Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-01
AFRICAN WAR NEWS.
A London Stock Exchange Rumor
Started by the Bulls.
The TOPOGRAPHY OF SPI0NK0P.

The British Losses Up to Date-fhe Boers'
Positions West % SpionkOp Fusilladed
by Gen. Warren Opinion Of Ger
man Tacticians.
London, Jan. %. The extreme ten
sion caused by what. may justly be
designated the most anxious pause
since the war hogan has not been re-
lie,ed by anything save the stock eX-
change rulnor. which happens to have
been started by the bulls, who assert
that Gen. Warren has captured
Spionkop. Anxiety in regard to the
news is visible ON all sides. It is gen
orally recognized that the lioer posi-
ton, If ever taken, can only be cap
tnred at tremendous cost. The as
semblage in Pail Mall outside the war
Office and those privileged to wait in
the Hobbies reluctantly dispersed at
midnight, after the final word thai
nothing more would be announced.
The morning papers went to press
with con. lectures and forecasts OF all
sorts, striving to guess out something
from Spionkop Topography maps
show that Spionkop is the highest
part of a rocky plateau. Eastward
for eight miles are the Hocr positions
along The Tugea. Northwestward
from Spionkop the plateau runs grad
uaIly up to 4 great spur OF the
Drakensburg Gen. Buffers infantry
to reach the summit of Spionkop
must cross a natural glacis three
quarters Of mile wide and climb 800
feet up steep slope.
Nobody here seems TO know, not
even the war Office, what Lord Rob
erts has done with his large reinforce
menls. Six thousand troops awaited
his arrival at Cape Town and since
then 5000 others have reached there.
Military critics are all hoping that
good share of these 1000 have gone
10 help Gen. Butler, and they argue
that a few days wait may make him
strong enough to overcome the dead
lock. There are 10000 troops al sea
and this heavyweight on the British
side is expected to destroy the equill-
brium now existing on every field OF
operations.
The British losses up to date in
killed. wounded and captured, accord
ing to Gen, Buffers last list, total,
S,2l6 men.
Fuslliaded the Boer Positions
London, ian. 25--Hhe Daily Tele-
graph publishes the following dis.
patch from Spearman's Camp. dated
January %, $3.50 p, M: "On Monday
Sir Charles Warren's force cannon
AIDED and fusiladed the Boer positions
west Of Spionkop, near the Acton
Homes road. a lyddite battery CO.
operated with the other batteries and
Maxims Certainly the fire was cf-
fcctive, causing the enemy serious
losses. The Beers, however chung
desperately to their works from which
they are only being very slowly
driven. To-day the enemy fired their
guns oftener, using also the captured
15-pounders with shrapnel, Our cas-
ualties to-day were less than those of
yesterday, Fighting began about six
in the morning and continued until
dark, but there has been nothing like
a general engagement. The naval big
guns assisted from potgetiers drift in
Smelling the I'oer Positions
Boer situation at Niagerafontein.
London, ian, ga correspondent
OF the Times at Modder river, tcle-
graphing Tuesday, says; "rhe TO-
ports of dcsertelS agree that the sit
uation of the Beers at Magersfontein
is becoming unbenrable, because the
camp is insanitary, enteric fever is
spreading and vegetables are wanting,
On the other hand, the health of the
British camp is satisfactory, although
the ground has been exhausted by the
long encampment and the trees have
been cut down by insect pest and
dust storms"
Opinion Of German Taotic,ans.
Berlin. Jan "a German press iacti-
clans are almost unanimously of opin-
ion that the situation of the British
forces around ladysmith is desperate.
The Berliner Tageblatt prints Brns-
sells special, claiming thai Sir Charles
warren mas peen NgnaIiy oclea,eu. n
military writer for the Kreuz Xcilung
says the movement to relieve Lady
smith has failed, rendering the Brit
ish line Of retreat dangerous.
London, Jan 96,~The iubilutlon
over Gen. Warren's achievement in
capturing Spionkop Wednesday night
is chastened by the realization that
his success is only provisional, as it
appears clear from Gen. Buffers dis
patch that the Beers fully recognize
the strategical Importance of Spion-
kop and AT the time his message was
sent off they had not abandoned the
hope of capturing the position.
Gen. Buller's phrase, "the men are
splendid" thrills England with pride
and confidence, His taking and hold
ing Spionkop We're considered per-
manent advantages. Sir Charles War
rens opinion that miles of adjacent
Boer entertainments are untenable is
accepted by most expert observers
as obviously true, because of the
height OF the position, although some