Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-10

|
! artillery.
| ABUNDANCE OF AMMUNITION.
Dr. Leyds has issued in Brussels a
statement for publication in England
in which he says he is convinced that
the war will continue as long as the
| TWO republics have arms an3 ammuni-
| ton. II the Mauser cartridges give out
the Beers, he asserts, will fall back
upon Martini-Henry rifles, for which
they have supply of ammunition that
is practically-lnhaustib
~ special dispatch from Spearman'e
Camp, dated yesterday (Friday) noon
says that owing to the Boer cross fire
and the impossbility of intrenching
Vaal Kranz. General Buffers force
withdrew
The Financial News, which publishes
this dispatch. suggests that General
| Butler has not yet actually recrossed
the Tugela
BIG MONEY REQUIRED.
London, FEB. "a parliamentary pa
per issued this afternoon estimates that
] $b3,O00,OO0 additional will be required for
the war expenses for the year ending
March 81.
OTHER DISPATCHES.
| Lcipsig. Feb 9.-The Neuste Mach
richten prints Il special dispatch from a
correspondent who claims that General
Buffers third attempt to relieve Lady
smith has completely failed.
REPULSED. Y
/ Pretoria, Feb. 9.-Colonel Plumers
force. February 2. attacked the Boer
posftion near Ramensta, and after
heavy lighting, including an endeavor
to take the place by storm, the British
were repulsed. Their loss is unknown.
No Beers were injured
METHUEN ORDERS RETREAT.
toodoosberg Drift, Feb. 9.-The Bo-
ers yesterday made Il determined at
tempt TO drive the British from a hill
commanding the drift. Mounting two
seven Founders at the northern eXtrefn-
lty they shelled the position intermit-
tently the whole day. The Seaforth
Highlanders gained position on the
rocky summit and kept up sustain
| Gu rifle fire, but suffered somewhat
greatly from the Beers Smelling. A bat
terry was sent and succeeded in silencine
the Boer fire. Meanwhile two compan-
les OF the Argyll Highlanders, advanc-
ing along the plain i'll western direc-
tlcn, found the Beers entrenched at a
small drift a sharp cnga gement fol-
lowed. lasting the whole day.
General Macdonald now only re-
quires sufficient troops i'm order to com
| PiClCiy surround the Beers.
THE BRITISH RETIRE.
=Gen eral-Baeaiiass;; iifttf
from the Modder River with n large
force of cavalry and two batteries Of
Horse Artillery, but failed to reach
here, although he started early enough
in the day to enable him to get here
| early this afternoon. This morning
General Nte'thuen ordered that the
combined force should retire upon the
Modder River. which movement is now
proceeding. The British losses i'm the
fighting on Wednesday were fifty me-,
Killed or wounded.
AN INDICATION.
London, Feb. 9-The dispatch from
Koodoosberg Drift does not say
whether General Darlington finally
joined General Macdonald, but the
word combined" seems to indicate that
he did So
| FORCED BACK TO CTIIEVELEY.
Head Laager, Ladysmith. Wednes-
day, Feb.'7.--An armored train yester-
day made a sortie from Chieveley to-
wards Colcnzo and landed 1000 British
troops on the right of the Boer posi-
ton. The Beers Immediately crossed
the river and made an attack with
rifles and artillery forcing the with
drawal of both the train and the
troops to Chieveley.
I The fighting on the upper Tugela
river lasted until $50 yesterday (Tues-
| day. evening. Particulars are lacking
Firing at both Colenso and along the
upper Tugela has been proceeding since
o'clock this morning.
BULLERS DEPENDENCE.
London, Feb. "a dispatch dated
Frcre Camp yesterday, probably writ
ten within the advance lines Wednes-
day. says:
THE forces of the enemy are on both
our TANKS, and continue to render our
position extremely difficult to main
tain"
This makes it evident that General
I Butler. after devoting Wednesday tc
1 bringing more artillery and troops
across the Tugcla,. was badly in need
Of reinforcements. 1t is still more po-
tent that it Is impossible for him to
advance until the artillery has been en-
abled to take up forward positions for
the purpose of subduing the Boer guns
on both TANKS. Upon the length OF
time occupied in this operation depends
the duration Of General Buffers main
tenance of the defensive.
| Almost all the critics now point out