The sun., 1900-01-27

ing more profitable ascent elsewhere.
Whatever may be the explanation of the
abandonment of Spion kop by the Brit
ish, it will doubtless have the same tenn
porary moral effect as a reverse.
1t appears to have been so entirely I'M
expected at the war office that General
Buller's dispatch caused something in
the nature of CONSERVATION. The lobbies
were soon crowded, and there was evil
dence on all sides that the news was
keenly felt. The only official comment
was, Apparently General Warren found
the position too hot to hold.'
General Butler reports that the British
casualties on Jan. "a were:
Killed - Officers. 6; noncommissioned
officers and men, Is.
Wounded-Oilicers,1 IL; noncommission-
ed officers and men, 142.
Missing-31 men.
Colonel RiddeII Among Killed,
The killed include Colonel Buchanan
Rildell of the Kings Royal rifles. He
served in the Niger war in 1881.
II is now rumorcd that Warren's casu-
altles before the capture of Spion kop
numbered 1900.
a cablcgram to The Morning Post SAYS
General Warren found POO dead Beers in
the trenches he first captured on the edge
Of the plateau fronting Spon kop.
Business on the Stock Exchange be-
came very flat. Consols dropped five
eighths, leading to general decline.
Nowhere, however in spite of the de-
preston, is there the least sign Of abate-
ment in the determination TO carry the
wnr to Il successful issue.
Special dispatches from Durham say the
l5oer losses on the upper TuSela during
the lighting Sunday last were very great.
They add that General Warcn's men
captured 1G0 prisoners and that l30
Boers were found dead in one trench.
The cabinet met under the presidency
of Lord Salisbury, and doubtless the
ministers fully canvassed the new situa-
tion, though primarily summoned to dis
cuss the terms of the queens speech.
Under other circumstances the news
from Ladysmith showing greatly improv-
ed sanitary conditions, the plentifulness
of provisions and the strengthening of
the Notifications until the place is re.
garded as impregnable would have in
spirited the nation, but these good It'd
ings to the British are overshadowed BY
anxiety as to the situation on the upper
Tugela and the thought that the heavy
losses suffered during the struggle Tues
day night have counted for naught. ''
Military circles made no effort to con-
ceal their chagrin, expressing the gravest
fears as to the ultimate fate of Lady
smith. Such authorities as Major Gen
eral Sir Frederick Darlington, who is
under orders for South Africa, and Lord
Clifford, who won the Victoria cross while
scouting for Lord Wolseloy during the
Zulu war, would not be surprised to hear
Of the capture Of General Whites force
within a week.
Lord Clifford, who knows the country
like book, could not understand how in
the worA General Warren even got to
the top of Spion kop without ascertaining
what positions commanded it. The poor
ness Of the maps, it was pointed out.
could hardly be an excuse for this, as
there must be with General Warren sey-
eral scouts, to say nothing of officers
who at one time or another have served
at Ladysmith and whose mere hunting
expeditions would have given them
knowledge of the country. While Cpner-
al Warren is not blamed for retreatinc
under what is supposed to have been
heavy shell fire, he is severely criticised
for occupying position to which he
could not bring up his artillery.
Another Experts Views.
Another military expert, in close touch
with the campaign, sums up his conclu-
Eions on the situation as follows:
The Spion kop affair is only an episode
in the grand advance movement from the
Tugela to Ladysmith.
"Warren's division has had up hill work
all the way from the river and on Mon
day reached rough tableland west of
spion kop. By serious fighting the Beers
were forced back upon the~kop, and the
next step for Warren, unless he rested
for the division upon his tanks to force
the position, be must carry Spion kop,
Doubtless he himself planned to do It.
believing it practicable, or else a foriorn
hone to decide the issue s-es far sn .-
.