The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-05-15
WOUNDED BOtRS
WELL TREATf D
A Burshsr General Makes a
Spirited Orfsnce OF
the British.

The Cape Times received on Sun
day by mail. contains the following re-
port OF a speech delivered by ex-
General Plet De Wet. brother OF the
more famous BOer leader. Christian De
Wet. at a large and enthusiastic meet
ing held at KrOonstad on February %
to protest against the foreign slapders
on British troops. Speaking In his ma
tive tongue. General =. De Wet said:
In my opinion these ISLANDERS proceed
from the same class OF people who
have done so much TO produce the pres
emit unfortunate war. They originate
not from the Afrikander people. but
from interruptions agitators who have
for years past been sowing dissension
and hatred between the two nationali-
ties. II Is impossible for people living
In this country TO be- deceived by such
palpable falsehoOds- Only people living
thousands OF miles away can be found
TO put faith In them. For myself. /
have invariably found the English
Tommy" friendly. generous. and kind
hearted. ] might refer to my own ex-
perience when at the outbreak OF the
war ! was IN command Of a large body
with the burghers from the Transvaal
two severe battles had been fought at
Dundee and ElandslGagte. Directly T.
came into touch with the Transvaalers
who had taken part in the fight. and
had learned that n large number of
their men. including General Koch and
other notable leaders had been wound
ed and taken prisoners. my first ques-
ton was as 20 how the wounded pris-
oners had been treated by the English.
I was gladdsncd To- hear that they had
been most kindly dealt with. and that
after General Koch had succumbed to
his injuries. his body was respectfully
handed over To friends for burial at
their hands. Further. I had occasion
To march through the country around
Dewetsdorp shortly after a large Eng
lish force had passed through. ] in-I
quired most carefully at each farm and /
stopping place as 20 the behavior Of /
the troops. and was In every Instance
assured that the soldiers had stolen
nothing and had treated all the people /
with kindness and respect. / even
found that the families OF burghers still
fighting with the Beers had received
exactly the same treatment as the
OF those who had surrendered
No distinction had been made. Again.
on one occasion / was permitted TO
meet with the wife OF my brother.
General Christian DE Wet. who Is still
lighting In the field. I must acknow-
ledge that Mrs. De Wet was at that
time very bitter against the English:
but when / asked her how she was
treated and whether 2 could procure
her any necessaries. her reply was that
she had been most kindly treated by
the troops. and that she lacked moth
Ing Since my own surrender I have
experienced nothing but kindness and
from the military authorities.
For the last twelve months have lived
In kroonstad. and sometimes I almost
forget that war Is still In the land. In
General Piet De Wet in
stanced the peaceable and quiet state
OF the town In which they were living.
thousands OF soldiers were
passing through. as showing
the thorough discipline and good con-
duct OF Tommy Atkins.-weekly Scots
man.