The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-29
GEN. LOUIS BOTHA
DIES OF INFLUENZA
Former Boer Leader Succumbs
in Pretoria Soon After
Arrival From Paris.
SIGNED TREATY OF PEACE
Won Admiration of British He
Fought by His Attractive
Personality.

PRETORIA, Union OF South Africa. Aug.
.s.--Gen. Louis Botha. Premier and
Minister Of Agriculture Of tho Union Of
South Aria, died here yesterday from
influenza.
France, where he signed the peace
treaty in behalf Of the Union Of South
Africa
Gen. Botha fought the British IN the
Boer war. He was Commander In Chief
Of the Transvaal Beers at the time
Of their surrender, After the fall OF
Pretoria he reorganixed the Boere tor
guerrilla warfare and continued Ia fight
the British until 1901.
Following tho peace negotiations.
Cen Botha became a leading figure IN
the reconstruction work. After the
grant of self government to the Trans-
wal he formed = Government and be-
came n member Of the first VolksraAd
OF the Transvaal He resigned from his
position because Of disseDsion In the
Cabinet, but was Immediately Requested
to form a new Government. He did.
When Great Britain, whom he had fought
to the last ditch, declared war on Ger
many. Gen. Botha took command of the
Union OF South Africa forces In South
west Africa and forced the enemy In
this region to surrender.
Louis Botha was born at Greytown.
Natal, September 20, 1889. His family
migrated to the Orange Free Sta.e when
he was 8 years old. His father became
| a sheep farmer and the boy grew up ON
an African ranch, developing physically
irto an athlete. He weighed $50 pounds
before his illness and stood feet high
in his stocking feet. He was an expert
pistol and rife shot and boxer Of note.
But despite his prowess and In con-
trast to the characteristic manner Of
' many Beers. he was gentle and suavc
| ard gallant. When he went to England
| HE personality 30 captivated the people
| whom he fought so hard that he wac
feted everywhere.
In his young manhood Botha struck
out for himself. He bought and settled
| upon q farm In Zululand In 1885,.
There ne had only handful Of
| white settlers for his neighborE. HI
| became native commissioner and field
cornst, rank In the Boer service. Whea
the New Republic" as his district was
now called. was Joined to the Trans
wal in 1888, he continued to hold these
| Offices and was elected later to the upper
| chamber of tho Volksraad
| The British coionists OF Cape Colony
| and Natal trusted Gen. Botha implicitly
beth in war and in peace. They looked
| TO him for leadership and followed hiri
| faithfully And believing In him so con-
ftlently. his countrymen made him their
frst Premier OF the Transvaal when sell
government was given to the colonies In
| Africa In 1907. The same year he at
tended the British Colonial CONFERENCE.
ard was made much OF by his former
enemies.
| When the Union OF South Africa wa
organized In 1910 Gen. Botha was made
its first Premier. and with the exception
OF a short intermission ne held the Office
ever after. He was noted for his rig
c.crS ana impartial administration I"
affairs.
Gen. Botha married miss Annie Clsr'
Emmett, granddaughter of the Irtsf
patriot. December ID, 1883. He had
three sons all OF whom, helped him hgh'
the Germans in South Africa The old
est, then lad Of IL. was with hi
father in the Boer war.