St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-12-26
The War in South Africa.
Krueer atAmsterdam.

Mr.. Kruger reached Amsterdam last
week. He was met at the railroad sta
ton by the municipal and communal
authorities. Speeches were exchanged in
the royal waiting room. A boquet was
presented to Mr.. Kruger whose every
appearance was the signal for rounds of
applause. Large crowds Of people lined
the route to the Town Hall, where the
burgomaster made a spec oh in which he
said he hoped Mr. Kruger would succeed
in his efforts to secure honorable peace.
Mr. Kruger in the course of his reply
said: In 1884 we obtained our indie
pendence, but that honorable action has
been obiterated. The Invaders are ten
against one, but we await the day when
God will make known his will. We rely
on His bel p more than on emperors and
princes. | have not come as fugitive,
but by order Of my government, with
the object of terminating a war III which
the British employ women and children
against US.
How De Wet Broke Through.
The details Of General De Vets escape
from the encircling British columns fur
nish one of the boldest incidents of the
war. When Haasbroek's command join
ed De Wet on December ~, some fifteen
miles east of Thaba Nchu, General Knox
was only about an hour distant, and the
Boer situation appeared desperate. But
De Wet was equal to the occasion. Des.
patching Haasbroek westward, to make
a teint at Victoria Mex, De Wet prepared
to break through the British columns at
Springhaau Mex Pass, about four miles
of broad fiat unbrokeu ground. At the
entrance were two fortified posts, while
artillery was posted on hill eastward,
watching the Beers. Suddenly magni.
fcent spectacle was presented. The
whole Boer army of $500 men started
at gallop, in open order, through the
mex. President Steyn and Pet Fourie
led the charge, and De Wet brought up
the rear. The British guns and rifles
doomed and ratified necessarily. The
Beers first tried the eastward route, but
encountering artillery they diverged and
galloped to the front OF the hill to the
westward, where the fire of only single
post was effective. The whole maneuvre
was piece of magnificent daring, and
its success was complete, in spite of the
loss of 15-pounder and twenty-five
prisoners. The British force detached
after Haasbroek came in contact with
his commando at nightfall. The burg
hers were scattered and the Welsh
yeomanry galloped among the retreat
ing Beers. using their revolvers and the
butt ends of their rifles with great effect.
An incident in the fight was the galop
of a British ammunition wagon right
through the scattered Beers, the gunners
using their revolvers freely.
More Men for Kitchener.
In view of the generalpo position in South
Africa reinforcements of mounted troops
have been arranged. Eight hundred will
start this week. Two cavalry regiments
have been ordered to leave as soon as the
transports are ready. The colonial po-
lice will be increased to ten thousand.
Detachments will leave as fast as they
are formed. Further drafts of cavalry
will be despatched at once. Australia
and New Zealand have been invited to
send further contingents. Three thous-
and extra horses beyond the usual
monthly supply have been contracted for.
Bicycle wedding trips are the rage in