De Wet was respected for his savage determination. He imposed severe discipline on his commandos making them fear him and obey orders. Stories of keeping his men in order with the sjambok are probably exaggerated. He seldom told them what it was he intended and worked entirely on his own schemes. There was little in the way of a strategic plan and he operated by surprise marches, attacking the enemy’s weak points, cutting the railways, seizing their isolated garrisons and skillfully avoiding capture by rapid flight from pursuing columns. That de Wet remained at large was an astounding feat since he was always in the thick of the fighting and many times had been very close to capture. He never stayed long with any one commando and continually kept moving to give his commandos directions.