Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-24
nulicr Must Take spionskop.


LONDON, Jan. 24.-4:45 a. m.-General
Buffers great turning movement of which
Sd much has been expected has come to
standstil. His carefully worded message
TO the war office telling this, after silence
OF two days, reads like an apology and an
explanation.
General Warren holds the ridges, but the
enemy's positions are higher, The British
artillery is playing on the Boer positions
and the Beers are replying. The British
infantry is separated by only 1,40O yards
from the enemy, but an approach to the
steep slopes across the bare open would
expose the British to a fatal rifle fire.
General Buffers plans have reached their
development. He declines to send his in
fantry across this zone against formidable
positions by daylight and dscloses his pur-
pose to assault Spionskop during the night
If he takes it and thus commands the ad-
jacent country an important and possibly
a decisive step will be accomplished.
II seems that General Buffers dispatch
reached the War Office rather early in the
night and was the subject CT a prolonged
conference between Lord Lansdowne Mr.
Balfour and several staff officials A deter
mnation appears to have been reached not
to give out the message during the night
but toward a. m. copies of the dispatch
were made for distribution among the news
paper offices. These arrived too late for
extended comment
The Standard touches lightly upon the un-
pleasant features of the situation and the
anticipated night attack
Parliament will meet in five days. The
cabinet had been hoping for a rousing vic
tory to cheer the country.
The duties alcohol, tea and coffee are
tax levied The cabinet will meet at the
end of the week and discuss the situation.
Politicians Anxious for Victory.
Political consideration, both foreign and
domestic, has pressed upon the military au-
thorities the necessity OF speedily accom-
plishing something. These authorities may
have been persuaded to urge General Butler
TO attempt his great operation without ade-
quate preparation. This impression. whether
true or not is abroad Apparently Lord
Roberts has nothing whatever to do with
General Buffers operations. General Butler
and the War office communicate with each
other direct, Buffers scheme was con-
ceved before Lord Roberts arrived at Cape
town and it's execution was begun on the
day he landed. The fact that the judgment
OF Lord Roberts has not been brought to
bear in the movement does not add to public
confidence.
The Times, commenting edtorially on
Buffers dispatch says
1T can but tend to increase the strain.
We must await the result of his attempt
TO seize the formidable Boer position with
courage and coolness. His success may be
decisive. but the danger of the attempt is
evidently great The intense excitement of
the hcsegei in Ladysmith may be imag-
iuCd. General Warren is moving with
Commendable caution, but It must not be
forgotten that delay, however caused, must
tell in many respects In favor OF the en-
Cmy. The Beers have, IL is true, fallen
batk when hard pressed but they have
gained time to bring up men, guns ammu-
milton and supplies TO the position they
have selected for their principal standard
and to entrench II in a thorough fashion
he fashion they understand so we'll Until
that position haa been taken and It's de-
Tenders routed and body cut up the relief
Of Lgdysmth cannot be considered secure.
Idea of Intervention Growing.
From Vienna comes the statement that
tie idea OF the Intervention OF the European
powers Is gaining adherents in influential
quarters. The Daily Mails correspondent
regards the signs as unmistakahle aud men
toned unmistakable signs In print In the
Austrian Hungarian Foreign ONCE journals,
Roer dispatches describe the renewal Of