DE WET'S LATEST ADVENTURE. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 32

DE WET'S LATEST ADVENTURE. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, December 1. This afternoon I drove out to the polo ground with " Banjo " Paterson, and, through tb.e courtesy of the Wellington Polo Club, I was able to get him a pony for one of the spells. " Banjo " is a very line rider, and he also showed that he could play polo, albeit he is somewhat out of practice. On the way out I interviewed ihim regarding De Wet and his latest exploit. "The Boers," said "Banjo,' "call him their greatest general. He certainly is a ■wonderful man. He only had 15 months' education, and he has never seen the sea. The man, however, appears to be a bom soldier. The Boers prefer him to all the other generals. They did not care for Joubert. They said 'he was too old. Neither did- they think much, of Cronje, ibut they will do anj T thing for De Wet. In fact, he is the only man they will drill for. He is pig-headed and most obstinate. 'If De Wet says it is so, then so it will have to be ' — that is a well-worn proverb •with the Boer people." Mr Paterson has ibad personal experience of the great Boer raider, for he was foi a brief space a prisoner in his laager at Tbabanchu, during the early stages of the war. When he was captured he was assisting the ambulance corps in collecting the wounded, but being a non-combatant the Boers let him go. De Wet had then only a very small commando. Mr Paterson says he appeared to he a typical Boer farmer of about 50 years «f age. Since then he advanced rapidly in the estimation of the Boers, and even the British officers declare that he is the finest director of rearguard fighting they have known. His method is to harass the enemy, rather than to fight them. This, coupled ■with his knowledge of the country, the fact that he is unencumbered with waggons, and has horses of remarkable stamina, enables him to perform wonderful feats of

raiding. Mr Paterson says there can be nothing but admiration for such a leader, especially when one considers the odds he has against him, and the manner in which 'he has repeatedly got out of very tight corners, with all the honours on his side. He added that the war would not ba likely to end until De Wet was eapturad and De la Rey disposed of. Undoubtedly, said Mr Paterson, De Wet's latest success would have the effect of inducing numbers of the Boers to rejoin his standard. Apparently the garrison at Dewetsdorp had been surrounded, and, added Mr Paterson, " when the bullets are coming in on you from all sides, and men are falling, while the enemy cannot be seen, there is often nothing for it but surrender. You cannot charge, for to do so you would probably have to go out into the open, which would only re&ult in still greater destruction."