Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-02-01
ANOTHER MAjuBA HILL.
Warrcn's Retreat Compared to the
Famous Reverse Years Ago.

warren ANetfcul compared 10 INC
Famous Reverse Years Ago.
New York, Jan. 29.-The London
correspondent of the Herald says:
Absolutely no light has been thrown
upon the reasons for Spion kop's evac-
uation. When the first news spread
throughout the city the Involuntary
exclamation, What, Majuba again?''
was heard frequently. In fact, the
parallel between Spion kop and Ma
juba is rather startling. Both We're
eminences, commanding Boer posi-
tions. Both were seized in the night.
In both eases the Beers attacked the
position the next morning. Here, for
lack of definite news the parallel
| ceases.
There are two equally plausible the
cries for the retirement from Spion
kop. One is suggested by the fact of
the mountain being so weakly held by
the Beers, and is that the position had
not the Importance which General
Warren attributed to it, 1t is quite
possible that there are other heights
near it, or behind it, which were not
visible from the British lines. From
these eminences the Beers, with their
guns in position, could dominate Spion
llop and render it untenable, instead
of the British, by the capture of the
llop, rendering the Boer position UNI
tenable. 1t is notorious that all the
maps OF Natal i'll the possession of the
British are exceedingly faulty.
In an interview with DIR. Leyds in
Paris before Buffers last dispatch was
received. the Boer representative said
that Spion kop consisted of a series of
ridges or hills rising behind each 9TH
er. If this proves to be the reason for
Wurren's retreat it shows that DIR.
Leyds knows more about the British
territory than the British themselves.
The other and far more serious sup
position from a British standpoint is
that the position was OF Importance;
that the Beers made desperate efforts
10 retake it, and that they succeeded
in their efforts. General Buffers dis
patch is so vague, simply stating that
he was surprised to find that General
Warren had retired, that such a thing
is quite possible. If this is correct a
serious reverse has been suffered by
General Warren's division, since it is
have been made by the British to hold
lllC hOI. we NHON lltll lIC bOGrS
We're attacking determinedly on
Wednesday.
Should Buffers reverse be as serious
as it now seems, the probability of his
reaching Ladysmith by the western
route is much diminished as the Beers
undoubtedly confront the British in
great strength. Warren's turning
movement having failed, General Bull
ler may find himself III the same fix
as he was in at Colenso, and as Me-
thuen is now at Modder river
Although Ladysmith is said to have
been made impregnable and the fever
is abating, there must be decrease
in the supply of ammunition and food.
Moreover, the check of Butler must
have a seriously depressing effect up
on the garrison, affecting it's physical
health.
1t is possible that some other way
may be found of turning the Tugela
river position from the Acton Homes
side or by u more direct attack from
Potgieter's. Or one more effort NAV
be made at Colenso. where the Boer
left must have beef weakened by the
loss of men whom they have lately
been sending westward