New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-01
a1fENDs TO THORNEYCROFT.
R11IFR DOES JUSTICE TO THE BRITISH
COMMANDER on sPION KOP.
Icopyright 1900: by The New-YorIN Tribune.l
IBY CABLE To THE TRIBUNE.]

fBY CABLE To THE TRIBUNE
London. Feb. 1, a. m,-General Butler made
fpu amends yesterday to Colonel Thorneycroft,
who had ordered the retirement from Spion Kop
after Woodgate was disabled. His extended re-
mort received at the War Office Sunday, left 1t
open 10 question whether the unnamed officer in
command would not share the fate OF Colonel
Long in being gazetted in due time as the evil
genius who brought about a British reverse by
lack OF judgment at a critical stage OF the
operations General Butler has named Wood
gates successor in command. but only to praise
him for cooIness, gallantry and sound judgment.
This act of Justice is well timed. since Colonel
Tborneycroft's immediate command is a pro-
vincial one and the commendation bestowed
upon him will have a stimulative erect upon
the recruiting of colonial forces and the devel-
opment of their fighting powers.
The phrasing of Colonel Buffers dispatch con-
firms the general impression that the British
garrison on Spion Kop was in a critical position,
and that disaster was averted by its timely re-
tirement The press dispatches are still filled
with fragmentary descriptions of the fighting
which was most desperate from dawn to duI,,
The casualty lists now fairly complete The
acsseserf tfez-efR and-fle of ~Warren's division
and the colonial contingent are 596 only 50 be-
ing unaccounted for as missing. The total casu-
alties at spion Kop exceed 900. but there are
few prisoners.
General Buffers dispatch dated yesterday
st Spearrnn-a's camp That decisive proof
that the army had not withdrawn from the
Upper Tugela although it mad crossed the river.
1t was awaiting orders from Cape Town. Bull
ler's reported address to the army, with the as
surance that he would be in Ladysmith within
a week was ridiculed by officials here as a
vagary Of sensational journalism.
morning are those from Ladysmith describing
the fortitude with which tidings Of General Bull
ler's second failure had been received, and tie
confidence with which his next movement was
awaited. These dispatches would be more convinc-
Ing Il similar bulletins had not been sent after the
battle Of Colenso, whereas the cold realities OF
the bitterness of the disappointment and the
sense of insecurity and helplessness were re-
sarved for mail letters printed month after
ward. General Whites men could afford to
trust in EULER or their own valor if they had
powder to keep dry. Ladysmith is witness
ing a swarming of Dutch achievements toward
Potgieter's and Colenso, but does not lose hope
while the naval guns remain Mount Alice.
The news is light from every quarter. At
Kimberley the Dutch are reported to be revert
ing TO "sniping" after desultory bombardment.
and one OF their guns is said to have burst.
Communicating Of British subjects in the Dutch
districts of Cape Colony is going on.
The debate in Parliament yesterday on the
Liberal amendment to the Address was Ian
guidly conducted The chief speaker for it was
Sir Robert Reid, who thrashed over the old
straw Of the Jameson raid and the South Afri-
can Committee, and opposed the policy of a total
subjugatfon of the Beers. Sir John Brodrick
mace an excellent tactical reply that the Minis
ters could not be reproached for conducting an
unjust war. and in the same breath taunted
win having made inadequate preparation for it.
ihe black press is doing the Ministers more
hafih py their dispirited leaders than the Oppo-
Si''Oh III Parliament by a feeble double blank
ettack based upon the injustice of the war and
neglect OF military safeguards The Ministers
themselves are ineffective in defence. because
they cannot tell single truth-that the British
armies had been badly led by AIdershot generals
VINO were unequal to the requirements of the
situat'