Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-13
He RETREAT I. E A
Butler Found He Gould Not
Maintain Position.
MACDONALD's SUCCESS
More Than Carried Out His Original
Orders at Koodocsberg-Aff Re.
fleets Great Credit on aIacDon.
aid and the Highlanders.

Headquarters Camp, Springfield
Bridge, Feb. 9.-(By Associated Press)
The position taken north OF the Tu-
gela river proved difficult to meintain.
The regiments sent across as reinforce
ments went into the front line of the
trenches, but, owing to the great
strength of the Beers in the ,Brakfon-
TEN Hills to the left, it, was found im-
possible to advance without .risking un>
necessary loss, The Beers continued
Smelling the British position. Several
Long Tom" shells fell among the
transport trains and four burst on
Zivaat Kop, but the; Beers could not
get the range. The British guns post
ed there failed to silence the 'sLong
Tom" or the other masked guns. The
Beers continued to work the Norden-
feldtss,on the British infantry, en-
trenched on the hill. The fire was se>
we're at times. Wednesday afternoon
Butler resolved not to press the adj
vance by this route. The transport
train moved back and the infantry re-
tired from Vaalkrantz. Wednes-
day night the guns onfZwart Kop re-
piled to the Boer Smelling. When they
commenced to shell the transport train
the Beers got large number of can
non into position. Their superiority
oh all
possible.
London, Feb. 1o.-(By Associated
Press.)-The Times special from
Springfield Bridge, dated Feb. 9, says:
"Our force at Vaalkrantz entrenched
itself as well as. possible, but neyerthe-
less we, continued to lose men and no
advance was made. The Boer artillery
fred necessarily and as Wednesday
proceeded it was increasingly apparent
that altho the infantry might, by a
very determined assault, force its way
thru the center of the Boer position,
| 1t would be impossible during the subs
sequent operations to aintain the Sc
curity of the lines of communication
and so evacuation was decided upon.
| The retirement commenced at 9
o'clock at night, the Pontoon bridge
being removed after Hildyard's force
had crossed this morning. The whole
force retired beyond the range of the
Boer guns, which continued shelliug.' 81
Retirement Merely Temporary.
| London, Feb. 10.--By Associated
Press.)-A special from Spearman's
Camp, dated Feb. 3, says: Buffers
retirement, is merely temporary, ow-
ing to "a determination to change the
tactics. The force will soon renew
operations. The casualties are mostly
( slight wounds"
| Macdonald Scores Success.
Modder River, Feb. 9.-(By Associat-
| ed Press. )--MacDonald scored dis
tinct success at Koodoesberg. His orig
inal orders were to hold the Drift and
construct the fort. The position, how
ever, was extremely difficult along the
range of high hills, running northwest
and terminating close to the Drift on
the north bank of the river. As it was
impossible to hold the whole summit
Macdonald constructed strong works
across it, the center of which was held
by the Seaforth Highlanders and three
companies of the Black Watch. While
the Highland light infantry held the
small Kopje on the right, the Ninth
Lancers patrolled the left toward the
river, MacDonald's plan being to repel
the attacks. Things went quietly I'M
til Wednesday, when the Beers adj
vanced along the ridge within 900
yards, mounting two mountain seven
Founders which were invisible from
the plain. They also held the smaller
drift, three miles to the west. On re-
ceipt of this news Methuen dispatched
a large force of cavalry and two horse
batteries under .Babington, with the
purpose of surrounding the Beers. In
order to further this plan, Macdonald
adopted merely defensive tactics. 1t
was not attempted to force back the
Beers right, which move might have
resulted in their general retirement
too soon. Darlington left Modder Riv.
er shortly, before noon and arrived
within two miles of Koodoesberg al
4:30 p. M, too late to attempt the
turning movement.
The next morning they found the
Beers had fled from the lower drift
but had remained on the hill, which
they also left when they perceived Bah,
ington's movements. Early in the morn
ing Babiugton vigorously shelled the
retiring Beers. The whole British force
is now returning to camp. This little
affair reflects great credit upon Mac.
Donald's tactics and proves the, High.
! landers have thoroly recovered their
old go and courage.
Roers Take ankandla. Il
Durham. Feb. 1O.-By Associated
| Press. 1.-The Beers have taken Ink
andla, of the Zululand Snagistracy
The magistrate, the night previous, ex,
ploded the magazine and with his staff
and the police, evacuated the place
and proceeded to Eshow.
4 Cabinet Council.
London, Feb. 1O.--(By Associated
Press.) THE extra cabinet council this
afternoon lasted over two hours. Sew
.eral members of the defense commit
Itee were present 4. Il