The age-herald., 1900-02-14
HARD FIGHTING
 NEAR COLESBURG Boers Have Sprung Another Sur-
 prise on British. TROOPS FORGED TO REiIR1 Military Experts Regard it as Mere Menace, Though an Unpleasant Impression Was Produced
 Revised Casualty List
TROOPS FORGED TO RE iIRi

London, February H.-(4:9o a. m.)-Tne news of today is the enforced retirement of the British from the Colesberg district under heavy Boer pressure, and probably after brisk fighting. Thus, at a time when Lord Roberts Is apparently about to push an army into the Free State, the Boers make counter stroke in unknown, but seemingly great force, not far from the vi- tai line of railway connecting Deaar and Orange river.
 Military observers do not regard this as more than menace. Nevertheless, the news produces an unpleasant impression. General French Clas maneuvered the Boers out of Rensiberg in December. On January l 1t was reported that he could take Coles berg in two days with achievements These were sent, but the Boers were also reinforced. Since then the British lines have been extended east and west, so that at the opening of this week they const1- tuted great horseshoe twenty-five miles in length. The lines were not continuous, but all tine strong positions were held. General French, when he joined Lord Roberts, presumably took most Of his cav airy General Clements was left with the infantry to hold the Boers in check, but Commandant Delacy, with a double turn ing movement, has compelled the British to concentrate at Rensberg, besides threat ening Lord Roberts communications.
 The Boer mastery of the district has caused a spread of the insurrection, but this will no doubt be promptly repressed, as larger British forces are available not far away.
 The indications as to General Buffers inn mediate intentions are contradictory. One informant who has intimate relations with the war office predicts a movement within the next day or two. number of cor respondents who have been with General Butler however, have gone to Durban for a flew days rest under the impression that nothing Is to be done immediately.
 The war office has directed the eighth division of 10000 to prepare to go out
 Hard Fighting Near Coiesburg
 London, February 14.-A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Rensberg, dated yesterday, says:
 There has been hard fighting for two days near Colesberg, tine Boers making strenuous efforts to outf1ank the British left. The enemy occupies strong positions from Achterlang, through Potfontedn, to a point five miles south of JaSfontein.
 1.-The fighting at the outpost camps has been very severe during the last few days Yesterday the Boers attacked the position of the Worces.ers to the southeast of Coles berg Fighting continued all day, and after dark it was considered necessary to with draw to Renesberg Our losses are not yet known"
 .'On the left the Australian Wiltshores and Berkshires had hot fighting, but held their position against long odds. The Boer losses were considerable.
 towing to the growing difficulty exper- fenced by conveys in reaching the camps, all of the latter were vacated last night and the troops withdrew to Rensberg
 'The Boers are burning the farms of the loyalists, but the latter have contrived to get away with their stock"
 Wandering British Soldiers
 Brussels, February 1s.-Le Petit Bleu, in correspondence from Pretoria, publishes an extraordinary account of 2.OO0 British sol- diers who, 1t Is said by the writer, arrived toward the end of December last during the retreat from Dundee. at the River Ma puta, the boundary between Swaziland and Portuguese territory. According to the narrative they had lost their way and wandered for weeks in Zululand, arriving shceless, in rags, and dying of hunger. These soldiers, the correspondent says, were thought to have been shut up with Sir George White in Ladysmith
 Buffers Headquarters Moved
 London. February 13-The fact that General Buffers dispatch revising the casualties to the British troops at Potgieter's Drift Is dated from Chieviey, is taken in some quarters as an indication that General Buller has removed his head quarters to that place. There is nothing to indicate whether or not he left any large force at Springfield.
 Revised Casualty List
 London, February 13.-A revised list Of British casualties at Potgieters Drift from September 5 to February shows: Killed,