Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-02-09
RULER READY FOR ADVANCE
Thought His ReInforcements Ar
rived Yesterday-He Reports
His Position as Diff
cult to Maintain.
AGUINALDO MAY BE IN LONDON

Thursday, Feb. S-The British who
were in possession of the kopje at
Molen's Drift, abandoned it after
bombardment by Boer cannon, this
morning, and retired across the Tu.
gela river to their former position,
A desultory cannonade was proceed
| ing on the Tugela this morning but
otherwise everything is quiet.
London, Feb. 9-Almost all critics
now point out that the mere pushing
through to Ladysmith, without se-
curing decisive victory on the way
would only add danger to what is
already critical situation. General
Hector MacDonald's retirement from
Koodsdorf created disappointment
but the operation was apparently
only intended as sortie and its sue
cess or failure could scarcely have
resulted in any material effect on the
campaign.
Pretoria, Monday, Feb. 5--Colonei
'Plumer's force on Feb. attacked a
Boer position near Ramonsta and af
ter heavy fighting, including an en-
deavor to take the place by storm,
the British were repulsed.
London, Feb. 9-(6:4O p. m.)--Up
to the present time the war office has
evidently heard nothing of General
Buffers retreat as described in dis
patch from the Boer Head Lager
The officials appeared utterly dunn
founded at the news, as Buffers dis
patch announced that Mondays and
Tuesdays movements were particular
hopeful.
Koodoesberg Drift, Feb. 9.-The
Beers yesterday made determined
attempt to drive the British from the
hill commanding the drift Mount
ting two seven-pounders at the north.
ern extremely they shelled the posi-
tion intermittently the whole day.
The Seaforth Highlanders gained
position on the rocky summit and
kept up sustained rifle fire, but suf-
fered somewhat from the Beers shell
ling. A battery was sent and succeed
ed in silencing the Boer fire. Mean
while two companies of the Aryll
Highlanders, advancing along the
plain in a westerly direction, found
the Beers entrenched on a small
drift. A sharp engagement followed
lasting the whole day. General Mac
Donald now only required sufficient
troops in order to completely sur
round the Beers. General Darlington
was dispatched from the Modder
River with a large force of cavalry
and two horse batteries, but failed
to reach here, although he started
early enough in the day to enable
him to get here early this evening
This morning the infantry still re-
main in the old position. General
Methuen ordered a retirement to
: Modder river which is now proceed
ing. British losses were fifty men.
Head Laager, Ladysmith, Wednes
: day, Feb. IAN armored train yes
terday made a sortie from Chieveley
towards Colenso and landed 1000
British troops on the right of the
Boer position. The Beers immediate
ly crossed the river and made an at
tack with rifles and artillery, forcing
the withdrawal of both train and
troops to Chieveley. Fighting on the
. Upper Tugela river lasted until $50
o'clock yesterday evening. Particu-
lars are lacking. Firing at Colenso
and along the Upper Tugela has been
proceeding since O'Clock this morn
, ling.
London, 2:S5 p. m.-There is still
no news of General Buffers doings
| today or yesterday. A dispatch, dat
ed Frere Camp, Feb. 8, but probably
written with the advanced lines, Feb.
18th, and sent to Frere by runner,
says:
eThe forces of the enemy are on
} both our fianks, and continue to rem
3 der our position extremely difficult to
9 maintain"
Beyond the fact that Butler deFot-
!. ed Wednesday to bringing more ar
tillery and troops across the Tugela
g nothing is known of his movements
but that he badly needed reinforce
ments is evident from the foregoing
from Frere. It is still more patent
. that It is impossible for him to adj
vance until his artillery has been
enabled to take up forward positions
: for the purpose Of subdueing the Boer
guns on both fianhs. Upon the length
of time occupied in this operation
\ depends the duration Of Buffers
maintenance of the defensive. It Is
reasonable to suppose that guns and
> relief reinforcements were IN posi-
tion yesterday, and an important ad-
vance is now progressing, or at least
bombardment, preliminary to the ac-
J. tual movement Of troops, is in pro
gress.