NationStates Jolt Archive

The Union of South Africa
Unie van Suid-Afrika - Unie van Zuid-Afrika
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release 1917

http://www.meetsouthafrica.com/images/250px-RedensignSA.jpg
Flag Description: The South African Flag, or 'Red Ensign,' has served as the de facto banner of the Union since its creation in 1910. On a back drop of crimson red lay two important symbols. The first is the Union Jack, representing the Dominions undying loyalty to Queen and Country, while the second, located towards the bottom right, is the Official Coat of Arms of the Union.

Country Name:
Official Long Name: Union of South Africa (Unie van Zuid-Afrika)
Official Short Name: South Africa (Zuid-Afrika)
Abbreviation: SA

Total Population: 6,759,000 citizens

History:

After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments, but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). 8 years later (1910), the Union of South Africa was formed, granting the entire territory full-autonomy in return for continuing loyalty to the British Crown.

Government & Politics:
Overview:

Upon gaining independence in 1910, The Union remained under the British Crown as self-governing dominion of the British Empire. The monarchy is represented in South Africa by a Governor-General, while effective power was exercised by the Prime Minister. Louis Botha, formerly a Boer general, was appointed first Prime Minister of the Union, heading a coalition representing the white Afrikaner and English-speaking communities.

Unlike Canada and Australia, the Union is a unitary state, rather than a federation, with each colony's parliaments being abolished and replaced with provincial councils. A bicameral parliament, consisting of a House of Assembly and Senate, controls the nation's state of affairs. Every five years national elections are held for both Parliaments and although suffrage has been extended to normal citizens, its members are elected mostly by the country's literate, white minority.

Currently, the reigning Governor-General is Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton (appointed 1914) and the Prime Minister of Parliament is Louis Botha [South African Party].

Owing to disagreements over where the Union's capital city should be, a compromise was reached in which every province would be represented: the seat of government would be in Pretoria, the seat of parliament would be in Cape Town, the judiciary would be in Bloemfontein, and Pietermaritzburg was given financial compensation. This arrangement continues to this day, with government ministers, civil servants, and diplomats moving from Pretoria to Cape Town every year when Parliament is in session, and back to Pretoria when it is not.

Foreign Affairs & National Boundries:
Foreign Policy:

As a British Dominion, the Union is officially bound to the decisions of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, in minor local & regional matters, the South African government has the ability to interact independently of London (provided such acts do not conflict with British policy initiatives).

Currently, as WWI wares on, the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs teeters on a perilous position. Towards the South-West region of the country (centered in Cape Town), British-decended citizens who primarily sympathize with the Allied cause, demand that the Union protest the current neutrality of the British Empire in favor of the French Republic. Meanwhile, to the north, Dutchmen and Afrikaaners demand that action be taken in league with the Central Powers due to their Germanic heritage.

However, as of late, the Government persists that it shall hold to its commitments and retain the same formal policies as the Mother Country.

National Divisions & Boundries

Currently, the Union of South Africa, slightly less than twice the size of Texas, extends from the Cape of Good Hope in the South to the Limpopo River in the North-East and Orange River in the West. Towards the north, the Union is bordered by German Southwest-Africa, British Rhodesia, while Portuguese East-Africa lies to the East.

Domestically, the Union consists of four unitary provinces: Cape Province, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal.

Total Area: 1,219,912 sq km

Land Boundries:
Total: 4,862 km
Border Territories: Bechuanaland 1,840 km, Basutoland 909 km, German South-West Africa 967 km, Portuguese East-Africa 491 km, Southern Rhodesia 225 km and Swaziland 430 km

Administrative Divisions: (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/south_africa.gif)
- Cape Province: Cape Town
- Natal: Pietermaritzburg
- Orange Free State: Bloemfontein
- Transvaal: Pretoria

[More to come]

South African Military
Official Ministry of Defense Press Release 1917

I. South African Army
Suid-Afrikaanse Leër
Overview:

The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by popular militias and small irregular commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies.

