and Orange River Colony, together with their
subordinate departments of Criminal Investigation and
Intelligence, and many minor and temporary duties, such as
medical, agricultural, and veterinary, postal and customs,
sanitary, public works, &c. &c.
"With a good Reserve, as the Force will shortly have, of men
settled in the country in civil situations, and with its
married establishment of 600 families, the South African
Constabulary will also take an important share in the
development of the Colony, and will at the same time be in a
position to supply a well-trained mounted force for military
work should emergency arise."
This force has been formed for the maintenance of order and public
security in the Orange River Colony and the Transvaal, but is available
for service in any part of British South Africa. It acts as a District
Mounted Police in time of peace, and as a military force in time of war.
At one period drafts of about 80 men per month were despatched from
Great Britain and Ireland, but now, owing to the cessation of the war,
recruiting is closed. From time to time new blood may yet be in demand.
Candidates had to be good readers, writers, spellers, riders, and shots.
Single men were preferred, and recommendations, particularly as to
sobriety, had to be forthcoming. The term of engagement was for three
years for those recruited in the British Isles, with the possibility,
for non-commissioned officers and men, of re-engaging on increased pay.
The term of service for men enlisted in South Africa (who had not been
given a passage) was two years. Promotion by merit and commissions are
obtainable from the ranks. The age of candidates is not under 20 nor
over 35. The standard of height, without boots, is not over 6 ft. 2 ins.
nor under 5 ft. 4 ins. The chest measurement, deflated, is not under 34
inches, and the weight, without clothes, is not over 13 stone 7 lbs. nor
under 9 stone.
The following is the scale of pay:--
_s._ _d._
Sergeant (Staff-Sergeant) 10 0 per diem.
Sergeant 9 0 "
Second Class Sergeant 8 0 "
Corporal 7 6 "
First Class Trooper 7 0 "
Second Class Trooper 6 0 "
Third Class Trooper 5 0 "
Pay commenced from date of attestation in South Africa.
Pay, as well as promotion, is largely in accordance with a
man's efficiency and behaviour, troopers being divided into
three classes, and non-commissioned officers into four, for
this purpose. Promotion from one class to another among
troopers depends on their qualifying in Constabulary duties,
musketry, signalling, language, and other tests, and on their
continuing efficient in these subjects. Men of all grades
entered at the lowest pay of their grade. Men selected in Great
Britain and Ireland joined as third-class troopers. Promotion
in the non-commissioned officers' ranks will generally only be
granted to those who qualify in colloquial Dutch. Men desirous
of marrying while in the South African Constabulary need to
obtain the sanction of the Officer Commanding Division to their
doing so, they are then entitled to an allowance to cover
lodging and other expenses, such as rations, fuel, light, &c.,
at the consolidated rate of 3s. a day. On completion of the
first three years' service a man may, if approved by the
Officer Commanding Division, re-engage for a further term of
two years, at 3d. a day extra. On completion of his five years
he may re-engage for further service by the year, if the
Officer Commanding Division approves, at 6d. a day for every
additional year, until the total increase of pay for
re-engagement shall have reached 2s. per diem. Rations, horse,
forage, clothing, equipment, arms, quarters, and medical
attendance are supplied free. In exceptional circumstances,
where rations cannot be supplied, a ration allowance will be
made of 2s. per diem.
A non-commissioned officer or man may be discharged at any time
by order of the Officer Commanding Division with or without
gratuity. Discharge may be purchased, with consent of Officer
Commanding Division, for £20 during first year, £15 during
second year, and £10 during third year.
Any Non-commissioned Officer or Trooper may, with the approval
of his Commanding Officer, be transferred to the Reserve,
provided that there is a vacancy for him, at the end of his
first engagement (three years), or if he re-engages, at the end
of any period of re-engagement, up to the completion of five
years from his first entry into the service. Every man
transferred to the Reserve is required to remain in it and have
his permanent residence in the Orange River Colony or the
Transvaal, unless discharged, up to the end of seven years from
the date of his first entry into the service. A man wishing to
purchase his discharge from the Reserve may do so on payment of
£12 at any period of his service in the Reserve. He will
receive while in the Reserve pay at the rate of £1 per month.
