LORD ROBERTS AND THE LATE GENERAL JOUBERT.
Lord Roberts' Telegram of Sympathy.
Bloemfontein.
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.
GENERAL JOUBERT.[12]
(Died March 27, 1900.)
BY RUDYARD KIPLING.
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!