The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-14
BRITISH HAD TO WITHDRAW.
BOER FORCES DROVE THEM BACK
FROM CoLESBERG.

to Be Resting on His LaureIs
London, Feb. 14.-A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Rensburg, dated yester,
day, says:
There has been hard fighting for two
days near Colesberg, the Beers making
strenuous efforts to outfank the British
left The enemy occupies strong positions
from Achetertang, through Potfontein, 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 Beers attacked the posi-
tion of the Worcesters, to the southeast
of Co,esberg. Fighting continued all day
and after dark 1t was considered necessary
to withdraw to Rensburg Our losses are
not yet known.
"On the left the West Australians,
Wiltshires and Berkshires had hot fight,
ing, but held their positions against long
odds. The Boer losses were considerable.
owing 90 the growing difficulty expert
enced by conveys in reaching the camps,
all Of the latter were vacated last night,
and the troops withdrew to Rensburg.
The Beers are burning the farms of
the loyaIists, but the latter have contrived
TO get away with their stock"
1t Is Unpleasant News.
London, Feb. IA, 4:9O a. m.-The news OF
the day 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 Beers
make a counter-stroke in unknown but
seemingly great force, not far from the
vital 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
here. Gen. French has maneuvered the
Beers out of Rensburg in December. On
Jan. /, 1T was reported that he could take
Colesberg in two days with reinforce
ments. These were sent but the Beers
also were reinforced Since then the
British lines have been extended east and
west, so that at the opening of this week
they constitute great horseshoe, twenty
five miles in length. The lines were not
were held.
Gen. French, when he Joined Lord Rob-
erts, presumably took most of his cavalry
Gen. Clements was left with the infantry
to hold the Beers in check. but Comman-
dant DeLarey, with double turning
movement, has compelled the British to
concentrate al Rensburg, beside threaten
ing Lord Roberts communications.
The Boer mastery of the district has
caused spread of the insurrection, but
this, no doubt, will be promptly repressed,
as large British forces are available not
far away
Butler Is Resting.
The indca tions as to Gen. Buffers i'm
mediate intentions are contradictory. One
informant, who has intimate relations
with the war office, predicts a movement
within the next two days. A number of
correspondents who have been with Gen.
Butler, however, have gone to Durham
for few days rest under the impress
sion that nothing is to be done immedi-
ately
The war Office has directed the Eighth
Division of 10000 men to prepare to go
out
Important Move Expected.
London. Feb. 13.-The cessation of war
news from South Africa is taken to indi-
cate that the British preparations for a
move from Modder river are about COM
pieted, and that important events can be
anticipated within a few days.
interest centers almost wholly upon
Field Marshal Roberts, especially since
Gen. Buffers report of his withdrawal
from Vaal I<rantz came, for the first time,
through Lord Roberts, showing that all
The different operations over the wide
Held will hereafter be more completely CO.
ordinated.
II Is now known that the military at
taches have gone to join Lord Roberts at
The Modder river, another move preluding
an advance
dispatch from the Modder river an
nonnces the arrival there of 1,4OO refugees
from the Barkley West district They
had been ordered away by the Beers, be-
cause they refused to join the republicans.
Inc refugees reached the Modder river
via Koodoosberg.
Il Is learned that 200 Beers were killed
or wounded during Gen. MacDonalds re-
oonnaissance. There is no confirmation of
tne reported sortie of British troops from
Ladysmlth, nor of the Boer outhanking
movement
A report comes from Durham that Brit
ish artillery forced the Beers to evacuate
their camp on Hlangwana hill, south of
Coienso. 1t would be an important ad-
vantage If the British were able 20 occupy
the position.
Renewed Boer Activity.
The absence of Gen. French from the
hensburg district seems to have given
me Beers an opportunity for renewed ac-
uity. They have apparently commenced
an extended attack on the British lines
ana ore meeting with minor successes.
which GRE having considerable moral ef-
loct on the border colonists.