The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1900-02-02
Beers Made Place "ToO
Hot" For BritOns.
.TAHSORRY" SAYSBULLER
The Hill Had Been Captured and TaksH
Possession Of By General
Rarrsn's TrOOpS.

4ue Iouuon HAl OAASe pubAbneb Au@
following dispatch from General Bull
Ter, dated at spearman's camp, Thurs
day, January IS, noon:
General Warren's garrison, I am
sorry to say, find this morning had,
in the night, abandoned Spion Kopf,"
General Butler reports that the
British casualties January "a we're:
Killed-OAicers 6; nOn-commission-
cd officers and men, 18.
Wounded-Oficers 2; non-commis-
stoned officers and men, 142.
Missing--31 men.
Total in killed and wounded and
missing on January oath, 20c.
The killed includes Col. Buchanan
Riddell Of the Kings Royal Rifles. he
served in the Niger war Of 1881 It is
not clear whether the casualties in
cludS those at Spion Kopf or only
those resulting from fighting prior to
the Spion Kopf engagement.
General Woodgate, who was wounded
Tuesday, is dead.
CAUSES CONSERVATION.
Whatever may be the explanation of
abandonment of Spion Kopf by the
British, it will doubtless have the
same temporary moral effect as a re-
verse. 1t appears to have been so
entirely unexpected at the war Office
that General Buffers dispatch caused
something in the nature of oonsterns-
ton. The Hobbies were soon crowded
and there was evidence on all sides
that the news was keenly felt.
The only official comment was, ap-
parently, General Warren found the
position too hot to hold. Business on
the stock exchange became very fat
Friday. ConsuIs dropped fve-eighths,
leading general decline.
| Nowhere, however, in spite of the
depression, is there the least sign of
abatement in the determination to
carry the war to q successful issue.
The cabinet met Friday afternoon un-
der the presidency of Lord Salisbury,
and doubtless the ministers fully can
vassed the new situation, though pri-
marily summoned to discuss the terms
of the queens speech.
Under other circumstances the news
from Ladysmith showing greatly i'm
proved sanitary conditions, the plenti-
fulness of provisions, and tho strength
ening of tho Notifications until the
place is regarded as jmpregnable,
would have inspired the nation, but
these good tidings to tho British are
overshadowed by the anxiety as to tho
situation on the Upper Tugela and
the thought that the heavy losses suf-
fered during the struggle Tuesday
night have counted for naught.
Military circles made an effort to
conceal their chsgrin, expressing the
gravest fears as to the ultimate fate OF
Ladysmith. Such authorities as Ma
jor General Sir Frederick Darlington,
who is under orders for South Africa,
and Lord Clifford, who won the Vic
toria cross while scouting for Lord
Wolseley during the Zulu war, would
not be surprised to hear of the cap
ture of General Whites forces within
a week. Lord Clifford, who knows the
country like q book, could not under
stand how in the world General War
rem ever got to the top OF Spion Kopi
without ascertaining what positions
command it.
The poorness Of the maps, it was
pointed out, could hardly be an excuse
for this as there must be with General
Warren several scouts, to say nothing
of officers who at one time or another
have served at Ladysmith, aud whose
mere hunting expeditions would have
given them knowledge of the country.
While General Warren is not blamed
for retreating under what is supposed
to have been heavy shell fire, he is Sc
verely criticised for occupying q posi-
tion to which he could not bring up
his artillery.