He will be liable to be called out annually for not more than
ten consecutive days for training, and shall also be liable to
be called out for active service at any time by the
proclamation of the administrator, governor, or other person
exercising for the time being supreme authority in the
Transvaal or Orange River Colony, declaring the existence of a
state of war, or of such serious menace to the peace as to
render mobilisation necessary. While on training or on active
service he will receive full pay at the same rate which he was
enjoying when transferred to the Reserve. In addition to their
pay, Reservists, if they desire to settle on the land, will
receive special consideration in any Government-aided scheme of
settlement.
Proposals are at present under consideration, whereby suitable
settlers may be assisted to acquire land, and be aided at
starting by Government advances, the purchase price and capital
advanced being repayable on easy terms. If any plan of this
kind is found to be practicable, a certain number of farms
annually will be offered in the first instance to members of
the South African Constabulary, who, having borne a good
character, may be desirous of being transferred to the Reserve
with a view to actually settling on the land as farmers.
Similar privileges will, if the opportunity offers, be extended
to Non-commissioned Officers and men who may quit the South
African Constabulary after five or more years' continuous
service, bearing a good character.
Any man having served at least five years continuously in the
South African Constabulary (not including Reserve service) with
a good character will be entitled, on retiring, to a gratuity
of one month's pay for every year of service. Men on the
Reserve may, with approval of Officer Commanding Division, be
taken on to full pay again at any time for a term of two years
at 3d. a day extra pay.
Where a number of men joined from one place they were squadded
together as far as possible in the South African Constabulary.
Leave of absence will where possible be granted to all ranks
for one month in each year, cumulative, on full pay, special
conditions ruling shooting leave, and leave to England or out
of South Africa. After four years without leave six months on
full pay will be granted.
Candidates were given a free passage in a transport to South
Africa, and a free railway voucher from their place of
residence to the port of embarkation. They were liable to
further medical examination on arrival at the place of
attestation. Any candidate found unsuitable was given a free
passage back to England, provided that he was not rejected for
any misrepresentation, misconduct, or serious fault of his own.
After five years' total service a free third-class passage home
will be granted to men recruited in the United Kingdom.
The full strength of the Constabulary will in future be six
thousand men: the four thousand enrolled for the war
contingency will shortly be disbanded.
These particulars serve to show the nature of the new Force,
and give some idea of its value in preserving the future peace
of the King's new dominions.
APPENDIX
MR. CHAMBERLAIN AND THE BOER GENERALS
Soon after the conclusion of the war Generals Botha, De Wet, and
Delarey, in the hope of making favourable arrangements with the
Government on behalf of their fellow-countrymen, sailed for England.
They were greeted by the British people with unusual cordiality, not
because of any sympathy with the Republics they came to represent, but
because it is a characteristic of the British people to honour brave
men, even when they are defeated foes. General Botha was received by Mr.
Chamberlain, and the Boer future was discussed. A few days later the
public was startled to read in the daily journals the following
manifesto entitled, "Appeal of the Boer Generals to the Civilised
World."
"It is still fresh in the memory of the world how the Boers,
after a terrible struggle lasting more than two and a half
years, were at last obliged to accept through their
representatives at Vereeniging the terms of peace submitted to
them by the Government of King Edward VII. At the same time the
representatives commissioned us to proceed to England in order,
in the first place, to appeal to the new Government to allay
the immense distress everywhere devastating the new colonies.
If we did not succeed we were to appeal to the humanity of the
civilised world for charitable contributions. As we have not
succeeded up to the present in inducing the British Government
to grant further assistance to our people in their
indescribable distress, it only remains for us to address
ourselves to the peoples of Europe and America.
