The Union Government of South Africa has sent a force
of South African Mounted Rifles, which surprised and over- whelmed a force of Germans who had invaded the Union and established themselves at the principal drift on the lower part of the Orange River. The Mounted Rifles, who had marched for two nights and hidden by day, lost one man killed and received the surrender of the whole German garrison in the blockhouse. Even the followers of General Hertzog agree with the Government that the Imperial connexion must be defended. Thus the war is likely to do much to heal breaches in South Africa, and, above all, to prove that South Africa depends for her commercial existence on the British com- mand of the seas. We greatly regret to record the death on Tuesday of the famous Boer General De la Rey, who was shot by a policeman on the Rand in the belief that he was a motor bandit. General De la. Rey was deservedly described by Lord Methuen as a chivalrous enemy and a firm friend. He was to have taken part in the South African expedition against German South-West Africa. -
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