The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-11-20
SPICY CHAT WITH BOTHA
Boer General Amused at British
Tactics In Late War.
PLANNING AN OFFICIAL HISTORY

Famous Fighter Hopes to Arrange u
Book ON South African Conflict
From the BUrghers' Side, Written
by Wen known Leaders-WiIl Visit
America FOR Relief Funds.
Since General Louis Botha intends
visiting the United States soon a rath-
er amusing interview which the Lon
don Chronicle correspondent had with
him at MaritZburg is worth reading, as
it gives a BOer view of the not very
redoubtable British prowess in the
field, says the London correspondent
of the Philadelphia Press.
The correspondent describes Botha
as follows: Louis BOtha is big man,
full six feet high and stOutly built.
His shoulders in particular are i'm
mense, and his huge brick red hands
are carried clumsily swinging. He
wears a dropping brown mustache;
small, pointed beard, that does not
conceal a firm, round chin, and short
hair. His face is full and pleasant;
light blue eyes twinkle below heavy
brows. The small, beautifully carved
nose that often accompanies Huguenot
descent is his best feature. He was
magnifcently bronzed and looked like
q very fit south OF England farmer
rather than a fighting general With
him were Jan De Wet, younger broth
er Of Christian Of that ilk, and his own
brother, Commandant Christian Botha,
whom all South Africa knows as Chris.
Jan De Wet would insist on inter-
preting, for Louis BOtha has but little
English and, I suspect, is AIT to tell
the truth without discrimination to all
who approach him in the Taal, where
as the urbane Jan Is q barrister of the
inner temple and has even dipped into
Journalism. So 1 had to speak Eng.
lish, but my notes were Of Louis Bo-
tha's answers and not Of JAMS render
ings.
"There is every prospect of a lasting
peace" said the general, "if people will
sink their individual feelings and work
together for the good Of the country.
It's time South Africa had a chance"
"Now, about the war. How did the
Beers look upon blockhousesW
Jan De Wet laughed as he put the
question, and Louis Botha smiled
broadly.
81 think" said the latter, chuckling,
'they were useful in finding employ
ment for men who were not to be
trusted with horses"
oh
establishment plainly.
1.-THE blockhouse lines never stopped
me from going where 1 wanted to CO."
added the general, ''and they never
stopped De Wet"
DDS Wet broke the fences with cat
tie, did he not?" asked.
Jan De Wet replied this time. "He
says he never did So" he said, "and
can't see how it would be possible.
| Cattle won't run in a mass unless
| there are men leading them. You
can't drive them like horses" He
| translated this to Louis Botha, who
nodded in agreement.
did your experience lead you to re-
gard any particular arm of the British
service as specially efficient and dis
agreeable" was my next question.
"That is too wide a question:" re-
piled the general. 81 got on pretty
well with all of them"
"Thf, colonials, tooY I queried.
IL did not see much difference" he
answered.
"And what about our intelligence de-
partment"
| Again the general was much amused
''Its all right" he said. 81 have inter
copied a good many dispatches and
quite often found them reliable"
'Tell me something about your own
arrangements suggested. eve heard
a great deal about the magnificent Or
ganization of your intelligence depart
ment Had you such thing?"
"Yes," he answered.: 1--WE had the
best system possible. Every one of my
burghers is an intelligence officer born,
and l had no need to single out any
did"
"Do you intend to visit England?"
| eyes," replied the general; 81 am 60
ing to England with De Wet and De-
larey about the end Of the month. I'm
going to the continent. too, and to
America"
what is the object of the tour?"
"We want to get funds for the relief
of burghers ruined by the war, and es.
pecially for widows and orphans and
cripples."
"Are you goingAto lecturer 1 in
quired.
He laughed. IT can't" he replied.
'But | don't know what we shall do
yet"
"Is there to be bookW
II hope" he replied, 'to arrange for
an official history of the war from the
Boer side. De Wet will write his share,
Delarey his, mine, and so on. | think
there ought to be such a book"
''It would DE very interesting"
agreed. 81 suppose Paul Kruger won't
assist?"
"He is too DID," answered the general
seriously