The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-10
Hos Abandoned His KODIG Qld Re-
crossed The TugGI0.
BOER REPORT IS ACCEPTED
British Were Fired Upon From
Both Their FIankS.

Buffers Position Was Impracti-
cable for the Guns That Were
Needed to support His Further Ad-
vance-ReIieved the Advance to
the Orange River Will soon Begin.
MacDOnaId's Withdrawal Is some
what of Mystery-Lcyds Says the
Have Ammunition.
Eoar Head Lager Ladysmith, Thurs
day Feb. S.-The British who were in
possession of the kopje at Molons Drift
abandoned 1t after a bombardment by
Boer cannon this morning and retired
across the Tugela river to their former
position.
A desultory cannonade is proceeding at
the Tugela this morning, but otherwise
everything is quiet.
London. Feb 10, 420 a. m.-London ac-
cepts as true the Boer statement that
Gen. Butler has failed again.
These statements were passed by the
British censor at Alden and are read in
the light of Mr.. Balfour's announcement
in the Commons that Gen. Butler is not
pressing his advance.
Mr.. Winston Churchill wires that Wall
hantz was impracticable for the guns
which were needed to support further
advance. His cablegram leaves Gen. Bull
Ter on Tuesday night sending a fresh bri-
gade to relieve the tired holders of Vaal-
krantz
The descriptive writer's with Gen. Butler
were allowed rather free hand again in
explaining the ugly position, which the
British he'd and the natural obstacles
which had TO be overcome. So it is easy
to infer that with Boer rilemen and artl-
lery defending them, these hills, ravines
and jungles have not been overcome, and
thus the public is prepared in advance for
bad news.
Ladysmith Had Hopes.
II kilograms from Ladysmith, dated Mon
daY describe the effect of Gen. Buffers
u csnnonade had on the worn garrison.
\ Hope ram high that the long
r.riod of inactivity and tedtum
was drawing TO close The crasn
OF guns was almost continuous for ten
hours, and at times it seemed as if as
Il many twenty shells burst in minute.
lAe Beers, preparing always for the
N Possibility of defeat. were driving herds
II ard sending long wagon trains toward the
i'fakensberg passes. Intense darkness
c.d Hence followed, broken only by frogs
u7aNug and the occasional blaze of star
Shells ba r.itb .fr,7a
Of LIGHT to prevent the uuobserved ap-
preach Of the enemy. A series of British
mines laid for the Beers, exploded acci-
den.7.Iy, shaking and alarming the city
aad camp,
NcDonaId's Action PuzzIinE.
Gen. MacDonald's retirement puzzles
'a' military commenters. The theory that
AA's acceptance is that it was ordered by
h'.d Roberts and that both Gen. Buffers
AMI Cen. MacDonald's operations were by
the direction of the Commander-in-Chief,
iH order to occupy the Beers at widely sep
ai1.oi points, so they would be unable
70 Transfer any portion of their forces to
"F'-e the projected central advance.
N Charles Williams a military writer
VINO Us understood to be in confidential re-
ial"Hs with Lord Wolseley, says that be-
s''o doubt the most authoritative opinion
ID London, regards it probable that an en-
u'''ot viii be made to force the line Of
N' range river before Wednesday next,
Possibly by Monday.
Nr Henry W. Lucy, says that the
."'o of Sir Alfred Miner, Governor Of
''e 03.ony, is suffering from the pro-
''a'i strain, and his friends fear that
Dc U break down.
-' Salisbury's son, Lord Edward Ce-
-" responsible for Mafeking being so
r." lf1visioned. Al the outbreak of the
earned the amount Of army stores
.o be sent to Mafeking aud on his
"'uative pledged his private means
''' the stores quadrupled. He is now
III 1'', king and one Of its boldest defend
Gs
situation in the West.
dispatch to the Times from Koodoos-
dated Thursday, Feb s. says
' reported that Boor reinforcemeuts
irving from Magersfontein. our
Is easily tenable. but the entire
pas been ordered to return to MOD
river tomorrow
Times has the following from Kim
dated Feb. 8:
' 'oer big guns sheued US all day
''y but nobody was killed"
correspondent OF the Times al Lo-
o Marquez, under date OF Feb 8. says.
'"t visitors 20 Inhambano report
- 'e Portuguese customs authorities
seized quantity of arms and am