The only bit of all our work that our compositors saved was this poem to Joubert. That and a portrait of the late firebrand, Borckenhagen, were the only ornaments they deemed worthy to decorate their composing-room walls.
There were at least two English-speaking men among them. I grant to them the benefit of the doubt whether my reflections should extend to them also.
_(Edited by the War Correspondents with Lord Roberts' Force.)_
No. 12] BLOEMFONTEIN, FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1900. [Price One Penny
LORD ROBERTS AND THE LATE GENERAL JOUBERT.
_His Honour President Kruger, President of the South African Republic, Pretoria._
(Clear the line.) I have just received the news of General Joubert's death, and I desire at once to offer my sincere condolence to your Honour and the Burghers of the South African Republic on this sad event. I would ask you to convey to General Joubert's family the expression of my most respectful sympathy in their sad bereavement, and to assure them also from me that all ranks of Her Majesty's forces now serving in South Africa share my feeling of deep regret at the sudden and untimely end of so distinguished a General who devoted his life to the service of his country and whose personal gallantry was only surpassed by his humane conduct and chivalrous bearing under all circumstances.--ROBERTS.
[Footnote 12: Copyrighted in England and America; used here by permission.]
With those that bred, with those that loosed the strife, He had no part whose hands were clear of gain; But, subtle, strong and stubborn, gave his life To a lost cause, and knew the gift was vain.
Later shall rise a People, sane and great, Forged in strong fires, by equal war made one-- Telling old battles over without hate, Not least his name shall pass from sire to son.
He shall not meet the onsweep of our van In the doomed city where we close the score; Yet o'er his grave--his grave that holds a Man-- Our deep-tongued guns shall answer his once more!
No words of ours are needed to supplement the telegram of Lord ROBERTS and the three stanzas by Mr. RUDYARD KIPLING, which we print to-day, upon the news we have received of General JOUBERT'S death. We feel that we are but giving expression to the feeling of every man in the army of occupation in expressing our most sincere regret in hearing of the sudden decease of the great leader of our enemy.