The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-24

London, Jan. =, Z-JU a. m--Ihe fol-
lowing dispatch from General Butler
dated SpearmaDs, Jan. g, $50 p. m.
has just been posted by the war office:
Warren holds the position he gained
two days ago. In front OF him. at
about AGO yards is the enemy's posi-
ton, west Of Sp.orkop. It is on higher
ground than WarTen's position. SO it is
impossible to see into it properly.
1t can be approached only over bare
open slopes, and The ridges held by
Warren are so steep that guns cann0,
be placed on them, But We are Smelling
the enemy's position with howitzers
and field artillery, placed On low z1
ground behind infantry
The enemy is replying with Creosot
and ether artillery. In this due the
advantage rests with us, as we appear
to be searching his trenches and his
artillery fire is not causing us much
loss.
An attempt viii be made to seize
Spionkop, the salient of which forms
the enemy's position facing TriCIar5's
Drift and which divides it from the
position facing POtgieter's Drift"
General Buffers Failure.
General Buffers great turning move
ment, of which so mucn was expected
has come to a standsJill. Ills carefully
WOrded message to the war Office tell
Ing this, after silence of two days
reads like an apology ard an explana-
ton.
General Warren holds the ridges. but
the enemy's positions are higher The
British artillery is playing on the BCeI
positions, ard the Beers are replying
The British infantry is separated by
only 1,4G0 yards from the enemy. but
an approach to the steep slopes, across
the bare open, would expose the Brit
ISL to fatal rife fire.
General Buffers plans have reached
their development. He declines TO send
his infantry across this zone against
formidable positions by daylight. and
discloses his purpose 10 assault the
SpionkOp heights during the night
This appears TO be the key to the BOeI
defenSes. If he takes 1t and thus com
mands the adjacent country, an i'm
portant and possibly decisive step Will
be accomplished.
It seems that General Buffers dis
patch reached the war Office rather
early in the night and vas the subject
Of a prolonged cUnfGrcuce between Lord
DansdOWne, Mr.. Balfour and several
staff officials. A Determination appears
to have been reached not TO give out
the message during the night but to-
WARD z a. m. copies Of the dispatch
were made for distribution among the
newspaper offices. These arrived too
late for extended comment
Worse News Looked For.
The Morning Post and the Standard
touch lightly upon the unpleasant fea-
lures of the dispatch and take hope
from the projected night attack, but
altogether considered. the dispatch
looks like preparation fer worse news
Parliament will meet in FIVE days
The cabinet has been hoping for One
raliyirg British success to cheer the
country and to command generous
support for fresh revenue measures
Among these viii be probably an In
crease Of the income TO a shilling IN
the pound, but this would only pro
vide tho cost of five weeks hostilities
The dUtieI on tobacco. alcohol. Tea
and coffee are Likely to be raised. Th-
cabinet viii meet at the end of the
week and discuss the situation.
Political considerations both foreign
and domestic, pres upon the military
authorities the necessity Of speedily
accomplishing something. Thess at
thOrities may have been persuadine
General Butler to attempt his sreat
operation without adequate propara-
ton. This impression. whether true o.
not, is abroad
Roberts IS Out o. It.
Apparently Lord Roberts has roth
ing whatever to 90 with Genera
Buffers operation. General Butler and
the war Of1ce communicate with eacF
other direct. Buffers scheme wa
conceived before Lord Roberts arrived
at Cape Town and its execution was
begun on the day he landed. The fac
that the judgment Of Lord Roberts
has not been brought to bear upon ths
movement does nut add to public con-
fderce
From Vienna comes the statc-cC0
that the idea of the intervention @.
European powers, is gaining adherents
IN influential quarters. the Daily
Mails correspondent regards the
signs as unmistakeable. and martiO-
especially suggestions printed in the
Austro Hungarian foreign ofic,
journals.
Dispatches from Beer sources de5
crlDe the renewal of the b0mbdTdment
OF Ladysmith as more heavy thar
e1lAy PAcNiVuS iiIlit-, anu d. llltLA-t q
discourage a sorie, symptoms ol
preparations for egre7s from the tow
having been observed from the Boel
positions.
Special dispatches photographed FROM
Ladysmith on Monday say that the
investment has not been relaxed and
that the garrison has ceased To specu-
late regarding the precise date Of de-
liverance.
The position Of the British force.
outside of Natal is unchanged. The
forward movement elsewhere appear.
TO be waiting for reinforcemeEta.
The Daily Chronicle publishes The
following photographed message from
Ladyamith, dated Jan. %. by VIZ Of
SwartzkOD, Jan. %:
Yesterday we could see British
shells bursting close to the Boer cam
on the plateau this side OF POtgieter.
Drift, but the camp still remains il
position there TO-DAY,
We heard very heavy firing al
this morning. The Commandment her
is slack, but the Beers big gun OF
Mount Bulwana Is sin firing
THE SILENCE OF DEATH.