After the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, General Jan Smuts, the Union's first Minister of Defence, placed a high priority on creating a unified military out of the separate armies of the union's four provinces. The Defence Act (No. 13) of 1912 established a Union Defence Force (UDF) that included a Permanent Force (or standing army) of career soldiers, an Active Citizen Force (ACF) of temporary conscripts and volunteers as well as a Cadet organization. The 1912 law also obligated all white males between seventeen and sixty years of age to serve in the military, but the law was not strictly enforced as there were a large number of volunteers. Instead, half of the white males aged from 17 to 25 were drafted by lots into the ACF.

Initially, the Permanent Force consisted of five regular mounted regiments and a small artillery section. In 1913 and 1914, the new 23,400-member Citizen Force was called on to suppress several industrial strikes on the Witwatersrand.

As of the moment, both the UDF and ACF remain on alert, wary of colonial developments between French and German forces in the Great War.

Organization & Order of Battle

The current system of organization is based off the British Regimental System, with groups of both Conscripts and Volunteers formed together into regiments or brigades. Furthermore, the designation of Regiments is based off the region from which the Regiment was recruited and/or activated.

Total Forces: 48,500 Soldiers, 245 Artillery Pieces

[Infantry Forces (UDF)]: 9,000 Soldiers
2,000 Soldiers in Cape Town Highlanders Regiment [Mobilized]
2,000 Soldiers in Cape Town Rifles Regiment [Mobilized]
2,000 Soldiers in Durban Light Infantry Regiment
[Mobilized]
2,000 Soldiers in Johannesburg Regiment
[Mobilized]
1,000 Soldiers in Prince Alfred's Guard

[Infantry Forces (ACF)]: 21,000 Soldiers [On Alert]
2,000 Soldiers in Kaffrarian Rifles Regiment
2,000 Soldiers in Kimberley Regiment
1,000 Soldiers in Natal Carbineers Regiment
2,000 Soldiers in Rand Light Infantry Regiment
2,000 Soldiers in Regiment Bloemspruit
2,000 Soldiers in Regiment Boland
2,000 Soldiers in Regiment Skoonspruit
2,000 Soldiers in Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment
2,000 Soldiers in Regiment Westelike Provinsie
2,000 Soldiers in South African Irish Regiment
2,000 Soldiers in Transvaal Scottish Regiment

[Cavalry Forces (UDF)]: 6,000 Mounted Soldiers
2,000 Mounted Soldiers in Light Horse Regiment [Mobilized]
2,000 Mounted Soldiers in Natal Mounted Rifles Regiment
2,000 Mounted Soldiers in Umvoti Mounted Rifles Regiment

[Cavalry Forces (ACF)]: 2,000 Mounted Soldiers [On Alert]
2,000 Mounted Soldiers in Pretoria Regiment

[Artillery Forces (UDF)]: 4,500 Soldiers and 105 guns
1,500 Soldiers and 35 guns in Cape Field Artillery Regiment [Mobilized]
1,500 Soldiers and 35 guns in Natal Field Artillery Regiment
1,500 Soldiers and 35 guns in Transvaal Horse Artillery Regiment [Mobilized]

[Artillery Forces (UDF)]: 6,000 Soldiers and 140 guns [On Alert]
1,500 Soldiers and 35 guns in Cape Garrison Artillery Regiment
1,500 Soldiers and 35 guns in Regiment Oos Transvaal
1,500 Soldiers and 35 guns in Regiment Vaalriver
1,500 Soldiers and 35 guns in Regiment Transvaalse Staatsartillerie

Weaponry & Uniforms:

Current Small Arms in Service:
M1907 Lee-Enfield .303 Calibre Bolt Action Rifle
M1894 Winchester .30-30 Calibre Lever Action Carbine
M1912 Vickers .303 Calibre Heavy Machine-Gun [Limited Quanities]
Webley Mk. IV .38 Calibre Revolver

Current Field Artillery in Service:
Mark. II 18-pound Breech-loading Field Artillery Piece
13-pound Breech-loading Field Artillery Piece
4.5 inch Breech-loading Howitzer.

