Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1900-02-09
STUBBORN FIGHT.
Beers Attempt 10 Drive British
from q Hill.
General Methuen Driven Back to the
modder River.
Armsred Train and 1000 British Troops
Retreat from Chieveley.
ALL DAT rieHr ON TIE IusILA.

Mood,skerg Drift. Feb, 9-The Beers
yesterday made determined attempt to
drive the British from q hill command.
ing the drift. Mounting two seven.
Founders at the northern extremity they
shelled the position intermittently the
whole day. This 5eaforth Highlanders
gained a position on the rocky summit
and kept up a sustained rtis Ore. but
suffe cd somewhat from the Beers she'll
ing. A battery was sent aud succeeded
In sileneing the Boer fire. In the mean.
while two companies OF Argyle High
landsrs advanced along tie plain In q
westerly direction and found the Beers
entrenched In q small drift. A sharp en-.
gagement followed. lasting the whole
day.
General Macdonald now only requires
sufficient troops In order 70 completely
surround the Beers. General Darlington
was dispatched from Modder river with q
large force OF cavalry and two horse bat
teries. but failed TO reach him. although
he started early enough la the day TO en-
able him TO get here early this evening
This morning the infantry still remain
Ia the old position.
General Methuen has ordered retire
ment TO Modder river which is now pro.
ceeding. The British losses were fifty
men.
BRITISH DRIVEN BACK.
Head Lsager, Lsdysmith. Wednesday,
Feb. AN armored train yesterday
made a sortie from Chieveley towards
Colenso. and landed two thousand British
troops on the right Of the Boer position.
The Beers immediately crossed the river
and made an attack with r'flss aud ar.
tillsry. forcing the withdrawal Of both
train and troops to Chleveley.
Fighting on the upper Tugela river
lasted until $3.50 o'clock yesterday even
ing. Particulars lacking.
Firing at Colenso and along the upper
Tugela has been proceeding since fve
O'Clock this morning.
BULLER CLOSE PRESSED
London, Feb. .. 2:35 .. m.-There isstill
no news OF General Buffers doings TO- day
or yesterday. A dispatch dated Ffare
Camp, February 8, but probably written
with the advanced lines February Z, and
sent from Frere by runner, says: "Ths
forces OF the enemy are on both OF our
f,nks and continue to render our posi-
tion extremely difficult to maintain :"
Beyond the fact that Butler devoted
Wednesday to bringing In more artillery
and troops across the Tugels, nothing IL
known OF his movements, but that he
Is badly needing reinforcemenss Is evi
dent from the foregoing from Frere. 1t
Is still more patent that II ia impossible
for him to advance until his artillery has
been enabled to take up forward posi-.
tions for the purpose OF subduing the
Boer guns on both tanks. Upon the
length Of time occupied In this operation
depends the duration OF Buller's main
tenance OF the defensive. 1t Ia reason.
able to suppose that guns and relief re-
inforcements were in position yesterday.
and that the advance is now progressing.
or at least that bombardmsnt prelimi
nary to actual moysm mt of the troops is
In progress.
GIN. MACDONALD RETREATS.
London, Feb. 9.-Almost all critics
now point out that the mere pushing
through to Lsdysmith without securing
q decisive victory on the way would only
add danger to what already is q critical
situation.
General Hector MacD0nsld's retire.
ment from Koodsdorp created dissppoint-