The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-11
WHY GEN. BULLER WITHDREW.
HE CONTINUED TO LOSE MEN AND
HAD TO TURN BACK.

BOer Position Was a Strong One and
Hot Fire Was Maintained-It Is
Said Butler Determined on n
Thinks, Now That Roberts Has
Taken Hold, the Main Scene VIII
BE Shifted Westward.
Headquarters Camp, Springfield Bridge.
Feb 9.-The position taken north of che
Tugela river proved a difficult one to
maintain
The regiments sent across as reinforce
ments went into the front line of trenches,
but owing to the great strength of the
Beers in the Brakfontein hills to the left,
it was found impossible to advance with
out risking unnecessary loss.
The Beers continued shellng the British
position Their superiority of shell fire
rendered the advance impossible.
Position Was Difficult.
London. Feb 10-A dispatch to the
Times from Springfield Bridge, dated Fiji
day, Feb. g. says:
our force at Vaalkrantz entrenched it
self as well as possible, but nevertheless,
we continued to lose men and no advance
was made. The Boer artillery fred incee-
sanity. and as Wednesday proceeded It
was increasingly apparent that although
the infantry might by a very determined
assault, force it's way through the center
of the Boer position, it would become i'm
possible during subsequent operations 30
maintain the security of the lines of COM
municaiOn, and the evacuation was de-
cided upon.
The "etirment commenced al o'clock
at night, The pontoon bridge being re-
moved after Gen. Hildyards force nad
crossed this morning. The whole force
retired beyond the range of the Boer guns,
which continued shelling."
Says 1t Was Temporary.
A special dispatch. dated spearman's
Camp, Friday, Feb. g. says that Gen.
Buffers retirement was merely tempor-
ary, owing 10 a determination to change
tactics. The force, the dispatch adds,
will soon resume operations. The casual
ties were mostly slight wounds.
The fact that the news of Lord Rob-
ert's message to Presidents Kruger and
Steyn came from the Modder river is
taken as an additional indication that .he
Commander-in-Chie had gone there.
War Onice Is silent.
London, Feb. II. 4:1O a. m.-The war Of
fee stin maintains silence regarding the
situation at the seat of war, announcing
at 11:3O o'clock last evening that no
further news had been received, and none
has come from other sources which would
give cIew to Gen. Buffers movement
since he recrossed the Tugeia, or to the
present position of the forces.
Roberts Has Taken Hold.
Spenser Wilkinson, the military expert,
reviewing the South African situation for
the Associated Press a midnight says:
Lord Roberts has now taken hold of the
campaign. His strategy evidently is to
act in the western theater of war with
energy enough 10 move the center of grav-
ity thlther. Gen. Buffers move must
therefore, be considered in it's pace in
general scheme.
THE idea seems to be that if Gen. Butler
cannot skin the bear himself, he can hold
it's leg while some one else does. Accord
ingly, Gen. Butler is not to risk his army,
but, short of that, is TO give the Beers as
much 10 do in Natal he can.
The new plan Involves prompt and sue
cessful offensive operations against the
Free State force in The west-a series of
crushing blows.
Lord Roberts has reinforced Methuen
with a cavalry brigade and horse artil-
lery, and there is probably an infantry di-
vision to follow.
ITO all appearance Gen. Butler has
given up his third attempt before his at
tack was fully developed.
whites Reported SOrtie.
"A telegram received this evening from
Lorenzo Marquee speaks of a sortie from
Ladysmith on the night of Thursday to
Friday Such an attempt of Gen. White
to cut his way out was probable and may
succeed, though the nature of modern
pons is against him and there would
be heavy loss and many stragglers would
be cut off.
''T'he likelihood of Gen. White trying to
fight his way out would explain the reti-
cence of the war office. II would also
explain the demonstration from Cheveley, 1
of which we have heard only through a
Boer telegram.
mo decided opinion on the operations
of the past week can be pronounced I'M
til a connected. authentic account shall
!,