The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-02-09
STRENGTH OFTHEBODRS
Latest Advices Show General Bull
ler's Army Surrounded.
EXPOSED TO A TRIANGULAR FIRE

From three sides the BOer ArtIlle
rymen Are Sending Death to Thei1
Foes, Indicating Another TerribI.
Slaughter Of BrItons.
London, Feb. ALI the messages
from the observers with General Bul.
Ter thrown in a phrase or two about the
Strength of the Boer positions" and
the difficulties of General Buffers
work." but they do not carry events
beyond Tuesday evening. Their last
slender narratives leave the British ad.
vance on Vaal Krantz in the centre OF
q semi-circle, where the troops are eX-
posed to the artillery on both sides and
in the centre.
The fighting continued until 8
O'Clock Tuesday evening, and almost
without doubt continued Wednesday
as the Beers would certainly not leave
this wedge into their lines unmolest-
ed. 1t is also inferred that General
Butler must either continue his ad-
vance or retire.
The heaviest fighting appears to
have been on Tuesday. Buffers 1888
casualties are mentioned as having
occurred before Tuesday noon. Large
lists are consequently expected for the
rest of the day. The casualties already
reported bring the total British losses
during the war to 1924 killed, wound
ed and captured.
The disposition here is rather to
minimize the Importance of the fight
Ing In Natal and to suggest that this
Is only an incident anyway, placing
hope upon expected decisive engage
ments on the Northern Cape Colony
and upon the invasion of the Free
State by Lord Roberts. At all events
this Is the official view. The public
does not like these new waits, and
there is sharp anxiety for further news.
In Cape Colony General Macdonald
has had a skirmish with a thousand
Beers at Koodooborg. This was on
Monday. The Beers have been taking
the offensive against General French
near Rensburg, as well as against Cen
eral Gatacre in the Stormberg Hills.
supplementary army estimate, to
March 81. was laid pro forma before
the house of commons yesterday but
was not made public. It is reported
that the call Is for 100000 600, which
would make the cost OF the war IN
to that date G30OOO.0OO. The main
tenance of 100000 men at the front it
is estimated, costs between $4,000 600
and G1O,000,000 per month.
The Daily Telegraph has received
the following, dated Feb. 6, from Spear
mans Camp:
This is the second day OF the bat
tie, and the fighting has been fiercer
than it was yesterday. At dawn the
Beers began the action by Smelling
our bivouac with their long tom and
pompon guns from Doom Kloof. Their
six inch shells fell near the spot where
General Butler and his staff were
watching the engagement. One shell
burst amid squadron of the Thir-
teenth Hussars, but not soul was
touched.
Our guns from warts Kop and on
the plain soon silenced the enemy's
artillery, but repeatedly the Beers
brought back their guns, popped them
into work over the hills, fired a few
rounds and then again changed their |
position. During the morning our
gunners succeeded in blowing up the ,
enemy's ammunition wagon upon
Doom Kloof.
Several prisoners have been taken. /
They declare that the Beers yester- Z
day lost heavily. The enemy suffered .
severely today. 1t is reported that
among their dead in the trenches arm
ed Kaffirs were found.