The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-02-08
DRIVEN FROM SP|ON KOP
BRITISH RETIRE SOUTH OF THE
TUGELA RIVER.
Gen. Warren Finds it Impossible to
Hold the Key to Ladysmith-Fearfu
Loss of the British

LONDON, January 2S.-General Bull
ler's dispatch to the War Office states
that Spion Kop was abandoned on ac-
count of lack of water, inability to
bring artillery there and the heavy
Boer fire.
General Butler gives no list of cas-
ualties. His whole force withdrew
south of the Tugela river with the evil
dent intention of reaching. Ladysmith
by another route.
Following is the text of General Bull
ler's dispatch dated Spearman's Camp,
Saturday, January 9th, $3.50 p. M:
ION January Goth Warren drove back
the enemy and obtained possession of
the southern crests of the high table,
land extending from the line of Acton
Homes and Hongerspoort to the West
ern Ladysmith hills. From then to
January 25th he remained in close con-
tact with the enemy,
The enemy held a strong position
on range of small kopjes stretching
from northwest to southeast across the
plateau from Acton Homes, through
Spion Kop to the left bank of the Tu-
gela. The actual position held was per-
fectly tenable, but did not lend itself
to an advance as the southern slopes
were 50 steep that Warren could not
get an effective artillery position and
water supplies were a difficulty.
ION January 23d I assented to his
attacking Spion Kop, a large hill, in
deed a mountain, which was evidently
the key to the position, but was far
more accessible from the north than
from the south. On the night of Janu-
airy 23d he attacked Spion Kop, but
found it very difficult to hold, as its
perimeter was too large and water,
which he had been led to believe exist
| ed, in this extraordinary dry season
was found very deficient.
1.-THE crests were held all that day
against severe attacks and a heavy
shell fire. Our men fought with great
gallantry. 1 would especially mention
! the conduct of the Second Cameroni-
ans and the Third Kings Royal Rifles,
who supported the attack on the noun
| tain from the steepest side and in each
case fought their way to the top, the
| Second Lancashire Fusileers and Sec
ond Middlesex, who magnifcently
maintained the best traditions of the
British throughout the trying day OF
January oath, and Thornycrofts Noun
ted Infantry, who fought through the
day equally we'll alongside of them
General Woodgate, who was in com.
mand at the summit, having beer
wounded, the officer who succeeded hin
decided, on the night of January oath
to abandon the position and did so be
tOre dawn January Z0In.
IT reached Warren's camp at 5 a. m
on January 25th and decided that a
second attack upon Spion Kop was use
less and that the enemy's right was toe
strong to allow me to force 1t. Accord
ingly, I decided to withdraw the force
! to the south of the Tugela. At a. m
we commenced withdrawing the train
and by a. M, January 9th (Satur-
day., Warren's force was concentrated
! of hA with hn
of a man or a pound of stores.
1.-The fact that the force should with
draw from actual touch-in some cases
the lines were less than a thousand
yards apart-with the enemy in tn
manner it did is I think, sufficient ev'
dence of the morale of the troops, anC
that we were permitted to Withdraw
our cumbrous OK and mule transports
across the river, eight-five yards
broad, with twenty-foot banks and g
very swift current, unmolested is
think, proof that the enemy has beer
taught to respect our soldiers fighting
powers"
dous list of casualties in the Spion KoI
battle will cause mourning Throughout
England.
No two tabulators agree on the fig
ures. Some say 1884, others 1923 killed
wounded and missing, with a total los
during Buffers fianking movement o.
2,015.
Spion Kop caused loss of 40 pei
cent of the troops which got up to tn,
summit.
The total British losses to date ar,
1858.
The Boer losses at Spion Kop wer
SO killed and 12O wounded
CAPE TOWN. Tuesday January 30
General Butler still holds the Tugel,
drifts, and will possibly renew his at
tempt to force his way through tn
Boer defenses before long. In any cas-
Ladysmith is capable of holding out 70
a considerable time.
LONDON February 1.-Winstol
Churchill, in a further dispatch to tn
Morning Post" which describes tn
recrossing of the Tugela, says: 9TH
army is exasperated, not defeated, Gen
eral Butler will persevere, and all will
come right in the end"
SENATOR CULLOM.