wledge, Germany has been intriguing in South Africa for the
last quarter of a century. I remember, I suppose it must be almost
twenty years ago, sending to the late Mr. Chamberlain, who was then
Colonial Secretary, information to this effect which reached me from
undoubted sources in South Africa. Again, not long ago, I was shown a
document which was found among the papers of the Zulu Prince Dinizulu,
son of King Cetewayo, who died the other day. It was concluded between
himself and Germans, and under it the poor man had practically sold his
country nominally to a German firm, but doubtless to more powerful
persons behind. In short, there is no question that for many years
Germany has had its eye upon South Africa as a desirable field of
settlement for its subjects under the German and not the British flag.
Now, the Boers are perfectly well acquainted with this fact and have no
wish to exchange the beneficent rule of Britain for that of Potsdam, the
King Log of George V. for the King Stork of Kaiser Wilhelm.

You ask me if I think that the Boers are likely to succeed in their
attack on Southwest Africa, where it must be remembered that the Germans
have a very formidable force; indeed, I have been told, I do not know
with what accuracy, that they have accumulated there the vast arsenal of
war material that was obviously intended to be used on some future
occasion in the invasion of the Cape. I answer: "Certainly, they will
succeed, though not easily." Remember what stock these Boers come from.
They are descendants of the men who withstood and beat Alva in the
sixteenth century.

*Botha of Huguenot Descent.*

I happen to be well acquainted with that period of history. I wrote a
story called "Lysbeth" concerning it, and to do this I found it
necessary not only to visit Holland on several occasions, but to read
all the contemporary records. In the light of the information which I
thus obtained, I state positively that the world has no record of a more
glorious and heroic struggle than that made by the Dutch against all the
power of Spain. Well, the Boers are descended from these men and women
(for both fought). Also, they include a very large dash of some of the
best blood of Europe, namely, that of the Huguenots. For instance, Botha
himself is of Huguenot descent. It is impossible for a person like
myself, who have that same blood in me, to talk with him for five
minutes without becoming aware of his origin. Long befor