[More to come]

--- Official Press Release from the Ministry of Defense: 20 Mar. 1918 ---

In order to adequately meet the necessary requirements of the South African Defense Forces, especially in such times of unrest, it is to be announced today that select units of the South Africa Union Defense Force, along with various volunteer regiments, will be taking part in an official military manuevers exercise. Thus, a partial mobilization of the South African Union Defense Forces has been ordered and shall be carried out over the next 10 days.

The military exercises in question will be outside the city of Upington for a total duration of 3 weeks, initiating on 5 April and terminating on 26 April. It is advised by the Ministry of Defense that large-scale activities in the region of Upington be kept to a minimum throughout the duration of the exercises to prevent any possible accidents from occuring.

- Jan Smuts, Minister of Defense

April 13th, 1918

Pretoria, South Africa
Union Buildings

From the light sandstone officies of the South African Parliament, the tidings of government continued without losing pace, even as the early afternoon grew into the evening twilight. Among the corridors and chambers of the complex's two large wings, hundreds of interns, lobbyists, secretaries and the like shuffled to and fro, endless piles of crisp yellow paper flowing through their hands like water.

Situtated towards the far east wing of the building, among the chaotic rustle of those same robotic workers, Prime Minister Louis Botha and his lesser Ministers of the Executive Branch sat quietly in a large conference room, chattering in relative silence.

With the arrival of 5 o'clock on the maple-wood grandfather clock that had been positioned nearest to the exit of the room (and out of sight of the lounging gentlemen), a bright red hue filled the pale slate walls of the chamber as the sun made its final benedicting farewell to that corner of the earth. Such a sight, upon mixing itself among the brown surfaces of the heavy oak table that made the centerpiece of the room, alerted the aging Botha, who now sought to end this impromptu meeting of his before the night reached them.

"Then it is decided." he announced, pushing himself up at the head of the table. "As all of us gentlemen have realized it is in the best action to enact such policies discussed, it is time we take action in parliament. It is essential for the development of the Union."

To his right, Minister of Defense, Jan Smuts, rose to meet Botha's gaze with his own determined demeanor.

"Surely you are correct, Louis, but we must think of the reaction. Already, Hertzog and his NP buddies are annoyed by our continued participation in the affairs of the British, but this, this will really set 'em off. And I figure with the kind of rhetoric he has under his belt, he'll pull both Hardliners and Moderates to his side, shooting down any possibility of an up or down vote."

"Well that's certainly a chance we'll have to take." replied the Prime Minister confidently. "But one cannot disregard the cold hard truth. It is inevitable that such reform must be made and if South Africa is remain a prosperous and stable nation-state, it will have to conform to these standards. Plus, we've got the bloody economists and nearly unanimous SP support, which should be more than enough to sway the decision and pass this little bastard."

"And as for our military manuevers? Obviously, such a large scale operation will interfere with their employment." asked Smuts curiously.

"They go as planned. After all, the Brits are still straddling the fence on what to do, even as their buddies in France get the shit pummled out of 'em. I figure that if things get bad enough, old King George will put his hat into the fight. And if he doesn't, we stick to the schedule. Can't afford to spook those Kraut bastards too much."

"I guess this sums up the meeting then." noted Smuts, rubbing his pale blue eyes rhythmically before beginning to gather his things. "We'll have party officials deliver the bill to Parliament tommorow morning and hope for the best."

In the distance, the sprawling South African veld sank into darkness, its future course to be decided come morning.

April 14th, 1918

Pretoria, South Africa
National Assembly

Among the chatter and hushed gossip of mingling politicans in the halls of Parliament, a lone figure made his way to the center of the room, a series of pale white documents in his wrinkled right hand. In the left lay a golden pocket watch, an heirloom from ages past, ticking feverishly, its solid black hands moving in clockwise fashion ever so slowly.

