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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TTTTTTC.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRA NOT TO

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SOUTH AFRICA (HIGH COMMISSION).

Southern Rhodesia Volunteers.

23. Since the declaration of war 1,000 able-bodied men have joined either one or other of the two Rhodesian regiments, and have been despatched to serve else- where. In addition to these it is estimated that some 500 to 700 men have inde- pendently left the territory to participate in the war, and a number still want to go. In addition to this, it is impossible to obtain recruits for the British South Africa Police to fill vacancies caused by Army reservists being recalled to their regiments and other normal wastage.

Without entering at detail into the subject of our resources or stating what our arrangements for defence consist of, it may, however, be said that the Volunteer Corps at the time of writing have, notwithstanding the fact that the Reserves have been formed, filled the vacancies caused by many of their members having resigned to proceed on active service. The Reserves, a very welcome and necessary addition to the forces, are undergoing training and are rapidly becoming efficient.

We possess a larger supply of arms and ammunition than we did at the com- mencement of the war, notwithstanding the fact that the 1st Rhodesia Regiment was entirely armed and equipped in this territory. The difficulties in obtaining arms, clothing, and equipment are still very great.

In regard to the present, the inspection of Volunteer corps and detachments " the has just been completed. There is no doubt that, while the material is above the average, much remains to be done to render the force efficient. To "call out active Volunteers would, without doubt, if it was possible, solve the problem, but the men who are left in the country and who are members of Volunteer corps are those who cannot spare time from their daily work, trades, or professions, which must, It therefore proposed to form in the interest of the country, be carried on. standing camps in the near vicinity of the larger towns, where active Volunteers will assemble, perform drills in the mornings and evenings, and sleep at night. An arrangement of this sort will not interfere with their daily work, and if carried out would do much to improve their efficiency. The period of continuous training would be from three weeks to one month. On the completion of the above the Volunteers will be put through an entirely new and practical course of instruction in musketry. Northern Rhodesia Rifles.

24. Early in the year a draft proclamation was drawn up with a view to placing the Northern Rhodesia Rifle Association-a purely civil organization-on a military basis, and thus lay the foundation of a military organization. Owing to the outbreak of the war, which took place before anything definite had been settled, it was considered, in the interests of the community, desirable to institute a Defence Force on simpler lines than those indicated in the original draft proclamation then before the High Commissioner. Consequently Proclamation No. 23 of 1914, authorizing the raising of a Volunteer force in Northern Rhodesia, was promulgated in the "Gazette" of the 24th October, 1914. The proclamation is simplicity itself and has this advantage, that it permits of a resident selecting a branch in which to serve, best suited to his natural inclinations and physical capabilities-viz., either in the mobile portion or in that for purely local defence.

The work of registering names and organizing the units of this corps-which has since been called the Northern Rhodesia Rifles-was carried out by Major R. Gordon, D.S.O., and Major Boyd Cunninghame, assisted by the executive of the Northern Rhodesia Rifle Association, to whom a debt of gratitude is due for their successful and gratuitous work.

Up to the end of this year one mobile column, consisting of four officers and 120 rank and file, had been mobilised and despatched under Major Boyd Cunninghame on active service.

Units for local defence have been organized in. Livingstone, Mongu, Fort Jameson, Kafue, and Lusakas, and names are being registered with a view to forming a second mobile column, available at short notice to proceed on active service should their services be required.

The concessions allowed by Government to members of the Northern Rhodesia Rifle Association are equally applicable to members of both branches of the Northern Rhodesia Rifles. The sole and most important change is that, while the former was a purelv civilian association, the latter is a military organization in which those that join are liable to be called out on active service. This in itself is a great asset

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SOUTH AFRICA (HIGH COMMISSION).

to the territory in time of emergency. The fact that such an organization has been accepted by residents of Northern Rhodesia tends to show that they most thoroughly appreciate its value.

It is to be hoped, and confidently expected during the coming year, [that] the movement will mature and be placed on a more permanent basis.

Enemy Subjects.

25. On 8th August instructions were received to detain all enemy reservists as prisoners of war. I was given power to exercise my discretion as to requiring persons not actually detained to report themselves periodically. In all 70 Germans and 21 Austro-Hungarian prisoners of war were removed to the Union for internment.

Subsequently the following instructions were received relative to the treatment of alien enemies in the territory :-

1. Alien enemies reasonably suspected of being in any way dangerous to the safety of the realm were to be arrested and interned as prisoners of war.

2. That those whose character precludes suspicion or who are personally vouched for by British residents of standing should not be arrested or interned. These instructions were complied with in each case. Subsequently, in January and February, 1915, two further batches of prisoners of war were interned, making a grand total of 91; of these 70 were German and 21 Austrians.

German and Austrian subjects numbering 63 and 35 respectively have been allowed to remain in the territory, having been vouched for by British residents of standing.

In November instructions were received as to the manner in which Turkish It was found that there were no reservists and subjects were to be dealt with. Turkish reservists in the territory and very few Turks, the majority being of either Greek descent or natives of the island of Rhodes; the former were subsequently afforded Greek and the latter Italian protection. The Turks resident in the terri- tory are of a very harmless type, and, being vouched for by British residents of standing, have been permitted to remain.

Preservation of Peace.

26. On 30th October a Proclamation by the High Commissioner, entitled the Martial Law and Public Order Proclamation, 1914," was put into force through- out the territory.

The Acting Administrator, under the powers vested in him by the Proclama- tion, made regulations prohibiting :-

1. The communication to any enemy subject any informaiton concerning the distribution, movements, armament, equipment, success or failure of His Majesty's forces in Africa, or any precautions which were being taken to preserve order, public safety, or the public welfare.

any

of

2. The use of any language calculated to encourage the enemy forces, or the anticipation of the success of such forces, or conveying any hope or antici- pation of any disaster or misfortune to, or failure on the part of, any of His Majesty's forces.

3. The communication and spreading of false rumours, reports, or infor-

mation.

4. The communication of any matter calculated to create alarm or excite public feeling. Two prosecutions have taken place under the regulations, one European and one native, both of whom were convicted.

I cannot conclude this report, which covers the period 1st August, 1914, to 31st March. 1915, without referring to the great assistance I have received from the Administrators of Southern and Northern Rhodesia, and also to that accorded me by the late Resident Commissioner, Colonel R. Burns Begg, and his Assistant, Mr. C. Douglas Jones, and to say that without the cordial co-operation, support, and advice of these officials it would have been impossible for me to have carried out my duties.

I have, &c.,

His Excellency

The Viscount Buxton, G.C.M.G..

High Commissioner, South Africa.

A. H. M. EDWARDS,

Colonel, Commandant-General.

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