The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-19
GENERAL DE LA REY.


1.-THE following sketch of the captor OF
General Methuen is taken from advance
sheets of Michael Davitt's book. 1.-The Boer
Fight for Freedom" which Will be pub
lished early in the spring by the Funk &
Wagnalls Company. New York and Lon
don. Mr.. Davitt became personally ac-
quainted with the leading Boer generals ia
a visit to the seat of war i'm South Africa
in 1S99-leOO. Throughout his book he speaks
in the highest terms of General De la Rey's
military genius. He not only ascribes TO
De la Rey' strategy the first victory of the
war, the capture of ar armored train at
Kraaipan and the most demoralizing defeat
of the British. the slaughter of the High
landers at Magersfontein. but also gives
him equal credit with DE Wet for the
change i'm Boer tactics after the defeat OF
Cronje from organized resistance to guer-
rilla warfare-a plan of campaign" which
Davitt confidently asserts is bound In the
end TO win independence for the brave lit
tie nation of indomitable Dutch blood and
Hu2uenOt martyr spirit:l
Jacob Hendrick De la Rey, who fought
the first successful engagement of the war,
first saw the light in the District OF Lich-
tenburg hfty-four years ago. His father
was born i'm the Orange Free State and
was of Huguenot origin. He took part with
Pretorius in driving the English out OF
Bloemfontein in 1S4S. and had his farm and
property confiscated after Sir Harry Smith
had reversed the situation by forcing the
old Boer warrior back again across the
Vaal. The De la Reys sought a new home
in the west of the Transvaal, where Jacob
Hendrick spent his early life. The gen.
eral is a man over the medium height, sin
envy in build and remarkable for his quiet.
6ignihed manner. He has deep-set dark
eyes, a prominent Roman nose and a large,
dark-brown beard. giving TO his face .
strong, handsome and patrician expression.
He was born Of a fighting family and
has had the experience and training 0f
campaigns in conflicts with hostile Kafir
tribes. His first ommand was i'm the war
which the English melted the Basutos 10
wage against the Free State I'm the early
sixties, when he was quite young. These
experiences qualified him for a prominent
military position when the present war
broke out. and he was unanimously elected
TO the command OF the Li~chtenburg burgh-
ers who became part Of Cronje's western
column.
He represented his native district i'm the
VOlksraad for ten years. and was a con-
sistent supporter OF the Joubert. as against
the Kruger, following I'm that assembly.
lie favored a large franchise concession 20
the ~uitlanders as a means Of aYerting a
conflict with England. but soon saw that a
pretext for precipitating a conflict. He
was one of the most ardent advocates OF
an attacking as against a defensive milf
tary policy when England forced a resort
to hostilities upon the republic.
Like General Cronje. he carries no weap-
ons i'm the field. His field glass. wooden
pipe. and. last. but not least. his Bible. are
his inseparable companions He Is a uni-
Versal favOrite with the burghers OF both
republics, and inspires great confidence in
his men by his almost unerring military
judgment, splendid generalship, heroic
courage. an indomitable tenasity Of pur-
poses. and an all-round resourcefulness in
all emergencies.
He is remarkably self-contained in his &C.
tions. never getting excited. even in the
thickest OF the fight. but always remaining
cool, cautious and alert.