The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1900-07-20
DE WET A BORN sTRATEGIsT.
How the Much Respected BOer Gem
eral Ambushed and Captured
British Column.

A graphic account of the surprise of
the British force at Sanna's post, near
the Bloemfontein waterworks, on
March 81, is given by Boer CORE
spondent who was with Gen. De Wet s
force on that occasion. The conception
and execution of the operation, which
is described with great simplicity and
clearness, stamps Gen. De Wet as a
brilliant officer and stategist, and, I'M
less his career is cut short in the
chances of the war, he seems destined
to take high rank as partisan leader,
says the New York Sun.
When the British column of some
$500 men belonging to Gen. French's
division occupied Tha ba N'Chu, Gen. De
Wet was with his force near Brand
port. On learning the strength of the
British he started with the commands
under Commandants Piet and Chris
tian De Wet and Andres Cronje in the
direction of Thaba N'Chu, the total
force not exceeding 1000 men. On
March 80 word was received that the
British were preparing to retire on
Blomfontein. Gen. De Wet immediate
ly decided to strike at the retreating
column, and selected the valley in
which the Bloemfontein waterworks
are situated as the point of attack. Or
ders were given on the same afternoon,
March &c. for forced march during the
night, and the start was made at seven
o'clock in the evening.
Toward morning the column had
reached the hills overlooking the val
ley and the scouts reported that the
British force was encamped near the
waterworks. At the point where the
road crosses the Koorn spruit there is
a drift rather difficult to pass. Com
mandant Christian De Wet moved down
into the spruit with 400 men and took
up positions where he could intercept
the enemy in the event of his retreating
toward Bloemfontein. Commandments
Pet De Wet and Cronje, with the re-
naming 1000 men, then moved round
to the British rear and planted their
guns on a range of copies overlooking
the British camp, where they waited
for the daylight.
So soon as the light enabled them to
aim the Beers opened fire on the Brit
ish, who, taken completely by surprise,
made no attempt to return the fire, but
hurriedly struck their bivouac and be-
gan a precipitate retreat in the direc-
tion of Bloemfonten down the road
across the spruit. Commandant Chris
tian De Wet passively waited until the
British wagon train had actually
crossed the stream, before he gave the
order to fire. The Beers then sprang
up and poured in deadly fire with
their Mausers. The British were panic
stricken.
The cavalry, breaking away to the
south, made their escape good and left
the infantry to take care of them
selves. The transport train was thrown
into wild confusion, the animals, mad
dened by the sting of the Mauser bull
lets, reared and plunged. overturning
several wagons. and the infantry. I'M
able to eXtricate themselves from the |
lire in front and rear. after a brief re-
sistance. surrendered. The affair was |
practically all over by nine o'clock.
The number of prisoners captured |
was 40S. Seven guns, with more than
, hundred rounds of ammunition each,
we're taken. along with 40 wagons
oaded with provisions and ammuni-
ion. 400 draught animals. so cavalry
lorses, $50 LeeiMetford rifles and %
arts.
During the afternoon strong Brit
sh force marched out of Bloemfontein.
nut the Beers. having effected their
purpose, retired north, carrying their
prisoners and booty away with them