Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-24
Gen. Buffers Turning Move
is Halted.
IS A BARE OPEN
Which Separates the British From the
Beers But to Cross it Would Ex-
pose the Troops to a Most Deadly
Rifle Fire,

London, Jan. "a. 4 p. m.-General Bull
ler's great turning movement, of which
so much was expected, has come to a
standstill. His carefully worded mes
sage to the war office telling this, after
a silence Of two days, reads like an apol-
ogy and an explanation.
General Warren holds the ridges, but
the enemy's positions are higher. The
British artillery is playing on the Boer
positions and the Beers are replying. The
British infantry is separated by only
1,400 yards from the enemy. but an ap-
proach to the steep slope across the bare
open would expose the British to a fatal
rifle fire.
General Buffers plans have reached
their development. He declines to send
his infantry across this zone against for
midable positions by daylight. and dis
closed his purpose to assault the Spion-
kop heights during the night. This ap.
pears to be the key to the Boer defense.
If he takes it and thus commands the adj
jacent country, an important and pos.
sibly decisive step will be accomplished.
1t seems that General Buffers dis.
patch reached the war Office rather early
in he night and was the subject of q
prolonged conference between Lord Lans-
downe. MI. Balfour II several staff
officials. A determination appears to
have been reached not to give out mes
sag during the night, but toward 2 a. m.
copies of the dispatches were made for
distribution among the newspaper OFF,
ces. These arrived too late for extend
ed comment.
The Morning Post and the Standard
touch lightly upon the unpleasant fea-
lures of the dispatch and take hope from
the projected night attack, but, alto
gether considered. the dispatch looks
like preparation for worse news.
Parliament will meet in five days. The
abinet has been hoping for one rallying
British success to cheer the country and
to command generous support for fresh
revenue measures. Among these will be
probably an increase of the income tax to
a shilling on the pound but this would on
ly provide the cost of FIVE week hostili-
tiles. The duties on tobacco; alcohol, tea
and coffee are likely to be raised.
! The cabinet will meet at the end OF
! the week and discuss the situation. Po-
litical considerations, both foreign and
domestic, press upon the military author
tiles the necessity of speedily accomplish
ing something. These authorities may
have been p~ersuading General Butler to
, attempt his great operation without ade-
quate preparation. This IMPRESSION
whether true or not, is abroad.
Apparently Lord Roberts has nothing
whatever to do with General Buffers
operation. General Butler and the war
office communicate with each other di-
rect. Buffers scheme was conceived be-
fore Lord Roberts arrived at Capetown
and its execution was begun on the day
he landed. The fact that the Judgment
of Lord Roberts mas not been brought to
bear upon the movement does not add to
public confidence.
From Vienna comes the statement that
the idea of the intervention of European
powers is gaining adherents in influen-
tial quarters.
Special dispatches photographed from
Ladysmith on Monday say that the in
vestment has not been relaxed and that
the garrison has ceased to speculate re-
garding the precise date of deliverance.
The position of the British forces out
side of Natal is unchanged. The for
ward movement feature appears to be
awaiting for achievements.
London, Jan. "a. $3.50 a. m~.-Contrary
to the announcement made shortly be
nothing further would be issued before
{ Wednesday forenoon. the following
dispatch from General Butler. dated
Spearman's amp Jan. %, $3.50 p. M, has
just been posted:
Warren holds the position he gained
two days ago. In front of him, al
about 1,40O yards. is the enemy's position
west Of Spionkop. 1t is on higher ground
han Warren's position, so 1t Is impos-
sible to see into it properly.
''It can be approached only over bare
open slopes. and the ridges held by War
rem are so steep hat the guns Ycannpt b.
placed on them. But we are Smelling
the enemy's position with howitzers ant
field artillery. placed on lower ground be
hind infantry.
18th enemy is replying with creuso
and other artillery. In this duel, tn,
advantage rests with us, as we appeaI
to be searching his trenches. and his ar
tillery fire is not causing US much loss
"An attempt will be made to seiz
Spionkop. the salient point of which
forms the enemy's position facing Trich
ards and which divides it from the posi-
ton facing Potgieter's drift. 1t has con
siderable command over all the enemy
entertainments" as