Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-02-01

Gen. buller gives no llSC OIL CASUALTIES
His whole force withdraw south of the
Tugela river with the evident inten-
ton of reaching Ladysmith by another
route.
Buffers Report.
London. Jan. 29.-The following is
the text of Gen. Buffers dispatch,
dated Spearman's camp, Saturday
Jan. q, 6:10 p. NON January 20
Gen. Warren drove back the enemy
and obtained possession of the south
ern crests of the high tableland and
extending from the line of Acton
Homes and HongerspOrt to the west
ern Ladysmith hills From then to
the 25th he remained in close contact
with the enemy. The enmey held
strong position on the range Of small
kopjes stretching from the northwest
to the southeast across the plateau
from Acton Homes through Spion kop
to the left bank of the Tugela.
The actual position held was per-
fectly tenable, but did not lend itself
to an advance, as the southern slopes
/ are SO steep that Warren could not
get an effective artillery position, and
the water supply was difficult. On
jan % l assented to his attacking
Spion kop, a large hill, indeed noun
| tain, which was evidently the key of
| the position, but was far more Access
sible from the north than from the
! south On the night of Jan. 23d he
attacked Spion kop but found it very
difficult to hold, as its perimeter was
| 100 large, and the water, which he had
| been led to believe existed in this eX-
traordinary dry season, was found
| very deficient The crests were held
all that day against severe attacks
and heavy she'll fire.
Our men fought with great gal
| lantry. | would specially mention
the conduct of the second Cameroni-
ans and the third kings rifles, VINO
supported the attack on the mountain
from the steepest side and in each case
| fnSilonrc and thn
| Second Lancashire fusileers and the
second Middlesex who rnagnifcently
maintained the best traditions of the
British army throughout the trying
day Of the oath and Thornycroft's
mounted infantry, who fought
throughout the day equally well
alongside of them. Gen. WoOdgate,
who was in command of the summit,
having been wounded, the officer who
succeeded MIN decided on the night of
the oath to abandon the position, and
did so before dawn of the 25th.
Il reached Warren's camp at a. III.
of the 25th and decided that a second
attack on Spion kop was useless and
that the enemy's right was too strong
to allow me to force it, Accordingly
decided to withdraw the force to the
south of the Tugela. At a. m. we
commenced withdrawing, and by a.
m. of the 9th Warren's force was con-
centrated south of the Tugela without
the loss of a man or a pound of stores.
The fact that the force could withdraw
from actual touch-in some cases
A. hon
sand yards apart-with an enemy in
the manner it did, is, think, sufficient
evidence of the morale of the troops,
and that we were permitted to with
draw our cumbersome OK and mule
transports across the river, So yards
broad with 20-foot banks and a very
swift current, unmolested, is, I think,
proof that the enemy has been taught
to respect our soldiers fighting
powers"
Very Unpleasant"
London, Jan. 29.-During the morn
ing the earlier part Of the afternoon
placard bearing the words mo news"
hung on the iron railing in front Of the
war office, but about p. m. the pla-
boards inside, Gen. Buffers long dis
patch was displayed. The Sunday pa
pers issued extras, but only the faint
est interest was manifested on the
street. At several clubs the situation
as revealed by Gen. Butler was con-
sidered very unpleasant. His excuses |
or explanations were characterized as
very weak. The absence of water, |
which Sir Chas Warren was "led TO |
believe" existed, and the fact that |
Spion kop was indeed mountain
and that its '"perimeter was too |
large" are all matters which even Gen. |
Buffers warmest admirers admit |
should have been ascertained before he |
attacked. One comforting feature of |
the situation, however, is the fact that |
Buffers retirement ocross the Tugela /
was accomplished without loss, which |
puts an end to the unpleasant rumors |
in circulation here and on the |
continent. The splendid gallantry /
of the men in capturing Spion kop is
read with great pride and satisfaction.