The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-01-30
GEN. BULLER
HAS REITERATED.
Back Across the Tugela, But
In Good Order.
1850 BRITISH DEAD, SAID BOERS.
Reported That Many Found on Field,
After Abandoning of spion Kop-Boers
Lost Valuable Lives In Storming Brit
ish Position-Captured $50 Prisoners.

LONDON, Jan. 20.-The following dis
patch has been received in London from
Pretoria, dated Jan. 20, via Lourenzo
Marques, Jan. 30:
"The government is advised that,
after heavy fighting near Spion kop,
some British on the kop being stormed,
hoisted white flag. One hundred and
fifty prisoners. God be thankful,
although we also had to give brave and
valuable lives"
B0ER HEAD LAAGER, Lady
smith, Jan, 29---The British dead
left on the battlefield Wednesday
numbered l,500.
LONDON, Jan. 20. Following is the
text of General Buffers dispatch, dated
Spearman's Camp, Saturday, Jan. 27,
6:l0 D. m: "On Jan. 20, Warren drove
back the enemy and obtained possession
of the southern crest of the hill, extend
ing from Acton Homes and Hongers-
poort to the western Ladysmith mills.
From then to Jan. 20 he remained in
close contact with the enemy.
1.-The enemy held strong position on
" AhhbO Vi hODJCo obAOOSLAhS -1OiiA
northwest to southeast, across the pla-
teau from Acton Homes, through Spion
Kop, to the left bank of the Tugela.
"The actual position held was perfectly
tenable, but did not lend itself to an
advance, as the southern slopes were so
steep that Warren could not get an
effective artillery position and water
supply was difficulty.
'On Jan. % l assented to his attack
ing SpiOn Kop, large hill, indeed
mountain, which was evidently the key
of the position, but was far more &C
cessible from the north than from the
south.
"On the night of Jan. 90 he attacked
Spion Kop, but found livery difficult to
hold, as its perimeter was too large and
water, which he had been led to believe
existed in this extraordinarily dry sea.
son, was found very deficient.
1.-The crests were held all that day
against severe attacks and a heavy shell
fire. Our men fought with great gal
lantry. l would especially mention the
conduct Of the Second Cameronians
and the Third Kings Rifles, who sup
ported the attack ON the mountain from
the steepest side and, i'll each case,
fought their way to the top, and the Sec
MiddleseX, who magniicently main
tanned the best traditions of the British
army throughout the trying day of Jan.
"a, and Thornycrofjs mounted intan.
try, who fought throughout the day
equally well along with them.
General WOOdgate, who was in COM
mand at the summit, having been
wounded, the officer who succeeded him
decided on the night of Jan. "a to aban-
don the position, and did so before
dawn, Jan. 20.
II reached Warren's camp at a. m.
on Jan. 20, and decided that a second
attack upon Spion Kop was useless and
that the enemy's right was too strong
to allow me to force it.
Accordingly l decided to withdraw
the force to the south of the Tugela. At
6 a. IN. we commenced withdrawing the
train, and by s a. m, Jan. ~ (Satur-
day., Warren S force was concentrated
south of the Tugela without the loss of
man or pound of stores.
"The fact that the force could with
draw from actual touch-in some cases
the lines were less than 1000 yards
apart-with the enemy in the manner it
did is, think, sufficient evidence of the
morale Of the troops, and that we were
and mule transport across the river, 50
yards broad, with 20.foot banks and a
very swift current unmolested is, /
think, proof that the enemy has been
taught TO respect our soldiers fighting
powers. "
BOER HEADQUARTERS, Modder river,
Upper Tugela, Wednesday, Jan. "a,
midnight, via Iourenzo MARQUES, Jan.
29.-Some Vryheid Burghers from the
outposts on the highest hills of the
Spj0n.Kop group rushed into the laager
saying that the kop was lost and that
the English had taken it, Reinforce.
ments were ordered up, but nothing
could be done for some time, the hill
being enveloped in thick mist.
At dawn the Heidelberg and Caro-.
lima contingents, supplemented from
other commanders, began the ascent of
the hill. Three spurs, precipitous pro.
je5tiogs, faced the Boer positions. Up
these the advance was made. The
horses were left under the first terrace
of rocks,
Scaling the steep hill, the Beers found
that the English had improved the op.
portunity and entrenched heavily.
Between the line of trenches was an
open veldt, which had to be rushed
under heavy fire, not only of rifles, but
of dynamite and shrapnel from field
guns.
Three forces assembled the three spurs
co-ordinately, under cover of fire from
the Free State Krupps, Creusct and a
big Maxim. The English tried to rush
the Beers with the bayonet, but their
infantry went down before the Boer
rifle fire as before a scythe.
The Boer investing party advanced
step by step, until 2 in the afternoon,
when white flag went up and 100 men
in the front trenches surrendered, being
sent as prisoners to the head Laager.
The Boer advance continued on the
two kopjes east of Spion Kop. Many
Beers were shot, but so numerous were
the Burghers that the gaps filed auto
matically. Toward twilight they
reached the summit OF the second
kopje, but did not get further.
The British Maxims belched flame.
but wall OF fire from the Mausers held
tho RYit,o oI, hanlr nnai,. oantaV. unIaw