It's nearly 8:00am. I must hurry, the man thought to himself, increasing his pace in the meanwhile.

Finally, with only a moment to spare, the man, now visibly fatigued after pushing his portly figure from one end of the room to the other, inserted the documents he held into the ornamental gold and deep cherry box before him. Upon completing this important task, he returned to his seat on the upper row of the Parliament, anxious for this session of Parliament to open.

"Order, Order." said the speaker, mounted at the front of the room behind his slender podium. As the room fell into order (slowly but surely) the speakers aqualine features, including his wide socketed blue eyes, surveyed the room intently, searching for any would-be discrepencies that he could call out.

However the room, as it always did, eventually became shrouded in a relative silence as each gentleman of the House awaited that mornings deliberations. As of late, the clouds of the Great War, and especially the more aggresive posturing of the Mother Country after 3 years of relative silence, had made things in Parliament far more...uneasy. Thus, when the portly man's pale white documents were first removed from the box below, the entire room clenched its fists and held its breath, as if this very document might signal the inevitable.

"The first order of business this morning will be bill HA 1258, termed the 'South African Industrial Expansion Act.' The terms are presented as followed:"

Taking a moment to calm his voice, the speaker began to read the provisions of the bill.

Recongnizing the Industrial inadequacies of the current South African state and its increased dependence on foreign goods

Understanding the need to create a strong domestic industrial base

Accepting the role of South Africa as a leading producer of goods and services on the African continent

Needing an increased commitment to the expansion and development of new domestic industry

Requests the following provisions are to be implemented by both the local and national governments of the Union:

Article I: The national railway system of the Union of South Africa is to be re-organized under the Ministry of the Interior and increased from its current size of 2,800 km of standard gauge rail to 10,100 km of standard gauge rail.

Article II: Through the use of Government land grants and other various incentives, a National Industrial Initiative act is to be put forth with the goal of increasing the Industrial and Service based sectors of the Union's economy by 40%.

Article III: The Merchant Marine of the Union, through the purchase and construction of new vessels, is to be expanded by 65% to meet the demands of the National Industrial Initiative Act.

Article IV: In order to facilitate the needs of a growing industrial backbone, along with the capital required to fund such ventures, tariffs on all finished goods are to be increased by an average of 30% of their previous rates.

Article V: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will ensure the maintence and extention of valuble & competitive trading rights in the markets of Europe and North America.

Such provisions, if dutifully carried out by this government in question, are intended to be fully satisfied by 1 January 1922...

Setting the document down after several minutes of uninterrupted speech, the speaker glanced up towards his fellow statesmen. On one end of the room, the mood was somewhat pleased and relax. But on the other, it seemed as if some of the men located towards the front of the row were going to explode as they sneered and scowled in every which way.

"I will now open the floor to discussion." announced the speaker, curious as to the response of each side of the room.

At once, a balding middle-aged gentleman, dressed in a somber black three-piece suit with a Kaiser-Wilhelm mustache quickly rose, his features greatly aggrevated.

"The House recognizes Assemblyman Konjik of Transvaal." noted the speaker monotonously.

"This is absolute nonsense!" Konjik thundered, ushering a chorus of shouts and gestures from his compatriots. "Already the tariffs in place burden the peoples of Transvaal, including my own constituents, greatly. To raise them would prove disasterous! It is obvious the South African Party has stepped too far!"

From the other side of the room, another gentlemen, well-kept and calm, stood as Konjik settled back in his seat.

"The House recognizes Assemblyman Lawrence of Cape Province."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker." replied Lawerence with a smile. "My fellow Assemblymen, it is my firm belief that this act, if set forth, would provide the Union with immense benefits. Surely, the idea of increased tolls and tariffs will prove damaging at first. However, with an larger industrial capacity and greater merchant marine, South Africa will, for the first time in its history, reach a point of self-sufficency, something many nations can only dream of. Thus, it should be our duty to cherish such a bill to ensure the future of our great nation. Thank you."

