The evening times., 1900-01-29
MONDAY. JANUARY %. 1900.
Buffers Waterloo.

aster and retreat is open to the criticism
that il is neither complete nor entirely
frank We must remember that it was
probably constructed under conditions ca
bled from London. and after the War Or
fice had all the material facts in its pos
session. There is too much of information
vital to any understanding of the situation
omitted from the despatch to impress the
military reader at least with the idea that
ihe full extent of the reverse has yet been
narrated. Butler reports that Warrens
division has been Withdrawn from the left,
crossing richards Drift without the loss
of a man or a pound of stores. He also
saws that he had decided on the morning
of the 18th 10 move the forces south OF
the Tugela River. As yet we are in the
dark as 10 what may have happened to
DundOnald and Clery on Warren's left at
Acton Homes or TO Lyttleton at Potgie-
ter's Drift. The latter was in action on
Wednesday. and two hundred and odd cas-
uallies have been reported from his bri-
uade. II would, therefore appear proba
ble that unsuccessful fighting at points
other than Warren's front has been a de-
terminiug factor in the retreat. A late
despatch today iustiiies the fear that Dun
donald and Clery have been cut of.
General Buffers remarks on the Spion
Kop disaster are not particularly satisfac-
tory and are moi calculated TO enhance his
own or General Warrens military reputa-
zion. He states that the nerimeter of Spion
Kop was too large to hold. and that the
water supply on the mountain which War
ren had been given to understand was am
Ile. proved to be deficient in this extra,
ordinary dry season Neither of these
generals can well be held excusable for lack
of definite knowledge on the points named.
IN view OF the conditions under which the
assault on Spion Kop was recommended by
Warren and approved by his superior.
The attempt gallantly made b. Warren
to break the Boer front on the line Of low
kopies northwest of Spion KOp. support
ed by . Ranking movement of DundOnald
and Clery by Acton Homes. had failed, as
il is said for want Of sufficient force 10
extend the British line so far around the
B0er right, operating from the river base.
Warren concluded that he could not crush
Joubert's extreme right by lanking in the
circumstances. That being assumed as a
correct view. the only alternatives were
an attack in front TO secure position
which would command and break the Boer
lime. as at Spion KOT or retreat The
former was chosen. and perhaps in 7rin-
cjple properly so; but since il was the last
card in the British hand in the long and
vell-c0nceived turning movement against
Jouberls right il should not have been
PLAYED without the most careful consider
alton. Retreat might have been mortify-
ing bu, il would not have been as much
so as retreat after repu!se and 2 terrible
slaughter. which the result showed to be
utterly useless.
Ia Buffers report, as given out by tie
Var Oficc the name OF the officer VINO
succeeded to conn and on the SUNNI, OF
Spion Kop after Brigadler General Wood
gate was wounded. is Withheld. As likely
Is not he viii be made a scapegoat in Tire
matter though il is possible enough that
he was greatly 10 blame fer ordering the
Abandonment of the position. Neverthe-
less. il is quite the habit to place the
blame for defeats on suD0rdinates where
Ihat can be done and. whatever the Brit
ish military authorities may think or do in
the premises history viii hardly acquit
either Butler or Warren in this instance
Both appear to have been at fault in over
looking precautionary measures which any
American field officer would have consid-
cred mandatory quite as a matter Of
course. Their preliminary movements
while apparently. tacticany correct. were
accomplished with pUnderous deliberation.
and &c not appear to have resulted in
Escful knowledge OF the Beers positions.
dispositions. or emplacemCnts. in spite OF
:ll the reported scouting Of Dundonald aud
slirmishing OF Clery. What really seems
10 have happened was that failure to act
quickly and deeisively On Joubert's extreme
right. and in force, gave him time 10
thoroughly cntrench. and, with artillery
brought up from Peters Station, TO cover
his exposed flank, and make it imprcgna-
ble 80 attack by any force at Butler
disposal.
So far we are left in the dark as TO
whether Butler has formed a new line
from Zunckles. holding Potgieter's Drift
Mount Alice. and Zwarts Kop and Spring
field Cr is falling back to his old Cheveley-
WeeRen line. IN either case he is proba-
by engaged again and is fighting a retir-
ing battle. An ominuus feature Of the
situation as affecting the defeated British
army is contained in cablegram which
reached here two hours ago. and which
states that in the Fighting on Wednesday
the ammunition section of the infantry
gave out This may mean that the trans
port service was dilatory. or it may mean
something worse.
Judging from the reports. the fate OF La
dysmith is sealed by this last disaster to
the relieving column. Sir George White by
;his time must be nearly out Of ammuni-
iion, and his command greatly weakened
by exposure, fatigue disease. and losses.
The defeat Of Butler will in a few days
place Joubert in a position to deliver an
other assault on the town. and the chances
are that rather than expose his gallant