The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-26

In the dark days that followed the abor-
| tive Jameson raid he se1ulously fostered
| the spirit of race hatred which that iii,
starred adventure relwakened, and lie
threw all the weight Of his great influence
into the scale to secure the election of
Mr.. Steyn. 1t was by his influence that
the forces of reaction triumpbed. Just
then it was no hard task TO persuade the
frightened burghers that the only way to
secure the independence ot both the Dutch
Republics was to cemene an alliance be
tween them.
The strength CT his opinion may be
gagged from the following remark. Sreak-
ing OF Mr. Fraser. the Progressive can
didate. he said: Xix zal min bloed zien
stert voor TX cen verdomde Engelschman
zien President" Il will see my blood
squirt rather than see a id Englishman
Presldent) This desire to see his blood
squirt was frequently on his lips, and on
one occasion he said he would see this take
place for his beloved taal. But his blood
was heated then by the appointment of an
Englishman as teacher of English at the
Grey College. Bloemfontein, where French
was taught by a Hollander, and De Wet
considered it would be more logical to
have English taught by a German.
Before the outbreak of the war De Wet
had had but little military experience.
He was mere boy at the time Of the
great war between the Free Staters and
Basutos. though he wa one of many of
his countrymen who. despite President
Brands proclamation of neutrality, fought
side by side with the Transvaalers in the
war they love to call the war OF indie
pendence." In that conflict he took part
in the fights at Laing's Mex and at Schuins
Hoogte, called by the British the Ingog0
River. He was moreover, one Of the b llf-
hundred burghers from the Free State
who volunteered to storm Majuba Hill.
On that occasion a Highlander leaped from
the sheer cliff and catching tree, fell
an easy victim to De Vets uuerring rifle
That Hghlander's uniform is to this day
one of the Boer generals most treasured
trophies.
Ii it were not that De Wet is known to
be no scholar it might have been thought
that he had been studying the history of
the exploits of some of the dashing lead
ers OF irreguiars during the great Ameri-
can civil war, but in any case he has prac-
ticed their principles with great effect.
To him was due the shepherd'ng OF Bread
woods brigade at SJnna's Post, and imme-
dately afterward he performed what wss
the greatest of his exploits in
the capture of the Royal Irish Rifles ard
Northumberland Fusiliers at Reddersburg
Dewetsdorp it had but thirty miles to
march before completing its mission. and
there was absolutely TO trace of any
enemy. Three hours after they had left /
De Wet returned from his success at /
Sanna's Post, and when he learned their /
strength he set of to that place for men
and guns and gathered togsthe: the burgh- /
ers in the neighborhood.
With these he fetched a compass and
headed the Royal Irish Rifles when they /
were within twelves miles of the railway. /
and he held them on .he kopje which they /
had occupied until the re-enforcements I
came. His arrangements proved success /
full. and before long he had four guns
playing on the lucklsss British soldiers.
And by the irony of fate. these were the (
British guns taken from the Horse ArtII- /
lery at Sanna's Post. and British wagons
and supplies were brought on there as
we'll. General De Wet has. It is clear. 4
master military mlnd.-London Daily |
News.