Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1900-02-10
FIERCE FIGHTING.
Several Good Reasons Why Butler
Retreated Across the Tugela.
Beers Hold All Positions Leading 10 Lady
smith and DO Not Retreat.
BoIRs INVADE zULuIAND.

Headquarters Camp, Springfield
Bridge, FEB. 10 The position taken
north Of the Tugela river proved diff
cult one TO maintain. The regiments
sent across as reintorcemsnts went into
the front line OF trenches. but owing to
the great strength Of the Beers In the
Brakfontein hills TO the left, II was
found impossible TO advance without
risking unnecessary loss. The Beers
continued shelling the British position.
Several "long tom" shells fell among the
troops OF the transport trains, and four
burst at sewartkop, bu. the Beers could
not get the range.
The British guns posted there failed to
silence the long toms or other masked
guns. The Beers continued to work
their NordeDfeld on the British infantry
on the entrenched hill. The fre was Sc
we're ut times, Ga Wednesday afternoon
General Butler resolved not to press the
advance by this route. The transport
train moved back and the infantry re.
tired from vaaikrsntz Wednesday
night the guns on Sewartkop replied to
the Beers shelling. When they com
menced to she'll the transport train the
Boers got large number of cannon into
position. Their superiority OF shell flre
rendered the advance impossible.
CLAIM BRITISH SUCCESS.
Modder river. Noon.'-Gsneral Mac
Donald scored a distinct success at
koodoosberg. His original orders wer,
TO hold the drift and construct q fort
The position, however, was extremely
difficult. long range Of high hills run
ming northwest, terminating close to tn,
drift on the north bank OF the river. A,
II was impossible to hold the whole sum.
init, General Macdonald construc
ted strong works across the center, which
were held by Seatorth Highlsnders snt
three comps anie3 OF the Black Watch
While the Highland light infantry held 1
small kopj, at the right, the Ninth Ian
ciers patrolled toward the river, Genera
MscDonald's plan being to repel attacks
Things went quietly until Wednesday
when the Beers advanced along the ridg,
within 800 yards. monnting two noun
tain seven. Founders, which were invis
ible from the plain. They also held 1
smaller drift three miles west.
On receipt OF this news Methuen dis
patched large force OF cavalry and tw,
horse batteries under General BabingtoI
with the purpose OF surrounding tn,
Beers. In order to further this plaI
Mcdonald adopted merely defensive tao
tics. II was not attempted to I rec bacl
the Beers right, which move might hav,
resulted In their general retirement soon
General Bibington left Modder river a
1i:30 In the morning. and arrived within
two miles Of KoodoosbeTg at 1890 q. m.
too late to attempt turning movement
Next morning found that the Beers hat
fed from the lower drift, but still re
mained on the hill, which they left whel
they perceived the Bsblngton move
mants.
Bsrly In the morning Bsbington vieor
ously shelled the retiring Beers. Tn
whole British force Is now returning {,
camp. II is this little affair that reflect
great credit upon McDonald's tactics an,
proves thst the Highlandsrs have thor
oughly recovered their old 90 and cour
age.
WAY TIE BRITISH RETIRED
London, Feb. l0.-A dispatch to thu
London Times from Springfield bridge
dated February 8, says: "Our force a
Vssl Krsntz entrenched itself as we'll a
possible, but nevertheless we continued
30 lose men and no advance was made