The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-16
MAIL STORY vAALKRANTz

Correspondence Of the Associated Press
LONDON March THE siege of Lady
smith, with its narrowing experience.
has passed into history, yet it is only
now that the British public has a chance
to get a connected account and to learn
the DEATHS of the sanguinary struggles
which accomplished its relief The latest
mails only take the graphic story up to
General Buffers third attempt. when, on
February S, for the second time, he
crossed at Potgeiters' Drift and after
three days fighting was forced to retire
from Vaal Krantz To this series of
actions Bennett-Burleigh devotes four
columns of the Daily Telegraph, while
the other correspondents are not far be-
hind in point of length. After describing
the feeling of keen disappointment that
followed Spion Kop, Mr. Burleigh writes:
I'VE all knew on Sunday. February 4.
that next day General Butler Intended
attacking the line of low hills at Pot
geiters Drift. Brakfontein is the prin-
cipal feature of that chain. running near
l. east and west. connecting the Spfon
IIop mountain ridges with Dorm Kloop.
There was to be a feint OF demonstration
from our left against Brakfontein and
determined attack later In the day upon
the right to carry separate crested hills
Of Vaal krantz''
Referring to the many difficulties en-
countered. owing to the broken nature
fthe ground the correspondent says:
''Guns We're with infinite labor placed up
on Swartz Kop and. Warren's division
with other troops moved down towards
wonderful mules, somehow, notwithstand-
ing many falls, got the mountain battery
UP although the place was as steep in
parts as the side of a house. The sail
ors. helped by the Scottish Rifles. with
steel hawsers, warped their guns up over
the worst parts. 1t was altogether as
astounding a performance as heaving
batteries to the masthead OF 2 ship. AS
for the ammunition. the soldiers carried
Il by hand esch one bearing q shell or
powder charge. Excepting by using ones
hands. there were parts Of the hin Il
was impossible otherwise 70 surmount.
saw six mules toiling later In the cay
with brakers for the men. The leading
one. when near the TOP. missing foot
ing. rolling over and over. came against
the others Down with r fearful clatter
Of falling rocks. ecranblinE boots and a.
frfehta8 snortinrs. went the six mules
20 feet. Killed 20 the last kicker Not
. hit OF Il. Only their harness knocked
about. About a m. the cavalry went
forward. but * was a. hour later ere
our naval guns from NoUntyot began t'le
battle. They directed their fire against
the Roer works upon SPion Ko2. Bralf7n-
tetn and the positions fronting Potgslt-
e-'S
.a0-io7e, nov major eeneran wvnne
has succeeded to the command &C The
Lancashire brigade since General Wood
gate was vrsinded About a n n led
lis men forward from behind the ava
low detached hals. or hillocks. a mile
ro--b ~ Pstrsttsr's Drift TIE mex bal
loon was seat u2 10 spy oat SHAT she
Beers were about. and more p2[ticziisTiF
where their cannon Ners placed A. ths
, Lancashire brigade NeH' foF~ard n
vrgseFv-soreaa and far-aPart successive
lines q ski-rz5sas-s Eve aei1 batteries
ana r5. 1ftvn-eunG HoEstzers tnundeTe6
lvalita and shrapnel uPoa tae enemy :
trenches and works TIE asisoonlsts d.
re--ef hv te1epac-a where re Beers CTS
sa-s-s -rfckest eehiud thesr defeEses- The
sr11utrv wen. sceasily- sao~ly torTaF1-
as - 10 charge the Beer works %
shey were near e=cuga for iae e'7ea7y
=, h-egiu sainsng fa earnest ~ ranges q
60 yards o less 1as4r HazF \ n 70
wss Indifferent sz3 Ire troops esssef a7f1-
snig tael- sorsnen1ors. Ealkr1 er Fza ior-
wa-d- A. convenient stages AAsF Nss2sa
Ha soxn f8f uPon tae g-aa1a aaa eSea
independent aud vsissy nTsng e TIE "a
envy concealed II G9agAs zE-1 tEeasAss-