Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-26
Daily keitnebec Journal.
SPlON kOP TAkEN.
Continued from page ~

office and at the clubs and other re-
Sorts there was notable change from
'he siooiny Tears of yesterday. The
appearance oil the new placards on the
streets sent crowds of people to the
war Office and the Hobbies were soon
hlled to suffocation.
In the ladies' lobby there were signs
or the sad side of victory. A question
often asked was: When will the cas-
ualties be received?"
Ihough Gen. Buffers dispatch is
dated, today. and speaks of Spon kop
pelng captured. last night" it appar-
entry means. Tuesday night. AS. ac-
cording to Gen. Buffers dispatch. the
small garrison was surprised" his
subsequent statement: "Our losses
were considerable" indicates that the
British suffered greatly later from the
shell fire from further Boer positions
The statement that there was only a
small garrison at Spion kop came as
surprise, as it was imagined the
Beers were there in great force. and it
is taken in some quarters to indicate
that the Beers were not so surprised
| at the assault as it appeared. but,
previously drew off their main body
and left a small force to withstand the
British advance. 1t is even suggested
that the Beers inveigled the British
troops into occupying Spion kop and
have now surrounded them.
1t is evident in spite of the fact that
| the British hold Potgieters drift and the
hills above, that the Beers have succeeded
in bringing up enough artillery to inflict
considerable losses on the British force
which seized Spion kop. although Lord
Dundonald is supposed to have been scour-
ing the country beyond the ranges in or
der to prevent this very thing, and al
though Gen. l.ittleton ought to have got
near enough To Spion kop to either inter
ccpt the retreating Beers or prevent i
serious attack once the British had taken
possession of the hill
The scout. F. K. Burnham. now on his
way back TO South Africa. expressed CON
siderable satisfaction at the news Of the
capture of Spion kop. He said to rep
resentative Of The Associated Press:
1T is evident that the Boer position is
being shaken and do not think it will
now be 4 long business to drive the
Beers out of the Drakensburg. We shall
then reach rolling. open country where
there is a chance to display tactics and
undertake thanking movements and cav
airy operations. But the Beers are sure
10 make most determined stand around
Pretoria. II will not take long to reach
toria will be both long ana difficult"
Burnham will sail for South Africa,
Saturday. on board the Scot, to take up
his appointment on Field Marshal Lord
Roberts personal staff. He says lngra-
ham, another scout. will forthwith leave
San Francisco TO join him in South
Africa.
In Gen. Buffers orders to his troops.
the substance Of which has already been
cabled to The Associated Press. after
warning them to beware Of false orders.
he concludes:
"Our generals will only give one order.
namely. advance Should any one At
any time he surprised by a Volley at close
quarters. he must remember that the only
way TO safety and victory lies in rushing
upon the enemy. for the one thing the
enemy cannot stand is hand-to-h and
fight This war has been forced for the
lowest and basest motives by an enemy
who uses every means of trcachery. de-
ceit and conspiracy TO gain their ends
Let US bear ourselves as the cause de-