Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-01
ABANDONS SPIONkOP.
Gen. Warren Retires from the Posi-
ton He Wrested from Beers.
NAY Be SERIOUS TO LADYSMITH.
The Position Of the other British Armies
In Cape Colony Virtually Unchanged
A Description " the BOerA'
POsitiOn.

London, Jan. -. Seven days OF
fighting have left the main Boer posi-
tions intact and Gen. Buller's army
FOG weaker, according to the official
casualty lists, which seemingly do not
include the Spionkop losses, as those
| last forwarded do not mention Gen,
Woodgate's wounding. England is
possessed of Il depressing sense of
failure, although not word in crit
icism of her generals and soldiers is
uttered. Not much effort is being
made TO place happy construction
upon Gen. Buffers bare Is words tell
ing Of the retirement of Gen. Warren
from Spionkop, and there is an uneasy
impression abroad that worse news is
yet to come. At one of the military
clubs the statement passed from one
member to another that the war Of
flee had received an unpleasant supple
menlary dispatch from Gen. Butler,
which was being held up for - hours.
Spencer Wilkinson, in the Morning
Post, writes us follows of the Spion-
kop loss; This is Il serious matter
and an attempt will not here be made
TO minimize it, for no greater wrong
can be done to our people at home
than 10 mislead them about the sig
niIicancc of the events Of the war.
The right way is to tell the truth as
far as we know it,"
More troops is the only sugges-
ton here as to the way TO break the
lIoer resistance, Mr., Wilkinson re-
grels that Gen. Butler has not 10000
more men, declaring that, il they
would not make victory more certain,
his enterprise without them is hope
less.
The transport Assaye arrived at
Cape Town last Friday with s,l27
officers and men. The first portion of
the seventh division is atloat. Hence,
with the 10000 men of this division
and about 5000 others now at sea, It
lies in the power of Lord Roberts to
reinforce Gen. Iuller heavily. This
course is advised by several military
writer's,
Although England is severely tried
her nerve is absolutely mistaken, and
probably nothing that can happen in
South Africa will change in the slight
est degree her intentions. She will
continue to receive bad news, il IL
comes, with dignity and will main
tain her determination to win at last.
The morning papers cditorially adj
wise GOODNESS and judgment and a
careful avoidance of overestimating
The Importance of the lost position,
The Times says: "'rhe consequences
of the latest check may be very Sc
rious to the gallant Ladysmith garri-
son, It is impossible to estimate the
next movement II may be that Gen.
Butler will he compelled to retire
from the ground he lately won, but
in any event we may be sure that the
British people will not show them
selves wanting in fortiude and stead.
mess, The government would be well
advised to call out immediately all the
militia and TO expedite the dispatch
of the Eighth division and of the
Fourth cavalry brigade. No doubt
Lord Roberts will strain every nerve
to enable zen. Butler TO renew the
attempt to relieve l.adysmith"
The military critic of the Times
discussing various possible explana.
tons, dwells strongly upon "the ter
rlble drawback to British generals in
the absence of maps of this tangled
hill country"
The position the British armies