The Parsons weekly blade., 1900-01-26
BULLER'S MOVEMENT
The Plans of the British General
Brought to a Standstill.
THE DISPATCH FROM GEN. BULLER.
News from Pietermaritzburg-A Hello
graphed Message from Ladysmith-
Dutch COlOnists Keep Beers Posted
Battle Raging at SpiOnskop.

London, Jan. 24.-Gen. Buffers
great turning movement, of which so
much had been expected, has come
to standstill. His carefully worded
message to the war office telling this,
after silence of two days, reads like
an apology and an explanation. Gen.
Warren holds the ridges, but the enc
my's positions are higher. The Brit
ish artillery is playing on the Boer po-
sitions, and the Beers are replying.
The British infantry is separated by
only 1,4OO yards from the enemy, but
an approach to the steep slopes,
across the bare open, would expose
the British to a fatal rifle fire.
Gen. Buffers plans have reached
send his infantry across the zone
against formidable positions by day
light, and discloses his purpose to as
sault the Spionkop heights during the
night. This appears to be the key to
the Boer defenses. If he takes it and
thus commands the adjacent country,
an important and possibly decisive
btep VIII De accomplished.
1t seems that Gen. Buffers dispatch
reached the war Office rather early in
the night and was the subject of a
prolonged conference between Lord
1ansdowne, Mr.. Balfour and several
staff officials. A determination APP
pears 70 have been reached not to give
out the message during the night, but
toward two a. m. copies Of the dis
patch were given to newspapers.
These arrived too late for extended
comment.
The Dispatch from Gen. Butler.
London, Jan. 24.-The following
dispatch from Cen. Butler, dated
Spearman's camp, January %, 6:2O p.
M, has just been posted: Warren
holds the position he gained two days
ago. In front of him, at about 1,400
yards, is the enemy's position, west
of Spionkop, 1t is on higher ground
than Warren's position, so it is i'm
possible 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 cannot be
placed on them. But we are shelling
the enemy's position with Howitzers
and field artillery, placed on lower
ground, behind infantry. The enemy
Is replying with Cruesot and other ar
tillery. In this duel the advantage
rests with us, as we appear to be
searching his trenches and his artil-
lery fire is not causing us much loss.
An attempt will be made tonight to
seize Spionkop, the salient of which
forms the left of the enemy's posi-
ton facing Trichards drift and
which divides it from the position
facing Potgeiter's drift. It has con
siderable command over all the enc
my's entrenchments."
News from Pietermaritzburg.
London, Jan. PA dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Pietermaritzbu @,
dated January %, says: Lord Dun
donald holds the road to divers Hoek
pass. The latest arrivals from 10
hannesburg say that the Boer me1h-
ods are working ruin to the miner
The Beers pick out the rich ore, Ieav-
ing the cost of further developments
to the shareholders. Stores are BEING
robbed wholesale. The safe deposit
vaults ,nnder the Stock exchange have
heeu broken open and jewelry and
plate left by the refugees have been
extracted. Grass is growing in the
streets, and cattle are grazing in fash
fonable thoroughfares. There are
c+iu abort COO T-itIandarS in the
NTransvaal. A letter received here
Srom Harrismith relates that three
tritishers were shot in the market
/ auare for refusing to 90 to the front
| 2en commandeered."
| Autographed Message from Ladysmith.
bndon, Jan. 24.-The Daily ChrCn-
icN publishes the following hello
grahed message from Ladysmith,
dated January %. Yesterday we
couldlee British shells bursting close
TO- III Roer camp on the plateau this