The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-01-29
HE RETREATS A SECOND TIME
BEFORE BOER PATRIOTS.
III Is 5NIfT IS TO his lNd5
But They are known TO Exceed 1900
Ladysmith Il Again on its Own Re-
sources-The Gloom of London Is
Intense and Most PItiabIe.


dispatch to the war Office states that
Spionkop was abandoned on ac-
count of lack of water, inability to
bring artillery there and the heavy
Boer fire. Gen. Butler gives no
list of casualties. His whole force
withdrew south of the Tugela river
with the evident intention of reach
ing Ladysmith by another route.
Following is the text of Gen. Bull
er's dispatch, dated Spearman's
Camp, Saturday. Jan. p, 6:1OI
p. M:
"On Jan. 20 Warren drove back
the enemy and obtained possession
of the southern crests of the high
tableland extending from the line
of Acton Holmes and Hongers Port
to the western Ladysmith hills.
From then until Jan. 25 he remain
ed in close contact with the enemy.
THE enemy held strong posi-
ton on a range of small kopJes
from northwest to southwest across
the plateau from Acton Holmes,
through Spionkop to the left bank
of the Tugela.
THE actual position held was per-
feetly tenable, but did not lend it
self to an advance, as the southern
slopes were so steep that Warren
could not get an effective position,
and the water supply was a diff
Guilty.
ION Jan. % l assented to his
attacking Spionkop, a large hill,
indeed a mountain, which was eyi-
IDENTIFY the key to the position, but
was far more accessible from the
north than from the south.
ION the night of Jan. % he at
tackled Spionkop, but found it very
diffieult to hold, as its perimeter
was so large. and water, which had
been led to believe existed in this
extraordinary dry season, was
found very deficient. The crests
| were held all that day against Sc
we're attacks and a heavy she'll fire
! Our men fought with great gal
lantry. would especially mention
the conduct of the Second Gamer
!, onians and the Third Kings Rifles
who supported the attack on th'
B., mountain from the steepest side
= and in each case fought their wa!
'. to the top; and the second Ian
cashire Fusileers and Second Mid
: dlesex, who magnificently main
9 tanned the best traditions of tn
II British army throughout the tryinI
day of Jan. "a, and Thornycrott
y mounted infantry, who tough
through the day equally we'll alon
l. side of them.
y Gen. Woodgate, who was /
. command at the summit, havin
n been wounded, the other Office
r. who succeeded him decided on tn
N necessity on Jan. "a to abando
9. the position, and did so before daw
Jan. 25.
A. Il visited Warren's camp at
- a. m. on Jan. 25 and decided TIL
q second attack OF Spionkop WI
useless, and that the enemy's rig
- was too strong to allow me to for
it.
Accordingly, l decided to wit
ot draw the force to the south on t
Tugela. At 6 a. m. we commeuc
lis withdrawing the train, and by 8
ri m. Jan. 81 Saturday., Warner
force was concentrated south of
I'VE Tugela, without the loss of m
3 or q pound of stores.
THE fact that the force cor
- withdraw from the actual touch
ri some cases the lines were less til
! 1000 yards apart-with the {
emy in the manner it did, is
think, sufficient evidence OF
morale of the troops; and that
were permitted to withdraw c
cumbrous OK and mule transpo
ieo .o across the river eighty five val
ing broad, with twenty-foot banks a
les. a very swift current, unmolest
md is, l think, proof that the !eneI
ne has been taught to respect our 6
Ez. diers' fighting powers"