New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-28
BATTLE IN THE TRANsVAALs
THE BRITISH ROUTED.

bOhN flddIlSos ~ g t'.1-n .
The Beers attacked General Colley's forces
on Majela Mountain yesterday morning, and
after eight hours fighting drove them from
that position. General Colley was killed, and
only 100 of his force, which consisted OF ~
officers and 627 men, escaped. The British
ascribe their defeat to lack Of ammunition,
General Colley had occupied the position only:
the night before the attack. -
DESPERATE FIGHTING.
HEAVY LOSS ON BOTH sDEs-rHE BRITISH COM
PEELED TO ABANDON THEIR POSITION.
NEWCASTLE. Natal. Feb. "a. 1881.
severe engagement took place to-day between
the Beers and General Coey's force and the latter
was driven from Its position at Spitzkop. There
great loss on both sides. Many British of6cers
were killed and wounded. A later telegram from
General Colley's camp says all the wounded coming
in agree in reporting that General coley has been
killed and that only 100 British have escaped. Tns
Beers charged up the hill four times and were about
to retreat, when the British were forced to retire
because the reserve ammunition had not been taken
TO the extreme summit.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT.
LONDON. Monday, Feb. 2s, 1881.
The War Office has received the following tele
gram from Colonel Bond, commauding'ht Mount
Prospect: ~
General Colley with % officers and 627 men.
consisting of infantry and the Naval Brigade, pro-
ceeded oil Saturday night to occupy Ma1eia Noun
tain The Beers attacked him at o'clock Sunday,
morning. At 1 p. m. the firing increased At 2:20
it became evident from the camp that we had loso
the hill and that our men were retiring under q
heavy FIRE. There is no doubt that General Colleyis
killed"
General Wood teleqraphs corroborating the above
20 Ia I'm
day.
COLLEY's LAST DIsPATCHEs.
General Colley, in q dispatch which he sent off
previous TO the engagement yesterday, said: we
occupied Majea Mountain on Saturday night. 1t I'm
mediately oy erlooks the Boer position The Beers
are fighting us from below" In later telegram he
said: "The Beers are still firing heavily on the hill,
but have broken up their laager and begun to move
away"
telegram sent from Mount Prospect, Natal, be-
fore the fight said: General Colley with SIX COM
panies has taken possession of Sptzkop, position
TO the north of Laingsnek. Firing has been heard
all the morning"
THE BOERs REINFORCED.
The Da;ly NetcSs correspondent at Mount Prospect
has ascertalned on good cuthorty that the Boers
have been largely reinforced by Beers from the
Orange Free State.
A dispatch to The Daily News from Newcastle says
| the Beers were beaten off at Wakkerstroom after
two hours fighting. The British loss was slight,
| Sir George POmeroy COlley, who has been
killed in the battle on Majea Mountain established
| welldeserved reputation during the Asnantee
camnaian Of 1873 as an administrator and stan ON.
| Ger he served in the Caffre War Of 1s53-6o, and
| aftervard in the China War; When Lord Lyttou
WAS sent TO India in 1876 General Colley went with
him as his military secretary. and soon afterward
| became bis private secretary. He went to South
Africa I'm 1870 az Garnet Wolseleys chief of stah
His services the British Army have been recognized
by rapid promotions and several decorations He mar
ried IN 1878 Edith daughter of MsorG Hamilton.
General Coley took leading part In the efforts to re-
Establish British authority in the Transvaa, where,
| OF December 10. the Beers proclaimed their In
dependence He dispatched with troops from New
castle with the view Of relieving the garrsons threat
ened by the Beers His march LED 70 sew.
eral skirmishes. resulting generally In iaySs ySs
Drnkenberg Pass aud was defeated. Ou February he
attacked the order to keep open his commuut'
cation with Newcastle He suffered heaFly, anu hs ~
! silIOn has since been critical.