El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-27
LEADER OF THE BOER ARMY.
Gen. Joubert, His Fighting Qua
lilies, And The Boer ARMY.

Gen. P. J. Joubert is the most cele-
brated fighter in South Africa. He is
| vice-president or the commander-in
chief of the Boer army, and is looked
on as the country's savior in the event
of war with England. The general Ia
6S years old now. and SCARED by many
q wound from English bullets and ma
tive assegai. Yet he is sturdy of frame
and keen of eye. He led the Beers at
Msjuba hill, where 2SO English gave
up their lives, Gen. Joubert losing
but five men. He beat the English at
Laing's Neck, commanded the forces
at Bronkhorst and Spruit, and finally
through quick mobilization of troops.
He fought in the native wars when
Paul Kruger was commander, and
these two became bosom friends. They
and one other Boer swere selected to
conduct the affairs of the Transvaal
| when it was in rebellion against En-
gland in 1881, and Gen. Joubert has
several times come within few votes
of beating Dom Paul for the presiden-
cy. He will probably be the next to
assume that position, as he holds diff
ferent views from Kruger. He believes
that it the franchise were given to the
Uitlanders in reasonable time they
would become good citizens, and that
this is the way to solve the problem.
any sort OF revolt, and when the
Jameson raiders were landed safely in
Pretoria Jail he was one who favored
shooting them.
Dom Paul's diplomatic powers stand
out in distinct contrast to Joubert, who
is essentially lover of powder. Ten
thousand Beers were gathered about
the jail speculating as to the fate of
the prisoners. Some were for instant
death, and others, as a grim joke,
suggesting cutting off their ears. This
was taken up by the press Immediately,
end in a few hours the world was
sbudderiDg at the blood thirstiness of
TIE Trans vaal burghers. In the mean
time the question was being settled by
Dom Paul, who was trying to save the
lives OF the prisoners, and to this end |
used every art of persuasion with Jou-
bert. the two being clOseted q whole |
night.
Dom Paul finally prevailed, aud |
Joubert went out before the Assem- bly |
to win them over to the lenient posi- |
ton. This was his speech. Fellow
burghers, If you had beautiful flock
OF sheep and neigh boris Dogs got into
the pasture and killed them, what
would you do? Would you take your
rifle and straightway proceed to shoot
those dogs, thus making yourself
liable to greater damage than the
the value OF the sheep destroyed, or
would you lay hold on those dogs and
carry them to your neighbor, saying,
Now. here's your dogs. 1 caught them
in the act: Pay me and they shall be
returned
The general waited a nome Mt for the
words to take effect and then added:
We have the neighb boris dogs in Jail.
W nat shall we do with them? There
was hardly voice against returning
the pr isoners to the English and events
proved how wise the Beers had been.
Joubert can collect his whole army
n forty-eight hours, a speedier mobi-
1zat1on than any other nation can
BOAST of. He has divided the Trans
yaal into seventeen divisions, each un-
Ter commander. 1hey are sub-div-
ded into sections, commanded by field
ornets. When the tocsin is sounded
he officers ride from one farm to an
ther until the whole country is warn T
d. The Boer has rifle and ammuni-
ion ready. and q piece of "bilting" or
ried beef, on which he can subsist for
wo weeks. He jumps on his horse 8
nd hurr1es to the gathering place,
,avtnR the women to farm and herd 8
he cattle.
Gen. Joubert knows the might of the e
nglish, but has little respect for their
"When l was a boy, /" Il
e told the writer, San English reei-
ent was quartered on our farm. One h
BY three hartbeeste sprang up on the 81
edit and half the regiment shot at 81
lem ard missed. I and two other 2;
DIS then brought our rifles to GU
loulders and each brought down one e
,este. That is the way we shoot at
e English. "-Chicage Tribune. d