The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-13


riority of Boer : hell Fire MacDon-
AIDS Claim OF victory-To Remove
the Theatre OF War TO Westward
London. February 1l-4:10 n m-Tha
war office still maintains silence e.
garding the situation at the seat OF
war. announcing at u:3o O'Clock Last
evening that no further news had been
received and none has come from other
sources which would give a clew to
General Buffers movement since he
recrossed the Tugela or 20 the present
positions OF the forces
London, February 1o.-A dispatch to
The London Times from Springfield
Bridge. dated Friday. February oh.
says:
| Our force at Vaalkrantz entrenched
itself as well as possible, but, never
/ theless, We continued to lose men and
| no advance was made. The Boer ar1il-
| lery fired necessarily and as on We'd
| nesday 1t was increasingly apparent
that although the infantry might. by
a very determined assault force It's
| way through the centre Of the Roer DO
| sition, it would become impossible dur
Ing subsequent operations to maitain
the security OF the lines OF communi-
cation, the evacuation was decided
upon. The retirement commenced Mt
y O'Clock at night, the pontoon bridge
| being removed after General Hildyarfss
| force had crossed this morning TIE
whole force retired beyond the range
or the Boer guns. which continued
shelling."
A special dispatch, dated Spearman's
camp, Friday, February 9Th, says that
| General Buffers retirement was mc-a-
ly temporary, owing to a determine iorr
to change tactics. The force, the dia-
| patch adds, Will soon resume opera
tions- The casualties were mostly
| slight wounds.
| The fact that the news OF Lord Rob-
erts' message to Presidents Kruger and
! Steyn came from the Modder river is
| taken as an additional indication that
/ the commander in chief had gone
| there.
Headquarters Camp. Springfield
Bridge, February 9.-The position TAX
| en- north of the Tugela river proved q
| difficult one to maintain. The regt-
ments sent across as reinforcements
went into the front line OF trenches, but
| owing TO the great strength Of the.
| Beers in the Drakfontein hills to the
left, it was found impossible to ad-
| vance without risking unnecessary
| loss.
The Beers continued shellIng the
| British position. Their superiority of
shell fire rendered the advance i'm. Tssi-
BILE.
SO-CALLED BRITISH VICTOR
Modder River February 9.-Gan, -
| Macdonald scored a distinct success
Koodoosberg. His original orders "
to hold the drift and TO construct =
fort. The position, however. was =
tremely difficult. As it was impossible
to hold the whole summit General Mac
Donald constructed strong works
across the centre his plan being to re-
pei attacks. Things went quietly un-
til Wednesday, when the Beers advanc-
ed along the ridge within 900 yards-
They also held a smaller drift three
miles to the west. On receipt Of this
news General Methuen dispatched n
large force under General Darlington
with the purpose Of surrounding the
; Beers General Darlington arrived
within two miles Of Koodoosberg at 4: 30
o'clock p. m.-too late 10 attempt the
| turning movement.
The next morning it was found that
the Beers had fed from the lower drift,
!, but still remained on the hill which
, they also left when they perceived
Babington's movements. Early in the
, | morning Darlington vigorously shetea
, the retiring Beers The whole British
, force is now returning to camp.
, London, February 10.-An extra cab
met council was held this afternoon "A
? response to summons issued ye@terday
, evening. The council lasted over twS
, hours, several members Of the defenst
, | committee were present and Lord Sab
. isbury presided The premier held q
supplementary consultation after the
departure Of the majority OF Is COZ
leagues.
London, February 11.-Spence WA
, kinson, the military expert re- ewing
the South African situation r tb
Associated Press at midnighS. : -:
Lord Roberts has now taken hold
of the campaign. His strategy evident
ly is to act in the western theatre -
war with energy enough TO move tnf
centre of gravity thither. General Bet
leTs move must, therefore. De conssd-
: cred in its place in a general scheme
| The idea seems to be that IL General
? Butler cannot skin the beax himself h
1 can hold it's beg while some one etss
! does Accordingly General Butler ID
: nor to risk his army, but, short of thak
is TO give the Boers as much 20 do m
Natal as he can
d The new plan involves prompt and
successful offensive operations againsJ
I the Free State forces in the west aoe
assures crushing blows
Lord Roberts has reinforced Mecn-
uen with a cavalry brigade and horss
: artillery, and there 70 probably an In
] fankry division TO follow.
To all appearances General Builes
! had given up his third attempt beforx
] his attack was fully developed
n "A telegram received this eveninE
from Lourenzo Marques speaks Of a
sortie from Ladysm1th In the night a
Thursday to Friday. Such an actempq
OF General White to cut his way oun
was probable and may succeed. thougA
the nature Of the modern weapon =
against him and there would be heavy
loss and many etraggiers would be Gu
: of.
: gram.
} NE decided opinion on the opera
: tions OF the past week can be pro-
nounced until q connected. authentx<
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