Evening star., 1900-12-29
COL DS
CONMANDANT ROTHA.
Something About the Young ana Nhi-
liant BOer Champion.

Something About the Young ana Ehi-
liant Boer Champion.
From the London News.
Louis Botha who has cut so deep marx
In the pages of history, is only young
man yet. being about seven and thirtS
wears of age. He is a fine figure OF
man." standing in the neighborhood OF SIX
feet In his boots His face is handsome IN
telIectual and determined, his expression
kindly and compassionate. The razor never
touches his face. but his brown beard is al
ways neatly trimmed. for the young CON-
mandant general is particular IN reSdru "
his personal appearance in manly way
though in n respect soppish- He Is now
and always has been. an excellent athlete
good rife shot and hrst-ciass horse!hal H.
not given at any time to indoor pasuhhes
oyermuch, though fond of a quiet game OF
whist. He was born in Natal of Dutch par
ents and married Miss Emmett a relative
of Robert Emmet, the Irish revoiutlonist'
Young Botha was educated at Greytown
and though a good sound commerclai
scholar, he gave no evidence in MS schooi-
boy days of what was in him. NO one VINO
knew him then would have dreamed tnat
before he was forty years OF age ne Wouio
be the foremost soldier of his country Ills
folks were moderately well off, but the ad-
venturous spirit of the future general sent
him inland from Natal when large num-
Der of Natal and Free State Beers enlisted
under the flag OF General Lucas Meyer
who was bent upon making war on pow
erful negro tribe III the neighborhood OF
Nryha;d. During the fighting young Botha
was his general right-hand man. dlsp ay-
ing even at that early age cool, Level mead
and a stcut heart. When the Beers were
firmly settled upon the land Nryheid was
declared republic and Lucas Meyer was
elected first president. But the new repub-
lie lasted only about three years, and was
then. by mutual consent. merged into
Transvaal territory, and both Lucas Meyer
ard Louis BOtha were elected members OF
the volksraad Louis Botha retained his
seat right up to the time hostilities broke
out between Great Britain and the repub-
lies under Mr.. Kruger and Mr.. Steyn.
During the many stormy scenes which
preceded the actual declaration of war
Louis Butha proved that he possessed the
coolest and most level head in the volks-
raad. He opposed the war, and with pro-
ph2tic eye foresaw the awful devastation
of his country which would follow in the
footsteps of the British army. But when
the time came. and his country was ire
triovably pledged to war, he was not the
man to hang back. He was one of those
who had much to lose and little indeed to
gain by taking up arms against US, for by
honest industry he had become a wealthy
farmer and stock breeder. AT the first call
tu arms he threw aside his senatorial duties
ard took up his rife, rejoining his old COM
mcnho at Vryheid as commaudant under
General Lucas Meyer. 1t IS said that at
the battle of Dundee General Meyer feeling
convinced that the god of battles had de-
ciGed against him and his forces decided to
surrender to the British but Louis BOtha
fierce!y c1mbated his generals decision and
pc.nt blank refused to throw down his
arms or counsel his men to do so. What
followed all the world knows. and Botha
went up very high In the estimation Of the
better class Of lighting burghers. At the
JUEe.3 before the trst big battle took place
General Meyer was taken i'll and had to re-
tire to Pretoria. and Louis Botha was then
elected assistant general. and the planning
CT the batti" was left entirely to him.
1t was a terribly responsible position to
place 50 young man in for he face
T. face with the then commander-in chief
O. tla British army, Sir Redvers Butler. q
& neral Of dauutlesS determination and un-
G0ubsea ability. Experience. men. guns
arr all t!1o munitions IF war were in fSt
OF the British general, but the awful nature
OF the country was upon the side Of the
newly f. -Egd Bger leader, and he made
terrible use Of It. The day Of Colerso,
when ST. Redvers Butler received his first
decisive shaok, viii not soon be 20 gotten
II tire c1G@ Is Of OF: army. \ man Of weak
e. fiber than the British leader would have
ben r@Ent-7 by the disasters Of that day,
for there he lost ten guns and a large mum
ber os men But Butler carried in his blood
all the cd grit # Our race. and the heavier
the chCck the more his soul was set upOn
ultimate victory. I have been over that
bGtte ground. and have looked a the posi-
4 IS tl-eD hy Louis Botha. They were
chosen win c0usUmmate skill, born of A
tlE"-V-h In w,oLse of the nature Of the
cp---tEy and inherent gsHeralship
have !a1,,.E at the country Sir Redyars
Egzter had - pass through to get at lis
w4se and Sl-i..5ul adversary The man who
Ga~eI .l-fe the attempt th4t Butler made
must a.y7 rad nerves as steel and saul
that wau'. not bleuch If ordered To c+orr1,
IT, very S---s II TiGGeS. The worst fighting
g. u1d that i saw in all the Free State was
but m oT.a-,- OF war c..,,,rtqrad =, the
E-s:s-F a--t-.I Cclanso and | hava sen
su-aa fs-l-H.e r..grFs in lie Free c+ata p1,t
g IllG t-- u see the ground Butler fnue.ht
f. Il. r.s,.zs the fI15ar.tr,Is of 1le ttsI- tte
,S-i battle 1t C5ieus1 made young Louis
/ E-4 :.--u-- and fr III that Eyr;r The
eys uf -ln Iu-ghers were turned toward
fi.l IS the ,rg man III - lead them At