Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-01

ing and the earlier part of the after
noon a placartl, bearing the words
mo news" hung on the iron railing
in front Of the war Office: and the
shivering sentries who stood guard on
Pail Mall in the rain and seet had the
district all to themselves About three
p. m, however, the placard was taken
in and on the bulletin boards inside
Gen. Buffers long dispatch was dis
played.
The Sunday papers issued extras,
but only the faintest interest was
manifested in the streets. At the
service clubs the situation revealed
by Gen. Buller was considered very
unpleasant. His excuses or eXplana-
tons We're characterized as very
weak. The absence Of water, which
Sir Charles Warren w;is lied to be-
lieye" existed and the facts that
sponkop was Indeed mountain"
and that its "perimeier was too
large are all matters which even
Gen. Buffers warmest admirers hold
should have been ascertained before
the attack. The splendid gallantry
of the men in capturing Spionkop is
read of with great pride and satisfac-
ton II is taken as an assurance OF
the ultimate success of British arms.
Text Of Gen. Buffers Dispatch.
London, Jan. 20. Following is the
text of Gen. Buffers dispatch, dated
Spearman's camp, January q, 6:l0 p.
M. "On January 20 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 llougers
Poort to the western Ladysmith hills.
From then to January rs he remained
in close contact with the enemy. On
January % ! assented to his attack
ing spionkop, large hill. indeed a
mountain, which was evidently the
key to the position, but was far more
successful from the north than from
the south. On the night of January
30 he attacked Spionkop, but found it
very difficult to hold, as its perimeter
was too large and water, which he
had been led to believe existed in this
extraordinary dry season, was found
very deficient. The crests were held
all that day against severe attacks
and a heavy shell fire. Our men
fought with great gallantry.
"Gen. Woodgute, vino was in com
mand ht the summit, having been
wounded, the officer who succeeded
him decided ON the night of January
"a to abandon the position, and did
so before dawn January %. | reached
Warren's camp at five a, M. ON Janu-
arv % and decided that a second att
tack upon Spionkop was useless and
that the enemy's right was too strong
to allow me to force it. Accordingly
] decided to withdraw the force to
the south of the Tugela, At six Il. m.
we commenced withdrawing the train
and by eight a. M, January y (Satur-
dav), Warren's force was concentrated
south of the 'rugela without the loss
of man or a pound of stores
Bo.r Account Of the splonkop Battle.
Boer Headquarters, Modder Spruit,
via I.ourenzo Marques, Jan. 3D.
"some Nryheid burghers from the
outpos,s ON the highest hills of the
Spionkop group rushed into the laa-
ger saying that the kop was lost and
that the English had taken it. Re-
Inducements were ordered up, but
nothing could be done for some time,
the hill being enveloped in thick mist.
Horses were left under the first ter
race of rocks. Sealing the steep hill,
the Beers found that the English
had improved the opportunity and en-
trenched heavily, Between the lines
of trenches was an open veldt, which
had to be rushed under heavy fire
not only from rifles but lyddite and
shrapnel from guns. The English tried
TO rush the Beers with the bayonet but
their infantry went down before the
Boer rifle fire as before a scythe.
"rhe Boer investing party advanced
step by step until two in the after
noon, when white flag went up and
$50 men in the front trenches sur
rendered, being sent as prisoners to
the head lager. The Boer advance
continued on the two kopies east of
Spionkop. Many Beers were shot, but
so numerous were the burghers that
Che gaps nued auIomatlcau,. 40
ward twilight they reached the sum-
nit of the second kopie but did not
get further The British MaXims
belchcd flame. but wall of fire from
the ,Mausers held the English back.
Their center, under this pressure,
gradually gave way and broke, ADAM
doning the position"
Roberts Visits the Maine Hospital ship.
Cape Town. Ian. 29,--I.ord Roberts,
after visiting the hospital ship Maine.
over which he was conducted by Lady
Randolph Churchill, expressed his en-
tire satisfaction with the arrange
ments, The Maine has sailed for Dur
ban.