Hutchinson gazette., 1900-02-01
BOER AND BRITON.
The War Continues With Oeds In
Favor Of Dutch.
A WEEK OF ANXIETY IN LONDON
Warren Captured SpIon KOp Tuesday
But Was Compelled 10 Abandon
At-Buller RC-CrOsscs the
TugeIn- -lIOer Fund.

London, Jan. 30-Ilistory pauses
for time in South Africa. IL Is ole
OF those unsatisfactory pauses lhnt
are nearly as trying TO British nerves
rs sequence OF reverses, ana hppdl-
emily il will terminate only when
Lord Roberts gives the word FOR the
forward movement into the Free
State, which, according TO the most
cheerful view, he will be unable TO do
for a fortnight.
Whether he will permit General
Butler TO make another attempt to
relieve Ladysmith is quite outside the
knowledge even Of those closely con-
nected with the war Office. with the
troops due to arrive next month, he
may think himself strong enough TO
try two large operations. Combining
TIL forces under General Methuen,
French and Gatucre, and adding TO
them the ARRIVING troops, Lord Rob
erts would have 10000 for the inva-
sion of the Free State, with 10000 TO
10000 guarding communications and
$4,000 trying to rescde Ladysmth'
The public burns with impatience
that something should be done.
MIR. Spencer Wilkinson, in the Norm
ing Post, says: Defeat is bitter, but
II is right to face IL and 10 take rea-
sonable means TO turn IL into victory.
1t is wrong to try to conceal 1t from
ourselves.
"The initiative 10 now again with
the Boer commander, and the ques-
ton is, what will he do neXtP He
will either act against Ladysmith oy
against General Butler. In the latter
case, pursuit would he useless, for
when the British force is once across
the river again, it would be impracti-
cable, as small rear guard could
prevent pursuit. Much more prob
able would be an attack on Chievely
before the return of the main body.
Either that or II fresh assault on Lady
smith may be recorded in a day or
two"
This has been a week Of terrible
tension in London. The hopes Of the
British have been alternately falling
and rising and they are now prepared
for anything. The news Of the cap
ture Of Spion Kop Tuesday night by
General Warren was followed almost
Immediately by the newso Of its aband-
onment and the heavy losses among
Queens men.
When the news came Monday that
Butler has recrossed the lNgcla river
the climax seemed to have come, A
London paper went so far as to sug-
gest that Britain's second Yorktown
had been experienced
The Westminster Gazette advises the
country to cast aside all delusions
and recognize the fact that progress
I, the time is stopped in Natal, and
safety lies in concentration. General
WI ties force, as an effective aid,
must be written off, and probably
most of General Buffers army has
left the 1'ugela. "The Beers have
been given time TO prepare against
an advance through the Free States,
and we have not sufficient strength
iat present to undertake this advance
with any safety. There are ugly
facts, but those who disguise them
are again misleading the public The
plain truth is that we will have to
make new army somehow from
somewhere. We need at least 100000
more men-50,O00 to reinforce the
Cape and 10000 in reserve"
New Yori,, Jan. 3O-A mammoth pro
Boer meeting was held last night In
Grand Central Palace. The immenSe
A,,,SIdfnn. u.,aa GIIad IN itg anuupitV