The Debate raged on for many hours with both sides locked in a feverish battle of words and rhetoric. The National Party, backed by the typically lassiez-faire Boer population, turned down the idea at every turn, claiming it infringed upon the rights of the South African people, whilst depriving them of their most basic needs. Meanwhile, the South African Party, back by Pro-British protectionists, heralded the legislation as a means in which to increase productivity and reduce the Union's dependency on precious metals exports.

By evening, when the banging of the gavel finally signaled an end to the debate which had continued for the majority of the day, each Assemblyman returned home as the wheels of politics took a momentary rest.

The Cape Times
April 22nd, 1918 - Headlines

National Party Chairman Condemns Anglo-French cooperation.

In a recent speech to members of the South African Miners Council outside of Johannesburg last Monday, National Party Chairman, James Barry Munnik Hertzog, delivered a 16 minute speech, critizing the recent policies of the British Government.

As a one of the leaders of the growing South African republican movement, Hertzog, has, for the past years since the Union's foundation, been on the forefront in promoting the need of an independent South Africa. Such a position, although deemed as "irrational" and "out of the question" by leading members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister himself, has given the middle-aged politican and his party considerable support, especially among the Boer populations of the northern countryside.

Thus, when in the precense of his supporters this week, the National Party Chairman was not afraid to unleash his worst brand of scorn.

"It is obvious that the British government has no interests in the further preservation of a neutral stance. Their continued support of France, including the deployment of - yes - I said it - one million military personnel has confirmed our worst fears. London has every intention of joining this terrible war, intentions which can only be payed in the blood of South Africans."

When asked by the Associated Press on his stance towards the recently proposed and highly controversial South African Industrial Expansion Act, Hertzog continued his campaign of denouncement, labeling the Government in Pretoria and, most notably, the South African Party which has of this date, fully sponsored the adoption of the bill, as "audacious fools" and has committed himself to "destroying this bill before it becomes an even greater threat to the South African people."

However, with the South African Party holding a sound majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate, it is expected that the bill will be passed in the Assembly by the first of May and move the Senate for their approval.

African Demonstrators gather in protest of Military Deployments.

This week, outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria, an assembled group of 2,000 Coloured and Black demonstrators gathered to protest the deployment of South African soldiers to the northern border.

The protests themselves, being organized and lead by members of the notorious African National Congress, were peaceful and uneventful, although police and military units were placed on alert to quell any potential rioters.

Over the course of the demonstration, notable leaders of the Congress spoke to the protestors, demanding the removal of South African military units, deployed two week s ago, to the borders of German South-West Africa, along with pleas to the British government to discontinue their aid to France in the hopes of preserving the Empire's neutrality.

However, in a statement released on Wednesday morning by the office of the Prime Minister, it is likely the government will not back down, claiming the partial mobilization of such forces is "essential to the defense of the Union."

Die Afrikaanse Patriot
May 1st, 1918 - Headlines

Parliament Charters National Arms Company.

In an almost unanimous vote last Friday, both the Senate and the House of Assembly agreed to the establishment of a new government owned arms production company.

The new enterprise, an initiative launched by Defense Minister Jan Smuts last week, will be charted under Executive Authority in Pretoria with its main purpose to produce the arms and equipment needed for the South African soldier. Under a annual stipend of £sd10,000,000, the new company, dubbed 'The National South African Arms Fabrication Company' (NSAAFC), is schedueled to begin processing orders by early 1919 when its first industrial facilities are completed.

"This is obviously a great step forward for South African Industry," noted Prime Minister Louis Botha in a speech yesterday morning. "If we are to function as an independent nation, it must be are first and foremost priority to establish a common means of defense."

Also, it has been intended that the new company eventually comes to lead the way in the Research & Design of new small arms technologies, although current priorities lie in the production of already exsisting British military ordinance...