Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-02-20

| tempt to reach LadySmith, has proved
impregnable.
| A dispatch from Pietermaritzburg,
dated February 10, says all is quiet in
Zululand. The Beers main bodies are
reported to be retiring upon Dundee
and Helpmaakar, leaving small forces
and two pieces of artillery at each mag
istracy.
| According to a dispatch from Tarka-
stad, refugee who arrived there says
the Beers are 5000 strong at Stormberg,
but at Burghersdorp have only a small
town guard.
COLENSO CAPTURED.
| London, February 20, 5:22 p. m.-
News has been received here that Cen
eral Hart has occupied Colenso after a
slight engagement.
QUEEN CALLS ON OLD SOLDIERS.
London. February 20.-The Queen
| though her nrivc: e sevretafsS has sent
the following letter to the commander
in-chief, Field Marshal Lord Wolseley:
| "As SO large a proportion of the army
/
realizes that necessary measures must
be adopted for home defense. Her mai
esty is advised that it would be possible
to devise for the year an efficient force
served as officers, non commissioned
officers or privates, and Is confident in
| their devotion to the country and loyal
| ty to- her throne, and the queen appeals
| to them to serve her once more in place
| of those who for the time, together with
| the people Of her colonies. are nobly re-
sisting an invasion of her South African
possessions. Her majesty has signified
her pleasure that these battalions shall
be designated as royal reserve battal-
ions of her army.
(Signed) ARTHUR BIGGE."
BOERS IN FULL RETREAT.
London, February 20.-The following
dispatch was received from Gen. Bull
Ter:
Blows Farm, February 20, 410 p. m.
"A Fusileer brigade yesterday took
Hlangawana hill, the right of the enc
my's position and commanding Colen-
ward the Tugela. This morning the en-
emy had withdrawn all troops north of
the Tugela, and practically evacuated
Colenso. To-day General Hart occupied
Colenso after slight resistance by
weak rear guard, and we hold the line
Of the Tugela on the south side from
Colenso to Eagles Nest. The enemy
seem to be in full retreat, and apparent
ly are only holding the position they
occupy across the Colenso- -Ladysmith
railway, where 1t is close to the angle
Of the Tugela with weak rear guard.
Hart's advance guard Is crossing at Co.
lenso. Our casualties yesterday and to-
day have, hope, been few"
THE WILTSHIRES CAPTURED.
Lorenzo Marques, February ia
correspondent who was with the Boer
forces in the attack upon Rensberg
gives the following further particulars
regarding the capture of the Wiltshires.
He says:
"Commandant Peler, who arrived
first, found two companies Of Wilt
shires, and began attacking them in the
open. Soon after he was Joined by a
body of Free Staters, and together they
drove the British back from the neigh
boring kopjes, capturing all but three.
ut is impossible to say exactly how
many British were killed and wound
ed, but of the 200 Wiltshires, 142 were
captured, and Of these forty-four were
/ wounded.
1.-THE suffering of the wounded from
the heat and thirst is intense. The
burghers did their best to alleviate the
thirst, and many of the wounded were
carried in blankets to the Rensberg sid
ing.
"At Rietfontein the British rear
guard began shelling, thus compelling
the federals to leave the wounded in
order to repulse the attack. The Krupp
gun replied effectively to the British
cannonade. The Beers lost two killed
and four wounded. They now occupy
all the Rensberg positions formerly oc-
cupied by the British, whose rear guard
Is at Reitfontein, with the federals
close up"
An army order issued tonight invites
reservists to rejoin the colors for the
home defense, and offers s22 bounty to
those who do.
BURGHERS CAPTURED CATTLE.
Lorenzo Marques, February 19.-It
appears from advices received here that
the loot captured by the burghers yes
terday near Koffyfontein included over
5000 head of cattle and a number Of
wagons, eighteen of which were loaded
with provisions intended for the relief
of Kimberley. A number Of prisoners
were also taken.
Heavy fighting was reported to-day
around Kimberley, where Gen. Cronje
is said to be holding his own.
DIR. LEYDs AWAITS DECISION.
London, February 20.-The war Office
messages indicate that Kitchener either
got ahead Of the Beers or is about to
realize his plan. Meanwhile Command
ant Delarey, with the Beers from Coles
berg, hanging on the right flank of the
British pursuing column, is seeking to
delay their movement and so assist the
Boer wagon trains to escape. Students
of topography think the Beers will
hardly risk fight until they get into
rough country.
The Daily Mail correspondent, with
the British convoy attacked by the
Beers at Riet river ford, wires: "Ulti-
mately the British abandoned the con.
voy. in order not to check the advance
Thus 200 wagons and 600 tons Of stores