"During the critical days through which we have passed it was
sweet for us and ours to receive constant marks of sympathy
from all countries. The financial and other assistance given to
our women and children in the concentration camps, and to the
prisoners of war in all parts of the earth contributed
infinitely to mitigate the lot of those poor sufferers, and we
take advantage of this opportunity to express in the name of
the people of the late Republics our fervent thanks to all
those who have charitably assisted us in the past. The small
Boer nation can never forget the help it received in its dark
hours of suffering.
"The people of the Republics were ready to sacrifice everything
for their independence, and now the struggle is over and our
people are completely ruined. Though we have not had the
opportunity of drawing up an exact inventory of the destruction
done, we have the conviction, based on personal experience,
that at least thirty thousand houses on Boer farms and a number
of villages were burnt or destroyed by the British during the
war. Our homes with their furniture were burned or destroyed,
our orchards were ruined, all our agricultural implements
broken, our mills were destroyed, every living animal was
carried off or killed. Nothing, alas, remained to us. The
country is laid waste. The war demanded many victims, and the
land was bathed in tears. Our orphans and widows have been
abandoned. Besides, it is needless to recall the fact how much
will be needed in the future for the education of the children
of the Burghers, who are in great distress.
"We address ourselves to the world, with the prayer to help us
by charitable contributions for our widows and orphans, for the
maimed and other needy ones, and for the satisfactory education
of our children. We allude to the terrible results of the war
in order to bring to the knowledge of the world our urgent
needs, by no means to inflame people's minds. The sword is now
sheathed, and all differences are silent in presence of such
great misery. The ruin caused by the war is indescribable, so
that the small amount which Great Britain is to give us, in
accordance with the terms of surrender, even were it multiplied
tenfold, would be wholly insufficient even to cover the war
losses alone. The widows, orphans, maimed, needy, and children,
on whose behalf alone we appeal, will receive little of this
sum, and in most cases nothing.
"All contributions will be assigned to a fund to be called
'General Fund of Help for the Boers,' which will be devoted
solely to supplying the wants of those for whom we are
collecting, and to provide for their future. We solicit the
hearty co-operation of the committees existing in the various
countries of Europe and in America. We are now on the point of
visiting these countries in succession with the object of
establishing a satisfactory organisation.
"BOTHA.
"DE WET.
"DELAREY."
The lamentable representations of this manifesto naturally caused a
profound impression--and the effect of them was not removed till late in
the year when Mr. Chamberlain's correspondence in relation to the matter
was published. This correspondence merits more than superficial study by
those truly interested in the pacification of the new Colonies, for the
evil done by the pronouncements of the Boer "appeal" will live after
them, while the good effected by the tardy publication of the Colonial
Secretary's refutation will probably be interred in the official
mausoleum. To this end the opening despatch from Mr. Chamberlain to
General Louis Botha, dated Downing Street, the 6th of November, is here
appended:--
"Since the interview which you had with me at this office on
the 5th of September an 'Appeal of the Boer Generals to the
Civilised World' has been issued, many of the statements in
which have, according to Press reports, been repeated and
enlarged on in the speeches delivered by yourself and General
Delarey and General De Wet during your tour on the Continent.
"The appeal, I regret to say, appears to me to convey an
incorrect and exaggerated impression of the circumstances to
which it refers, and though I have no desire at this time to
enter into controversy, I cannot allow it to pass altogether in
silence.
"In the first place I am at a loss to understand why the appeal
should open with a statement that you have not up to the
present succeeded in inducing the British Government to grant
further assistance to your people. It is not, indeed, the
intention of his Majesty's Government to ask Parliament to
authorise any addition to the free grant of £3,000,000--a grant
which is itself without any precedent in the history of the
world--but the promise of further assistance by way of loan on
very easy terms, as provided by Article 10 of the Terms of
Surrender, has never been withdrawn; and I think you will
agree, on again consulting the record of our conversation, that
there is nothing in the language which I then used which
indicates any intention on the part of his Majesty's Government
to withdraw it.
