The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-08

SPEARMAN'S CAMP, Wednesday,
Feb. 7.-Gen. Butler commenced the adj
vance for the relief Of Ladysmith Mon
day. The naval guns opened at in the
morning and a feint attack was made in
front of our position. Three battalions
advanced toward the Brakfontein with
six batteries. At II the Beers opened
with artillery fire and sent several shells
among the British infantry, who re-
tired an hour later. Meanwhile a Wig
orous attack was made on the extreme
right, where the engineers expeditiously
constructed position. Several pieces of
cannon, hidden among the trees on
Zwarts Kop, bombarded heavily. The
British infantry advanced, and the Beers
were entirely surprised.
At A o'clock q 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 morning.
The Beers worked a disappearing can
non from the high Dorm Klof range, on
the right of the hill but the British
shells exploded its magazine and the gun
was put out of action until late in the
day. Musketry fire was intermittent
until late in the afternoon, when the
Beers made determined attempt to take
the hill. Reinforcements rushed up,
cheering, the Beers were repulsed, and
the British advanced along the ridge.
BALLOON A SUCCESS.
The war balloon has proved most USE
full adjunct, making ascents daily and
getting Information as to the Boer po-
s9tions. The Beers directed a heavy
shrapnel fire in the endeavor to destroy
the balloon apparatus.
The artillery behaved splendidly
throughout ably covering the infantr's
retirement from the feint attack in the
face Of heavy Boer shelling. The en-
emy must have suffered very severely
as their ambuTances were hard at work.
The Boer position consisted of line
of kopjes extending three miles from
Spion Kop and curvdng sharply at the
eastern end to the south about opposite
Zwartz's Kop, which is steep hill
south of the Tugela, that the British oc-
cupied before the seizure of Potgieters
Drift.
After the capture Of KrantZ Kloof, the
heavy Boer fire prevented a. further ad-
vance Monday. The next morning the
Beers indulged in long range shell fire,
but in the afternoon they made an at
tempt to recapture their old position.
The attack was made at the northern end
Of the kopje and at first was success
full Reinforcements were, however
hurried up and the British recaptured the
position at the point of the bayonet and
advanced along the ridge. AS the British
had large force of troops the outlook
is hopeful.
BULLER'S ADVANCE.
LONDON, Feb. S.-The Standard has
the following from Spearman's Camp
dated Feb. Z:
1.-The force under Gen. Butler is again
advancing to the relief Of Ladysmith,
and after two days Of severe fighting it
may fairly be said to have made good
first step on the road to the besieged
town.
1.-The movement was begun at an early
hour on Monday morning, by way OF
Potgieter's Drift. The eleventh brigade,
forming part Of the fifth division, under
Gen. Warren, made a feint attack upon
the kopjes Immediately upon our front.
The attack was delivered at the outset
under cover of naval guns on Mount
Alice, and subsequently under that of
field batteries. The infantry advanced
steadily toward the Boer intrenched po-
sition at Brakfontein, and kept the enemy
busily employed While this diversion
was being 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
Zwart's 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 the forenoon was the
Durham light infantry, of Gen. Lyttle-
tons brigade They advanced against
Vaal Krantz, which lies or the most
direct road to Ladysmith, and after two
hours splendid work they got within
charging distance of the Beers.
AT BAYoNETs POINT.
1.-THE first of the kopjes was carried by
| them at the point of the bayonet, with
| the utmost gallantry. Almost stimuli
| taneously the battalion rifle brigade
| cleared the second kopjes, after moving
| across the long ridge, and they bivou-
| acked on the spot
1.-The feint attack at Potgieter's having
served its purpose in preventing the con-
centration of the enemy at the critical
| point, the Eleventh brigade fell back to
| the river In the course of the engage
ment both the infantry and artillery had
| been subjected to severe shell fire.
Yesterday (Tuesday) at in the after
noon the enemy, encouraged doubtless
by their success at spion Kop, endeavor-
ed to recapture the position taken by US
at vaal Krantz. They were beaten
back, however, with loss.
"The work accomplished so far has