WITH THE EYES OF DE WET.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In the Spectator of December 6th I notice a commentary on Christian De Wet's Three Years' War." May I be allowed to give you the true version of the surrender of the twenty British soldiers to Pretorius and his three burghers ? De Wet surrounded the fort with two thousand burghers and then sent Pretorius forward with three men to demand its surrender. The garrison, knowing that resistance would be in vain, wisely surrendered. It is universally acknowledged throughout the theatre of war by those who were out here that the indomitable courage, the extraordinary endurance, and the magnanimous humanity shown by the British soldiers during the entire war were worthy the best and greatest tradi- tions of the British Army.—I am, Sir, &c., RICHARD E. EDLMANN.
Haasfontein, Hanover, Cape Colony.
Previous page
