Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-01-26
TOOK. SPION K0P
Butler Reports That Warren Has
Occupied That Strategic
Point.
Subsequently, However, the Brit
ish Loss Has Been Con-
. =
siderable.
Suspicion That the British Forces
May Have Been Tricked
Again.

Again.
LONDON, Jan. 26.-The war office has
5ust issued the following dispatch from
Spearman Camp, dated Jan. 25, 1910
morning:
General Warren's troops last night
occupied Spion kop, surprising the
small garrison, who fed. It has been
held by US all day, though we were
heavily attacked, especially by very
annoying shell fire.
81 fear our casualties are considerable
and have to inform you with regret
that General Woodgate was danger
ously wounded.
General Warren is Of the opinion
that he has rendered the enemy's posi-
ton untenable, The men are splendid. :"
LONDON, Jan. 26.-2:25 p. m.-The
jubilation over General Warren's
achievement in capturing Spion kop
Tuesday night, is chastened by the
realization that his success is only pro-
visional, as it appears clear from Cen
eral Buller's dispatch that the Beers
fully recognize the strategic import
ance Of Spion kop, and at the time his
message was sent off, they had not
abandoned the hope Of recapturing the
position. Nevertheless, heavy load Of
anxiety has been removed from the ma
ton, and there is general expectation
that as the British have succeeded in
keeping the hill all day long, they Will
manage to retain it untn General War
rem plants guns enough on it to domi-
nate the Boer trenches right and left.
There is the usual disposition here to
exaggerate the importance Of the point
scored, but the best informed people
realize that General Butler still has a
task ahead of him calling for the most
dogged persistence and untiring attack,
and that the difficulties will increase as
the position develops.
The relief Of the tension on the Stock
Exchange was very marked. Business
began more cheerfully all around and
with an upward movement, under the
influence Of the news at the war Office,
and at the clubs and other resorts there
was notable change from the gloomy
fears OF yesterday. The appearance Of
the news placards on the streets sent
crowds of people to the war office, and
the lobbies were soon filed to suffoca-
ton. Those near the notice board read
out the news at frequent intervals, for
the benefit of late arrivals, who were
unable to approach, and each successive
reading led to renewal Of cheering.
In the ladies lobby, there were signs
of the sad side of victory. A question
was asked ssWhen will the casualties be
received"
May Have Been Boer Trick.
Though General Buffers dispatch is
dated Thursday and speaks of Spion kop
being captured last night, it apparently
means Tuesday night. As, according
to General Buller's dispatch the 'ssman
garrison was surprised" his subsequent
statement 'sour losses were considera-
BILE, indicates that the British suffered
greatly later from the shell fire of a far
ther Boer position. The statement that
there was only a small garrison at Spion
kop came somewhat as a surprise, as it
is taken in some quarters to indicate
that the Beers were not SO surprised at
the assault as it appeared, but pre-
viously drew off their main body and
left small force to Withstand the Brit
ish advance. It is even suggested that
the Beers inveigled the British into oc-
cupying Spion kop and have now sur
rounded them.
What Should Have Been.
It is evident in spite of the fact that
the British hold Potgeiter's drift and the
hills above, that the Beers have sue
ceeded in bringing up enough artillery
to infiict considerable loss on the British
force which seized Spion kop, although
Lord Dundonald is supposed to have
been securing the country beyond the
ranges in order to prevent this very
thing, and although General Lyttelton
ought to have got near enough to Spion
kop to either intercept the retreating
Beers or prevent serious attack once
the British had taken possession Of the
hill.
Buffers Orders. s
In General Buffers orders to his
troops, after warning them to beware of
false orders, he concluded:
Our generals viii only give one order,
namely, advance. Z Should any one at
any time be surprised by a volley at
close quarters, he must remember that
the only yay to safety and yinfa,,y 1;p.
in rushing upon the enemy, for the ono.
thing the enemy cannot stand is d hare