General Christian De Wet, who died on February 3rd at
the age of sixty-seven, will be remembered as the typical guerilla leader of the Boer War. He was so mobile and elusive that he seemed to be a Will o' the wisp. He appealed to the sporting instinct of the British people, and the chasing of De Wet excited more interest than anything else in the campaign. His tactics delayed but could not affect the inevitable result. When he visited England alter the war he had a cordial reception. Un- happily he spoiled his reputation as an honest man by breaking his oath and joining in the pro-German and Nationalist rebellion against the Union in October, 1914. He tried his old tricks in vain, for the motor-car had by then become more mobile than the Boer horseman. De Wet, in attempting to cross the Kalahari desert to German territory, was run down and taken, on Decem- ber 1st, 1914, by a Johannesburg motor patrol. General Botha treated his old associate leniently, releasing him on a promise not to take any further part in politics. Nothing more has been heard of De Wet, who now passes into legend. The motor-ear and the aeroplane will prevent him from having imitators.
Previous page
