The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-02
FOUGHT MANY BATTLES
DISTINGUISHED OFFICER OF
 KRUoER's ARMY HERE!
Captain de villiers En Route te New Orleans, Stops in Mont gomery-Talks of Boer
 Cause.


 was killed atsthe battle of Biddulphsberg. May 2s. 1soo. is in Montgomery. He is en route from Washington to New Orleans. whither he goes, he says, as the repre- sentative of, the Transvaal Government to ascertain if the Crescent City is being used by the Englisfs army as a base of supplies.
 Wearing a khaki uniform. military leg gings and a campaign hat, Captain de villiers, about 30 years old. Is an impos- ing military figure. As his name indi- cates, he is a Frenchman and Hugue- not. He speaks with pride of his Hugue- not ancestry, whom. he declares. were among the pioneers of the Transvaal, where he was born. He says he was captured by the British at Hanover, Cape Colony, last August, and thrown into prison at Capetown. He was paroled within the last few months upon condi- ton that he would not again take up arms against the English Government. and he declares that he does not mean to violate his oath. He Is in this country, however. as the special agent of his peo- pie to formally protest against the aid which the United States IS indirectly ex- tending to Great Britain.
 Captain de Villiers Is stockily built. He wears a closely cropped beard and his military uniform gives him a distinguish ed appearance. He speaks with French accent, but talks with the greatest intel Iigence. He is widely informed, and his fine black eyes glow with enthusiasm as he speaks of the war which Is being waged in the Transvaal. His people will finally triumph, he declares. and he gives the statement an emphasis that carries with it conviction.
 Lt reached Montgomery yesterday evening. Since leaving Washington, several days ago, he has been in Richmond Va. view ing points of historic interest On &C., count of the railroad blockade due to the recent storms, Captain de Villiers trav- eled to Montgomery by way of Savan- nah and the Plant System, and failed to make connection here for New Orleans. Finding that he was forced to spend the night in the Capital City of Alabama. he secured a room at the New Mabson Hotel.
 Learning that a distinguished officer of the Boer army was at the hotel. Col. W. W. Brandon, Adjutant- General of the Alabama National Guard, called upon Captain de Villiers at his hotel early in the evening and the two officers of wide- ly different sentiment and nationality dined together at Flemings Later in the evening, Captain de Villiers, in company with Colonel Brandon, attended an egg nog given by the Montgomery True Blues In compliment to their officers and com rades.
 Captain de villiers was introduced to the young Alabama soldiers by Colonel Brandon, and the Boer officer made an enthusiastic address which touched the hearts of the ciHzen-soldiers. Captain de Villiers said that he was graduated from the military schools of Heidelberg, Germany, and of St. Cyr, France. and that as a student ne learned to greatly admire the soldiers of the Confederate States. He had recently visited Rich mond, Va, he said, and there he learned a great deal about the great Robert F. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and other dis tinguished American soldiers who had fought for their homes, just as he and his brothers of the Transvaal were doing He concluded his remarks by a New Year wish that the men of Alabama would never again be compelled to resort to arms to protect their firesides.
 To a representative of The Advertiser Captain de Villiers talked without re- serve of his mission to the United States. He said that this government was lending money to England to conduct war against the Boers and that mules. food supplies and other necesaries were almost weekly being shipped from the United States to South Africa. The Boers re- | gard it as violation of the neutrality laws upon the part of the United States | to permit these articles to be shipped | from American ports and Captain de Will | Hers and General Pierson of the Boer army visited Washington for the' purpose | of laying the matter before the Secretary | of State. While Captain de Villiers does not admit that they received encourage ment he indicates that he is en route to | New Orleans to secure evidence that Eng | land is violating the neutrality laws and | that he will return to Washington as | soon as he has completed his mission in
 New Orleans.
 T am on parole as an English l prisoner" said Captain de Villiers and | cannot again take up arms against our | oppressors, but am not pledged against
 aiding my people. My horse was shot from under me at the battle of Hanover | Cape Colony in August and l was taken
 prisoner. l was sent to Capetown where | the bubonic plague is now raging
 Dozens of prisoners are dying there each | day and my life was saved by the parole
 After my release journeyed to England | and thence to the United States"
 As the young Boer officer warmed to
 his subject his black eyes glowed and he | grew excitedly enthusiastic.
 Let me tell you emphatically," he de- | clared. Neither Kitchener nor Roberts | have won single battle in South, Africa We have bested them at every point | They have killed our men and worst Ot | all they have butchered our women. but | we will yet win. This war means more
 to me than I could ever tell you. l have
 seen my father. Generad de Villiers slain | My mother, my sister and a brother have
 been killed by these Englishmen But
 the same story could be told you by
 nearly every soldier In Kruger's army.
 Then Captain de Villers drew forth
 morocco bound note book which he con
 suited and showed voluminous notes h,
 had made of battles in South Africa. Or | conspicuous page was a memorandum
 of the death of his distinguished father | General de Nilliers at the battle of Bid
 dulphsberg May 29 1900. Around tn,
 memorandum he had drawn a nea
 border of black in Indian ink and teari
 stood in his eyes as he told of tn,
 heroic death of his paternaI ancestor
 who was a cavalry officer. while leading | his men to a charge upon the soldiers O | Lord Roberts.
 Captain de Villiers says that his great 1 grandfather de Villiers was one of tn, | pioneers of the Transvaal and that hi
 grandfather was contemporary of Pau | Kruger whom the young officer describes
 as "a tired old man whose S5 years O
 hard life hang heavily upon him." | The young Boer officer said last nigh
 that he would probably remain in Mont | gomery today and visit the capitol a.
 he feels a deep interest in Confederate
 history.
 Train Strikes Vehicle.