New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-08
BRITISH SEIZE A HILL.
bULLER'S ARMY MAKES A SUCCESSFUL,
LODGMENT NORTH OF THE r1rcEr.

spearman's Camp, Feb. Z. p. m-General
buiIer began the advance for the relief of Lady
smith on Monday. The naval guns opened at :
IN the morning, and feint attack was made in
iroht OF our position. Three battalions advanced
toward the Brakfontein. with six batteries.
AT eleven the Beers opened with artillery fire
and sent several shells among the British in
rantry, who retired an hour later
Meanwhile vigorous attack was made on the
extreme right where the engineers expeditiously
constructed position. Several pieces of can
non hidden among the trees on Zwart Kop.
oombarded heavily. The British infantry ad-
vanced and the Beers were entirely surprised.
AT o'clock a high hill, continuation of the
Brakfontein. had been taken. The operations
were excellently planned. The name of the hill
taken is Krantz Kloof
The bombardment of the Boer position was
resumed this yesterday p morning The Beers
worked disappearing cannon from the high
Doorm kloof range. on the right of the captured
hiii' put the British shells exploded its maya
zine and the gun put out of action until
late in the day
Mnsketry fire was intermittent until the sf-
ternoon. when the Beers made determined ef-
iort 70 retake the hill Reinforcements rushed
up cheering, the Beers were repuIsea and the
British advanced along the ridge.
London Feb. s.-A special dispatch from
spearman's Camp. dated Wednesday, February
T. says:
Our further advance is at the moment pre-
ssheea' stIn' as the Beers enfade us from their po
casualties although estimated at go are
Irlnlng, considering the great Importance of the
movement just concluded
The Standard has the following from Spear
mans Camp, dated February I:
The force under General Butler is again ad-
Vanclng to the relief of Ladysmith and after
two days of severe fighting II may fairly be said
TO have made a good first step on the road IN
the besieged town
The movement begun at an early hour on
Monoay morning by way of Potgieter's Drift.
The Eleventh Brigade forming a part of the
flfth Division, under General Warren, made a
feint attack upon the kopjes immedia tely on our
front The assault was delivered at the outset
under cover of naval guns on Mount Alice and
subsequently, under that of field batteries
Ihe infantry advanced steadily toward the
Boer intrenched positions at Brakfontein and
kept the enemy busily employed. While this
diversion being made the remainder of the
infantry told off for the attack who had biv-
ouacked, on Sunday night under Mount Alice
moved along at the foot of Zwart's Kop in the
pontoon bridge thrown across the Tu-
gela by the engineers under the fire of the en-
emy- The first battalion to move across in the
forenoon was the Durham Light Infantry, of
General Lyttletons brigade They advanced
against Vaal Krantz, which lies on the most di-
rect road to Ladysmith and, after two hours
splendid work. they got within charging dis
tance of the Beers.
The first Of the kopjes carried by them at
the point of the bayonet with the utmost gal
lantry Almost simultaneously the First Bat
talon, Rife Brigade cleared the second kopje
and, after moving across the long ridge, they
bvouacked on the spot.
The feint attack at Potgieters Drift, having
served it's purpose in preventing the concentra-
tion of the enemy at the critical point the 11th
Brigade fell back 10 the river.
In the course Of the operation both the in
fantry and the artillery had been subjected to
a severe shell fire.
Yesterday CTuesday) at O'clock in the after
noon, the enemy, encouraged doubtless by their
success at Spion Kop. erdeavored to recapture
the position taken by us at Vaal Krantz. They
were beaten back. however with loss.
The work accomplished so far has been mag
nffcently done. The shell and Maxim fire poured
in by the Beers has been extremely severe but
our losses are comparatively speaking small.