Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-01-31

gate. Reinforcements were sent,
strengthening the defense. Thorny-
croft was appointed brigadier COM
manding the whole force on top of the
hill. A bitter and bloody struggle
followed throughout the day, the
Beers concentrating every man and
gun on the summit and attacking
with the greatest spirit. The British
artillery was unable to cope with the
superior large range Boer guns, and
during the afternoon it became evil
dent that the infantry could not en-
dure another day. 1t was impossible
to drag the guns to the summit of
Spion Kop without elaborate prepara-
tions, or fortify the hill strongly
enough to protect the defenders from
unassailed artillery. Thornycroft's
decision to abandon it was both wise
and necessary. British troops were
stubborn and formidable and marched
back to the camps in regular order.
Every effort is being made to succor
the wounded, of whom many still lie
on the summit. Official lists will
give the losses. The defense of the
hill by the English infantry, particu-
larly the Lancashire regiments, was
glorious episode. The whole army
is proud of it. The Boer positions
before Ladysmith are perhaps inn
pregnable with $4,000 men, but the
troops are resolved to have another
try. The public must initiate the
equanamity of the troops. Spion
Kop is not a disaster. Neither guns
were lost nor unwounded prisoners
made. 1t was simply bloody ac-
tion in which a lodgment in the
enemy's entrenchments was effected,
but which proved untenabIe. The
Beers were sometimes within thirty
yards of the British line. They also
suffered Their loss must have been
greater, compared to their strength,
than ours.
Ladysmith, Sunday, Jan. 2S, (Helio-
graphed to Swartzhop, near Tugela
River 1.-The news of the prolonga-
tion of the siege, resulting from Gen
eral Buffers failure, is received with
| fortitude. We can hold on. The gar
rison is healthier, CHEEKY and conf
dent. Disease is disappearing and
there is no horse sickness. Rains
4 give plenty of grass. We can hear
General Buffers guns still working
1t is rumored in camp that he is ad-
vancing along~another line. The Boei
laagers around are again full of mer
1 who have returned from the Upper
Tugela.
The Beers also have taken up G
new position on the hills near Colen-
so, where they are in great force
Reinforcements are apparently arriv-
ing from the Transvaal. Large bod
les of the Beers are also visible be-
tween here and Potgieter's Drift.
Cape Town, Jan. 3t-Kimberle,
photographed to the Modder River
January 26th, that all British subjects
in the Barkley West District had beer
4 ordered by the Beers to take up arm
for the republic under penalty of 6 81
fine or three months at hard labor
About 300 men are affected by th'
order.
London, Jan. 31-Sudden order
were received at Aldershot this after
noon for the immediate embarkatiol
of the fourth cavalry brigade for tn
Cape.
Il London, Jan. 31-When the natiol
had almost resigned itself to the fal
of LadysmiG, there comes from al
quarters today an indication that Ger
eral Butler will make another a
tempt to relieve the besieged place
However, the war Office has issue
a statement that it has no news COZ
firmatory such move. A dispatc
from the Associated Press represen
Eative at Spearman's Farm. date
:. Thursday. Jan. 25th, describing tn
: fight and retirement from Spion Kol
Esays: I'VE filed down sadly, but /
: Rifles colonel was struck down at th
Rifles colonel was struck down at th
moment heliograph message orde
ling retirement. was handed to hin
The enemy is holding thanksgivin
!. services tonight. Surgeons who as
cended the hill we're allowed to r
move our wounded The scene a
y the top was fearful and terribl
Witness to the destruotiveness of q
4 tillery. Ali day our body-bearel
o were busy carrying down men
l. Pretoria, Monday, Jan. 2s-It Is Of
d cially announced that the Boer ca
y ualtiea at spion Kop were fifty.thrt
1. men killed, 120 wounded Webst'
d Davis. assistant secretary Of the il
terIor, Washington. accompanied |