The National tribune., 1900-02-08
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.
Contradictory News From the Field-Brit,
ish Parliament.

ments outside of Buffers are concerned.
Since Kitchener reached the Cape there
has been something like n scientific manage
ment OF the censorship, News have been
scarce. Lists of casualties have distressed
the English people. There is general
gloomineSs regarding the war.
The London papers on Feb. 1 published
n long list of Buffers casualties, making
| 300 reported up to that date for Gen.
Buller'S operations north OF the Tugela.
than any British force ever suffered, except
possibly at Albuera in 1911.
Winston S. Churchill, in an account
of the battle at Spion Yop, says the fight
on the summit of the kop was one of the
most fierce and furious conflicts in British
military history. Guided by Thorney-
croft, the troops surprised the Beers there
and carried the trenches with the .bayonet
at 3 o'clock in the morning. There was
little loss.
AT once the troops intrenched hastily, but
the ground was broken by large rocks and
unsuited for intrenchments. AT dawn
heavy Boer shelling began. Gen. Wood
ming.
urgent demands for reinforcementS were
sent by the commander who succeeded
Woodgate. The reinforcements were sent,
Strengthening the defense. Thorneycroft
was appointed Brigadier, commanding the
whole force on top of the hill. A bitter and
bloody struggle followed throughout the
day, the Beers concentrating every man
and gun on the summit of the hill and at
tacking with the greatest spirit.
"The British artillery was unable to cope
with the superior long-range Boer guns,
and during the afternoon it became evident
the infantry could not endure another day.
1t was impossible to drag guns to the sum-
init of SpiSn without elaborate preparations
or to fOrtify the hill strongly enough to
protect the defenders from unaSsailed artil-
lery.
Therefore, Thorneycroft's decision to
abandon it was both wise and necessary.
The troops, still stubborn and formidable,
marched back to the camps in regular order.
Every effort is now being made to succor
the wounded, of whom many still lie on
the summit. The official lists will give
the losses. The defense Of the hill by the
English infantry, particularly the Lanca-
shire regiments, was a glorious episode.
The whole army is proud of it.
"Ihe BOer positions before Ladysmith are
perhaps impregnable to q, 900 men. but the
troops are resolved to have another try at
them. The public must initiate the equa-
nimity of the troops.
"!Spon Kop is not disaster. Neithe er
guns We're lost nor unwounded prisoners
made. 1t WIS simply bloody action, in
which lodgment in the enemy's intrench-
tenable."
IN PARLIAMENT.
The seventh session of the 18th Parlia-
ment of Queen Victoria opened Jan. 30.
The Queens speech referred eulogistically
to the response by the people to her appeal
in resisting the invasion of my South
African Colonies by the South African
Republic and Orange Free State" noted
various offers of Colonial assistance, and
forces in South Africa. 81 exhort them to
sustain and renew their exertions until they
have brought this struggle for the main
tenance of the Empire and the assertion of
it's supremacy in South Africa to a VIC
toriouS conclusion"
TO the Commoners she said:
The provision for military expenditure
must be largely increased on account of the
charge for military operations in South
Africa. The experience of a great war
must necessarily afford Lessons of the great
est Importance to the military administra-
tons of the country. You will not, am
convinced, shrink from any outlay that
may be required to place our defensive
preparations on a level with the RESPONSE
bilities which the possession of so great
an Empire has laid upon us. At time
when several other nations are perfecting
their naval preparations at the cost %
increasing efforts and sacrifices. the Solici-
tude with which you have provided for the
efficiency OF our navy and our defenses will
assuredly not be relaxed"
During the debate in the House Of Com
mons Sir Charles Dixie, advanced Radical,
author of The British Army" Problems
of Greater Britain. Imperial Defense. and
other works pertaining to the Empire, de-
clared that the campaign in South Africa
had been conducted in a worse manner than
the Crlmean campaign, and that it had
been disastrous to the belief of the world
i'll Great Brltain'S ability to conduct war
British military reputation, he said, had
never stood lower 1t was only redeemed
by the individual courage of the troops.
1t was certain that in possible future wars
with great powers time would not be al
lowed for muddiing at the beginning of hos
tilities, and if such muddling was going to
would he inevitable.
Mr.. George Wyndham. Parliamentary
Secretary of The War Office, defended that
department. In the course of his SDeech
he gave the details of the present British
military strength in South Africa, which he
placed at 452 guns, including 36 siege and
:'S naval guns, and 142, 800 unmounted and
81 500 mounted men.
Referring TO the impending demand for
a large credit Mr.. Wyndham intimated that
it would not only be for the PURPOSE of
the war to the only conclu-
sion the country would tolerate, but for
placing the British system of military de-
'ense on Il sounder basis.
There was much debate on the Queens
speech and the general situation.
DISPOSITION OF THE FORCES.
On the surface of things, at the latter
Dart OF last week, Kitchener appears to be
gradually reinforcing Gatacrc, French. and |
felly-kenny, and getting ready for an |
nyaslou of the Orange Free State The
asst named is supposed to have moved from |
-tosmead ) JUNCTION just above NaauW Poort |
oward SteXnburg, where Gatacre's ad- |
met him. The strength of |
Aen. kelly-kenny's column is not told, but |
IS that officer commands the Sixth Divis-
on, the whole of which has reached Cape
Town, and as there is no word of any part of |
{ having gone to Natal, the probability is
hat the column is Identical with the di-
,ision.
French, operating around Colesburg,
S reported on Boer authority to have slIs-
aimed small check, but probably is able
% hold his own, and perhaps to preserved
he integrity of the COlesburg Bridge
icross the Orange River. Generally,
here. are Indications that an advance
by that line is in contemplation. and,
as far as II Is possible to Judge, Kitchener
Df the northern railway quadrilateral, the
salient OF which is above the Orange River |
At the railway junction, at the place called |
Springfontcin. Control of the uliadrila- |
Ieral means, in the absence of hostile move |
menlS IN the rear, open communication |
with Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and New
London.
Lord Methuen is still boxed up in front of
Magersfontcin, unable to break the Boer