The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-01-30
TERRIBLE REVERSE,
British Appear to Have Been Badly
Whipped at Spion Kop.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED DEAD


Beers Also "Gave Brave and Valuable
Lives"-Gen. Butler tells of With
drawal Across the Tugela,
Boer Head Laager, Ladysmith, Jan
uary %, 6p, m.-British dead left on
battlefield yesterday numbered l,5o0.
London, Jan. 2s.-Gen. Buffers dis
patch to the war office states that Spion
Kop was abandoned on account of lack
of water, inability to bring the artillery
there, and a heavy Boer fire. Butler
gives no list of casualties. His wGole
force withdrew south of the Tugela
river, with the evident intention OF
reaching Ladysmith by another route
TEXT OF BULLER S DISPATCH.
Following is she text of Gen Buffers
dispatch, dated Spea,man's camp, Sat
urday, January 81, 6:l0 p. M:
''On January 20. Warren drove back
the enemy and gained possession ut
the southern crests Of the high table
land extending from the line Of Acto
TONES and HonseFas port to the west
ern Ladysmith hills. From then to
January 25 lie remained in close COL
tact with the enemy
The eremy held q strong position on
a range of small kopjes stretching from
northwest TO southeast across the
plateau from Acton Holmes, through
Spion kop, to the left bank of the
Tugela.
The actual position held was per
iectly tenable, but did not lend itself to
al hdvalc-, as rhe southern slopes
were so steep that Warren could not
get an effective artillery position and
water supply was difficulty.
"On January %, | assen'ed to his at.
tacklng Spion kop, large hill, indeed
mountain. which was evidently the
key of the position, but was far more
aeressibe from the north than from
the south.
"On the night of January % he at
tackled Spion kop, but found it very
difficult to hold, as its perimeter was
too large and water. which he had
been led to believe existed. in this ex-
traor nary dry season, was found very
deficient.
FOUGHT WITH GREAT GALLANTRY
"The crests were held all that day
against successive attacks and heavy
shell fire. Our men fought with great
gallantry. l would especially mention
the conduct of the Second Cameronians
and Third Kings rifles. who supported
the attack on the mountain from the
steepest side, and in each case foueh,
their way TO the top, and tho Second
Lancashire fusileers and Second Mid
dltsex, who magniicently maintained
| the best traditions of the British army
throughout the trying day of January
q, and Thornycroft's mounted infan
| try, who fought the day equally well
alongside of them.
| Gen. Woodgate. who was in com-
mand at the summit, having been
wounded, the officer who succeeded
him decided on the night of January
% to abandon the position, and did so
before dawn January 25. | reached
Warren's camp at 5 Il. m. on Januar,
36, aud decided that a second attack on
Spion knp was useless and that the
enemy's crest was too strong to allow
me to force 1t.
Accordingly l decided to withdraw
the force to the south of the Tugela.
AT 6 a. M, we commenced withdraw
ing the train, and by s a. m. January
81, Saturday Warren's force was con
centrated south of the Tugela without
the loss of a man or pound of stores
"The fact that the force could with
draw from actual touch-in some eases
the lines were less, than 1000 yards
apart-with the enemy in the manner
1t did, is, think, is, sufficient evidence
of the morale of the troops. and thai
we were permitted to withdraw oul
cumberous OK and mule transports
across the river, ,eighty.ive miles broad
with twenty-foot banks and a yer.
swift current, unmolested, is, l think
proof that the enemy has been taugh
i to respect our soldiers fighting powers.
5 AN UNPLEASANT SITUATION.
. London, Jan. 2S.-During the nom
: ing and the earlier part of the after
noon placard bearing the words, IN
news" hung on the iron railing in from
of the war Office, but about p. NJ, th
d placard was taken In and on the bulle
n tin boards inside Gen. Buffers lon
: dispatch was placed. The Sunda
> papers issued extras, but only tn
% taintest interest was manifested in th
:, streets.
* At the clubs the situation as reveale
"a by Gen. Butler was considered very III