The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-08-10
DE WET, THE BoER.
a Great Military Strategist Who
Gave the British a Big
Surprise.


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 cor
respondent who was with Gen. De
Vets force on that occasion. The
conception and execution Of the op-
Grafton, which is described with great
simplicity and clearness, stamps Gen.
De Wet as brilliant officer and STRAIT
egist, and, unless his career is cut
short in the chances of the war, he
seems destined to take high rank as Q
partisan leader.
When the British column of some
$500 men belonging to Gen. French's
division occupied Thaba N'Chu, Gen.
De Wet was with his force near
Brandport. On learning the strength
of the British he started with the
commandos under Commandments Pet
and Christian De Wet and Andres
Cronje in the direction of Thaba
NChu, the total force not exceeding
1000 men. On March 80 word was re-
ceived that the British were prepar-
ing to retire on Bloemfontein. Gen.
De Wet Immediately decided to strike
at the retreating column, and select
ed the valley in which the Bloemfon-
tein waterworks are situated as the
point of attack. Orders were given on
the same afternoon. March 30, for a
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 drift rather difficult to pass.
Commandant Christian De Wet moved
down into the spruit with 400 men and
took up positions where they could
intercept the enemy in event of his
retreating toward Bloemfontein. Com
mandants Piet De Wet and Cronje,
with the remaining 1900 men, then
| moved round to the British rear and
planted their guns on a range of kop-
jes 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
British, who, taken completely by sur
prise, made no attempt to return the
fire, but hurriedly struck their bivouac
and began precipitate retreat down
the road across the spruit. Command
ant Christian De Wet passively wait
ed 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 infantry to take care of them
selves. The transport train was
thrown into wild confusion, the ami
mails, maddened by the sting of the
Mauser bullets, reared and plunged,
overturning several wagons, and the
infantry, unable to eXtr1cate them
selves from the fire in front and rear,
| after brief resistance, surrendered.
The affair was practically all over by
nine o'clock.
The number of prisoners captured
was 40S. Seven guns, with more than
| 100 rounds of ammunition each, were
taken, along with 10 wagons loaded
| with provisions and ammunition, 400
draft animals, eight cavalry horses,
$50 Lee-Metford rifles and 20 carts.
During the afternoon strong Brit
ish force marched out from Bloem-
fontein, but the Beers, having effect
ed their purpose, retired north, car
rying their prisoners and booty away
| with them unmolested.