New-York tribune., 1900-01-26

the idea OF running up tremendous butchers
bill" He induced the enemy to believe that he
would make frontal attack upon the ridges
ever exposed slopes. and then ordered his storm
ing party to creep up to the summit of spion
Kop, whence they could command the main po
kasions The success of his tactics coming after
the prudent, wary conduct OF the previous ad-
ysnce over the plateau. proves that there is at
least one general capable of meeting the Beers
on their own ground and fighting them in their
own way. Other generals had been battling with
the Beers as though they were Dervishes or
Afridis. General Warren takes them for what
they are, finds out what they expect him to do
and then does something else.
PASSED A CRISIS SAFELY.
The opinion of we'll informed military men last
night was that the critical moment Of General
Buffers campaign hao passed, although much
arduous work remained and his army was still
exposed to the danger OF counter attack. He
had secured at Spion Kop higher ground, from
which his men could look down and fire upon
the enemy with deadly effect. and unless they
could be dislodged by shell fire by night
attack similar 10 their own they would render
the westernmost position on the spurs of Spion
Kop untenable. What General Warren had done
TO insert British wedge between the Boer
force west OF Spion Kop and the Boer force
wedge could be broken and flung out the Boer
force would be either compelled to retreat to
the mountain passes harassed by Dundonald's
cavalry, else be isolated and captured with its
guns. When that force had been disposed Of
Warren would be free TO march eastward and
attack Brakfontein with Lyttleton's brigade, as
his reinforcement and with the naval guns
Mount Alice behind him. When this second
stronghold was captured the British army
would approach the Boer camps and positions
on the western side of Ladysmith and would
be virtually reinforced by General Whites men.
According to this view Spion Kop, with its
western spurs, represented the maximum degree
of difficulty in the ground and the minimum mill
tary force available for attack. The ground would
be less difficult as Warren went eastward. and
the strength of Buffers army would be increased
by accessions from Lyttleton and White. Mill
tary writers in to-day's press are careful to
plain that these operations will require consid-
cradle time and that neither the public at home
nor the generals in the field should be impatient
or IN q hurry. They also admit that General
Buffers army ought 10 be stronger than it is
in order TO provide security for the communica-
tions. and that the Dutch generals have fine
opportunity for a counter attack.
GENERAL WOODGATES FINE RECORD.
As General Woodgate was reported by General
Butler to be dangerously wounded, 1t seemed
probable that the storrning party had been
taken from the Lancashire brigade of Warren's
division. WoOdgate is a veteran of many cam
paigns. who has recently been in command Of
the troops in Sierra Leone, where the tribes have
been IN rebellion. He served in the Abyssinian,
Ashanti and Zulu wars, and in India, and has
won medals and decorations for distinguished
service. He was Sir Evelyn Woods staff in
South Africa, and. like Warren, had a practi-
cal knowledge of Boer methods of warfare.
The losses Of the British force on Spion Kop
are reported TO be considerable, but the esti-
mates were not definite at midnight. casualty
list reported yesterday from Chieveley shows
that Bartons brigade was either recommending
in force engaged with detached force
OF the enemy on Tuesday. There are no indi-
cations that the British losses, apart from Spion
Kop, have been serious since Sunday, although
dispatches from various correspondents describe
the severity of the artillery fire on both sides.
'The Times" to-day has the text Of the field
order by General Butler IN which the Dutch
flag OF truce is described as without effect unless
the enemy lay down their arms, and the army is
cautioned against any order bugle call except
Advance
No further details Of Wednesdays fighting
were received at the War Office before midnight,
although dispatch from General Butler was
confidently expected. L n. F.