The Irish standard., 1902-01-04
TRENTON AND TWEFON?EIN.

TRENTON AND TWEFONTEIN.
In the darkest hour of the American
revolution after Washington had beer
chased by the British through New
York and New Jersey into Pennsyl
vhnlh, he rccrOsScd the Delaware or
the night of Dec. "a, and took the Hes
slams by surprise at Trenton. On the
same night 125 years after, Christian
DE Wet surprised the soldiers of Eng.
land in South Africa and slaughtered
them in their tents. The battle of
TwefOntein resulted in Il glorious vic.
tory for the Beers as did the battle
OF Trenton for the Americans. Both
battles were won by brave farmers
against the mcrcenary soldiers Of Eng
land. The victory of Trenton revived
the dropping spirits of the ragged SOL
dierS OF Washington, and the victory
of Twcfontcin elevated the spirits of
the Beers and had n depressing eff
feet on the AnglO-SaXons on both sides
OF the Atlantic. 1t was a victory
worthy of De Wet, the modern Napo-
leon, and a few more like it will bring
the South African war to a speedy
conclusion. The following account of
the battle is given by Lord Kitchener:
'Thc column was encamped on a
solitary kopic, whose southern side
was almost prccipitOus. The Outposts
OH the northern side were we'll pushed
out. The position, which was natu-
rally strong one. had also been in
trenchcd. The night was moonlight.
but cloudy.
"Details have not been received, but
it is stated that the Beers climbed tho
southern side and collected
near the top. At = O'Clock in the MORN
ing the Beers suddenly attacked the
pickets on the summit in superior
numbers.
Before the men i'm the camp were
able to get clear OF the tents the Beers
rushed through. shooting as they were
coming out. The officers were shot
while trying to stem the tide.
'Licutcnant IIarwich, who worked
the ponipom. was shot through the
heart. Including the casualties, half
the column is now at Glands River
bridge. The remainder are prisoners.
'"Thc Bocrs, who numbered 1000
and were under the command of De
Wet, behaved we'll. and left men to
attend to the wounded. The Imperial
Light Horse, which was fourteen
miles distant, arrived at G:.lO a. III. and
pursued the Beers, but without ef-
feet"
The Beers captured two guns and
carried them along, Licutcnants Hare
and Watncy, who tried to operate
them, llaving been killed. Whether
the British had been celebrating
Christmas, as the Hessians were Mt
Trenton, Kitchener does not say. The
pickcts on outpost duty were not very
vigilant, or the Beers could not have
surprised the sleeping soldiers in their
tents on high kopic, up whose side
the burghcrs had climbed with diff.
Guilty The battle must have been
S1, c1, ;,:,
1t is said that De Wet had 1900
men, but the probability is that nc
more than 200 Beers participated in
the fight, as that force was quite suf
iicient to compel the surrender of 4OC
TommicS who would rather live tina,
die for their country.
The Boer victors displayed no cru
city to their fallen foes. Kitchener
refers to their good behavior to the
wounded British. They left some OF
The prisoners to take care of theil
wounded companions. and took tho
rest of them along. They have no
let them come back
According to recent dispatches from
London, the Tories are anxious fol
peace with the gallant burghers. 1t i.
said they are willing to grant amnest!
to all, including the Africandcrs o.
Cape Colony, and that Kitchener Ia.
opened negotiations with Botha who
n faw a1ovS nrnviOus RI tho hottlo ~
Twefontein, wiped out an entire Brit
isl column, only few men escaping
alive. 1t is said that the burned
homesteads of the Beers will be re
built ut England's cost; that the ban
ished leaders will be permitted to re
turn to South Africa within twelve
months; and that local self-govern
ment will be granted to the burgher
Of the Transvaal and Orange Ere