On July 9, 1915, a despatch from General Botha was published stating that he had brought his campaign in South-West Africa to a triumphant close, and had received the unconditional surrender of Governor Sietz and the German forces of 3,500 men. The campaign, commencing in February, had lasted five months. The patriotic devotion of General Botha and the loyalty of the great majority of the Dutch people to the cause of the British Empire were a magnificent vindication of the Liberal Cabinet's policy of reconciliation after the close of the South African war. [Illustration] _THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH IN ARMS_ The self-governing Colonies in the British Empire have at their disposal a 'militia,' which is sometimes only a process of formation. They can be completely ignored so far as concerns any European theatre of war. VON BERNHARDI, _1911_. Our thoughts naturally turn to the splendid efforts of the Oversea Dominions and India, who, from the earliest days of the war, have ranged themselves side by side with the Mother Country. The prepared armed forces of India were the first to take the field, closely followed by the gallant Canadians--who are now fighting alongside their British and French comrades in Flanders. In the Dardanelles the Australians and New Zealanders--combined with the same elements, have already accomplished a feat of arms of almost unexampled brilliancy. In each of these great Dominions new and large contingents are being prepared, while South Africa, not content with the successful conclusion of the arduous campaign in South-West Africa, is now offering large forces to engage the enemy in the main theatre of war. LORD KITCHENER, _Guildhall speech, July 9, 1915._ There are now in training or in the field 350,000 troops of the overseas dominions alone, while this country, on estimate, has at least 2,775,000 men in the field or in training. SIR GILBERT PARKER, _July, 1915._ [Illustration] _JOHN BULL: "COME ON, MICHAEL, I'M AWAKE NOW"_ Rightly or wrongly, we have in the past devoted our energies and our intelligence, not to preparations for war, but to that social progress which makes for the happiness and contentment of the mass of our people. And this, no doubt, is the reason why other nations imagine that we, as a nation of shopkeepers, are too indolent and apathetic to fight for and maintain these priceless liberties won by the men who laid the foundation of our vast empire. But they are entirely mistaken in forming any such estimate of the temperament or determination of our people. Great Britain hates war, and no nation enters more reluctantly upon its horrible and devastating operations; but at the same time no nation, when it is driven to war by the machinations of its foes who desire to filch from it or from its co-champions of liberty any portion of their inherited freedom, is more resolved to see the matter through, at whatever cost, to a successful issue.