Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-01-31
BATTLE OF SPION KOP.
Winston Churchill Describes It As
One Of the Fiercest Conflicts
Of the Century.
BRITISH VALOR AYAILED NOT
The Beers We're At First Surprised, But
Later Massed Their Whole Strength
Upon the English -Ladysmith
Still Holding Out.


Spencer Churchill has cabled the Even
ing World a copyrighted account of the
battle of Spion kop. The dispatch was
dated at Spearman's camp, January II,
and says the fight on the summit of the
kop was one of the fiercest and most
furious conflicts in British military his
tory. Guided by the Thorneycrofts the
troops surprised the Beers there and
carried the trenches with bayonets at
o'clock in the morning. There was little
loss. At once the troops intrenched has
tily, but the ground was broken by large
rocks and unsuited for intrenchments
At dawn heavy shelling by the Beers
began. General Woodgate was serious
ly wounded at the beginning. Urgent
by the commander who succeeded
Woodgate. Re-enforcements We're sent,
Strengthening The defense. Thorney-
croft was appointed brlgadier, COM
manding the whole force at the top of
the hill. A bitter and bloody struggle
followed throughout the day, the Beers
concentrating every man and gun on
the summit and attacking with the
greatest spirit. The British artillery
was unable ito cope with the superior
long range Boer guns, and during the
afternoon 1t became evident the infan-
try could not endure another day. 1t
was impossible to drag guns to the sum-
NIT of Spion Kop without elaborate
preparations or fortifying the hill
strongly enough to protect the defend
ers from the unassailed artillery. Thor
neycroft's decision to abandon 1t was
both wise and necessary. The British
troops were stubborn, and marched
back to their camps in regular order.
Every effort is being made to succor the
wounded, of whom many still lie on the
summit.
The official lists will give the losses.
The defense Of the hill by the English
infantry, particularly the Lancashire
regiments, was a glorious episode. The
whole army is proud of 1t. The Boer po-
sitions before Ladysmith are perhaps
impregnable with $4,000 men, but the
troops are resolved to have another try.
The public must irsltate the. eauanim-
ity of the troops. Spion Kop is not
disaster. Neither guns were lost nor an
unwonted number of prisoners made. 1t
was simply a bloody action, in which
the lodgment Of the enemy's intrench-
ments were effected, but which proved
untenable. The Beers were sometimes
Within 30 yards of the British lines
They also suffered, and their loss must
have been greater, compared to their
strength, than ours.
Ladysmith, Sunday, January 2S.-
Photographed to Swartzkop, near Tu-
gela river.)-News of the prolongation
of the siege resulting from General Bull
ler's failure is received with fortitude.
We can hold on. The garrison is health
ier, CHEEKY and confident. Disease is
disappearing, and there is mo horse sick
ness. The rains give plenty of grass.
We can hear General Buffers guns still
working. 1t is rumored in camp that he
is advancing along another line. The
Boer laagers around are again full of
men, who returned from the upper Tu-
gela. The Beers have also taken up
new position on the hills near Colenso,
where they are in great force. Re-en-
forcements are apparently arriving
from the Transvaal. Large bodies OF
Beers are also visible between here and
Potgieter's drift.
Cape Town, January 31.-Ktmberly
photographed to the Modder river. jan
uary 26, that all the British subjects of
the Barkley west district had been or
dered by the Beers to take up arms for
the republic under penalty of a fine OF
ear or three months hard labor. About
300 men are affected by the order.
London, January 31.-A special from
Cape Town says that $50 American
scouts, who arrived there as muleteers,
have enlisted in the British forces.
Cape Town, January 30.-General Bull
Ter still holds the Tugela drifts, and
will possibly renew the attempt to force
way through the Boer defenses before
long. In any case, Ladysmith is capa-
bic of holding out for considerable
time.
London, January 31.-When the nation
had almost resigned itself to the fall Of
Ladysmith, there comes from all quar-
ters to-day indication that General Bull
ler Will make another attempt to re-
lieve the besieged place. However, the
war office has issued a statement that
1t has had no news conflrmatory Of such
a move,