Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-26
THE FEELING IN LONDON.

Will the British success is Con-
sfdered Only Provisional, 1t is
Hoped Warren Can Hold Spion
Kop.
LONDON, January 25.-2:25 p. NJ
The tubilation over Gen. Warren's
achievement in capturing Spion Kop
Tuesday night is chastened by the real
ization that his success is only provis-
ional, as it appears clear from Gen. Bull
ler's dispatch that the Beers fully rec
ognize the strategical Importance of
Spion Kop and at the time his message
was sent off they had not abandoned
the hope of recapturing the position.
Nevertheless a heavy load of anxiety
has been removed from the nation and
there is general expectation that as the
British have succeeded in keeping the
hill all day they will manage to retain
it until Gen. Warren plants guns
enough on it to dominate the Boe-
trenches right and left. There is the
usual disposition here to e~xaggerate the
Importance of the point scored, but the
best informed people realize that Gen.
Butler still has a task ahead of him
calling for the most dogged persistence
and untiring attack, and that the diff
culties will increase as the position de-
Telops.
The relief of the tension on the stock
exchange was very marked. Business
began more cheerfully all around, and
with an upward movement under the
influence of the news at the war Office,
and at the clubs and other resorts
there was a notable change from the
gloomy
Fears of Yesterday.
The appearance of the news placards
on the streets sent crowds of people to
.he war Office, and the Hobbies were
soon filled to s~uffocation. Those near
the notice board read out the news at
frequent intervals for the benefit of
late arrivals, who were unable to ap-
proach and each successive reading led
to a renewal of cheering.
In the ladies lobby there were signs
of the sad side of the victory. A ques-
ton often asked was, when will the
casualties be r~eceived?"
Though Gen. Buffers dispatch is
dated to-day, and speaks Of Spion Kop
being captured "last- night" it appar-
emily means Tuesday night. AS, ac-
cording to Gen. Buffers dispatch, the
"small garrison was surprised his
subsequent statement, "Our losses were
considerable" indicates that the Brit
ish suffered greatly later from the shell
fire from a farther Boer position.
The statement that there was only
a small garrison at Spion Kop came
somewhat as a surprise, as it was i'm
esined the Beers were there in great
force, and it is taken in some quar-
tiers to indicate that the Beers were
not so surprised at the assault as it
appeared, but previously drew off their
main body and left a small body to
withstand the British advance. 1t is
even suggested that the Beers inveigled
the British into occupying Spion Kop
and have now surrounded them.
1t is evident. in spite of the fact that
the British hold Potgieters Drift and
the hills above. that the Beers have
succeeded in bringing up enough ar
tillery to
Infict Considerable Losses
on the British force which seized Spion |
Kop. although Lord Dundonald is sup
posed to hav been securing the coun-
try beyond the ranges in order to
prevent this very thing, and although !
Gen. Lytleton ought to have got neal
enough to Spion Kop to either inter- |
cept the r~etreating Beers or to pre- ,
vent a serious attack once the British 4
had taken possession of the hill. 4
The American scout, F. R. Burnham.j
10Y on his way back to South Africa.
expressed considerable satisfaction at |
the news of the capture of Spion Eop. |
He said to a representative of the AS
ISOLATED press:
1T is evident that the Boer position
Is being shaken and I do not thinA
It will be q long business noy to drive