The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-10
BOERs ON BRITISH FLANKs.
BuIIer Wired That British Positions
Were Difficult.

London. Feb. "a dispatch, dated
Freere Camp yesterday, probably written
within the advanced lines Wednesday.
says:
"The forces of the enemy are on both our
flanks and continue to rehder our position
| extremely difficult to maintain"
This makes evident that Gen. Butler
after deVoting Wednesday to bringing
more artillery and troops across the Tu-
gela, was badly in need of reinforcements.
1t is still more potent that it is impossi-
BILE for him to advance until the artillery
has been enabled to take up forward posi-
tions for the purpose of subduing the
Beers guns on both flanks Upon the
length of time occupied in this operation
depends the duration of Gen. Buffers
maintenance of the defensive.
Would Add to the Danger.
Almost all the critics now point out that
the mere pushing through to Ladysmith
without securing decisive victory on the
way there would only add danger to what
is already critical situation.
Another Freere Camp dispatch says a
Boer prisoner asserts that the burghers
expected Gen. Butler to cross at Skets
Drift and that thousands of Beers were
being posted at Doom kloof to oppose
such a passage, while on the captured hill
there were only a few hundred Johannes
burghers. This tends 90 increase the
anxiety of those who believe Gen Butler
has scarcely begun the serious part of his
advance, though encouragement is CLEANED
from the news that the heavy nayal guns
after repeated attempts. during which
the mules rolled down the hill, have sue
ceeded in reaching the summit of Swarts
1op. whence they are doing excellent
practice.
Gen Hector MacDonald's retirement
from Koodoorsberg has created disap-
pointment The operation was ap-
parently only intended as a sortie, and its
success or failure could scarcely have re-
suited in any material effect on the cam
paign.
Had Nothing From Butler.
Trp to $40 O'Clock this evening the war
office had evidently heard nothing of Bull
ler's retreat, as described in the dispatches
from the Boer head laager, Ladysmith,
Feb s. When shown the Boer dispatch
Apparently they had not the least suspi-
cion of the possibility of such an outcome
of the operations. While nothing has been
given 10 The public the war office has had
renorts from Gen. Butler on the situation,
for at least the earlier days of the week.
It is said on reliable authority
| that Gen. Buffers dispatch, announcing
MONDAYS and Tuesdays movements was
narticularly hopeful. lie described the
nosition gained as effective, so the news
Of another retirement is exceedingly bit
| ter to the British and though it comes
from Boer sources, there is little dispose
| ton to discredit it.
Military attaches will leave tomorrow
Their destination is not given, but pre-
sumably they will join Lord Roberts
whose whereab bouts has not yet been made
public.
# was said to-day that one of the first
stems TO increase the home army viii be
tbe raising of thirty-seven new horse and
deld batteries, with barracks on Salisbury
nlain. and the addition of third battaiions
n numerous regiments, which at present
are without them.
ReDuIse for the Beers.
! war office dispatch from Lord Rob
erts dated THURSDAY Feb. s, confirms the
renorts that Gen. Gatacre mas repulsed
the Boers at Pen Hoek and Birds river
and that the security of both outposts IS
! established. In regard to Gen. MacDon-
alds operations, Lord Roberts does not
mention the formers retirement to the
| Modder river He says.
Macdonald was dispatch to prevent the
Boers blocking che main drift at koo-
.Ioosberg and successfully established
himself at Koodoosberg, in spite OF the
determined efforts of the Beers to dis
lodge him. At MacDonald's request Bah
| inrfon was sent with reinforcements
wednesday, Feb. T. Babington threaten
ed the Beers north Of Koodoosborg while
another. force drove off the Beers south
ward"
ment;
"The enemy have now evacuated their
positiou and none is in sight
uuITIsH LOST FIFTY MEN.