The Washington herald., 1915-09-19
1t Would Surprise No
One in England If
Kitchener Were toMake
His One Tinne Arch
Enemy Generalissimo.

11LL General Louis Botha, tho
M man who "swiped a CONT
nent," prove the savior Of
England on the continental
battlefields?
Will the famous Boer general who was
first the hater of England and is now
Englands dearest friend, who first en-
deavored to throw England out of the
southern end of the African continent
and later-but a few weeks ago-won
for England from Germany a vast tract
Of South Africa consisting of more than
100000 square miles, will this famous
Boer general take charge of the Eng
lish forces in France and bring to Eng
land the victory that the English gener-
ais SO far have apparently been unable to
bring to her?
General Botha is perhaps the ablest
general that the Boer countries have pro-
duced. He has been familiar with war
since as a boy of twenty-five years hs
fought the Zulus. During the English
Boer war his achievements as leader Of
the Beers were nothing less than bril-
liant But his greatest military laurels
came to him only recently when, with q
poorly equipped force, he nipped in the
bud the revolt of the Beers which took
place shortly after war was declared last
summer, and later moved into German
Southwest Africa, captured its defenders
and won the territory for the British
crown.
As a result he received a warm letter
Of thanks from Lord Kitchener and con-
gratulations from other highly placed
British officials Then, what is more as
tonishing, he received a lengthy personal
letter from Kitchener himself, asking him
to come to England to help the English
fight the Germans
The letter was worded In such a man.
ner as to warm the old soldiers heart. Il
left Botha no excuse for saying mo"
Just what are the definite offers made to
Botha no one knows. All that the Eng
1ish censors have permitted to be pub
lished is that Botha has been invited to
help England against Germany, and that
Botha has accepted the invitation.
Conjectures are rife as to what will be
the rank Of the famous general. It will
surprise no one II Kitchener and the
other English leaders make him the gen.
eralissimo of the English armies. In fact,
It will surprise nearly everybody who is
familiar with the situation II he is not
given supreme command.
It will, Of course, be a direct slap In
the face for Sir John French, the present
commander-in-chief of the field forces Of
England. Yet It is pointed out in Eng
land that Sir John French is at logger
heads with Kitchener and that he has not
accomplished much to date. anyway.
Botha, according to the best Informed,
is the one man whom England needs to-
day more than any other, for while Eng
land has been able to produce generals
who are successful organizers. she has
not been able to find man who has had
great practical field experience in
handling large bodies Of men. And this
is one Of Botha's pre-eminent qualities.
Botha was born on small farm near
the lonely town Of Natal. His father was
Louis birth, thought he would try his
luck where land was cheap. Accordingly.
he hitched up his oxen and set out on a
trek taking his family with him
He travelled until he had reached the
undulating plains of the Orange Free
State. and there pitched his camp. Young
Louis grew up as most Beers do. He had
to watch his fathers flock. milk the cows
and train horses and oxen for riding and
for draft purposes.
When he was ten years old he could
ride any horse brought to him, and from
time to time won many horse races that
were organized by the farmers in the VI
cinity.
Until he was twenty-five years old
Louis remained on his fathers farm,
plowing, reaping and shearing and do
ing the hundred and one-odd things that