The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-02-16
Continued from ISt page }

| Kop, endeavored to recapture the po-
| sition taken by us at yaal Krantz.
They were beaten back, however, with
loss.
"The work accomplished so far has
been magnifcently done. The shell
and Maxim fire poured in by the Beers
has been extremely severe, but our
losses are, comparatively speaking,
| small.
"The Durham Light Infantry took a
charge
"The enemy, as usual, fought with
| the utmost stubbornness. The British
maneuvering and the accuracy Of aim
on the part of the British artillery
during the fighting on Monday were
beyond praise. There is not the slight
est likelihood that the Beers will sue
coed in dislodging us from the posi-
tions we have gained, and the pros
poets of the relief of Ladysmith are
decidedly hopeful
The Daily Telegraph's correspond
ent at Spearmans Camp, in dispatch
dated Monday night, says:
Under the personal direction of
General Butler the attack on the Boer
positions was begun this morning by
nearly the whole of our batteries
seventy-two guns-shelling the ridges
where the enemy have their trenches
and redoubts on the Brakfontein and
the low crest facing Potgieter's Drift.
THE enemy suffered severely. Sew
eral hills were smoking like volcanoes
from the effects of the bombardment,
which set on fire their stores and the
grass.
while the third pontoon bridge
was being constructed under fire near
Schief (SkieD Drift, the Eleventh Bri-
gade, now under the command of Col.
| Wynne, made demonstration against
the Brakfontein ridge, marching across
the meadows, with the support of sew
en- batteries of artillery.
"At II o'clock the enemy opened
with heavy canronade Of shrapnel,
common shell and pompin shells,
chiefly from Spion Kop. This was ac-
companied by rafting musketry fire.
Our gunners behaved admirably and
were as cool as If upon parade.
"The demonstration having gained
effect, the real attack upon the Boer
left was delivered at 4 o'clock. The
Durham Light Infantry carried Vaal
Krantz, the key of the lower ridges,
while General Hildyard's brigade as
sailed the higher ridges. The General
and his troops are bivouacking upon
the field of battle"
LONDON, Feb. S.-4 a. m.-The
British columns are putting themselves
in motion in all parts of the South Afri-
can war field. A combined attack upon
the Beers appears to be in progress.
General Butler has gained footing on
the plateau north of the Tugela, after
two days hard fighting. On the far
western border Lord Methuen has be-
gun turning movement against the
Boer right, when General Macdonald
threatens the Boer flank, thus relieving
the pressure on Lord Methuen's front.
Lord Roberts, who, according to an
informant in close touch with the War
Office, is in the middle of the theater of
war, has begun to march on Bloemfon-
tein.
The Beers have taken the initiative
against General Gatacre, attacking two
of his positions at Sterkstroom.
1t really looks as though the general
forward movement SO long talked of
was in progress. General Buffers third
attempt at relieving Ladysmitb absorbs
attention. kilograms of from 100 and
200 words from dozen correspondents
have been passed by the censor, who
has apparently re-dated messages writ
ten Monday or Tuesday to Wednesday
at 6 P. M. From these it is clear that
General Butler, up to Tuesday had
taken one hill, had repulsed Boer
counter attack and was holding the
position against an enfilading fire from
Spion Kop and Dorm Kloof. His
losses, as mentioned by one correspon-
dent, are $50.
The only kilograms from Boer
sources assert that one of General Bull
ler's attempts to seize the fords failed,
but they admit that he has lodged
forces ON one kopje.