STORY OF DE WET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 271, 26 April 1915, Page 6

STORY OF DE WET.

CHASE AND CAPTURE. The surrender of the South African rebel leader, De Wet, took place on l;o----cember l l, after he had boen chased, for several weeks. About November 1(5 I e began to "trek" north. lie was nc..* located on the Vet River, near Boshof, and it has since been stated that he had ■ 2000 men with him. Here he was again attacked, and his commando was once more dispersed. His scattered forces were so harassed in every direction that the splitting up process was carried on until he himself was left with 25 followers only. As lie was being forced south with these- he doubled back north, and made for the Vaal River; the pursuers ever at his heels. When he reached the river he found that the drift (i.e., ford) was held by Union forces. In his first attempt to cross he was driven back, and one of his sons, his personal staff, together with his papers, were captured, while lie himself only just managed to escape. Somewhat later in the (lay, however, he- succeded in crossing into the Transvaal with six other fugitives. That was on November 21. As soon as it was known that Do Wet was across the river, Commandant Du Troit at once sent out forces to sweep the- neighborhood. He himself started out with a party of men in a motor-car to obtain information as to the direction taken by the fugitives. This was soon forthcoming; the "spoor" of the rebel band was quickly found, and away went the car at'top speed. One can well imagine tlie excitement of the chase. Unfortunately the quarry had stopped at a farm, and the motor-car was seen approaching. The car was travelling so fiist that it over-ran. the "spoor," and before it could be stopped De Wet and his party scattered across the veldt,, firing their revolvers at their pursuers. The latter opened fire on the fugitives, and wounded one man, who was captured, while'a second surrendered. But once more —for the second time within about 24 hours —De Wet managed to get away with four companions. A motor brigade left Vryburg on November 27, under Colonel Brits, with the object of finally running De Wet t« ground. -This officer defeated the traitor Maritz. Now he has the additional distinction of having carried to a successful issue the final stage of the difficult series of operations. The wily rebel, when he found himself so closely pursued under such novel and disconcerting conditions, seems to hare made 'one small stand with the object of checking pursuit, but it wan in vain. He then divided his commando into two parts, and one of these was promptly captured. The other, under his leadership, was busy zig-zagging steadily northwards, but it was impossible to shake off the pursuing motors. For five days the chase had been continued across the veldt, and the constant stress and night alarm simply wore out the fugitives. Their trail was marked by half-eaten meals, abandoned portions of kit, tired-out horses, and even sleeping men. At length the hunt reached heavy, sandy, undulating country, ly wooded with thorn bush, and it became evident that De Wet was making | for a place called Henningsvlei. j If he had succeeded in reaching this i point there was a chance that ne might have got through to German territory. But Colonel Brits had already sent a de- ■ tachinent in motors to hold the water at this place. After a most trying "trek" across the desert this party had arrived, and was ready to head him off, so the eliance was small of his getting off this time. At this point the horsemen came in. De Wet had been located on a lam called Waterbury—llo miles due we,3t of Mafeking—together with the dispirited and exhausted remnant of his followers.. Colonel Brits had run out of petrol, and had to await the arrival of his supplies. He, therefore, despatched a body of burghers, under Colqnel Jordan, to follow up and attack De Wet with the utmost despatch. Having arrived at the farm, where the rebels had "off-saddled'" for the night, this force made a wide ea- | circling movement. Then Jordan gradually drew his men closer, until' he. sucr ceedcd in capturing most of the rebels and their horses. Meanwhile Colonel Brits had arrived on the scene with his motors, and on the morning of December 1 a message wah sent to -De Wet demanding surrender. He attempted yet once moj'e to escape, but when lie found that lie was entirely surrounded, that most of his men were prisoners, and that he would be firiid on unless he yielded, he held up his hands. He had over 50 men and 80 horses with him. De Wet kept his hands up until he was actually arrested. He may possibly have feared that, if he dropped them, a bullet would have put an end to his power for further mischief. He was at once conveyed to A r ryburg by motor, and'from thence by rail to Johannesburg, wlierb lie arrived on December 4, and was' immediately lodged in the fort.