General Botha has made two speeches during the week on
South African defence. He said that it was the duty of every able-bodied man to take part in the defence of his country. The time had not yet arrived for a South African .Navy, but the contribution to the Imperial Navy would be continued. He asked for the co-operation of Great Britain in organising military defence. He thought Lord Methuen should be employed, and if another British officer were needed his "old war friend" Lord Kitchener should be invited to help. Ultimately South Africa should be able to defend (herself without relying on the Mother-country. We are very -glad to record these admirable sentiments. Another of our .self-governing Colonies evidently means to teach us a lesson in the duty and manner of defence. But we are very slow to learn.
