_(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. 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] [Footnote 12: Copyrighted in England and America; used here by permission.] (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! * * * * * _(Editorial.)_ DEATH OF GENERAL JOUBERT. 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. * * * * * FABLES FOR THE STAFF.[13] [Footnote 13: Copyrighted; used here by permission.] BY RUDYARD KIPLING. V. A General, having offered libations to Fortuna, went out to fight a Battle in the course of which his Frontal Attack developed into a Rear Guard action, and his left Flank became a Modulus of varying Elasticity for several hours, owing to his right Flank having wandered towards the Equator. The Enemy seeing these Inexplicable Evolutions, were so overcome with Amazement that They retired in large Numbers and left the General a complete Victory.