TRIAL OF DE WET

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2491, 18 June 1915, Page 5

TRIAL OF DE WET

HOW THE REBELLION HELPED THE GERMANS. Bloemfonteln, June 16. General Smuts (Minister of Defence), in his evidence at De Wet's trial, saw that Do Wet's rebellion delayed the Gorman South-West African operations for months and thus gave the enemy very material assistance, General Smuts emphasised that he had not discovered anything to suggest that De Wet had boen m communication with the Germans. The defence for General de Wet is trying to prove that the reason why he joined in the rebellion was owing U> the operations in German South-West Africa. But weeks before those operations were decided upon, General de Wet had, in conjunction with Byers, announced his intention of restoring the Republican form of government. This was notably so at ameeting of Boors at Kopjes in August. In emphasising "that he had not discovered anything to suggest that de Wet had been m communication with tlio Germans," Major-General Smuts no doubt intends to bring evidence to 6how that De Wet was animated solely by bitter hatred against the English, and that it was his intention to overthrow British rule in the country. The emphatic protest—somewhat tardy though it was —of the Dutch Reformed Church against rebellion against constituted authority is a point worth recollecting in connection with the prosecution of Do Wot. —"Anglo-South African."