Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1900-02-03
BRITISH ARE INUNDATED
Beers Win a Brilliant Victory
and Completely Rout the
British Forces.

trous one for the British forces in
South Africa. After several days of
severe fighting General Warren
succeeded on the 23d ult. in captur-
ing Spion Kop from the Beers and
much citation vas felt by the British
War Department over this apparent
victory. The feeling was short-lived,
however, for after a day of hard
fighting Warren was obliged to re-
move his forces under cover Of dark
ness to q point beyond the range of
the Boer guns. General Butler also
was forced to abandon his position
on the tableland west of Ladysmith,
and the entire British force has nov
retreated to a point beyond the
Tugela river.
The battle of Spion Kop vas the
most terrific known to modern war
fare. According to the best estimates
obtainable the British loss was 800
killed and 1,500 wounded. 1t is also
stated that a band Of 80 of General
Warren's men, unable to Withstand
the terrible fire Of the Beers, raised
a white flag, and throwing down
their arms surrendered to the enemy.
The strict censorship exercised over
the British press dispatches renders
it impossible to gather with any
degree Of accuracy the exact situa-
ton as seen from the British line,
but the loud boasts of the Beers,
coupled with the reports received
at the capitals of Germany, Austria
and France, makes it possible to
gain a pretty clear idea of the stu
alton.
That Spion Kop was the key to
the Beers position is conceded or
all sides. Further than this ii is
apparent that the English were en-
ticed into a trap and allowed to gain
the summit of this mountain in order
that the Beers might from their
points of vantage on different sides
pour a deadly fire into their ranks.
whether or not this was the plan
of campaign is not stated in the dis
patches, but the result goes to prove
the correctness of this surmise.
MUST FACE CATASTROPHE.
The London Times in an editorial
article the morning after the retreat
says:
1.-The most carefully planned and
executed movement of the whole
campaign has entirely failed. and it
can hardly be necessary to dwell
upon the extreme probability that
we shall learn, o little sooner or q
little later. of q catastrophe almost
beyond precedent in our military
history, a catastrophe, indeed. with
out a parallel except in the surren-
der of Yorktown.
"We are checked at every point Of
the campaign. In fact the campaign
is still to begin. We wish we had
clearer proofs that sven now the
Government has any adequate com
prehensien of the situation. The
u~tterances Of responsible Ministers
have done nothing to reassure the
country on this point.
Heavy or light the thing has to
be done and the Government ought
to prepare for the immediate dis
patch of $4,000 men and take steps
to send yet another $4,000 if these
should be needed. The hopeless
attempts to carry on the campaign
with four widely separated columns.
each unequal to its task, must be
abandoned for q concentration of
force and of purpose"
THE FATE OF LADYsMITH.
The retreat of Buffers army prac-
tically settles the fate of Ladysmith.
No matter what heroic effort the
British War Office may make as TO
the sending of reinforcements, the
garrison at Ladysmith will be unable
to hold out as their supplies of food
and ammunition are practically ex-
hausted. 1t is only a question of a
few days when an unconditional sur.
render must be made to the Boer
forces. Nothing else remains for
them except an attempt to fight their
way out, and with the complete
route of the invading army before
them any such attempt on their part
would be the height of foolhardiness.
The latest bulletin published al
London states that General Butler
now promises that Ladysmith will