The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-01-27
Che Scafbing Fire
Of Boer Guns

J ,
dated Spearmans, Jan. %, $50 p. m,
has just been posted by the war office:
Warren holds the position he gained
! two days ago. In front Of him, at
about 1,400 yards, is the enemy's posi-
! ton, west of SpiOnkop. 1t is on higher
/ ground than Warren's position, so it is
/ impossible to see into it properly.
1t can be approached only over bare
/ open slopes, and the ridges held by
1 Warren are so steep that guns cannot
! be placed on them. But we are Smelling
! the enemy's position with howitzers
and field artillery, placed on lower
ground behind infantry.
The enemy is replying with Creosot
and other artillery. In this duel the
advantage rests with us, as we appear
to be searching his trenches and his
artillery fire is not causing us much
loss.
An attempt will be made to seize
SpionkOp, the salient of which forms
! the enemy's position facing richards
Drift and which divides it from the
position facing POtgieter's Drift"
General Buffers great turning move
ment, of which so much was expected,
has come to a standstill. His carefully
Worded message to the war office tell
ing this, after a silence of two days,
reads like an apology and an eXplana-
ton.
General Warren holds the ridges, but
the enemy's positions are higher. The
British artillery is playing on the Boer
positions, and the Beers are replying.
The British infantry is separated by
only l 400 yards from the enemy. but
an approach to the steep slopes. across
the bare open, would expose the Brit
ish to a fatal rifle fire
General Buffers plans have reached
their Development He declines to send
his infantry across this zone against
formidable positions by daylight, and
discloses his purpose to assault the
Spionkop heights during the night
This appears to be the key to the Boer
defenses. If he takes it and thus COM
mands the adjacent country, an i'm
portant and possibly decisive step will
be accomplished.
1t seems that General Buffers dis
patch reached the war office rather
early in the night and was the subject
of prolonged conference between Lord
Lansdowne, Mr.. Balfour and several
stan off1clalS. A determination appears
to have been reached not to give out
the message during the night, but to-
ward ? a. m. copies of the dispatch
were made for distribution among the
newspaper offices. These arrived too
late for extended comment
The Morning Post and the Standard
touch lightly upon the unpleasant fea-
lures of the dispatch and take hope
from the projected night attack. but
altogether considered, the dispatch
looks like preparation for worse news
Parliament viii meet in five days.
The cabinet has been hoping for one
rallyiEg British success to cheer the
support for fresh revenue measures.
Among these will be probably an in
crease of the income to a shilling in
the pound, but this would only pro-
vide the cost of five weeks hostilities.
The duties on tobacco, alcohol, tea
and coffee are likely to be raised. The
cabinet Will meet at the end of the
week and discuss the situation.
Political considerations, both foreign
and domestic, press upon the military
authorities the necessity of speedily
accomplishing something. These au-
thOrities may have been persuading
General Butler to attempt his great |
operation without adequate prepara-
ton. This impression, whether true OF
not, is abroad.
Apparently Lord Roberts has moth
ing whatever to do with General |
Buffers operation. General Butler and ]
the war office communicate with each |
other direct. Buffers scheme was !
conceived before Lord Roberts arrived !
at Cape Town and its execution was
begun on the day he landed. The fact |
that the judgment of Lord Roberts |
has not been brought to bear upon the |
movement does not add to public con-
fideEce.
From Vienna comes the statement
that the idea of the Intervention of
European powers is gaining adherents
in influential quarters. The Daily
Nails correspondent regards the
signs as unmistakeabe, and mention
suggestions printed in the
Austro Hungarian foreign office
journals.
Dispatches from Boer sources des-
cribe the renewal of the bombardment
Of Ladysmith as more heavy than
any previous firing, and as intended to
discourage a sOrtie, symptoms of
for egress from the town
having been observed from the Boer
positions.
Special dispatches photographed from
Ladysmith on Monday say that the
Investment has not been relaxed and
ate regarding the precise date of de-
iverance
The position of the British forces
outside of Natal is unchanged. The
Onward movement elsewhere appears
o be waiting for reinforcements.
The Daily Chronicle publishes the
GLOWING photographed message from
dated Jan. %, by way of
'wartzkop, Jan. %:
Yesterday we could see British
shells bursting close to the Boer camp
N the plateau this side of Potgieter's
Drift, but the camp still remains in
position there today:
We heard very heavy firing all
his morning. The bombardment here
g slack, but the Beers big gun on
Mount Bulwana is still firing"