The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-28
Greatest BO0r Leader Is No
More.
Died Of Illness at Pretoria
Last Night.
Olivier With His Train Safe
Iy EIudeS Roberts.
BOERS ARE AGGRESSIVE
Raiding Country in Vicinity of
BlOemfOntein.
Blowing Up Coal Mines in Track
Of British.
BOERS ARE AGGRESSIVE
Raiding Country in Vicinity of
BIOemfOntein.
Blowing Up Coal Mines in Track
of British.

Lorenzo Marques, March 2S.-General
Joubert is dead.
Pretoria. March 28.-General Joubert
died last night at 11.3O o'clock. He had
been suffering from a stomach com
plant The town is plunged into mourn
ing for the gallant general and upright
and honorable gentleman.
General Pietrus Jacobus Joubert, COM
lnandant general of the Transvaal
forces, better known as Piet Joubert, or
''slien Piet'' CSIim PeterJ, was born
about 6S years ago. He was descended
from an old French Huguenot family
which settled in South Africa many
years ago. He was born in Cape Colony,
but was taken by his parents, when
years old, to the Orange Free State,
where he was taught from early child
hood to shoot straight and hate the
British.
He is described as having been utter
ly fearless. OF schooling he had but
little, and he never saw a newspaper
until he was 10 years old. In spite of
this. his ambition prompted him to read
the few books he could obtain and he
succeeded in obtaining a fair knowledge
of history and languages.
In consequence of the acquisition of
Natal by the British his family moved
from Natal and settled in the Transvaa1.
Soon afterwards he became a burgher
of the South African republic and
daring fighter.
1t was claimed in his behalf, that he
could lead a body of men more success
fully against hostile natives than any
other man in the Transvaal He
0ar7a ~ ba faovo5 NV ho 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
became 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 1SS3-S4 during Krugers alb
sence in Europe
General JOubert was always in favor
of the use of force instead of diplomacy,
and President Kruger on several oc-
casions had great difficulty in repress-
ing his hot-headed colleague, notably
in 1879. when Joubert, with Kruger and
Pretorias was planning the rebellion to
overthrow British rule in the Trans
vaaL The result was Majuba Hill.
1t was Joubert who organized the
army of the republic. later on. dividing
the country into seventeen military de-
partments, and each of these depart
ments into smaller divisions with COM
mandants, field comets and leutenants
of various ranks in charge.
According to the generals plans every
man became a trained soldier without
leaving his farm, and had his equip
ment ready at hand. To such a point of
perfection was the system carried, that
within 4S hours after the present war
was declared, the Boer nation was un-
der arms.
1t was also due to General Joubert
that the South African republics sue
ceeded in amassing the immense stores
of war munitions and provisions which
have stood them in such good stead
during the conflict now in progress.
When the Jameson raiders We're lock-
cd up in Pretoria jail, Joubert was
strongly IN FAVOR of their Immediate ex-
ecution. 1t was not until Joubert and
Kruger had been closeted together for
whole night that the more mercifuI
counsels of Kruger prevailed.
In spite Of these characteristics. Cen
eral Joubert on some occasions, showed
considerable regard for the usages of
civilization. When the Beers raided
y u
Joubert was probably the only prom
lnent Boer who refused to support the
movement. and his opposition resulted
in the withdrawal of the Beers from the
territories, as he threatened to resign
unless he had his way saving: I
positively refuse to hold office under a
government that deliberately breaks its
covenants, and we have made covenants
with England
In November last it was reported that
Joubert had been killed in action and
later reports said he was dangerously
wounded and had to use a cart in order
10 follow the operations in the field.
A CLEAN MAN.
London. March 2s-The afternoon
newspapers today publish long biogra-
phies Of General Joubert Generally
they are in a kindly tone
The Pail Mall Gazette SAYS: ssPiet
Joubert was the one contemporary
Iransvaal Boer, except ex-Chief Justice
kotze, whose death will call forth a
sincere tribute of respect from English
men Of all parties. He was the anti