The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-24


III the movement antagonistic to the dep
relations of the milliners."
1t may be confidently hoped that the en-
| tire country will shortly possess harmoni-
| Gus laws which Will act as an etfectual
| barrier against the destruction of the bird.
THE FIGHT AT SANNA'S POST.
How General De Wet Surprised the
British Force.
(From the New York SUM-
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 correspondent who was
with General De VETS force on that occa-
| sion. The conception and execution of the
| operation, which is described with great
| simplicity and clearness. stamps General
| De Wet as brilliant officer and strate-
| gist, and unless his career is cut short in
| the chances of the war. he seems destined
| TO take high rank as a partisan leader.
With the British column Of some $500
| men belonging to General French's div-
sion occupied Thaba N'Chu. General De Wit
was with his force near Brandport. On
| learning the strength of the British he
| started with the commands under Com
| mandants Piet and Christian De We. and
Andres C-onje in the direction of Thaba
N'Chu, the total force not exceeding LOCO
| men. On March 80 they were in laager
at Marai's Farm, about fifteen miles south
east Of Brandpcrt, when word was received
that the British had struck camp at Thaba
N'Chu, and were preparing to retire On
Bloemfontein. 1t was afterward learned
that they had heard of the presence of
General Olivier cast of Thaba N'Chu and
feared an attack from that quarter. Cen
eral De Wet Immediately decided to strike
at the retreating column. and selected tbs
/, valley in which the Bloenfontein water
works are situated as the point of attack.
Orders were given on the same afternoon,
March so. for forced march during the
night. and the start was made at Z o'clock
| in the evening. Eight guns accompanied
! the column, but the train was reduced
to the smallest number of wagons posi-
bic. and the march was made rapidly and
| quietly, none but the leaders knowing
| the destination.
| Toward morning the column had reached
| the hills overlooking the valley and the
scouts reported that the British force was
encamped near the waterworks. On learn
| ing the disposition of the British General
De Wet developed his plan. The valley,
which is about three miles wide, extends
in a southwesterly direction, opening out
into the plain east of Bloemfontein. The
waterworks are situated at the upper end
of the valley, some twenty miles east Of
Bloemfontein. About two and half miles
below the waterworks the Koorn Spruit
crosses the wagon road running from
| Thaba N'Chu to Bloemfontein, and joins
the Modder River, which also runs through
the valley. At the point where the road
crosses the Koorn Spruit there is a drift
rather difficult to pass. Commandant
| Christian De Wet moved down into the
where they could intercept the enemy IN
the event of his retreating toward Bloem-
fontein. They were entirely concealed and
in position of great natural strength.
where they waited for the British like
hunters waiting for their game. Comman-
dants Pet De Wet and Cronje with the
remaining 1900 men. then moved round TO
the British rear and planted their guns on
a range of kopies overlooking the British
camp. where they waited for day.
So soon as the light enabled them 10 aim
the Beers opened fire on the British, who.
taken completely by surprise, made no at
tempt to return the fire. but hurriedly
struck their bivouack and began a precipi-
tate retreat in the direction of Bloemfon-
TEN down the road across the Sqruit Be-
lieving the force in their rear to be that
under General Olivier from east of Thaba
N'Chu, they made no attempt to recon
noitre their front, but pushed blindly on
into the trap prepared for them.
Ccmmandant Christian De Wet passively
waited until the British wagon train was
In the drift, and two wagons had actually
crossed the stream. before he gave the
order to fire. The Beers then sprang up
and poured in a deadly fire with their
Mausers. The British were panic-stricken.
The cavalry, breaking away to the south,
made their escape good and left the in
IN tnlr NJ ba
transport train was thrown into wild con-
fusion, the animals, maddened by the sting
of the Mauser bullets, reared and plunged
overturning several wagons, and the in
fantry, unable TO extricate themselves
from the fire in front and rear, after a
brief resistance. surrendered. The Beers
promptly removed the killed and wounded
animals from the wagons and started The
train back to prevent its recapturc. There
was some desultory firing during the rest
of the morning. but the affair was prac-
tically all over by o'clock.
The number of prisoners captured was
40S Seven guns. with more than a hun
dred rounds of ammunition each, were
taken, along with ITO wagons loaded with
provisions and ammunition, 1.4OO draught
animals so cavalry horses. $50 Lee-Met-
ford rifles. and 20 carts.
During the afternoon strong British
force marched out from Bl0emlonteln, but
the Beers having effected their purpose
retired north carrying their prisoners and
booty away with them unmolested. The
moral effect of the blow struck greatly
encouraged the burghers and General De
Wet. speaking of it afterward. said:
We feel that the war has only Just be-
gun, and We have every reason to be hope
full of the result
He Is now in command of the forces ope-
rating against Lord Roberts communica-
tons, and judging by the recent captures
of the Duke Of Cambridge's Yeomanry and
the Fourth Militia battalion of the Derby |
shire Regiment. he is capable of render |
ing the British position at johannesburg
and Pretoria very precarious. A commits |
sion to examine into the whole circum- |
stances of the Sanna's Post disaster will
it is said. be appointed by the British War |
Office, but the inclination is TO let it pass
into oblivion on account of the exalted |
rank of the officer held to be chiefly re-
eponsible for it.
Iron Orc in Pennsylvania.