DE WET RE-CROSSES the ORANGE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 53, 4 March 1901, Page 5

DE WET RE-CROSSES the ORANGE

CAPE COLONY INVASION ENDED.

DARING RAIDER'S FORCE SHATTERED.

[N.Z. Press Association".—Copyright.]

LONDON, March 2. Lord Kitchener has returned to Pretoria. He telegraphed that De Wet has been forced north over the Orange River, 200 of his followers being captured. Other stragglers are also being captured. The "Times" correspondent reports from Hopetown regarding the recent fighting that Colonel Plumer overtook De Wet on February 17 at a depot westward of iv? raiJway. Colonel Plumer's supplies being exhausted, he halted at Haauwpan on ■the 13th, west of Elsievlie, to refit, leaving three strong patrols to hang ou De Wets rear and watch the river drifts.

The patrols behaved splendidly, touch being maintained with General Knox, who was enabled to gauge the enemy's intentions. The British southern columns were bo marshalled as to prevent a junction with the invaders from the south and west. De Wet tried to recross the Orang-e River at Brakkies, 50 miles east of Prieska. Some small parties crossed in a boat, but the main commando was unable to reach the ford, being headed from the river in the direction of Prieska. They were then again repelled towards the Orange River drift. Colonel Plumer having now obtained supplies, again resumed operations, preventing- the' enemy's passage of Mark's Drift, 20 miles east of Brakkies, and capturing a hundred prisoners. Colonel Owen, on February 33rd, captured the last of the Boers' guns from De Wet's rearguard. During the silent watches of the night the enemy slipped by the Kimberley column and recrossed the railway, De Wet, with Hertzog-, goingtowards the Zand Drift, midway between Hopetown and Norval's Pont. The majority of the commando dispersed or surreudered. 'Ie "Wet, in Shis fanaticism, is reported to be demented, and flogs everybody.

Haasbroek, whose commando remains* compact, refuses to co-operatu with him. The correspondent was not allowed to indicate the new British concentration, as the message precede*] Lord Kitchener's latest despatch.