"Further, the expenditure on the Burgher camps which, since the
conclusion of peace, have to a great extent been transformed
into organisations for enabling the people to return to their
homes, and the cost of which has been about £200,000 a month,
is being borne by his Majesty's Government, and constitutes in
effect a very considerable addition to the free grant.
"The cost of the camps since their establishment has exceeded
£3,000,000, and there is no room for reasonable doubt that they
have been the means of preserving the lives of thousands of
women and children, and of providing the latter with a better
education than they ever had the opportunity of enjoying
before.
"I observe that in an article signed by you in this month's
_Contemporary Review_ you make it a complaint that the
concentration camps are still being maintained.
"It must be self-evident that, on the score of expense alone,
it is the interest of his Majesty's Government to abolish these
camps at the earliest possible moment, and it is only in the
cause of humanity that they continue to maintain this costly
organisation.
"If they were to accept the inferences to be drawn from your
statement they would turn out into the veldt thousands of men,
women, and children whom it has been impossible to return to
their farms immediately on the termination of the war, owing to
the absence of sufficient transport and the scarcity of stock.
"They have, however, already provided for the return of large
numbers of the population of the camps which had been reduced
from 116,000 at end of May to about 34,000 in the last week of
October.
"I observe that you are reported in the Press to have suggested
in a speech at Paris that the British military authorities
deliberately used the sufferings of women and children to
induce their relatives in the field to lay down their arms, and
in the resolution passed at Vereeniging on the 31st of May the
sufferings of the women and children were given as a reason for
surrender.
"No one deplores more than the British Government the high
mortality in the camps during the epidemic of measles and
pneumonia, but nothing was spared that money or science could
afford to reduce it, and for the last six months the average
total death-rate in the camps has been about 21 per 1000 per
annum, a rate which must be much lower than any which obtained
before the war in normal conditions.
"It is, therefore, clear from the statistics that at the actual
time of the surrender there could have been no cause for
anxiety as to the condition of the women and children then in
the British camps; and in confirmation of this view I may
remind you that neither at the time of your conferences with
Lord Kitchener in February 1901 nor in the discussions which
preceded the acceptance of the Terms of Surrender was any
request made for special provision for widows and orphans.
"On the contrary, the request made on both these occasions was
that the sums offered as a free grant by the British Government
should be applied to the payment of notes and receipts for
goods requisitioned by the Boer commandoes, in many cases from
persons of considerable means. To this proposal his Majesty's
Government objected, and while willing that these notes and
receipts should be accepted as evidence of war losses, they
stipulated that the grant should be applied for the benefit of
the destitute, or, in the words of the Terms of Surrender, 'for
the purpose of assisting the restoration of the people to their
homes and supplying those who, owing to war losses, are unable
to provide themselves with food, shelter, and the necessary
amount of seed, stock, implements, &c., indispensable to the
resumption of their normal occupation.' As at present advised,
I believe that the sum allotted will be amply sufficient for
the purpose; but, should more be required, there is one source
from which a substantial addition may be fairly expected.
"His Majesty's Government are aware that large sums were
remitted from the Transvaal to Europe during the war to be
expended in the interests of the South African Republic.
"They have no desire to question the expenditure of this money
so far as it was legitimately devoted to the purposes for which
it was intended, but they cannot doubt that a large balance
still remains which would properly come to them as the
successors of the late South African Republic, and which they
would be prepared to add to the fund provided for the relief of
the distressed burghers and their families. I venture to think
that in this matter your wishes will coincide with mine, and
that you will give me any assistance in your power to discover
the persons to whom the money was entrusted, and to obtain from
them a statement of account showing the expenditure and the
amount of the balance which remains over.