The Ely miner., 1900-04-06
Sketch of Joubert's Lire.

Gen. Pietrus Jacobus Joubert, command
ant general of the Transvaal forces, bet
ter known as Piet Joubert, or "Slien Piet"
(Slim Peter), 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 par
ents, when seven years old, to the Or
ange Free State, where he was taught from
early childhood to shoot straight and hate
the British.
In consequence of the acquisition Of
Natal by the British his family moved from
Natal and settled in the Transvaal. Soon
afterwards he became burgher of the
South African republic and daring fight
er. 1t was claimed, in his behalf, that he
could lead a body of men more successfully
against hostile natives than any other
man in the Transvaal. He came to be
so feared by the natives that the knowl-
edge that he was at the head of punt
tive expedition usually resulted in their
surrender.
tives that Joubert became acquainted with
Paul Kruger, and the two men became
bosom friends. He was elected vice presl-
dent of the Transvaal in 1896, defeated Sir
George Colley at Majuba hill in 1881 and
acted as president of the republic in 1855
"a, during Kruger's absence in Europe.
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 various
ranks in charge.
According to the generals plans. every
man became a trained soldier without leav-
ing his farm, and had his equipment 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 under arms.
A Boast by Kruger.
London, March 3O.-Advices say the
Beers are concentrating in force about
Is miles north of Bloemfontein, in the
rear of Glen, and Lord Roberts is send
ing forward troops to engage them.
President Kruger has promised to re-
take Bloemfontein within a week. Lord
Methuen and the forces that had been
operating in the Barkly district have
been recalled To Kimberley.
British Lose Many.
London, March 31.-The head of the
army of Lord Roberts is now about
21 miles north of Bloemfontein. 1t
couples cluster of hills won from the
Beers after stiff fight, in which the
British lost seven officers and 100 men.
Joubert's Funeral.
Pretoria, March 29. = The funeral
of Gen. Joubert took place Thursday
afternoon and was attended by all
classes. The foreign military attaches,
in uniform, were among those present
and the British officers who are prison
ers here sent wreath. There were
universal signs of mourning.
Warned by kruger.
London, March 31.-The Bloemfon-
tein correspondent of the Daily Chron-
icle, telegraphing Thursday, March
20. says: President Kruger's latest
proclamation warns the women and
children to leave Bloemfontein with
in five days, as he intends to lombard
and destroy the city, and to shoot the
burghers whom he captures there.
Queen Sends Sympathy.
London, March 81. = Queen Victoria
has cabled to Lord Roberts asking him
to convey to Mrs. Joubert, widow of
Gen. Joubert, her sympathy at the loss
of her husband, and to tell her that the
British people alway the dead
general as gallant soldier and an hon
orable foeman.