The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 21 August 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

DE WET ESCAPES. It now transpires that the efforts which have been made of late to capture the famous raiding com* mando led by General Christina De Wet have proved unsuccessful. After having his main convoy shelled by Lord Methuen's artillery near Ventersdorp, De Wet abandoned his exhausted horses and exploded his ammunition waggons, and then, splitting his commando into small bodies, out-marched and eluded Lord Kitchener, despite the fact that the latter's transport* had double teams of picked animals. During his retreat De Wet released at the British troops he had captured, with the exception of the officers. The escape of the Boer leader is attributed to the ability of his commando to make night marches, whereas his pursuers required daylight. When last heard of, De Wet was near Eustenburg. THE PRETORIA PLOT. General Marshall presided at the court-martial of Cardna, who is charged with having been implicated in the plot to murder the British officers at Pretoria and capture Lord Roberts. The accused — young, cool and well-dressed — was assisted by a lawyer. A burgher named De Toit deposed that early in July Cardna asked him to assist in an enterprise which would stagger Europe. They discussed a plot to seize all the officers in Pretoria, with the assistance of 260 residents, while Cardna rushed to Lord Robarts's house and abducted the Pie d-Marshal who was to be .handed over to General Botha behind Beckett's Kopje. she witness stated that Cardna showed him a letter in cipher form General Botha in proof of the genuineness of the proposal When asked about the oath of neutrality which they had taken, Cardna said, " That is nothing ; discovery only means transportation to Ceylon." De I'oit dec ined to communicate the plot to the constabulary. Captain Duhan, the prosecutor, said he had found the key to Botha's htter on Cardna, which Lieutenant Kruger, of the Imperial Transvaal Police, translated as follows :— " Proceed to work. Be courageous. I will not leave you in the lurch." Lieutenants Kruger and Marcus, formerly a field-cornet, refused to join in carrying out the plot. Lieutenant Hans Cardna, of the Staats Artillery, charged with breaking his parole, and plotting to kidnap Lord Roberts and other British officers pleaded guilty. The court-martial advised the withdrawal of the plea and the sensational evidence previously telegraphed was given.