New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-01
GENERAL wARREN'S LOSSES.
SPICN KOP THE BLooDIEsT BATTLE OF THE
BRITISH SINCE ALBUERA


sPIcN KoP THE BLooDIEsT BATTLE OF THE
BRITISH SINCE ALBuERA.
an additional casualty list OF the battle of Spon
Kop. January "a, and of the engagements at
Venter's Spruit. January IL and January 20.
The additional list numbers 139 men killed, 991
wounded and 63 missing, a total of 593. With
LA additional casualties given for the fighting
at Venters Spruit. the total loss since the be-
ginning Of the war is placed at 9,65S men.
The supplemental lists fill two columns in
nonpareil type in the morning papers making
1900 reported thus far for General Buffers
operations north of the Tugela THE Daily
Chronicle estimates that the total exceeds two
thousand
The 40 per cent loss at Spion Kop is greater
than any British force ever suffered except
possibly at Albuera
General Butler teegraphs from Spearman's
Camp, under to-days date. that Colonel Thor
neycroft was the officer who ordered the retire
ment at Spion Kop. General Butler adds:
1t is due to him to say that believe his per-
sonal gallantry saved a difficult situation carly
January "a and that under loss of at least 40
per cent, he directed the defence with con-
q
day. No blame whatever for the withdrawal is
in my opinion, attributable to him. and / think
his conduct throughout was admirable.
When reinforcements arrived the troops were
much cramped the top of Spion Kop Prep
arations made below to secure the posi-
ton, guns were the way and engineers had
been ordered up to strengthen the intrench-
ments.
Colonel Thorneycroft was not aware of this
met the artillery coming up.
General Woodgate was wounded about Q
o'clock in the afternoon. Even then he pro-
tested that he all right, and had to be held
down the stretcher.
1t is reported that the Boer commander at
first insisted on the release of some Boer pris-
oners before he would permit the English TO col
lect their wounded
curious incident is related Of the fighting
on January "a One of the Lancasters while
firing from the prone position had his head
taken clean off by shell. To the amazement
of his comrades, the headess trunk quietly rose
stood upright a few seconds and then fell
There are interesting cable dispatches telling
the story of Spion Kop. Winston Churchill fully
Justifies Colonel Thorneycroft. who replaced the
wounded General Woodgate in giving the order
to retire from spion Kop. Churchill says the
Boer losses were greater than those of the
British.
=. A dispatch from The Associated Press repre-
sentative at Spearman's Farm, dated Thursday,
January 20, describing the fight and retirement
from Spion Kop says:
We filed down sadly but in perfect order. The
Kings Royal Rifles colonel was struck down at
the moment helograph message ordering the
fstirement was handed to him.
tonight
The surgeons who ascended the bill were al
lowed to remove our wounded. The scene at the
top was a fearful and terrible witness to the
destructiveness of the artillery. All day
stretcher bearers were busy carrying down
Winston Churchill in further dispatch TO
1.-The Morning Post" which describes the
crossing of the Tugela, says:
The army is exasperated. not defeated. Gen
eral Butler will persevere, and all will come right
in the end,
The latest advices from Ladysmith. showing
the existence OF better conditions there than
generally believed to be the case, have been re-
ceived with intense satisfaction though there
is no unreasoning overconidence, may be
judged from THE Pail Mall Gazette's' remark:
Let u.s. while preparing for the worst, hope
for the best.
The possibility of General Butler making
other dash appears to depend greatly the
exact position of General Lyttletons brigade.
Beyond the understanding that II is on the
north side of the Tugela River, everything is
matter Of suppostion. II will easily be seen
that IL General Lyttleton still holds the drifts
on the north side General Butler retains the
openings and might attempt another advance by
way of Potgieter's some neighboring drftt.
Rut the vagueness regarding the position of
General Lyttleton resolves all this into the
purest surmise.
Cape Town Tuesday. Jan. 30.-General Butler
still holds the Tugela drifts and will possibly re-
new his attempt to force his way through the
Boer defences before long. In any case. Lady
smith is capable of holding out for consider
able time.