The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-08
FIGHTING IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The period OF inactivity that was imposed by
the successive checks to the British forces al
oil points In tho South African cam paign seems
to have come to an end, and at three out OF the
four spheres OF action. fighting Is going OH OF
positions being taken up that mus. lead
TO II at an early moment. The first point
from which rows has como Is the Modder
River camp. from where Gen. Hector Macdonald
marched on Saturday with tho Highland Bri-
gade. a battery Of field artillery and a cavalry
regiment with q pontoon section OF Engineers.
They arrived at Koodoesberg Drift, fifteen
miles west OF the Modder River camy.
after two days trying march over rough
ground and much suffering from heat and
thirst. They Immediately proceeded TO occupy
koodoesberg and Koppies Dam. when com.
mands the wagon road from Kimberley to
HopetowD. on the Orange River. and Douglas
on the Naal River. Al the date OF the last de.
spatch. Tuesday. there had only been q slight
brush with a party Of Beers. who had come
down. evidently. on a accommodating expedition
and then retired to the northeast. From the
fact that Gen. Macdonald has q pontoon
train with him 1t seem probable that he
Is taking up a permanent position at
koodoes Drift. which will be brldged for a
force coming from tho south to advance direct
to Kimberley. turning the Spytiontein position
by Its right. Such q movement, however. will
require some days yet to carry out. unless there
Is a force somewhere south OF the Rlet River
waiting. ready to march, OF which we have yet
heard nothing. Whatever the intention OF this
movement OF Gen. Macdonald. it indicates an
early renewal Of tho attempt to reach Kim
berley.
The next point OF interest Is Sterkstroom
from where a despatch has been received say
Ing that the Beers from Stormberg and Dord-
recht had attacked the British at Sterkstroom
and Birds River Siding about half way between
Sterkstroom junction and lndwe, and at an
other point In the vicinity. probably on tho road
between there and Queenstown. This move
would appear to be In anticipation OF Gen. Cat.
acres advance against Storm berg. from which
It would be intended 10 divert him. At Dor
drecht the Beers hold the road hat goes north
from Queenstown to Aliwal North. and so pro-
tect the left flank Of the Boer positions at
Stormberg and Burahersdorp.
The chief interest. however. is In the news
from the Tugela. The report from the Boer
headquarters near Ladysmith. dated Tuesday,
says that the British crossed the river at two
points on Monday but were repulscd at the
pOnt and driven back In confusion. but held q
small hill near Molen Drift. Neither OF tho
two points named. the pont and Molen Drift
appear on any OF tho maps issued, but the
pont is probably Potgleter's Drift. Thu British
report comes down to six o'clock last even.
ing. and gives a detailed account OF the fight.
ing since Monday, The movement would sem
to have begun by an advance OF three battal-
ions and six batteries toward Braksontein.
a point about half way between Pot.
gieter's Drift and Dewdrop, At IL the Boer
artillery opened fire. which caused the British
infantry TO retire an hour later. Meantime.
under cover Of a heavy fire from Xwarts hop
the British infantry advanced. and by 1 O'Clock
krantz kloof. a continuation to the eastward OF
the Brakfontein Hills. was taken. Krantz Kloo
commands the road direct from Potgieter's
Drift TO Ladysmith through Arnot Hill Farm
and by Lancer Hill. There Is then a gan in
the account. no description being given Of
Tuesdays work. but It is stated that fighting
was resumed yesterday morning. the Beers
working a disappearing gun on Doom Kloof
Range. TO the right OF Krantz Kloof. The Brit
ish artillery fire. however. blew up its maya
zine and the gun was sIlenced until later in the
day. In the afternoon the Beers mnde a de-
termined effort to retake the captured hill. but
were repulsed. and the account closes saying
that the British advanced along the ridge.
The movement described gives the key to
Gen. Buller's pan. which is to drive through
the Boer lines OF investment by the shortest
and most direct road to Ladysmith from Pot
gieter's Drift. 1t is no longer q question Of
strategy. but Of hard lighting. pounding away,
until the Beers are pushed aside and Lady
smith Is reached, when the troops. which in
the meanwhile are waiting the result OF the
direct movement, will push up to complete the
operation and open the road from Colenso to
the relieved garrison. the Beers between the
Tugela and Ladysmith necessarily retiring II
the British are successful in the movement in
progress.
The position at Colesberg is somewhat oh.
scure. and has to be looked at in connec-
ton with what Is passing at Sterkstroom
and on the Molder River. Lord Roberts
and Gen. Kitchener are believed TO
have gone in that direction TO inspect
the situation. but nothing is known
for certain and 1t Is Just possible that the
result OF tho Boer activity toward Sterkstroom
and the lndwe-Sterkstroom Railway may
will give Il new direction to the course Of the
campaign south OF the Orange River. A very
short time must nov decide one Of the prihci-
pal events, the question Of Ladysmith. on
which the future hangs.