Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-03-07
In the Final Relief OF Ladysmlth
Butler Lost 1889
Men.
BULLER is RUSHING FORWARD
Beers Say Retreat From Lady
smith Mas Due to the Mis-
take Of Commandant.
BRITISH NOW IN TRANsvAAL

London, March For lack of news
from Field Marshal Lord Roberts, at
tention turns to the Natal. It is re-
ported that Butler pushed forward his
force along the Harrismith line OF
railroad toward Van Reenan's pass,
using the railroad freely for communi,
cations. It appears the Beers intend
to take up a strong position at Big.
gersberg Range. and contest the
Glencoe passes, although it hardly
seems likely that Butler will attempt
to force these for the present. His
plans, however, are kept almost as
secret as Lord Roberts While wait
ing for important developments,
which are daily expected to occur in
the Free State, rumors of peace recur.
The Times" today contains dis
patch from Cape Town which says
there is a crying need for an explicit
statement by the British ministry that
nothing short of annexation is intend
ed in order to dampen the mischiev-
GUS agitation going on under the pre-
text of a demand for peace. The
list of casualties sustained by Buffers
forces February 14th to Feb. 9th.
shows: Killed 1923; wounded 573;
missing ffty-four With the list of
casualties issued Monday. this makes
a total cost to the rank and file in
the final relief of Ladysmith 1859.
London, March 7, (4:10 p. ma
special dispatch from Durham, says |
the flying column of British troops,
from Zululand has entered the Trans
vaaI and has haes. slatss- -s-.-----a-A----= /
with small parties of Beers. The
force consists of mounted infantry
Natal scouts and artillery, all COM
manded by Major Prendergast. The
column first crossed the border Feb
ruary 2Sth and now occupies an en-
trenched position at Catasa Hill, nine
miles within the Transvaal.
London, March Lord Roberts
telegraphs from Osfontein: Advanced
March 7th. The enemy is in full re
treat, followed by our troops; casual
ties few"
Boer Camp, Biggersberg, March 8
The federals have fallen back on Big
gersberg Chain, that crosses the Natal
south of Dundee. The retreat from
Ladysmith was due to a mistake OF
a certain commandant in ordering his
men to retire from the key of the po-
sition without any reason for move.
On receipt of bad news from Modder
RiTer Wednesday, it was resolved to
send the wagons back to Biggersberg,
and soon long strings of OK wagons
lined the roads. Over a thousand
wagons took the westerly route to a
lager southwest of Ladysmith. An
other convoy was sent to the foot of
Drakensberg. A large number OF
tents were captured from the British
at Dundee and also ammunition, which
was abandoned. The chief difficulty
was in dismounting Long Tom"
London. March = Field Marshal
Lord Roberts telegraphed as follows;
Osfontein, Z, 4:S0 p. m.-Our opera
tions today promise to be a great
success. The enemy occupied a posi-
ton four miles north and eleven miles
south of Modder River, placed Gen
eral Colville's division on the north
bank; General Kelly-Kenny's and
fuckers division, with the cavalry
on the south bank. The cavalry di--
vision is advancing without
being Obliged to fire shot up to the
present time. The enemy are in full
retreat towards the north and east,
being closely followed by the cavalry
horse artillery and mounted infantry;
while fuckers division, Colville's
Ninth division and the Guards brigade
under Pole-Carew. are making way
across the river at Poplars drift, where