The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-03-29
GENERAL JOUBERT.

saw a newspaper until he was 10 years
cid. In spite of this his ambition prompt
ID him to read the few books he could
obtain, and he succeeded in obtaining
a fair knowledge of history and Ian.
guages.
In consequence of the acquisition of
Natal by the British he and his family
moved from that part of South Africa
and settled in the Transvaal. Soon after
ward he became a burgher of the South
African Republic and a daring fighter.
1t was claimed in his behalf that he
could lead body of men more success
fully against hostile natives than any
other man in the Transvaal. He was
eventually so feared by the natives that
the knowledge that he was at the head
of a punitive expedition usually resulted
in their surrender.
1t was during these wars with the ma
tives that Joubert became acquainted
with Paul Kruger, and the two men be-
came bosom friends. He was elected
vice president Of the Transvaal in 1896,
defeated Sir George Colley at Majuba
Hill in 1881 and acted as president of the
republic in 1884, during Kruger's alb
sence in Europe.
General JOubert was always in favor
of the use of force instead of diplomacy
and President Kruger on several occa
sions had great difficulty in repressing
his hot headed colleague, notably in 1879,
when Joubert, with Kruger and Preto-
rius, was planning the rebellion to over
throw British rule in the Transvaal
The result was Majuba Hill and the
practical independence Of the Transvaal,
though the suzerainty of Great Britain
was maintained.
1t was Joubert who organized the army
of the South African Republic later on,
dividing the country into II military de-
partments and each of these departments
into smaller divisions, with commandants,
field cornets and lieutenants of vari-
Gus ranks in charge. According to the
generals plans, every man became a
trained soldier without leaving his farm
and had his equipment ready at home.
TO such a point of perfection was the
system carried that when the present
war was declared Joubert, it is claimed,
had only to send IL dispatches, and with
In AZ hours the Boer nation was under
arms.
1t was also, thanks TO General Joubert,
that the South African republics sue
eeeded in amassing the immense stores of
war munitions and provisions which
have stood them in such good stead dur
ing the conflict now in progress.
When the Jameson raiders were locked
up in Pretoria jail Joubert was strongly
in favor of their immediate execution,
and it is said that not even the sugges.
ton Of another Boer leader that the ears
of the raiders be cut off was sufficient,
ly harsh measure to please him. Joubert
claimed that they deserved death and
that they ought to be shot as warning
to others. 1t was not until Joubert and
Kruger had been closeted together fol
whole night that the wiser counses OF
Dom Paul prevailed
In spite Of these characteristics, Jou
bert, on some occasions, showed consid
cradle regard for the usages of ciyiiza
ton. When the Beers raided British ter
ritory. Bechuanaland, in 1884, Jouber
was probably the only prominent Boel
who refused to support the movement
and his opposition resulted in the with
drawal Of the Beers from the territory
seized, as he threatened to resign unles,
he had his way, saying;
Il positively refuse to hold office unde
government that deliberately breaks