The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-24
.WAPREN'S
POSITION
ADVANCED,
As Result OF Battle Which Has
Been Raging Since
Saturday.
GEN. BULLER HEARD FROM.
Proposes to Assafl spion Kop
Heights, the Key to the BOsr
Position, at Night.


Buffers great turning movement, OF
which 80 much had been expected. has
come to a standstill. His carefully
worded message to the war office, tell
ing this, after silence Of two days,
reads like an apology and an explRna-
tion.
General Warren holds the ridges, but
the enemy's positions are higher. The
British artillery is placed on the Boer
positions and the Beers are replying.
The British Infantry is separated by
only fourteen hundred yards from the
enemy, but an approach to the steep
slopes. across the bare open would ex-
pose the British to a fatal rife FIRE.
General Buffers plans have reached
their development. He declines to
send his infantry across this zone
against formidable positions by day
light and dIscloses his purpose to as
sault the spion Kop heights during the
night. This appears to be the key to
the Boer defenses. II he takes 1t and
thus commands the adjacent country.
an important and possibly decisive
step will be accomplished.
1t seems that General Buffers dis
patch reached the war office rather
early IN the night and was the subject
OF a prolonged conference between
Lord Lansdowne. Mr.. Balfour and sew
eral stan officials,
A determination appears to have
been reached not to give out the mes
sage during the night, but toward 2 a.
M, copies Of the dispatch were made
for distribution among the newspaper
offices. These arrived too late for e%-
tended comment.
The Morning Post and the Standard
touch lightly upon the unpleasant feat
ures Of the dispatch and take hope from
the projected, night attack but all
things considered. the dispatch looks
like preparation for worse news.
Parliament win meet in five days.
The cabinet had been hoping for one
rallyInE British success to cheer the
| country and to command generous sup
port for fresh revenue measures.
Among these win be probably an In
crease of the income tax TO q shilling
in the pound, but this would only pro-
vide the cost OF five weeks hostllitles.
The duties on tobacco, alcohol, tea
and coffee are likely to be raised.
The cabinet will meet at the end of
the week and discuss the situation.
Political considerations both foreign
and domestic. press upon the military
authorities the necessity OF speedily ac-
complIshlns something. These author
tiles may have been persuaded to urge
General Butler to attempt his great
operation without adequate preparation.
This impression, whether true or not, is
abroad.
Apparently Lord Roberts has nothing
whatever to do with General Buffers
operation. General Butler and the war
office communicate with each ather d.
rect. Buffers scheme was conceived
before Lord Roberts arrived at Cape
Towr. and Its explanation was begun
on the day he landed. The fact that
the Judgment Of Lord Roberts has not
been brought to bear upon the move
ment does not add to public confidence
LONDON. Jan. "a, 2;l5 a. m.-con-
trary to the announcement made short
10 before midnight by the war office,
that nothing further would be issued
unul Wednesday forenoon, the follow
ing dispatch from General Butler. dated
Mt spearman's Camp, January %, 6;2c
D. M, has just been posted:
"warren holds the position he gained
two days ago. In front of him at about
| 400 yards, is the enemy's position
west of spion's Kop.
at IS on higher ground that Warren''
position, 80 1t is impossible to see into
their property.
ut can be approached only over bare
open slopes, and the ridges held by
warren are so steep that guns cannot
he placed on them. But We are shell
ing the enemys position with howitz-
ors and field artillery placed on lower
ground, behind infantry.
''The enemy IS replying with creusote
and other artillery. In this duel the
advantage rests with us. as We appear
to be searching his trenches and his ar
thiery fre Is not causing US much loss
IAN attempt will be made tonight tc
seize Spion's Kop, the salient OF which
forms the left OF the enemy's position
facing PotgIeter's Drift. 1t has consid-
cradle command over all the enemy''
entrenchmcnts."