Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-01-26
Beers Bringing New Guns Into
Position Daily and Strength
enlne FortIfIcatIons-
Gloom In London.
TERRIBLE WRECK ONRAILROAD
Democrats Have An Advantaee
ofTwo in the Kentucky House
Miners and Operators
Further Apart.

London, Jan. 26-11:O5 a. m.-The
war Office announces that General
Warren has abandoned Spionkop.
Ladysmith, Jan. 21-(By runner
via Frere Camp, Wednesday 24)-The
garrison is watching General Buffers
guns shelling the Beers. Their fire
can be seen at this distance and ap-
pears to be very effective. The move
ments OF the Beers show they evident
ly are determined to stubbornly OPP
pose the advance relief column. They
show no signs of removing their guns
and have mounted new ones and are
continually strengthening their forti-
fications. Our fortifications have been
greatly strengthened since January
9th, and Ladysmith is now practically
impregnable. Owing to the dry
weather the fever has diminished.
The number of convalescent, return
ing from Intombi Camp, exceeds that
of the patients being sent there. Sup
plies are spinning out splendidly, all
troops having sufficient wholesome
food. The heat is terrific, the ther-
mcmeter registering 1O7 degrees in
the shade.
London. Jan. 26-11:10 a. m.-War
Office has just posted the following
dispatch from General Butler, dated
Spearman's Camp, January 25th
noon: General Warrens garrison, I
am snrrr To sas-, and -tl.is morning
had in the night abandoned spion-
kop"
Buffers dispatch is dated Spear
mans Camp January 26, 1925 a. m.
so there has been no delay in the
communications passing between Bull
er and the war Office. The killed in
clude Col Buchanan Riddle, of the
Kings Royal Rifles. He served in
the Niger war in 1881. 1t is not clear
whether casualties include those at
Spionkop, or only those resulting from
fighting prior to the Spionkop engage
ments. Probably, as the. Immediate
effect of the receipt of the news of
the abandonment of Spionkop by the
British force under General Sir
Charles Warren, orders have been sent
to Aldershot to have the fourth cav
airy division in readiness to embark
to South Africa early in February.
London, Jan. 26-Whatever may be
the explanation Of the abandonment
Of Spionkop, by the British, it win
doubtless have the same temporary
moral effect as reverse. 1t appears
to have been SO entirely unexpected at
the war Office that Buffers dispatch
caused something in the nature OF
CONSERVATION. Lobbies were soon
crowded, and there was evidence on
all sides that the news was keenly
felt. The only official comment was
apparently that General Warren had
found his position too hot to hold
Business on the stock exchange be
came very fiat. Consols dropped five
eighths, leading to general decline
Nowhere, in spite Of the general de
preston, is there the least sign O
abatement of the determination tC
carry the war to a successful issue
The cabinet met this afternoon undel
the presidency of Lord Salisbury, anC
doubtless the ministers have full!
canvassed the new situation, thougl
primarily summoned to discuss thu
terms of the Queens speech. Unde
other circumstances the news from
Ladysmith, showing greatly improved
sanitary conditions, plentifulness o
provisions and strengthening of forti
fications until place regarded impreg
nable, would have inspired the nation
but these good tidings to the British
are overshadowed by the anxiety a
to the situation on the upper Tugela
and it is thought that the heavy loss
es, suffering and struggle of Tuesda,
night, have counted for naught. Mil
tary circles have made no effort t
conceal their chagrin expressing tn
gravest fears as to the ultimate fat
of Ladysmith. Such authorities a
Major General Sir Frederick Caring
ton. who is under orders for Sout
Africa, and Lord Clifford who won tn
Victoria cross while scouting for Lor
Wellesley during the Zulu war, woul
not be surprised to hear of the cap
ture of Whites force within a weel
Lord Clifford, who knows the countr
like a book, could not understan
how in the world Warren ever got
Spionkop without ascertaining whit
positions command it. The poorneI
of the maps. it was pointed out, coul
hardly be an excuse for this, as thei
must be with Warren scouts. to 50
nothing Of officers. who at one. time
another. served at Ladysmith an
whose mere hunting expeditions wou
have given them knowledge of Il