Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-02

General Sir Hercules Robinson's authority
as High Commissioner for the whole OF
South Africa is called out of allowance.
IL is to be hoped he viii find it possible
to exercise q beneficial influence on the
Dutch population further north THROUGH
their eompatrIots in Cape Colony. Detail
ed accounts received to day render It GER
tain that the British were driven from Spitz.
kop because they were fairly beaten. The
fight ended In q rout. The wounded Law
exposed to heavy rain from Sunday after
noon until early Monday morning.
The correspondent OF the Tines with Gen.
Colley's force at Spitzkop gives the follow
ing account of the engagement: ''Spitzkop
is about three thousand yards from the
Beers position. Some companies were left
at the base OF the hill. The remainder of
the troops toiled up the hill, which is very
steep and difficult of ascent, on their hands
and knees. It was impossible to have car
ried up even mounted guns. Had we had
them the result might have been different.
The whole force reached the summit of the
hill before daylight, and about 5 o'clock a.
N. began firing.
"The Beers had no Videttes posted and
were completely surprised, but they prompt
ly returned the fire. Our men had little
cover, though somewhat better than that at
1ugog0 river. l estimate the number of the
Beers at the base of the hill at about two
thousand. Up to midday their loss was GER
tsinly heavier than ours.
General Cclley was conspicuous for his
GOODNESS and courage. He kept up constant
communication with the camp by signal.
stShortly after noon the Boersi fire, which
had heretofore averaged about fifty shots a
minute, increased to terrific Volley. Our
men were unable to Withstand It. They
wavered and were rallied, wavered and ran
In q general SQssVe qa4i peat.
"The Beers climbed to the summit of the
hill, and followed with terrible fire as they
went down the other side."
This correspondent was captured by the
Beers, who treated him well, and gave him
pass to return to camp. He identified the
BODY Of General Colley on the field.
Up to late hour last night the War
Office had received no confirmation Of the
report that the reserve ammunition was left
behind by General Colley
In the House of Commons this evening
Mr.. Childers, Secretary of War, said the
loss of life In the recent engagement
between General Colley's force and the
Beers had been exaggerated. Thirty five
officers and six hundred and ninety-three
men were engaged. Three officers we're
killed, nine wounded and several taken
prisoners. The total of the killed was 83,
wounded l22, and taken prisoners or miss
ing so. Besides the reinforcements already
announced, consisting Of the NinetY-ninth
Regiment from Bermuda, and the Eighty
fifth Regiment from Bombay, two eompa-
nies Of the One Hundred and Second Regi-
ment from Colombo and brigade OF sea-
men and marines, 1t had been decided to
prepare three additional infantry regiments
to be shipped from Gibraltar and Malta.
He said he asked General Wood to state If
he required more transport mules and horses
for cavalry and artillery.
DURBAN, March 1.-The vessels in the
harbcr are flying flags at half mast for
General Colley. Sir Evelyn Wood has left
Pietermaritzburg for the front. Lieutenant
Maude and Captain Morris were killed, and
Captain Singleton severely injured in Sun
days engagement with the Beers.
General Roberts will succeed General Col
lev