Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-29
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useless and that the enemy's right was
too strong TO allow me 10 force II,
Accordingly | decided TO withdraw
the force TO the south OF the Tugela,
At a. m. We commenced Withdrawing
the train and by a. m, January 2ith
Saturday Wamens force was con-
centrated south Of the Tugela without
the loss OF man or pound OF stores
THE fact that the force should with
draw from actual touch-in some cases
the lines We're less than a thousand
yards part-with the enemy In the
manner 1t did, is, think, sufficient evil
dence OF the morale of the troops and
that We were permitted to withdraw
our cumbrous OK and mule transports
across the river eighty-iive yards
broad. with twenty-fOot banks and a
very swift current, unmolested, is, |
think, proof that the enemy has been
taught to respect our soldiers fighting
powers
During the morning and early part
Of the afternoon a placard bearing
the words, mo News. hung on the
iron railing In front Of the war office,
and the shlverng sentries who stood
guard on Pail Mall In the rain and
sleet, had the district all TO themselves.
About o'clock. however, the placard
was taken In and on the bulletin
boards inside Gen. Buffers long dis
patch was displayed.
The Sunday papers issued extras,
but only the faintest interest was man
ifested in the streets. At the service
clubs the situation as revealed by Gen.
Butler was considered very unpleasant.
His excuses OF explanations were char
acterized as very weak. The absence
OF water which Sir Charles Warren
was led to believe" existed, and the
facts that Spion kop was indeed a
mountain" and that its permeter was
too large, are all matters which even
Gen. Buffers warmest admirers hold
should have been ascertained before
he attacked,
one comforting feature Of the situa-
ton, however. Is the fact that Gen.
Rulers retirement across the Tugela
river was accomplished without loss,
which puts an end 10 the unpleasant
rumors that We're In circulation here
and on the continent. The splendid
gallantry Of the men In capturing
Splon Kop is read OF with great pride
and satisfaction, 1t IS taken as as
surance Of the ultimate success Of
British arms.
The war office does not give any
idea Of the casualties In taking and
holding Spion Kop. but report from
the Boer headquarters near Ladysmith,
via Lourenzo Marques, says that 1900
British dead were left on the battle
field. This number is thought TO in
cude the wounded.
The report also stated that Gen.
Butler had been down with fever, but
had recovered.
II Boer reports are TO be accepted,
"the abandonment Of Splon kop was
due to the inability OF the British TO re-
sist the Boer attack, the Beers carry
ing the first trenches and taking $50
prisoners"
The following dispatch has been re-
celved In London from Pretoria, dated
January 25th via Lourenzo Marques,
January 2Sth: The government is adj
|ylsed that, after heavy fighting near
Spon Kop. some British on the kop be-
Ing stormed, holsted a white flag. one
hundred and fifty prisoners. God be
thanked, although we also had TO give
brave and valuable lives"
A dispatch from Spearman's camp,
dated Friday, January Goth, says:
About 2 o'clock on the morning Of
January cath "wednesday, when
heavy clouds rested upon the kopjes,
the main point Of the Boer position,
Tabanyama, was stormed by the Brit
lsh infantry under Cen Woodgate. Our
force crossed over a ravine and climbed
the mountain side steadily. getting
within thirty yards Of the enemy's first
line Of trenches.
THE Beers, who had been asleep,
decamped, leaving everything behind.
and the British with ringing cheers
climbed to the summit. The Beers be
gan 10 fire from several points, but Ii
was apparent that they HAD been taken
completely by surprise and their resist
ance was desperate The crest OF the
hin was soon won and the infantry
crept along the top Of the hill.
at daybreak, however, the Beers
from a high point sent whitening fire
among the British, which momentarily
staggered them.
The Beers had the range fixed 20 q
nioety, and their artillery sent several
shells right on top Of the crest. fore
ing the infantry TO take cover. A Bosr
Nordenfeljt was also worked with
great precision.
"The British held the position against
great odds. At 10 strong reinforcements
were sent up the hill and advanced In
skeleton formation. the enemy being
driven back 20 the extreme point"
Boer Headquarters, Moddersprult,
Upper Tugela, Wednesday, January "a,
midnight, via Lourenxo Marques,
Thursday, January 20 Some Vryheld
burghers from the ou,Dosts on the
highest hills Of the splon Kop group
rushed into the lager saying that the
kop was lost and that the English had
taken IT, Re.nforcemsnls were ordered