DE LA REY, de lit rzW. JACOB HENDRICK (1S49— ). A famous Boer military leader of French Ilugnenot descent. He was born in the Liehtenburg District of the Western Transvaal, whither his father had moved after Sir Harry Smith and the British troops had driven them from the Orange Free State, in consequence of their participation with Pretorius in the driving out of the British from Bloemfontein in 1S4S. His early life was marked by a severe training in the art of warfare. through numerous eampaigns against hostile Kaffir tribes. His first experience as a commanding officer was against the Basutos in the early fin's. during which he distinguished himself so conspicuously that when the Boer-Brit ish War of 1899-1902 broke out, he was iman imously elected to the command of the Liehten burg burghers. who afterwards formed part of Cronje's western column. Like Cronje. he rarely carried weapons on the field. but was never seen without hi- field-glass, pipe. and Bible. Previous to the war he had represented his district for ten years in the Volksraral, awl was a consistent sup of 'hlbert, as against Kruger. He was not among the Boers who were anxious to begin war, and was one of the few prominent mem bers of the Transvaal Volksraad who protested against the ultimatum of President Kruger. hostilities once begun, however. he rapidly be of the most determined leaders of his people, and in the first stages of the war greatly distinguished bin self by the skill with wide]] lie laid out the 14 the battle of latgersiontein, rind other smaller encounters. Later, he con
ducted a well ordered retreat before the British athance under Lord Roberts. and at Yooitgedacht, in 1910. captured Sou British troops. In the second or guerrilla stage of the 1 ar he was equally distim_otished b? his successful tactics• his most important success being the capture of Ike Rritish Lord .letlitien.)larch ,, 1902. tooether with a number of British troops. llis lack of hospital accommodation:. and the 114.4 \ I e was under of making foreed and sudden marches. precluded his detention of the 1.01'11 M141111(•1. wham lie accordingly bad 10 release. llis entire career throughout the war was by great personal and by the humane treatment accorded to his enemies.
ith the Boers lie was one of till' ill/11111:11' leaders of the two republics, ;11141 he gained front his the reputation of being a leader of un erring military judgment and remarkable re sourcefulness in emergencies. in 1902 he was one of the litter committee which arranged for subillisshat of his countrym en. and after wards formed one of the deputation appointed to visit Europe and the Cnited States for the purpose of raising funds for the distressed lIoers. whom the British had repatriated, hut for whom the terms of peace did adequately provide.