The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-01-29
APPALLING LOSSES
To the British Forces at the Battle
is.a, i- Of Spion Kop. &
FIFTEEN HUNDRED WERE KILLED

According to Report From Doer
Headquarters Near Lady smi th-Thc
british Retreat, Says Gen. BuIler,
Was Accomplished without Loss.
London, Jan. 29.-General Buller's
latest 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 casualties. His whole force
withdrew south Of the Tugela river
with the evident intention of reaching
Ladysmith by another route. The dis
patch. dated Jan. 27, Is in substance
as follows:
"On Jan. 20 Warren drove back the
enemy and obtained possession Of the
southern crests Of the high tableland
extending from the line Of Acton
House and Hongers Poort to the west
ern Ladysmith hills. From then to
Jan. 25 he remained in close contact
with the enemy.
1.-THE enemy held 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 Tugela.
"The actual position held was per-
pectly tenable. but did not lend itself
to an advance, as the southern slopes
were so steep that Warren could not
get an effective artillery position, and
water supply was difficulty.
"On Jan. 23 l assented to his attack
ing Spion Kop, large hill, indeed a
mountain, which was evidently the key
of the position, but was far more ac-
cessible from the north than from the
south.
"On the night of Jan. 23 he attack
ed Spion Kop, but found it very diff
ficult to hold, as its perimeter was too
large and water, which he had been
led to believe existed, in this extra
ordinary dry season, was found very
deficient.
"The crests were held all that day
against severe attacks and heavy
shell fire. Our men fought with great
gallantry. would especially mention
the conduct of the Second Cameron
ians and the Third Kings Rifles, who
supported the attack on the mountain
from the steepest side, and in each
case fought their way to the top, and
the Second Lancashire Fusileers and
Second Mddlesex. WHO magnificently
maintained the best traditions of the
British army throughout the trying
day of Jan. "a, and Thornycrofts's
infantry. who fought through
out the day equally well.
General Woodgate, who was in COM
mand at the summit, having been
wounded, the officer who succeeded
him decided on the night of Jan. "a
to abandon the position, and did so be-
fore dawn, Jan. 25.
81 reached Warren's camp at S a. m.
on Jan. 25, and decided that second
attack upon Spion Kop >Has useless
and that the enemy's right was too
strong to allow me to force it.
Accordingly I decided to withdraw
the force to the south of the Tugela
At a. m. we commenced withdrawing
the train, and by a. IN. on Jan. 27
Warren's force was concentrated south
of the Tugela without the loss of a man
or a pound of stores.
1.-THE fact that the force could with
draw from actual touch---in some cases
the lines were less than thousand
yards apart--with the enemy in the
it did, is think sufficient evi-
dence of the morale of the troops, and
that we were permitted to withdraw
our cumbrous OK and mule transports
across the river, S5 yards broad, with
20 foot banks, and very swift current.
is, think, proof that the
enemy has been taught to respect our
soldiers fighting powers"
One comforting feature of the sit
lation to Britons is the fact that Gem
sral Buffers retirement across the
Tugela was accomplished without loss,
which puts an end to the unpleasant
rumors that were in circulation here
and on the continent. The. splendid
yallantry Of the men in capturing
Spion Kop is read of with great pride
and satisfaction. 1t is taken as an as
surance of the ultimate success Of
British arms.
The war Office does not give any
dea Of the casualties in taking and
holding Spion Kop, but report from
he Boer headquarters near Ladysmth
says that / 800 British dead were left
IN the battlefield. This number is
thought to include the wounded.
II the Boer reports are to be ac-
,epted "the abandonment of Spion
Ikop was due to the inability of the
British to resist the Boer attacks, the
Beers carrying the first trenches and
,aking 15O prisoners.
At the very moment when DR.. Leyds.
he Boer agent. is being received as an
lonored guest in the highest circles
IN the continent Great Britain has to
ace the worst disaster in campaign
hus far disastrous. Open talk is
heard of the absolute necessity of
Ladysmith to its fate.
while Lord Roberts reverts to the
original plan Of an advance over the
Orange river upon Bloemfonteln.
To Ladysmith the disappointment
must be very bitter. A dispatch from
The Boer laager near the town, dated
Jan. "a. deserves the garrison as very
evidently preparing desperate coup
in order to effect junction with Cen
eral Buffers advancing army"
1t may be regarded as a certainty
hat, in the confident hope of early re-
lief, Sir George White has lately been
issuing extra rations, and this fact
mas given rise to an exaggerated idea
Is TO the length of time the provisions
would last.
Even should 1t be decided to send
General Butler reinforcements and to
attempt to reach Ladysmith by
movement through the still more diff
;ult country east of Colenso, it is ex-
remely doubtful whether the garri-
,On could hold out long enough. as