A SOLDIER AND A MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 147, 22 June 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

A SOLDIER AND A MAN.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

In the current "Scribner" may be found an excellent pen portrait of De Wet by an American war correspond" ent who has seen a good deal of service with that famous guerilla chief. It is very interesting" reading, but the incident which will please Britons most, though they may sorrow at the death of the fifficer who was the chief actor, is a little tale of Sanna's Post:

When De Wet caught the waggon train, and a troop of mounted infantry had been sent after it, this is what happened, according to the American scribe: "The lieutenant who commanded it was a brave man, but sadly lacking in caution. He galloped his troop down to the spruit, and halted on the edge of the donga. Then De Wet stood up and said, quietly:

" 'Come in.'

"The expression on the lieutenant's face showed that he knew he _ was trapped. He rode forward to within speaking, distance, while the troop ■halted. " 'You must surrender, sir,' said De Wet. 'Your position is hopeless.' ' "Glancing rapidly around him, the lieutenant bowed his head and rode slowly back to his troop. I imagine that in that brief time he bade farewell to his life. As he went De Wet deliberately covered him with his rifle and waited. The lieutenant stopped in front of his men, who were very much nonplussed. , "'Fall back!' he commanded, m a loud clear tone. "The words were scarcely out 01 m> mouth when De Wet shot him dead. This was the signal for the Boers to pour a volley into the troop that emptied three-fourths of to saddies The survivors galloped macuy away to give the alarm in the camp. We would our American friend could eive us the name of that lion-hearted younger. It deserves to be mitten large on the scroll of fame.