Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-01-30
BUTLER AGAIN DEFEATED
Rumors Of Fresh Disasters to the
British Troops.
OFFICIALS ARE. SILENT.
Bnller Advised to Beat Hasfy Re-
treat Across the TugeIa River
Into Safe Territory.


London, Jan 27-The defense commit
tee of the cabinet met at the war office
this afternoon, Lord Salisbury presiding.
There are reiterated rumors that the
gravest kind of news from Natal is being
concealed by the war office. 1t is even
said that Gen. Buffers forces are in full
retreat.
Butler in Full Retreat
In. connection with the meeting today,
the runOr- was reiterated that the war
office is concealing the gravest kind of
news from the Upper Tugela river. The
reports eveF sc SO far as to say The
forces of Gen. Butler are in full retreat
1t is impossible to confirm or. deny the
reports. as-the officials maintain silence
as t0S1lfc -lIlmors.. They say they have
nothing for publica ton. 1t is evident,
however, from the war office announce
ments< that the casualties reported by
Gen. Butler occurred III Gen. Lyttleton' $
brigade, which apparently was not en-
gagged at Spionkop. and, that there has
been severe fighting not yet reported.
Sir Michael HicksBeach, the chancel-
Tor Of the eXcheQuer, came to London
purposely TO attend the defense commit
tee meeting. and Joseph Chamberlain
the secretary for state for the colonies
gave up other en- "a gements for the same
reason.
Lord Wolseley. the commander-in-ch chief
Of the. forces, was also present at the
meeting OF the committee
The Report Conf rmed.
Perlin, Jan. pit is said that the
German foreign office mas confirmation
of the report that Gen. Warren's division
has been crashed.
Berlin, Jan. 2T.-Some of the papers
here clam to have Il telegram from Pre-
-toria saying hat Gen. Warren was en-
tlced INTO Spionkop where the Beers fell
upon him. that seventeen Of his cannon
We're captured. and that Buffers hasty
retreat over the TuSela river alone can
save him.
The alleged Pretoria telegram adds
that the British losses were 500 men
killed and 1900 wounded. The dispatch
comes through Brus and does not re-
.cesNe much credit III Ihis city.
beers. Ask No Odds.
The LokaE Anzeiger publishes a report
of an interview with DR.. Leyds, III which
he is quoted as saying his presence IN
Berlin has nothing TO do with politics.
Regarding mediation. DR.. L2yds sand the
Beers had ne occasion to appeal to any
enc. Everything was going spiendidly.
As to the conclusion of peace, his per
sonal opinion was THAI Great Britain
would have to return large portion of
the territory she had seized from the
B0crs and the federal republics would
Of course obtain every guarantee that
not a hair Of the heads of their kinsmen
would suffer. No words he continued,
need be wasted on the absolute independ-
ence Of the two republics. LadySmith,
~Mafeking and Kimberley, DR.. Leyd>
added. were simply prisoners. with the
sole difference. that the British had to
consume their own provisions
New York. Jan. 21.-A Journal special
from London says that reports Of an
other defeat for Butler. even worse than
Spionkop are flying. about London. and
are believed.
London, Jan 2T-2:45 p. m.-Thc ten
sion over the war situation is very acute.
The markets are at d stalfdstill. The
public Is wild for war adyices-
,fhe war office has no news of the ca
tastrOphc 10 Cen Bul4eI,s force reported
from Berlin, and discredits the story.
Neither has the war office any eXplana-
ton at least for publication of the aban-
donment Of Spionkop and there are no
atiyices in this connection from independ-
ent sources. The disposition today is to
regard the evacuation as not so serious
as at first thought, and commentators are
abusing the military authorities, both al
the front and at home. for publishing
haSty accounts of an incomplete. half
understood operation, thus alternately
thrilling and depressing the nation.
The afternoon papers describe the gen
erals dispatches as unpleasant reading
for the British people, intensely mortify-
ing to the national pride. and damaging
to the country's prestige, and scathingly
denounce the gazetting. at the present
time, of reports which the St James
Gazette says display academic frivolity
not uncommonly found i'll combination
with considerab bic practical incapacity.
lapsing into sneering when they ought to
rebuke, and filled with the slang and hui
NOR of Kiplings subalterns."
The St. James Gazette sums up its
opinion as follows:
These dispatches sweat the folly
which has prevailed throughout the pc
riod the campaign has covered and which
has eXacted its usual 1.-THE of lives and
men,"
There are signs OF important move
ments developing in the north of Cape
Colony. Gen. French has succeeded in
getting in touch with Gen. Gatacre, pos
sibly presaging Il combination of the two
columns and the commencement Of a con-
centration of the forces which is believed
to be the groundwork CT Lord Roberts
plan OF campaign.