Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-02-01
BULL RUN FOR
THE BRITISH
Hurried Retreat Of General Butler
From His Position North
Of the TugeIa.
FORCED TO REcRoss THE RIVER
War Office Gives Out Dispatch Tell
ing Of the Withdrawal Of
the English.
FORCED TO REcRoss THE RIVER
RumoRs OF TERRIBLE LOSSES
Official Export Silent rs to Casual.
tics, but Dispatches From
Hocr Sources Say 1900
Were Killed.

Boer Head LANCER, Ladysmith, Jan
95.-6 p. m.-British dead left on bat
tletield yesterday numbered 1000.
London. Jan. 30 General Buller's
| dispatch to the wal. office states thai
| Spion kop was abandoned ON account
of lack of water, inability to bring the
artillery there, and a heavy Boer fire
| Butler gives no list of casualties. His
whole force withdrew south of the
Tugela river, with the evident inten-
ton of reaching Ladysimth by anoth
CT route.
Following is the text of Buffers
dispatch, dated Spearmah's camp, Sat
nrdaN, January 81, $40 p. nj:
"On January 20 Warren drove back
the enemy and obtained possession OF
the southern cres.s of the high table
land extending from the line of Acton
Homes and llonger's poo.t to the
western Ladysmith hills. From then
contact with the enemy.
"Ihe enemy held strong position
on range of small Eopies stretching
from northwest TO southeast across
the plateau from Acton Homes,
through Spion lop, to the left bank of
the Tugela.
1.-THE actual position held was per-
fectly tenable, but did not lend itself
to an advance. as the southern slopes
We're so steep that Warren could not
get an effective artillery position and
water supply was difficulty.
"On January 90 assented to his at
tacliing Spion lsop, large hill, indeed
a mountain, which was evidently the
key of the position, but was far more
accessible from the north than from
the south.
"On the night of January 90 he at
tackled Spion kop, but found 1T very
difficult to hold, as it's perimeter was
too large and water, which he had
been led to believe existed, in this eN-
traorGinary dry season was found very
deficient.
"rhe crests were Held all that day
against successive attacks and Il heavy
shell fire. Our men fought with great
gallantry. / would especially mention
the conduct of the Second Cameroni-
ans and Third Kings rifles, who sup
ported the attack on the mountain
from the steepest side, and in each
case fought their way to the top. and
the Second Lancashire fusileers and
Second MiddleseN, who magniticently
maintained the best traditions of the
British army throughout the trying
day of January "a. and Thornycroft's
mounted infantry, who fought
throughout the day equally we'll along
side of them.
General Woodgate, who was in com
mand at the summit, having been
wounded, the officer who sue
ceeded him decided on the night of
January "a to abandon the position,
and did so before dawn January 25.
reached Warren's camp at 5 a. III. on
january %, and decided that a sec
ond attack on Spion Sop was useless
aud that the enemy's crest was 100
strong to allow me to force it.
accordingly ! decided to withdraw
the force to the south of the Tugela.
at 6 o'clock a. III. we commenced with
drawing the train. and by a. m. Jan
uary 81 Saturday Warren's force
was concentrated south of the Tugela
without the loss of a man or Il pound
of stores.
''rhe fact that the force could with
draw from actual toucll-in some
cases the lines were less than 1000
yards apart-with the enemy i'm the
manner it did, is, I think, sufficient ev-
idence of the morale of the troops, and
that we were permitted to Withdraw
our cumbrous OK and mule transports
across the river, eighty-fivc yards
broad, with twenty-foot banks and a
very swift current, unmolested. is, T
think, proof that the enemy has been
taught to respect our soldiers fight
ing powers
During Sunday morning and the
earlier part of the afternoon placard
bearing the words. "No news.'' hung
on the iron railing in front of the war
Office, but about p. m. the placard
was taken in and on the bulletin
boards inside General Buffers long
dispatch was placed. The Sunday pa
pers issued extras. but only the faint
est interest was manifested in the
streets.
At the clubs the situation as re-
vealed by General Butler was consil-
cred very unpleasant. His excuses or
explanations We're characterized as
very weak. The absence of water.
which Sir Charles Warren was lied to
believe" existed, and the facts that
Spion kop was Indeed mountain
and that it's ''perimeter was too large"
are all matters which even Buffers
OUR TRAOE NTH TIE OpicMr