The evening times., 1900-01-26
FRIDAY. JANUARY 26. l9oO.
The Wreck Of British Hope.

II is too early 10 measure the tAtthl oL
the terrible disaster TO the British arms at
Spion Kop. reported by General Butler
TODAY. IL is sadly evident that Warren $
attack upon the height was an abject blum
der. based upon an absolutely mistaken
view of its relations TO the adjacent Boer
positions. Warren appears TO have as
sured Butler that Spion Kop dominated
the whole OF Jouhert's semi-circular line
from Dewdrop around 10 Acton Homes,
and thai it's possession would render an
tenable the area within that semi-lune
back to the Dewdrop road. on the con
trary. il is now developed that Spion Nop
was not necessary io The integrity OF the
Boer line. That being the fact, JcuAet IS
seen to have prepared it TO serve as a
lion trap into which the victims walked
and died like so many sheep.
The reports tells us that after Warren
took possession of the hill. Boer batteries
previously masked and silent and having
the range Of his trenches 10 an inch. broke
loose from The circumjacent ridges and
poured in "a murderous fire all day
"Wednesday. Under this bombardment il
was impossible TO bring UP artillery. and
"Wednesday night Warren withdrew TO his
old position thoroughly defeated and with
"a casualty list that it is to be apprehendcd
Hill run Up into The thousands.
il is fairly Uncomfortable that 80 officer
or Su Charlie, Waren'- syrategica' repu-
tatica and South African experience.
should have made The fatal preliminary
mistake he evidently did. i'm Jho assump-
tioa4 upon which he proceeded 60 take
Spicn K,p The scouting and sldrmIshing
done fcr his benefit on TIE left by pundon-
aid and Clcry had been active and. rs thC
English military critics have thought =
fcctive. Moroover hc had the assistance
or several war balloons in locating The
disDo~iticns. cutrenchmerts, ard cmplace-
ments Cf The Bos:s. Yet he was piriabiy
trapped and apparently with less excuse
than any OF his predecessors in tne same
business.
What the immediate consequences Of the
disaster may be. it would be impossible 10
say. but if the losses of Warren's division
are as serious as NAV be surmised. il is
moi certain that the left wing and the
transport OF Buffers army are not in grave
danger. Ii there are re-enforcements that
can be pushed forward instantly to iill the
ranks and thc vacant places at the guns
40 worse thing may happen al the mo-
menr than the compulsory Abandonment Of
Ladysmith to It's fate which is more than
likely TO have been settled by the affair
oT Spion Kop But if There are no fresh
troops 10 bring up Butler viii have 10
look 10 the safety Of his army and be
quick about it. for an attack by Joubert
ut this point i'm The game would appear 10
be natural 10 expect.
Ii may be assumed without much risk
fhal a further attempt to turn the Boer
extreme right is under existing conditions
impracl icabie with Buffers present force
As al things are possible, he may retrieve
nis fortunes. but just now he is probably
thrown on The defensive. There is nothing
discoyerablc in the situation 10 encourage
amy hope for thc relief # Ladysmith. and.
unless the resisting power Of its garrison
is much greater than there is reason TO
suppose its early capitulaGon should rot
occasion any surprise The blunder All
Spion Kop n many Ways may prove "A ter
.F1s b1Dv- rc the Prifieb Fmnira