The Portland daily press., 1899-09-23
How Beers Are Sum-
moned To Fight.
JOubert VIII Probably Be Next
President.
(New York sun.,

General p. J. Joubert Is the most cell
ebrated fighter In South Africa. He Is
vice-pFesident and COMMUNICATIVE hief
Of the Boer army, and is looked on as the
oountry's savior In the event Of war with
England. The general Is 6s years old
now, and secured by many wound from
English bullet and native asssgai. Yet
he Is sturdy Of frame and ke5n of eye.
He led the Beers at Majuba Hill, wher9
2s0 knRlish gave mp their lives, General
Joubert losing but i've men. He beat
the English at Laing's Mock. commanded
the forces at Bronkhorst and Spruit, and
finally caught Jameson Ike a rat in q
trap 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 ether Boer we're selected to conduct
the affairs of tho Iransvaal when IL was
In rebellion against England in 1881, and
General Joubert has several times come
within few votes Of beating Dom Paul
for the presidency. He win probably be
the next TO assume that position. as he
holds different views from Kruger. He
believes that IL the franchise were given
to the Ulltanders in reasonable time
they would become good citizens, and
that this Is the way to solve the problem.
At the same time he will not sanction
any sort of q revolt, and when the Jame-
son raiders were landed safely In Pretoria
jail he was one who favored shooti ng
them.
Dom PauPs diplomatic powers stand
out in distinct contrast to Jouhert, who
| is essentially a lover OF powder. Ten
thousand hoers were gathered about the
jail, spsculatiug as to the fate of the prts-
oners. Sons were fur instant death, and
others, as grim joke, suggested cutting
| of their ears. This was taken up by the
press immediatslys and In few hours
the world was snuddering at the blood
thlrstiness OF thu Transvaal burghers. In
the meantime 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
Joubert, the two being closeted whole
| night.
Dom Paul finally prevailed. and Jou-
| bert went ont before the assembly to win
them over 10 the leniens position. This
was the speech: "Fellow burghers, IL
| you had beautiful flock Of sheep, and
. neignbor's dog got into the pasture and
killed them, what world you dor Mould
| you take your rifis and strRightway pro-
coed to shoot those dogs, thus making
yourself liable 60 greater damage than
| the value of the sheep destroyed, or would
you lay hold on thois dogs and carry
them to your neighhors, saying: Nov,
here's your dogs. | caught them in the
act. Pay me and they shall be re-
| turned. -
The general waited moment for the
words to tRke effect, and then added:
"We have the nelghbor's dogs in jail
WAT shall we do with them2' There
was hardly voice against returning the
prisoners to the English, and events
proved how wise the Beers had been.
. Joubert can collect his whole army in
45 hours, u speedier mobilization than any
other nation can boast of. He has d.
vided tho 1ransyaal into " divisions,
each under a commander. They are sub
divided into sections, commanded by
tield oornels and assistant field comets.
When the tocsin is sounded the officers
ride from one farm to another until the
whole country Ia warned. The Boer has
rifle and ammunition ready, ard piece
OF "biltong" OF dried bosf, on which he
can suDsist for two weeks. he jumps on
his horse and husries to the gathering
place, leaving the women to farm and
herd the cattls.
General Joubert knows the might of
the English, but has little respect for
their Inarksmanship. when i was a
boy he told the writer IAN English reg
iment was quRrtered on our farm. One
day three hartebeese sprang up on the
veldt and half the regiment shot at them
and missed. l and two other lads then
brought our rifles to our shoulders and
each brought down one heeste. That is
the way We shoot st the English"