Jan Smuts, being a character sketch of Genthe , , , Minister of Defence, Union of South Africa . withhumour has the weakness, the strength, and the charm ofhuman nature, which means that he does not stand coldlyaloof. It may be that he has more influence with theOpposition than he has with his own back-benchers ; and ifthat is true, it is true not because his intellect is hard, butbecause it marches ahead of his supporters. His argumentsare logical, his style is precise, and his manner disarmsopposition, while he can be subtle or obscure. A few days after this article appe
Jan Smuts, being a character sketch of Genthe , , , Minister of Defence, Union of South Africa . withhumour has the weakness, the strength, and the charm ofhuman nature, which means that he does not stand coldlyaloof. It may be that he has more influence with theOpposition than he has with his own back-benchers ; and ifthat is true, it is true not because his intellect is hard, butbecause it marches ahead of his supporters. His argumentsare logical, his style is precise, and his manner disarmsopposition, while he can be subtle or obscure. A few days after this article appeared, the Minister ofDefence revealed some of his own thoughts at the openingof the School of Instruction for Staff Officers at Bloem-fontein. The occasion furnishes in itself an illustration ofhis methods, for the Act under which the School wasestablished had only just come into force. He pointedout that there were officers together now who had foughteach other for two years ; he called this state of affairsmiraculous. The Defence Act, he admitted, is a verycomplicated Act, and there are possibly few people who. Pliolo by G. Ribbink. GENKRAI. SMUT^ AT RUSTENBURG, DPXEMBER I9I2. Two other centre figures Comdt. B. T. J. van Heerden (with helmet) andMr. Piet Grobler, ex THE TREASURY TO RUSTENBURG 187 understand it (laughter). That is probably one of thereasons why I got it through Parliament so quickly (loudlaughter and applause). . We want a force that will beable to defend South Africa against any one who may comeagainst us. . Things may happen that nobody everforesaw ; therefore it behoves us to look forward. ... Atpresent the nations all seem to be preparing as if doubtful ofeach other. . We want an organization that shall notbe Boer or English, but a South African army. . Doyour duty in a broad, national spirit. He concluded bydiscouraging talkativeness among his hearers, because menof action were usually apt to use few words. And oncemore he showed that above all he
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