, 1900-02-01
WITHDRAW.
BULLER RECRoSsES THE IT,
CELIA.


Spearman's camp, Saturday, January
18th, 6:1O p. m:
january 10Th General Warren drove
back the enemy and obtained posses
sion of the southern creSts of the high
table land extending from the line of
Acton Homes and Honger's poort TO
the western L~adysmith hills. From
then to January 18th he remained in
close ontac with the enemy
The enemy held "a strong position on
a range of small kopjes stretching from
northwest TO southeast across the
plateau from Acton Homes, through
Spion kop to the left bank of the Tu-
gela.
The actual position held was per-
fectly tenablc. 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
winter supplies We're Il difficulty.
january 23rd ! assented to his at
lacking Spion kop, a large hill, indeed
n mountain, which was evidently n key
to the position, but was far more acces-
sible from the north thai from the
south.
ION the night of January 23rd he at
tackled Splon kOp, but found it difficult
to hold, ns its perlmcter was too large
and water, which he had been led 10 be-
lieve existed in this extraordinary dry
season was found deficient.
'The crests were held all that day
against severe attacks and II heavy
shell fire. our men fought with great
gallantry. ! would especially mention
the conduct of the Second Cameron In
dians and the Third Kings Rifles, who
supported the attack on the mountain
from the stecpcst side, and in each case
fought their way to the top, and the
Second Lancashire fIIsiliers ana Sec
Ond MiddleseX. who magniiiccntly
maintained the hest traditions of the
British army throughout the trying day
of January 9th. and 11lornycroft's
mounted infantry. who fought through
the day equally well alongside of them.
General WOOdgatc. who was in com
mand at the summit. having been
wounded, the officer who succeeded
him decided on the night of January
oath to abandon the position, and did
so before dawn January 25th.
81 reached Warrcn's camp mt , n. m.
january 2Jth. and decided that n sec
ond attack upon SpiOn kOp was useless
and that the encmy's right was too
strong to ALLOW me to force it.
Accordingly. | decided to withdraw
the force to the south of the Tugcla.
AT Il n. III. VT commenced Withdrawing
the train, and by : II. m, January 9th
Saturday. Wnrrcn's force was concen-
trated south of the Tugela without the
loss of II man or II pound of stores.
Tho fact that the force should with
draw from actual toucl-in some eases
the lines were less than II thousand
yards apart-with the enemy in the
manner II did. is. ! think. sufficient evil
dence of the morale of the troops. and
that we are permitted to withdraw our
cumbrOus OK and mule transports
nsrnG tIp piVaTs aiplttN-nVn wards
broad. with twenty-fOot banks and n
very swift current. unmOlested, is, |
think. proof that the enemy has been
taught to respect our soldiers lighting
powers
A dispatch from Prctorin, dated Jan
uary 9th, via LourcuZO Marques, jan
unry 18th, says:
THE government is advised that, af-
ter heavy fighting near Spion kop, some
British on the kop being stormed hoist
ed a white flag and $50 surrendered
Boer Head Laagcr. I.adysmith, Jan.
20. Z p. m.-1hc British dead left on the
battlefield yesterday numbered 1,5OO.
1t is believed in London that this in
cludes the wounded.
1t appears that General Butler had
all together five b~rigades, wholly or
partly engaged. General Cookies, Gen
eral Hildyard's. General Harris. Gen
'lH w bN'lEslN' : wv nv - Wv
toms. and the 30 casualties already
announced In Lyttlcton's brigade are
thus explained. Much mystery still
surrounds the rptrpat. 1t Is possible
that General Butler has withdrawn his
whole force. but it is generally assumed
that Lyttleton's brigade and Lord
Dundonald's cavalry and other troops
are still on the north side of the Tu-
gela.
r,,,,,I p,Il.r',, ..,rDInn., Elm, +I,,
Beers did not modest his retrcnt he
cause they had been taught 10 respect
the fighting powers of the British sol
dier. is not shared in London. Ii is
thought rather that the Beers had
some other plan i'm store, or did not
wish to waste their men.
Large arrivals of troops are due at
Cape Town during the week.
There has been great activity in mill
tary quarters in all parts of England
since Saturday morning.
AT the very III when Dr. Leyds
is being received rs an honorcd guest
in the highest circles on the continent.
Great Britain has to face the worst
disaster in II campaign thus far dis
astrous. Open talk is heard of the
absolute necessity of abandoning
Ladysmith to its fate, while Lord
Roberts rcvertS to the original plan of
] an w Hll'f WIZ Inv 'lillSt river upon
BlOemfOntcln.
To Lndysmith the disappointment
must he bitter. \ dispatch from the
Bocr lnager, near the town, dated
January 2lth. describes the garrison
ns evidently preparing Il desperate
coup in order to effect II junction with
General Buffers advancing army"
1t may be regarded rs II certainty
that, In the confident hope of early re-
lief, Sir George White has lately been
issuing extra r]ationS. ana this fIIct has
given rise to an exaggerated idea ms tn
the length of time the provisions would
last.
Even should it be decided 10 send
General Butler rcinforcemcnts and to
attempt TO reach Ladysmith hy n
movement through the still more, dir.
tiCUlt country east OF Culenso, it Is pN-
trcm"ly doubtful whether the gnrri.
sun could hold uE long enough, MS
such II movement would occupy M
! lAnEf 81 Nt.NnHls