The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-02-08
THE BRITISH ACTIVITY.
A Combined Attack on the Beers
Seems to Be in Progress.
BUTLER HAS GAINED A FOOTING

Days Fighting and the Loss Of
Two Hundred and Fifty men-Plans
For Relieving Lndysmith Hopeful.
London, Feb 8.-The British col
umns are putting themselves in motion
in all parts of the South African war
field. A combined attack upon the
Beers appears to be in progress. Gen.
eral Butler has gained footing on the
plateau north of the Tugela, after two
days hard fighting.
On the far western border Lord
Methuen has begun turning move
ment against tine Boer right, while
General Macdonald threatens the
Boer flank, thus relieving the pressue
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 the march on
Bloemfontein.
The Beers have taken the initiative
against General Gatacre, attacking two
of his positions at SterkstroOm.
1t really looks as though the gen.
eral forward movement so long talk
ed Of were in progress. General Bull
ler's third attempt at relieving Lady,
smith absorbs attention. kilograms
of from 100 to 200 words, from a dozen
correspondents, have been passed by
the censor, who has apparently re-
dated messages written Monday or
Tuesday to Wednesday at p. m. From
these 1t is clear that General Butler.
up to Tuesday evening, had taken one
hill, had repulsed Boer counter at
tack and was holding the position
against an enfiladlng fire from Spion
Kop and Dorm Klook. His losses,
as mentioned by one correspondent,
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.
The Standard has the following from
Spearman's Camp, dated Feb. q
The force under General Butler Is
again advancing to the relief Of Lady
smith, and after two days of severe
fighting 1t may fairly be said to have
made a good first step on the road to
the besieged town.
The movement was begun at an
early hour on Monday morning by way
Of Potgieters Drift. The Eleventh
brigade, forming part of the Fifth
division under General Warren, made
front attack upon the kopies immedi-
ately on our front. The assault was
delivered at the outset under cover of
naval guns on Mount Alice and sub
sequently under that of field batteries.
The infantry advanced steadily to-
ward the Boer entrenched position at
Brakfontein and kept the enemy
busily employed. While this division
was being made the remainder of the
infantry told off for the attack, who
had bivouacked Sunday night under
Mount Alice, moved along at the foot
of warts Kop in the direction Of our
right.
A pontoon bridge was thrown across
the Tugela by the engineers under the
fire of the enemy. The first battalion
Durham Light infantry, Of General
Lyttleton's brigade. They advanced
against Vaal Krantz, which lies on the
most direct road to Ladysmith, and
after two hours splendid work they
got within charging distance of the
Beers.
The first Of the kopjes was carried
by them at the point of the bayonet
with the utmost gallantry. Almost
simultaneously the First battalion
rife brigade cleared the second kopje
and after moving across the long
ridge they bivouacked on the spot.
The feint attack at Potgieter's Drift
having served its purpose in prevent
ing the concentration of the enemy at
the critical point the Eleventh bri-
gade fell back to the river.
In the course of the operation both
the infantry and the artillery had been
subjected to a severe fire.
Tuesday afternoon the enemy, en-
couraged doubtless by their success at
Spion Kop, endeavored to recapture
the position taken by us at Wal
krantz. They were beaten back, how
ever, with loss.
The enemy, as usual, fought with the
utmost stubbornness. The British
and the accuracy of fire
on the part of the British artillery dur
Ing the fighting on Monday were be-
yond praise. There Is not the slightest
likelihood that the Beers will succeed
In dislodging us from the positions we
have gained, and the prospects of the
relief Of Ladysmth are decidedly hope
'ul.