The Irish standard., 1900-02-17
BRITISH FAIL BACK.
After Two Days of Hot Fighting
They Withdraw 10 Rensburg.
Doubt AS to Their Ability to Hold the
Town-All Eyes Turned to Rob-
ertn' Movement for Relief
of Kimberley.

OdllN MAIL from llcnSDuTS, udleu uGS.
day, says:
There has been hard fighting for two
days near Colcsburg, the Beers making
strenuous efforts TO outlank the British
left. The enemy occupies strong positions
from Achtertang, through Potfontein. to
point five miles south of Jasfon tein. The
fighting at the outpost camps has been
very severe during the last few days.
Monday the Beers attacked the position OF
the Worcesters TO the southeast of Coles
burg. Fighting continued all day, and
after dark it was considered necessary to
withdraw 10 Rensburg. Our losses are not
yet known. On the left the West Australia
ans. Wiltshires and Berkshires had hot
fighting. but held their positions against
long odds The Beers losses were consid-
cradle. Owing to the growing difficulty
experienced by conveys in reaching the
camps, all Of the latter were vacated Mon
day night, and the troops withdrew to
Renshurg. The Soels are burning The
farms oil the loyaliSts, but the latter have
contrived 10 get away with their stock
Beers Latest Str01tc.
London, Feb. l4.-Ihc news of the
day is the enforced retirement of the
British from the Colcsburg district, un-
der heavy Boer pressure and probably
after brisk tigh,ing::r Thus, at Il time
when Lord Roberts is apparently about
to push an army into he Free State, the
Beers make a commensurate i'll I'M
known but seemingly great force. not
far from the vital line Of railway con-
Meeting DE Aar and Orange river. Mill
tary observers do not regard this rs
more than a menace. Nevertheless the
news produces an unpleasant impress
sion here. Gen. French had manruvered
the Beers out of Rensburg in December.
| I'm .tnnnury II w. rrnpit,U that he
could take Colesburg in two days with
requirements. These were sent, but
the Beers We're also REINFORCED. Since
then the British lines have been extend
ed east and west, so that at The opening
of this week they constituted Il great
horseshoe, 25 miles in length. The
lines were not continuous, but all the
strong positions were held. Gen.
French, when he joined Lord Roberts,
presumably took most of his cavalry.
Gen. Clements was left with the infan-
try to hold the Beers in check, but
Commandant Delaney, With Il double
turning movement. has compelled the
British to concentrate Ut Rcnsburg, be-
side threatening Lord Roberts COM
municatons.
. Can't Hold Rcnsburg.
London. Feb. II. a dispatch to the
Evening News from Ecnsburg says Sc
we're fighting occurred during the Brit
ish retreat, the various outposts on both
sides suffering heavy losses. The dis
patch adds it is doubtful il Rcnsburg
can be held.
Roberts Promises Relief.
London, Feb. 1i.-An undated dis
patch from Mafcking, via Gabcroncs,
February 2, says:
"Col. Baden-Powell has received a COM
munication from Lord Roberts promising
that relief would be sent In a few weeks.
The food will lust. The garrison Is cs game
az ever. The Beers have expressed their
intention not to fight. but TO starve us out.
All we'll"
British Cnnunltiea.
London, Feb. IA revised list OF
the British casualties ut Potgieters
drift from February to February
shows: Killed, &c; wounded, 319; miss
ing, s.
All Eyes on Roberts.
London, Feb. 14.-The cessation OF
war news from South Africa is taken
to indicate that the British prepare
" tons for move from Moddcr river
are about completed and that impor.
tant events can be anticipated within
Il few days, Interest ccntcrs almost
wholly upon Field Marshal Roberts,
especially since Gen. Buffers report
= of his withdrawal from Vaal Kranta
came, for the first Time through Lord
Roberts, showing that all the differ
cnt operations over the wide field will
hereafter be more completely coordi-
mated. 1t is now known that the mil.
itary attaches have gone to join Lord
Roberts at the Modder river; another
move preluding an advance.
! RksAes' Fricnds Alarmed.
The friends OF Cecil Rhodes are be-
coming alarmed at his possible fate.
ard have sent an cnissary to see DR..
Lcyds. the diplomatic agent of tho
Beers in Europe in regard to the prob.
nble course the Beers would pursue
in the event of his capture. DIR. Leyds
assured the Intermediates that the
Bocrs did not intend to kill Mr.
Rhodes, but, he added, they would GER.
tainIy hold him as a hostage until the
indemnify for the jameson raid was
paid In view of the developments
since the raid the Beers have also de-
ctlcd to double the amount of the in
dcmnity demanded, so Mr.. Rhodes
friends will have to hand over E2,OOO,-
600 ($lo,oOo U0G) before he is released.
Ccntcnnrinn Killed.
Council Bluffs, La. Feb. IA. - John
Montgomery, who was probably the
oldest man in Iowa, was killed by a Mil
walIkrc train here Tuesday. lie was 1903
years Of age his last birthday. lie was
walking along the track as the train
was backing into the depot and being
deaf did not hear the warning whistle.
lie WAS knocked down and his head