Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-01-31
WARREN FALLS BACK.
British Troops Forced to Abandon
Spion Kop.
GEN. BUTLER EXPRE> SEES SORROW.

War ONCE Receives List OF Casualties
which Occurred Jan. "a. Consisting OF
Eighteen Killed, 1874 Wounded aud
Tbirty-One Missing General Woodgate
Dies from the Effects of His Wounds
Received at Spion Kop.
Lorenzo Marques, Jan. 29.-It is re-
ported on good Transvaal authority
that Mafeking was relieved Tuesday,
Jan. %.
Berlin, Jan. 29.-Some of the papers
here claim to have telegram from
Pretoria saying that General Warren
was enticed to Spion kop, where the
Beers fell upon him; that seventeen Of
his cannon were captured, and that
Buffers hasty retreat over the Tugela
river alone can save him. The alleged
Pretoria telegram adds that the Brit
ish losses were 800 men killed and L.
500 wounded. The dispatch comes
through Brussels and does not receive
much credit in this city.
Berlin, Jan. 29.-It is reported that
the German foreign office has confirm
alton of the report that General War
ren's division has been crushed
London, Jan. 26.-The war Office
has just issued the following dispatch
From Spearman's camp, dated Jan. %,
1910 morning:
General Warren's troops last night
occupied Spion kop, surprising the
small garrison, who fed. 1t has been
held by us all day, though we were
heavily attacked, especially by very
annoying shell fire. l fear our casual
ties are considerable and have to in
form you, with regret, that General
sWOodgate was dangerously wounded.
General Warren is of the opinion that
he has rendered the enemy's position
untenable. The men are splendid"
London. Jan. 27.-The war office has
Just posted the following dispatch from
General Butler, dated at Spearman's
Camp, Thursday, Jan. %, noon:
General Warren's garrison, am
sorry to say, find this morning, had
in the night abandoned Spion kop."
General Butler also reports that the
British casualties Jan. "a were: Killed
Officers, 6; non-commissioned Off
GERS and men, Is. Wounded-Officers,
IL; non-commissioned officers and men.
142; missing 81 men. Among the dead
IS General Woodgate, who was wound
ed at the capture of Spion kop.
Warron's Success Provisional.
In the words of an editorial in The
Westminster Gazette: THE Associat-
ed Press said Warren's success was
proviional."
The Westminster Gazette's remark
was called out by George w. Smalley's
cable to The Times saying: 1.-THE As.
sociated Press takes care that we shall
not over-estimate Warren's success.
suggesting that 1t is only provisional
and that there is the usual DISPOSE
ton of London to exaggerate the i'm
portance of the point scored"
The Westminster Gazette then pro-
ceeds to defend it's own course, point
ing out that it is not unpatriotic to
decline to gloss over facts"
Revulsion of Feeling.
"As a matter of fact, Great Brit
ain assumes that the point gained was
more conclusive than 1t really was;
hence the extreme revulsion of feel.
ing caused by General Buffers an
nouncement of the abandonment of
Spion kop Considering that the Beers
who held the position fed, that the
British casualties in retaining it dur
ing the subsequent attacks were
heavy, and that the strategical value
of the point had still to be demon
strated, there never was any great rea-
son for throwing up hats, and until
further particulars arrive, 1t is impos-
sible to estimate to what extent the
public disappointment is justified.
General Warren may have decided
IT was unsafe to attempt to hold the
position any longer; or, perhaps, he is
seeking more profitable ascent else
where. Whatever may be the explain
alton Of the abandonment of Spion kop
by the British it will doubtless have
the same temporary moral effect as
reverse. 1t appears to have been so
entirely unexpected at the war office
that General Buffers dispatch caused
something In the nature of consterna-
tlon. The Hobbies were soon crowded
and there was evidence on all sides
that the news was keenly felt.
BOERs ARE DETERMINED.
Mounting New Guns and Strengthening