The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-13
PET DEwET CALLED COWARD
Record of the Peace Envoy" Is
Told.

New York Feb 12.-Charles D. Pierce,
the Orange Free State consul general, has
Siven out d statement by ". D. Snymau,
commandment on General Christian De
vets staff, in reply TO published letter
purpOTIing TO have been written to Gen
eral DeWet by his brother. Pfet DeWet.
This letter urged General Dewet to sur
render 10 the British forces. Command
ant Snyman says:
I notice that the British censor is very
ready 10 transmit this letter almost in its
entirety, although any news favorable TO
the Beers Is very rigtdly CuTtailed. Next
let Us consider the relationship between
the brothers. ?. Dewet was assistant
commandant general of the Orange Free
STATE and took part in numerous battles.
It was at Sand river, when Outfianked by
General French that General Dewet gave
Instructions for Us to leave our positions
ana ran back on kr0Onstad; when 2.
DeWet and ] rode from the general. TO
carry out orders to start the conveys
with guns and ammunition, / then gath
cred from him (P- DeweO that he was
against proceeding any further than
krooQstad; and instead of going to the
appointed place he bUanched off with his
commando to his farm near Iindley
which was the last time I saw him.
we We're then ordered to concentrate
our forces at Roof kopjeS, and naturally
=. D6wet received similar Instructions: we
heard rumOrS that he was communicating
with Lord Roberts TO surrender. runOrS
which were reported by his burghers
General Dewet then ordered his brother
10 come TO the front at once, and on his
COMMANDMENT Rouse in his place p De-
wet then. with his staff four in all, went
TO krOOnStad and surrendered.
Believe He Is Paid.
I'VE then heard that he was sent a.
prisoner to Durham. Now, to ms surprise
l learn that he Is peace commissioner TO
lord kitchener. Does 1t not seem strange
that now, when Kitchener Is proposing to
send the prisoners 10 India "A man like
p Dewet, who has held a high position
g h1 cod
peace envoy, to help the British unless
some consideration has been given OF
promised
1t also seems strange that p. Dewet
should now advise surrender, considering
that he was the first to cross into the
Cape Colony and persuade the COlOnials
10 Join their brothers and leave that re-
spOnSl0le' government which he now ad-
VOcates for the republicans.
This Ritter also says. let Us educate
our children! here I would Ike to remind
you that the Orange Free State with its
Tree compulsory education for the last
fifteen years is far in advance of the
Cape Colony. which has still the voIun-
tary system
British aold Little.
The letter goes on to say that the
British have the country anG are not
when Lord Kitchener has to cable for
30C03 more troops. After all. what parts
Of the tSo countries do the British actual
~ hOld2 Only the principal towns along
the railroad AS to the taunts in regard
TO the inactivity Of the TransTaal
burGhers why. If Botha- and his com
maII1cos are doing no lighting, is Kitchen
er keeping 6oeOJ men at Pretoria?
II am inclined to think that this letter
like the book % Paul BOtha, is of British
manufacture
Knowing my people as I do. I say here
that it does not lie in the power of Pres
1dent Steyn, General Dewet or any other
person TO surrender JTcOuditiOnally: this
is a Wdr fought BY tae people. not bv
generals and presidents, and can never be.
ended except by unanimous consent Of
Jhd burgherS. Under present circun-
stances. who should the Beers give up
They have lost everything all they can
now gain is their country and freedom
for which they are fighting and viii fight
10 the eud.'