New-York tribune., 1900-01-29
THE BITTER NEWS AT LAST.
BULLER'S STORY A GREAT SHOCK TO
THE BRITISH NATION.
copyright; 1900: BY The New-York Tribuns.l
[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEl

copyright; 1900: By The New-York Trbunel
[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEl
London Jan. 90 1 a m.-The terrible secret
which the War Office has been guarding like
skeleton in dark closet since Friday was re-
vealed yesterday afternoon. 1t was a catas-
trophe worse than defeat at Spion Kop or Pot
gieter's Drift 1t was the retreat of Buffers
army across the Tugela without another blow
for the deliverance of the heroic garrison at
Ladysmith.
The official announcement made in plain
language but the press agents who copied II
were dazed by the ominous import of the mes
sage and spelled out each word in silence.
Spion Kop had been found very difficult to hold.
and the officer who succeeded Woodgate had de-
cided to abandon It, The officer not named,
but it was evident that he would ultimately be
held responsible for the failure Of the Upper
Tugela movement and for the downfall of Lady
smith, as Colonel Long had been gazetted as
the evil genius of the battle of Colenso. General
Butler added that second attack on Spion Kop
was useless and that the army had withdrawn
to the south of the Tugea without the loss Of a
pound of stores.
A TREMENDOUS DISAPPOINTMENT.
The CHASTITY skeleton in the closet had been re-
vealed and the startled spectators shrank back
overcome with disappointment. The British
army had retreated and abandoned Ladysmith
to It's fate. Late Friday evening there
dark hints that the War Office had received and
was holding back unfavorable news. The only
apparent clew to the mystery was the casualty
list of 200 names from Lyttleton's brigade,
which, contrary to expectation is now shown to
have supported the attack upon Spion Kop.
General Buffers retreat was revealed to the
Committee on Imperial Defence on Saturday
and has been blurted out when the last man
and the last pound of stores safe across the
Tugela The War Office acted discreetly in
Withholding the evil tidings until the retreat
had been carried out to the end. 1t cannot be
reproached for a futile conspiracy Of silence
when 1t was beyond the wit of man to change
the color OF the news to explain away it's
Significance The nation and empire
left to face the catastrophe with such resources
of courage and patriotism still in reserve
after a war humiliating In reverses and dis
heartening in disappointments London resorts
last night were silent catacombs. Men read
General Buffers bulletin with shudder Of dis
gust and retired to quiet corners, where they
could mediate in secret and went home early.
The admirable ucidity OF the report and the
tributes to the gaantry Of the storming party
at Spion Kop could not conceal the real import.
There were no signs either of panic excite
ment Every face grim and stern Heavy
losses could have been borne with fortitude. but
the complete collapse of General Buffers cam
paign for the relief Of Ladysmith a disaster,
although happily free from disgrace owing to the
splendid conduct of the men. and high spirited
Englishrnen could not reconcile themselves to
the thought that one British army had aban-
doned another. which had been beleaguered for
months and was short OF ammunition food
supplies and everything except courage. This
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