New-York tribune., 1899-11-17
,JOUBERT REPORTED DEAD.
THE REPORT NOT CONFIRMED-SMART
SETS BUSY IN LONDON WITH
WAR CHARITIES.
10y CABLE TO THE TRIBUSE.l


london Nov IL ] a.. m-While sensational
dispatches respecting advance Of portion
Of General Joubert's force from Colenso and
.bs investment of Estcourt have not been con-
Arred the Beers have repeated the earliest In
cident Of the war by attacking and destroying
an armored train which had been used for recon-
notring purposes. The earliest accounts OF this
affair differ in details but 1t is evident that the
train was suddenly fired upon between Estcourt
and Colenso and probably deraiied Tne trains
gun was disabled, according to one account anu
the men were forced into a hard fight IN which
there were serious losses in killed and wounded
and possibly prisoners as well. 1t was soou
Boer trap. and the British force was apparently
surprised Estcourt has already been reinforced
and it is not likely that the Beers will attempt
TO invest it.
As the Mohawk has arrived at the Cape with
the 10Th Lancers cavalry will be available IN
three days for relief column.
REPORTED DEATH OF JOUBERT.
The embargo on news at the Cape has been 80
prohibitive that anything may have happened
st Ladysrnith during the last eight days for
this reason a rumor from Pretoria py way Vi
1.ourenco Marques that General Joubert had
fallen in action or Thursday week can hei'heI
he accepted nor rejected. That was the day on
the bombardment was sent through to Durham
The rurnor Of his death fits in with vague re-
rorts previously received that gun firing that
aav Was unusually severe and that q close ap-
nroach was made to the British lines OF oeIehce'
II is also exposed TO the inherent irnpropaoiii'!
that an engagement could have taken place anu
the Roer commander been killed without the
world knowing something about il within elght
days
GENERAL Joubert's death would naturally have
nroauced an important effect upon the Boer pan
OF attack A younger and more impusVe gem
eral would have taken the place or "aiieI
and more cautious commander ana some f1o.-
snur would have been likely TO order an assault
upon General Whites position. General JouDeit
has been at once a most resourceful general anu
tho roblas+ natriot on the Boer side sim
Pe+ as he always has been known among the
South Africans refused 10 take office under Sr
Theopbilus Shenstones scheme of British an
nexation. when Kruger himself was less scru-
pulous He protested against that act ol az
gression. and was willing TO fight Tor the HO
critics n, The Transvaal when KRUGER was not
equally stanch Joubert. while full OF crait anu
wles as anv old deer stalker was no match LOT
Kruger in the subtleties Of politics. he iacAeo
Kruger's grit and inhexibie Will
GARRIsONs TO BE RELIEVED
penorts - 9 reconnaissance from Orange
River to Belmont accompany accounts 'i '
attack on the armored train above Estcour''
and serve 10 indicate that Kimberley as wen Us
Lsdysmith will be relieved before general au-
vance is made through the Orange Free Sta'e'
The military experts now agree that the '"O
exposed garrisons on each flank will be deIlVereu
from attack by the enemy in superior strehs'"
before the original plan for the invasion Oh 'ilo
two republics and the occupation OF their capi-
tails is carried out and that the latter move
ment will be deferred until the end Of the year.
when the new division now mobillzing has ui'
embarked in South Africa
You can trust Butler" said one or MS WARM
est friends TO me ttrday, TO choose MS wv"
time and field Of operations. He Is not man
10 allow the Beers 10 force him to hght "here
they will have strong defensive postlohs III
mountain masses He will not be drawn away
from the omen country where the British troops
Will be free 10 operate their own way with
Irresistible force"
similar view was expressed by q prominent
department chief who spoke OF the necessity OF
overrunning both republics before lhe Du''"
population could be impressed with the nope
lessnees OF the struggle and induced 70 sur
render Internationally. Buffers march throush
Boernfontein 70 Pretoria. he added. wouIu De
ttrong safeguard for permanent peace IN south
Africa and Butler would be nothing II not thor-
ough in his plan Of campaign.
Lord Compton's narrow escape as captain OF
the 9th Lancers from capture in a reconnois-
sance above Belmont sends thrill through the