The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-02-08
EULER FIGHTING HARD Gains a Footho|d North of The Tuge|a After a Two
 Days Battle.
ADVANCED EARLY MONDAY
MADE 4 FEINT ATTACK TO'COYEI
 THE OBJECTIVE.

BOors Are Driven Back-Burgheri
 Make Desperate Attempt to Regain
 the Position But Are Repulsed--The
 British Losses Heavy but TrifIne
 Compared With the Importance of the
 Movement Evidences of General
 Advance.
 London, Feb. 8.-The Standard has the
 February ':
 "The force under General Butler is
 again advancing to the relief of Lady,
 smith, and after two days of severe
 fighting it may fairly be said to have
 made a good first step on the road to
 the besieged town. 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 General
 Warren, made feint attack upon the
 kopjes immediately on our front. The assault was delivered at the outset un-
 der cover of naval guns on Mount Alice and subsequently, under that of field
 batteries.
 "The infantry advanced steadily to- ward the Boer entrenched position at Brakfontein and kept the enemy busily employed. While this diversion was be- ing made the remainder of the infantry tolled off for the attack They had bivouacked Sunday under Mount Alice and 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 -Durparf E ght infantry of General Lyt- tleton'e brigade. They advanced against Vaal Krantz, which lies on the most direct road to Ladysmth and after two hours splendid work they got within charging distance of the Boers The first of the kopies was carried by them at the point of the bayonet with the utmost gallantry. Almost simultaneous ly the First Battalion Rifle brigade cleared the second kopje and after nov ing across the long ridge they bivouack- ed on the spot.
 "The feint attack at Potgieter's Drift having served it's purpose in preventing the concentration of the enemy at the critical point, the Eleventh brigade fell back to the river. In the course of the operation both the infantry and the ar F. c,11hi tn a shell fire.
 "Yesterday (Tuesday) at o'clock in the afternoon the enemy encouraged doubtless by their success at Spion Kop endeavored to recapture the position taken by us at Vaal Krantz They | were beaten back, however, with loss. | The work accomplished so far has been magnificently done. The shell and | Mixim fire poured in by the Boers has been extremely severe, but our losses | are, comparatively speaking small. | The Durban Light infantry took few prisoners in the course of their charge.
 "The enemy, as usual fought with the utmost stubbornness. The British manoeuvring and the accuracy of aim on the part of the British artillery dur ing the fighting on Monday were be- yond praise. There is not the slightest Likelihood that the Boers will succeed in dislodging us from the positions we have gained and the prospects of the relief of Ladysmith are decidedly hope full"
 The Daily Telegraphs correspondent at Spearman's Camp, in dispatch dat ed Monday night, says: Under the personal direction of General Butler the attack on the Boer positions was begun this morning by nearly the whole of our batteries, ,seventy-two guns smelling the ridges where the enemy have their trenches and redoubts on the Brakfon- tein and the low crest facing Potgie- ters Drift. The enemy suffered se- verely Several hills were smoking like volcanoes from the effects of the bom- bardment, which set on fire their stores and the grass.
 "While the third pontoon bridge was being constructed under fire near schet (Skiet?) Drift, the Eleventh brigade, now under the command of Colonel Wynne, made demonstration against the Brakfontein ridge, march, ing across the meadows with the sup port of seven batteries of artillery. l At Il o'clock the enemy opened a t heavy cannonade of shrapnel, common . shell and Pompon shells, chiefly from 2 Spon Kop. This was accompanied by ( a rattling musketry fire. Our gunners i admirably and were as cool as l if upon parade. The demonstration having gained it's effect the real attack g upon the Boer left was delivered at ] o'clock. The Durban Light Infanry Y carried Vaal KrantZ, the drift and lower t ridges, while General Hildyard's bri- I gade assailed the higher ridges. The e general and his troops are bivouacking V upon the field of battle. In the lan- c guage of boudoir bulletins mother and o child are doing we'll Our losses are t triflng. " "The war balloon has proved a most a useful adjunct, making ascents daily 0 and getting information as to the Boer S positions. The Boers directed a heavy fl