Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-30
Gen. LOUIS BOTHA
THE BOER HERO

respondent, writing from Pretoria,
March :, says;
The Boer army has thus far been
strengthened by about 5000 men. who
have come into the country through
Delagoa bay since the war began.
This large body OF men has been re-
cruited chiefly in Europe, but many men
have come from America and even
Australia Ever since the war began
this steady stream OF fighting men has
been pouring into the Transvaal over
The Portuguese border. although the
English officials there have done every
thing In their power TO stop IT, Every
train arriving from Lourenzo Marques
brings from ten TO fifty recruits,
Two direct lines Of steamers arrive
az Lourenzo Marques and each Is car
rying all the passengers from Naples
and Marseilles that 1t can accommo-
date
For the most part the passengers buy
tickets 10 Durham, but leave the boats
at Lourenzo Marques in order to give
wrong impression to the British off,
GERS who search the vessels at Alden.
The Boer hero Of the first four months
Of the war Is Louis B0tha. the victor
OF Colenso and spion Kop, and the
youngest general In the republican
armies.
The name Of Botha is on c~ery tongud
In the two republic. and already he Is
being mentioned as possible candidate
for the presidency.
The fight on splon Kop In the latter
part OF January was the first of any
great consequence, lnasmuch as a
British victory would have been fol-
lowed by the raising Of the Siege OF
Ladysmith. The defeat of the Beers
would have changed the tide Of the en-
tire campaign In Natal. and to guard
against such a calamity Gen. Joubert
placed Gen. Botha in charge.
To show how successful Gen. Botha
was In combating the British forces.
ii Is only necessary 70 say that seven
days after the battle there remained on
the side Of Spion Kop and In the valley
below more than ZOO bodies OF English
soldiers, while the total loss OF the
Beers was fifty killed and l2S wounded.
The total Boer force engaged In the
fight was not more than $50, while the
British force was no less than 1000 and
probably twice that number.
Botha did not seem TO be proud Of his
victory, but spoke only OF the bravery
OF the British soldiers and the Injustice
OF the war which made such slaughter
necessary.
After the battle Of Colenso." the
general said, which the forces under
my command won as a result of the
careful planning Of President Kruger
and their own proves, | was prepared
70 return to Pretoria for a short rest.
when ! received instructions from the
president 60 go ut once toward the up-
per Tugela, whittier the British forces
were advancing 10 the relief OF LADY,
smith. They had crossed the river al
drift and were On the main
road which leads into the besleged city
when ] arrived In General Burgers
camp at o'clock In the morning. |
saw there was nothing TO do but pre-
pare for an immediate attack. and for
four days we fought hard on a large
plateau TO the right OF Spion Kop, on
the evening Of the fifth day the British
forces suddenly retired toward Trich- |
ardt's Drift. but instead OF recrossing
the stream, they look up positions on
Splon Kop. This point was
Of great strategic importance and |
Gen. Burger and | agreed that We must
have II. During the night we selected |
our men from different commanders In
the vicinity. took up our positions and |
waited for the dawn before beginning
hostlllties.
only $50 men were In these positions.
but there were more near by TO render |
assistance II Il became necessary. Dur. |
Ing the day before we estimated the
British forces al 5000, although there
might have been more.
There was heavy mist over the top |
~ the kopje ut dawn. and IL |
was impossible for us to see the Brit
sh forces. but we knew they were there
Tor almost as soon as | gave the order |
70 begin the ascent the fighting began.
Ny men climbed slowly but steadily un.
der the fire OF all sorts OF guns and |
started 70 drive the British back 10 the
top and down the other side.
Toward the top the mist was so
ihick that the smoke OF the enemys
lilies mingled with that Of ours. and
'or short time the soldiers OF the two
were running against each
)ther. My men were being killed and
by the dozens. but the others
sept on toward the top. Shortly be-
ore the summit was reached the mist
fitted and then our men could see those
II the enemy.
For a short time Il was really anus
ne 10 see our men so close TO the Brit
sh soldiers that at least twenty-five
Il them were able 10 seize their rifles
rom their hands. Finally. after very
evere fighting We gained the day. and
~ night came over the scene we had
AIKEN 200 prisoners. The British re-
reated during the night. leaving many
4 their wounded and all Their dead be-
lind on the top Of the mountain.
THE following morning I personally
ounted the dead bodies ard found $50
I them scattered around the hill. The
rounded left on the hill all night were
90. and these sent back the following
morning. On the other side Of the hin /
% less than $50 British were killed.
THE loss on our side was fifty killed
nd 40 wounded"