Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-01
AT A LOW EBB.
Feeling Almost Of 0ispair Now
Overshadows England.
Recent Reverses Probably the Great
est She Has Ever Suffered.
Buffers Casualties on The TugeIa Alone *.
peeled 10 Reach 1000.

| London. Feb. Ii A. M-The sun
elemental list of casualties fill two
columns in nonpariel type in the morn
ing papers. making 1900 reported thus
far for Gen. Buffers oprations north
of the Tugela The Daily Chronicle
estimates that the total exceeds 1000
The 40 per cent loss at Spion kop is
greater than any British force ever
suffered. except. possibly. at Albuora.
The admiralty has warned all half
pay naval officers to- hold themselves
in readiness for service. This. with the
fact that able seamen not thoroughly
experienced have been overdrawn from
the channel squadron. is taken to in
dictate the early mobilization of the
reserve fleet.
AT a melting Of the army and navy
members Of the House Of Commons.
yesterday. resolution expressing alb
solute confidence in whatever the gov
eminent thought necessary command
ed only two votes. Instead Of this Il
resolution was adopted calling for the
immediate formation Of home defence
force. Lord Salisbury has called an
other cabinet council, which will meet.
Friday or Saturday. to consider the sit
uation. Public spirits are at very
low ebb.
A Blue book has been published con-
tanning a quantity of correspondence
relating to the defence of Natal. 1t
contains urgent letters and kilograms
from the Natal government from dates
as early as May last up to the outbreak
of hostilties. asking achievements.
4 IT,, La,
Arrangements to send 1000 troops are
in progress
The Natal ministry grew more
alarmed and, Sept s. implored the i'm
perial government to avoid a rupture
until further reinforcements had ar
rived. The correspondence shows that
Sir VIM. Penn Symons thought that
1000 men would be enough to secure the
integrity of Natal, and this view was
apparently concurred in by the Cape
authorities.
London, Feb. Accounts of the bat
tie Of Spion kop continue to filter in.
All testify to the terrific Boer fire.
Several estimates that the total losses
of Gen. Buffers turning movement will
amount approximately to 1900.
w iVh itlIIiOICt1ItHtS arrived Inc
troops were much cramped on the top
Of Spion kop. Preparations were made
below to secure the position, guns were
on the way and engineers had been or
dered up to strengthen the entrench-
ments. Col. Thornycroft was not
aware of this when he ordered the re-
tirement and he actually met the artil-
lery coming up.
Gen. Woodgate was wounded about
O'Clock in the afternoon. Even then
he protested that he was all right and
had to be held down on the stretcher
1t is reported that the Boer commander
at first insisted on the release of some
Boer prisoners before he would permit
the English to collect their wounded
A curious incident is related of the
fighting, Jan. "a One of the Lancasters,
while hiring from the prone position, had
his his head taken clean of by shell To
headless trunk quietly rose. stood upright
a few seconds and then fell
Mr. Winston Churchill in a further dis
patch to the Morning Post which de-
scribes the recrossing OF the 1ugeia.
says: The army is exasperated. not de-
feated. Gen. Butler will persevere and
all will come right in the end"
The cape Town correspondent of the
Daily Mail says: Evidence is accumu
lating that something bcyoud tact I'M
tNlSttl between tue foOtT
ccutives and the inner circle of the Afri-
kander Bond concerning what should fol-
low the ripening rebellion a the outbreak
Of war. Fully 5000 colonial Dutchmen
ever, believed that this number would be
multiplied tenfold Consequently the
Bond Is now execrated at
Pretoria and Bloemfontein.
London. Feb. 1.-The correspondent OF
the Times 1t I-ourenzo Marques, teie-
yesterday. says: Information
has been received here from the Trans
vaal that the war department. convinced
that it would be useless to storm Lady,
smith and that the bombardment VIII
ineffective. has decided upon a
mango OF tactics. Huge Quantities Q.
timber end sand bags and hundreds o.
burg ana Pretoria for the purpose
lamming the Kid river, some miles
low l.adysmith, The idea beng - Ill., a.,
the town ana drive the soldiers anu IN
habitants out Of the bumb-prooi ed'ea
."rhe Portugu.ee authorities are at last
exercising stricter Surveillance. ne Eo,
arnor has notified the consuis lnal aneN
ants for passports are not going 70 as
isl the Bner army before passports VIII
he Granted Ii is rumored that ne mas
IL ronvevad a hint To Herr Pott. the
rra nsyaaI consul. Of serious consequences
f he continues to infringe the neutrality
# the port
Cane Town, Tuesday, Jan. @.-Gen.
RuIler still holds the Tugela drifts and
vim POSSIBLY renew his attempt to force
III way through the Boer defence before
onr In any case, Ladysmith is capable
r holding out for a considerable time.
New York. Jan. 31.-The Evening
World prints the following copyright
ablegram from Winston Churchill;
Spearman's Camp, Jan. 81 p. M
in transmission. The action
n the summit of Spion kop was one OF
he most fierce and furious conflicts in
british military history.
Guided by Thorneycroft, the troops
urprsed the Beers there and carried
he trenches with the bayonet at
clock in the morning There was lit
le loss.
AT once the troops entrenched hasti-
', but the ground was broken by large
ocks and unsuited for entertainments.
At dawn, heavy Boer Smelling began.