Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1900-02-10
a BRITISH ADVANCE.
A Combined Attack Upon the Beers
Seems to Be In Progress.
GEN. BUTLER CAPTURES A HILL.

The Standards Dispatch from spearman'a
Canp-Ths First OF tho Kopiss Car
risd BY the British ut tho Point OF
the Bayonet.
London, Feb. s.-The British col
umns are putting themselves in mo-
ton In all parts Of the South African
war field. A combined attack upon
the Beers appears to be in progress.
Gen. 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 q turning movement against
the Boer right, while Gen. Macdonald
threatens the Boer flank, thus reliev-
ing the pressure 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 to march on
Bloemfontein. The Beers have taken
the initiative against Gen. Gatacre,
attacking two Of his positions at
Sterkstroom.
It really looks rs though the gem
ernl forward movement SO long talked
Of were in progress. Gen. Buffers
third attempt at relieving Ladysmith
absorbs attention. kilograms Of from
100 to 200 words, from dozen corre-
spondents, have been passed by the
censor, who has apparently redated
messages written Monday or Tuesday
to Wednesday. From these 1t Is clear
that Gen. Butler, up to Tuesday even
ing. had taken one hill, had repulsed
q l,oer counter attack and was hold
ing the position against an enfilading
fire from Spion kop and Dorm kloof.
His losses, as mentioned by one corre-
spondent, are $50.
The only kilograms from Boer
sources assert that one Of Gen. Bull
ler's attempts to seize the fords failed,
but they admit that he has lodged
forces on one kopie.
Three thousand more militia have
been ordered to prepare for embarka-
ton. The obsolete guns ut the various
coast defenses are being replaced with
modern naval guns. The government
is preparing a plan to be submitted
to parliament for the conversion Of
the yeomnnry, volunteers and militia
into q well-organized and properly
equipped army for home defense.
The Standards Dispatch.
London, Feb. s.-The Standard has
the following from Spearman's camp,
dated February 3: "The force under
Gen. Butler is again advancing to the
relief of Ladysmith, and after two
days of severe fighting 1t may fairly
be said to have made good first step
on the road to the beseiged town. The
movement was begun Mt an hour on
Monday morning by way of Potgiet-
ere drift. The Eleventh brigade,
forming a part Of the Fifth division
under Gen. Warren, made feint at
tack upon the kopjes Immediately on
our front. The assault was delivered
ut the outset under cover Of naval
guns on Mount Alice and subsequent
ly under that of field batteries. The
infantry advanced steadily toward the
Boer entrenched position ut Brakfon-
tein and kept the enemy busily en-
ployed. While this diversion was be-
ing made the remainder of the in
fantry told off for the attack, who
had bivouacked Sunday night under
Mount Alice, moved along at the foot
of Zwarts 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 to move across in tn
forenoon was the Durham light in
fartry of Gen. 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 charg-
ing distance Of the Beers. The first
of the kopjes was carried by them at
tho point of the bayonet, by the ut
most gallantry. Almost simultane-
ously the battalion rifle brigade
cleared the second kopje and after
moving across the long ridge they
bivouacked on the spot.
''The enemy, as usual, fought with
this utmost stubbornness. The Brit
ish manuevering and the accuracy OF
aim on the. part of the British artil-
lery during the fighting on Monday
were beyond 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 I.adysmith
ars decidedly hopeful"