New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-27
FROM HOPE TO DESPONDENCY
EFFECT OF BULLER's BRIEF ANNOUNCE
MENT on THE BRITISH PUBLIC.
copyright: 1900: BY The NeU-York Tribune
IBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEI

copyright: 1900: BY The New-York Tribune.1
IBY CABLE TO TRIBUNE.I
London, Jan. o. 1 a. m.-Startlng and almost
tragic are wartime transitions from anxiety to
relief and from hope to dependency. Faces in
Piccadilly and the Strand have revealed these
revulsions of feeling on three successive morn
ings. Yesterday was one of the blackest days
London has known since the opening of the war
General Buffers brief announcement of the
abandonment Of Spion Kop on Wednesday night
was on the newspaper posters about noon. and
there sudden fall in the temperature in
the streets. There were no explanations from
General Butler and no details from any source.
spion Kop had been taken one night, only to be
abandoned within twenty-four hours after
storming party had been exposed to heavy fire
and a fierce attack. The British had gone, like
Sir George Colley. to the top and been beaten
there. It was Majuba over again. without any
reversal Of the original conditions
A CALL FOR BRITISH FORTITUDE.
Fortitude was required for bearing this bitter
disappointment after the premature satisfaction
Elusive success. The Importance OF
the capture Of Spion Kop had been exaggerated
by the man in the street on the previous day,
but the seriousness of the loss of that rocky
crest was not underrated by him He had has
tily inferred that the main position of the enemy
had been taken. instead of perceiving that COM
manding ground had been gained. continued oc-
cupation of which might render the Boer retreat
inevitable. The British wedge had been driven
in, but it was not strong enough to resist the
Boer hammering and had been broken off. What
remained Of the storming party was compelled
10 retire from the summit, and the situation,
apart from the encouragement caused by the
failure of gallant feat of arms. was the same
with which General Warren was confronted on
Sunday night. The enemy's position could be
approached only by frontal attack over zone
OF fire three-quarters of a mile wide on a bare
slope without powders or cover Of any kind.
spion Kop had presented an alternative to that
deadly assault but that had been removed by
the failure Of Warren's storming party. There
was apparently no other alternative, since oper-
ations from the northern side could not be at
tempted at a long distance from the river base.
The man in the street who, without knowl-
edge Of maps or tactics, inferred that General
Butler. While not beaten in battle. had suffered
a serious check was the truth than he
had been on the previous day when he had
mistaken for complete victory what was merely
a fighting chance for defeating the enemy with
out a heavy loss Of life Another impasse had
been created, II Warren should shrink from
ordering frontal attack and risking the butch
cry OF a thousand soldiers Warren could not
I leave the enemy's position behind him untaken
and march toward Ladysmith; yet to carry 1t in
E front by direct assault would be TO challenge
another Magersfontein. One OF Buffers in
fantry colonies. in letter from Chieveley Camp
written after the battle Of Colenso, confessed
that he had entertained various theories re-
specting the best method Of getting across the
Tugela. but he was we'll satisfied in the end
10 allow General Butler to find his own way
over the river
DISPOSITION OF BULLER's FORCES.
Military writer's in to-day's Journals after
explaining the situation in detail. are equally
prudent and refrain from Offering any advice
respecting the best course TO be pursued in this
new impasse General Butler has reached a
Continued sixth page.