DE WET'S DECEPTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 26

DE WET'S DECEPTIONS.

The following, from a war correspondent in General Bruce-Hamilton's camp, dated November 27, shows De Wet in a new light. He says:- — I have been permitted to interview the prisoners who were captured yesterday, and whom I found in charge of the Cameron. Highlanders. They were cheerful and willing to talk. They stated they had been fighting since the commencement of the war, and! that, though they were tired of it, they wera not allowed to surrender. When at Thabanchu, a fortnight ago, they recei\ ed a message from De Wet wishing them good luck, and) telling them to hold out till the 10th of December, when all the British were going home De Wet added that the British ha<s permission from Russia to fight for one year only ; that the Queen was in Capetown, whither phe had fled to escape the Chinese, who had captured half of England ; that Botha had riven the British out of the Transvaal to Mafeking,- that he himself (De Wot> was now fighting n Cape Colony, where thie« corps of burghers were burning houses and killing cattle ; that the British had left Africa, as the volunteers had refubed to fight any longer; that Botha had taken Pietermaritzburg; that General Buller had gonel home, where he had besn presented with a gold spear; that Lord Roberts, wounded bythree bullets, had been brought to Heilbron, to die, and had been buried under the town/ hall ; that the natives found walking on Boer, farms were shot; that the food of the British' consisted of mealies, and numbers were sick ;i and that General Hamilton w.as gathering all the soldiers from the various districts in ordeV to take them home. The prisoners said they always travelled in small parties of from 15 to 50. They have never seen Roberts's pro-> clamations. They would fight for the British, and take them to the main Boer laager if allowed to remain in the country.

Mrs Ryan, who a short time ago attempted to commit suicide by cutting her" throat, is progressing favourably towards recovery at the Timaru Hospital. The wound is healing (says the Timaru Post), and on Friday last the stitches were taken out of lfc. WOLFE'S SCHNAPPS lestoie* mental and physical vigour.