DE WET'S INVASION A FIASCO.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 48, 26 February 1901, Page 5

DE WET'S INVASION A FIASCO.

HIS FOLLOWERS DISPERSED.

BRITISH SUCCESSES K. EASTERN AND WESTERN TRANSVAAL.

[N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.]

LONDON, February 25

Lord Kitchener states that De Wet's invasion of Cape Colony ha;, completely failed. ■ Heuter's correspondent states that it is reported at Capetown that after the engagement at Diseilfontein D_ .Vet crossed the Orange River in a boat, fleeing with a handful of followers. Later' Colonel Flumer reports that Colonel Owen's detachment of King's Dragoons, the Victorian Imperial Bushmen, and the Imperial Light Horse on Saturday captured De Wet's lli-pounder and pom-poms. The Boers are in full retreat and are dispersing, being vigorously pursued. Fifty prisoners and some carts and ammunition were captured. There were no British casualties. Other reports state that De Weton Friday thrice failed in his attempts to cross the Orange River. Colonel Plumer on Saturday chased luro from Kameldrift towards Hopetown. Fancying the British were exhausted, 3}e Wet laag-ered in. the evening-, and then Colonel Owen charged, captaring the enemy's artillery. The Boers fled, leaving their horses j saddled and cooking pots full. Mr Bennett Burleigh states that] Colonel Owen also captured a Maxim, j The Boers scattered in small bodies. De Wet's party is reduced to 300. j Steyn told the Boers, many of whom were dismounted and shoeless, to shift as best they could, and return to the Orange River Colony. He and' De Wet took 300 of the best horses and crossed the railroad at Krankull, GO miles north of De Aar, early on Sunday, moving eastward. Colonel Thorneycroft and others with fresh horses are closely pursuing the fugitives.