The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-09
SPION K0P IN HIS WAY.
BULLER CHECKED IN HIS ADVANCE To-
WARD IADYSMITH.
MOVEMENT ALL ALONG THE LINE
British Cross Tugela River on March
To Ladysmith and Gain Footing
After Desperat Fighting-Advanee
Stopned by Enfilading Fire from
Spion Kop- General Methuen PreparS
Hing to oAdvance-French. Gatacre and
EKelIy-Kenney TO Unite.

EKelly-Kenney TO Unite.
London, February s.-4 a m--The
British columns are putting themselves
in motion in all parts OF the South AZ
rican We field. \ combined attack
upon the Beers appears to BE- in r.o-
gress. General Butler has gained "A
footing on the plateau north OF iho
Tugela. after two days hard fighting.
on the far western border Lord
Methuen has begun n turning move
ment against the Boer right. while
General Macdonald threatens the
Boer flank, thus relieving the pressure
on Lord Methuen's front
Lord Roberts. who. according TO an
informant il close touch wsth the war
office. is in die middle OF the aheatre
OF war. has begun the march eli
Bloemfontein.
The Beers have taken the Initiative
against General Gatacre. attacking two
of his positions at Sterksroom. 1t real
ly looks that the forward movement so
long talked of is IN progress.
General Buffers third attempt al re
lieving Ladys4nith absorbs attention.
kilograms Of from 100 TO 200 words.
from dozen correspondents have been
passed by the censor, who has appar-
emily redated messages written Mon
day or Tuesday 80 Wednesday at
p. m. From these, il is clear that Gen
eral Butler. up 10 Tuesday evening
had taken one hill. had repulsed RoeI-
counter-attack, and was holding the
position against an enfilading fire from
Spion kOp and Doorm kloof. His
losses, as mentioned by one CORE
spOndent are 80.
h. nrlt al
sources assert that one OF General
Buffers attempts to seize the fords
failed. but they admit that ne has
lodged forces on one kopje.
Light on General Buffers operations
ceases here, the war office not contrib
uting any information.
Three thousand more militia have
been ordered TO prepare for embarka-
ton. The obsolete guns at the various
coast defences are being replaced with
modern naval guns. The government
is preparing a plan 10 be submitted to-
parliament for the conversion OF tho
yoemanry. volunteers and militia into
a well organized and properly equipped
army for home defense.
ACROSS THE TUGELA.
Sperman's Camp. Wednesday Feb
ruary :, 6 p. m.-General Butler COM
menced the advance for the relief sf
Ladysmifh Monday. The naval guns
opened at o'clock in the morning and
feint attack was made in front Of
our position. Three battalinns advaI -
ed toward the Brakfontein with
batteries
AT IL o'clock the Beers open. ~. a
artillery fire and sent several She
among the British infantry, whJ :e-
tired an hour later
Meanwhile a vigorous attacE was
made on the extreme right, whore the
engineers expeditiously Constructed a
position. Several pieces Of cannon,
hidden among the trees on warts
kOp, bombarded heavily. The E-ltish
infantry advanced and the Beers were
entirely surprised.
AT o'clock a high hill, named Klantz
klooff, a continuation Of the Brakfon-
Tein, had been taken The oper atoms
We're excellently planned.
The bombardment OF the Boer posi-
ton was resumed this yesterday
morning. The Beers worked a disap-
pearing cannon from the high Doorm
kloof range, on the right Of the cap
tured hill: but the British shells ex-
ploded It's magazine. and the gun was
put out Of action until late in the day
Musketry fire was intermittent until
the afternoon, when the Beers made
determined effort 10 retake the hill.
Reinforcements rushed up cheering,
the Beers were repulsed and the Brit
London, February THE Associated
Press learns that the war office today
received a telegram saying. briefly
that General Butler had again recross-
ed the Tugela river February 5.h and
is now marching upon Ladysmi,h-
BOERS ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT
ING.
Boer Head Lager, Ladys7ni:h. Tues
day, February e.-Since yesterday the
o-I
have bombarded our positions on the
upper Tugela- The troops crossed the
river at the Pont and at Molen drift.
with the Object Of storming our posi-
tions. AT the former. General Burger
beat them back and they re-crossed IA
great confusion. The fighting continues
at Molen drift with the Standerton ana
johannesburg commandos. There were
no casualties on our side
The cannonade was the hercest vet
experienced. There was a continuous
roaring all day long. This morning 4
with an Increased num-
Der Of guns.
Further reports Of yesterdays fighx-
ng at the upper Tuge.a river show
hat the British lost heavily at Pona
1rift but took an important position
,n a small kopje on the MoIen drift
'ide: Four Beers were killed The Brit
sh loss is unknown. They are stiu In
possession Of the kopje and che big
guns have ceased firing.
ROBERTS GOES TO THE FRONT.
London, February while the sus-
oense Is on regarding General Buffers
movements and the operations affect
ng the fate Of Ladysmith. there comes
from other quarters interesting news
n the announcement that Field Mar
shall Lord Roberts. the commandsr-in-
chief Of the British forces in South
Africa, and his chief OF staff, Major
General Lord Kitchener, have left for
the front. AS this information was
held up for several hours by the Gen.
Continued on Fourth Page.l