General Beyers, Commandant-General of the Defence Forces of South Africa,
has resigned as he disapproves of General Botha's plan of making war on German South-West Africa. His arguments are absurd. Even if the Germans had not invaded -Union territory, the defence of the Union is best assured by the offensive. War must be made on the enemy wherever he is to be found. The Union may congratulate itself that it is rid of a Commandant who holds General Beyers's peculiar military opinions. The papers of Tuesday published some correspondence between General Smuts and General Beyers. General Smuts, in a letter of rare power and feeling, condemned General Beyers's "bitter attack " on Britain, and reminded him that Britain bad granted the South African people a freedom which enabled them to "realize their national ideals along their own lines," and incidentally allowed General Beyers "to write with impunity a letter for which you would without doubt be liable in the German Empire to the extreme penalty." General Botha has taken supreme command of the troops which will invade German South-West Africa. No doubt officers of the British Regulars will be serving under him. We are sure that they will feel it to be a proud and a wonderful moment when they take up arms under their former gallant enemy.
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