Africa.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 280, 24 November 1914, Page 5

Africa.

DE WET’S SMALL FORCE. [United Press Association.] (Received 8.45 a.m.) Pretoria, November 23. Do Wet, with six others, crossed the Vaal River on Sunday night. After the remnants of the commando had been beaten back, Commandant Dutoil and Field-Cornet Hoffman in a motor car overtook the fugitives near Leeuwdoorn, and one named Spies, De Wet’s adjutant, surrendered. The others continued in flight, firing their revolvers, and scattered across the veldt. Commandant Dutoil’s party wounded and captured Mentz, De Wet’s son-in-law, but the remainder escaped. THE ELUSIVE DE WET. Pretoria, November 23. Official.—The Union forces are hotly pursuing De Wet.,,, The latter crossed the Yet river, and headed towards Boshof. Then he divided his commando. He himself, with twenty-five, doubled back and attempted to cross into the Transvaal, but was driven back. A thousand of De Wet’s followers, after reading the amnesty proclamation at Groothock, abandoned their arms and, are now surrendering in batches. Several other batches have been captured, including sixty near Senekal, forty at Schaabkrael,thirty at Middlefontein, and thirty near Harrismith. De Wet’s band pillaged Winburg, but Botha’s advance was so unexpected that the rebels were obliged to abandon much of their booty. The inhabitants declare that De Wet appeared half demented and threatened to burn down the town. Johannesburg, November 23. Loyal burghers relieved Heilbron, and railway communication with Johannesburg is restored. DE WET’S SONS SURRENDER. Capetown, November 22. Commandant Naude was rescued. It is reported that ho was wounded. Two of De Wet’s sons surrendered.