Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-02-15
Beers AGGRESSIVE
IN CAPE COLONY
Offensive Tactics Of the Burghers in
the Vicinity Of CoIesburg
Worries the British.
HARD FIGHTING FOR TWO DAYS
British Finally Compelled to Retire
General l'rcnch's Movement
Seems to Have Coi-
Iapse,i.


day is the enforced retirement of the
British from the Colesburg district un-
der heavy Roer pressure, and probably
after brisk lighting. Thus, at Il time
When Lord Roberts is apparently
about 10 push AN army into the Free
State. the Beers make Il counter stroke
in unknown but seemingly great force.
not far from he vital line OF railway
connecting Dc;,al and Orange rivers.
MILITARY observers do not regard this
as more than u menace. Nevertheless.
the news produces an unpleasant inn
preston here. General French had
lranetNercd the Beers ont of RcnS-
burg in December. On january !, it
WAS reported that he could take Coles
burg i'm Two days with reinforccncnts
These we're sent, bat the Beers were
also reinforced. Since then the Britt
>li lines have been extended east and
west so that at the opening OF this
week they constituted II great horse
shoe twenty-five miles in length. The
lines We're not continuous. but all the
strong positions were held.
General French when he joined
Lord Roberts presumably took most
OF his cavalry.
General Clements was left with the
infantry 10 hold the Beers in check.
but Commantant DeIarey. with a dou-
bic turning movement. Us compelled
the British to concentrate at Rens-
burg, besides threatening Lord Rob
crts' communications.
The Bocr mastery of the district has
caused Il spread of the insnrrection.
but this. no doubt. will be promptly
rcprcsscd. as large British forces are
available not far away.
The ingications as tn General hnl-
Iers immediate intentions are contra
dictnlv. One informant. who has in
innate relations with the war oilice,
predicts Il movement Within the next
Two days. \ number of correspond
ents who have been with General Blll-
ler however. have gone to Durham for
a few days rest. under the impression
that nothing is to be done immmedl-
ately.
The war office has directed the
Eighth division of 10000 men to pre-
pare 10 90 out.
\ revised list of British casualties
at potgeitcr's drift from February 3 TO
Z given killed 70. wounded 80, miss
ing ).
Spencer Wilkinson, in the Morning
Post. discussing the news from Rens-
burg. says:
This intelligence is the natural
price paid for II blow elsewhere. The
Concentration al Motlder river is APP
parently accompanied by a weakening
OF the force al lolesburg, and IN this
the Beers have taken the advantage
10 assume tho offensive.
Alcanwhilc i. looks as though the
enemy has withdrawn thnii. forces
from Magcrsfonten to reinforce those
mt Colcsburg. where Il Rocr victory
threatens the communications be-
tween Cape Town and Mooder river
Reviewing the whole situations MIR.
Wilkinson says that the type OF the
coming operations recalls that of the
American civii war.
Developing this thought he re
marks:
British strategy must be To crush
in succession each OF .hc three plin-
cipal Bocr forces near Kimberley.
Coesburg and Stor.mberg. 10y bringing
against them greatly superior mum
bers. Much depends on what happens
in Natal. General Joul)ert is not like
~ To abandon his present purpose
against I.adysmith until disasters To
the ltoer army compcls him.
The opinion that the invasion of
the Free state will suffice To bring the
Free State troops ont OF Natal and
will induce the Free Staters to sub
NIT is not based ON Il true estimate of
the nature OF the Beers The two re-
publics are fighting for national exist
ence and they will stand or fall to-
gctller.
This war Will not he ended by
STRAIT egical maileuVcring or by the oc-
cupation of geographical points, but
by destruction of the Boer army.
taking The word destruction i'm its
military sense. on decisive defeat in
volNing dispersion of an army as an
organized force
London. Feb. IA. \ private lelc-
gram received here says:
THE force commanded by General
Wood has moved up from the soilih-
ward and seized Zoutpnn's drift, which
il now holds
The war Office has received u dis
patch from Colonel Kekewich. dated
Sunday. February III. To the effect that
Kimberley was bombarded February
s. During the morning of February
am infantry engagement lasting
two hours occurred III NleNandelsfoii-
TEN. The situation otherwise is n:i-
changed.
Rcnshure. Feb. 1.-THE Beers are
actively pressing around RciiSblirg.
The British force under Lieutenant
Colonel Page. consisting of Il section
of artillery. .and 80 horse, which
reached S!ingersfontein February 10
has been compelled TO fall back on
Rensburg. owing to its eastern flank
being threatened.
7 Rcnsburs. Feb. 2.-livening. The
Boers have again driven in he British,
outposts ON the western flank today
all outposts at Bastard's mex. Hob
kicks Windmill and other points rctir-
ing 10 Maeder's farm. There were sew
eral casualties. but the details have
moi yet been received.
London. Feb. II. \ dispatch TO ,h,
Evening News from Rensburg says Sc
we're fighting occurred during the
British retreat. various o,tposts on
both sides suffering heavy losses The
dispatch adds ii is doubtful if Rens-
| burg can be held.