SMUTS'S FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Evening Star, Issue 16675, 6 March 1918, Page 3

SMUTS'S FIRST LIEUTENANT.

A GREAT BOER GENERAL. Looking rather less, than his 50 adventurous years, tall, with broad, rather drooping shoulders, sallow-eomplexioiied like so many of his race,, the wearer of a heavy moustache and "imperial." and with wide-open eyes which always appear to be regarding with mild curiosity some distant object—that is a pen picture" of Lieutenantgeneral Sir Jacob Louis Van Derventer, the famous Boer leader, of cavalry fame, on whom the King recently bestowed a K. 0.8. in recognition of his distinguished services in the East African campaign, ihe most interesting feature in connection with this award is that it is the first time that a British title has been accepted by a typical Boer, and incidentally a soldier who fought against us in the war of 18 years ago. Van Derventer is not only the typical Boer in appearance, but is typical also in that his knowledge of English is very imperfect, though nowadays he can manage to carry on a conversation in English fairly well. Lieutenant-general in the British Army. C.8., and K.C.B—all within three yearsthere have been far more romantic careers £ ™, romantic history of South Africa than that of this simple pastoralist, who iett the peace-loving security of a Boer farm when the rebellion broke" out in October, 1914, to assume command at Upington on the borders of South-west Africa when the rebel "General" Maritz crossed over into.the enemy territory with a portion 1 of ius force. Van Derventer's .prompt

action at Upington saved the town from being taken by Maritz, and later in the actual campaign in South-west Africa he served with great distinction under General Smuts, whose second in command he was when the latter invaded the Cape Colony during the Boer War. When General Smuts decided to assume responsibility for the East African campaign. Von Deventer was his first choice in selecting his subordinate. No better selection could possibly have been made. His personality had a strong appeal for the Boers, who were drawn upon so largely for that campaign, and his wonderful knowledge of the country, and his remarkable scouting abilities made him an ideal leader of forces which could be called upon to move rapidly, with little or no transport, through perhaps the most difficult country in which British troops have had to fight during this war. In the early part of the campaign his wonderful flying column operated for months amid unparalleled rain, hundreds of miles from its base, under the very greatest transport difficulties. This expedition was subsequently described by General Smuts, in a speech at Cape Town, as one " without parallel in war." General Smuts's wisdom in recommending Van Derventer to take charge of the lateT stages of the East African campaign har, been amply justified by results. Moving always with the greatest rapidity, and handling with an admirable discretion a force of men of various races—lndians and natives, as well as whites—he has steadily Touted the Germans out of one lurkingplace- after another, until now there remains only a very small fugitive foTce to be dealt with. Whether his great abilities are to be made use of in a wider field (says a writer in the 'Daily Mail') I cannot say. There is, however, a possibility that he may be seen in England, where he may fittingly be greeted in the language of the natives_of the country that he has so brilliantly helped to conquer for the Empire—- " Jam bo Bwana " ("I am glad to see you, sir ").