Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-02-16

OlucI ny OOOIu klOOl, UOtu nlg III HIS.
The British hold the former, but the
Beers who have many men and guns
on the latter can sweep the valley,
it is believed here, and prevent the
passage of the British infantry
London accepts as true the Boer
statement that General Butler has
failed again. The explanation of
General Buffers third retirement
across the Tugela is that an Obser-
yer in balloon discovered that the
Beers had dozen heavy guns care
fully concealed and comman ding the
road Butler would have TO take to
reach Ladysmith.
Macdonald Fails Back.
KooDoosBERG DRIFT, Feb. s.
General Methuen ordered a retire
ment to the Modder river, which is
now proceeding.
The British losses were SO men.
The Beers yesterday made a de-
termined attempt to drive the British
from hill commanding the drift.
Mounting two seven-pounders at the
northern extremity they shelied the
position internationally the whole
day.
The Seaforth Highlanders gained
a position on the rock summit and
kept up con tinued rife fire, but
suffered somewhat from the Beers
Smelling. A battery was sent aud
succeeded in silencing the Boer fire.
Meanwhile two companies Of the
Argyll Highlanders advancing along
the plain in a westerly direction,
found the Beers entrenched at
small drift. A sharp engagement fol-
lowed lasting the whole day.
General Macdonald now only re-
quired sufficient troops in order to
surround the Beers.
General Darlington was dispatched
from Modder river with 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
afternoon.
Gatacrc victo.ious.
BIRDS RIVER, CAPE COLONY, Feb.
THE Beers opened fire on the
camp here this morning from high
ridge 5000 yards away, finding the
range at the third shot.
Their 14a-pounder Creusot guns
pitched nine shells within a radius
of 80 yards around the guns of the
Cape Mounted rifles, which were nm
able to reply owing to the fact that
the range was beyond their capacity.
Later Boer riilemen lined ridge four
miles off, from which they were sue
cessfully driven by the firing of the
Cape Mounted Rifles artillery.
A number of Beers got into the
bed of Birds river and poured hot
rifle fire into the British at 1000
yards range. They were afterward
caught between two fires, that of the
Royal Scots and Cape Mounted Rifles
to the right and other British rifle
men in the trenches to the left, and
were forced to retreat.
About IL a. M. AN armored train
arrived from Sterkstroom. 1t was at
once made target for the Boer shells
aud had to retire.
In the afternoon General Gatacre
arrived and he was followed by rein
forcements. Then the Beers retreated,
having been repulsed ut every point.
The British loss was one killed and
four wounded. The Beers, it is al
legged, used explosive Mauser bullets.
Roberts Now In Command.
Lord Roberts has now taken hold
of the campaign. His strategy evil
IDENTIFY is to act in the western theatre
of war, with energy enough to move
the centre of gravity thither. Gen.
cral Buffers movement must there
fore, be considered in its place in the
general scheme. The idea seems to
be that if General Butler cannot
skin the bear himself, he can hold
its legs while some one else does. Ac-
cordingly, General Butler is not to
risk his army, but short of that is
to give the Beers as much to do in
Natal as he can.
The new plan involves prompt
and successful offensive operations
against the Free State forces in the
West-a series of crushing blows.
Lord Roberts has reinforced Methuen
with a cavalry brigade and horse ar
tillery, and there is probably an in
fantry division to follow.
When the composition of the
force for the invasion of the Free
State is known it would not be sur
prising to find that Roberts has at
least 10000 men.
Pressure Upon Portugal
Intense pressure is being brought
to bear on Portugal by Continental
powers to prevent her from giving
aid to the British. Portugal is only
too willing to do everything far be-
yond the bounds Of neutrality to
help Great Britain. Lord Salisbury
Is determined this shall be done. and
Is counting on the cooperation of
has countrymen to put the nation on
a footing to defy European OPPOSE
ton. He has this week taken
definite measures regarding the
ports that can only be de-
scrloed as daring. Portugal, bend
ing to the modicum of coercion and
convinced that great Britain is able
to uphold her, has acquiesced, until
there practically exists today an al
lance of the strongest fiber between
Great Britain and Portugal.