Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-01-25
BRITISH ADVANCE is
CHECKED BY BoERs
Genera Warren Occupies the Same
Position He Held Two
Days Ago.
a NIGHT ATTACK is PLANNED
Bn'lc:' Reports an Assault Viii BE
Made Tonight Oh the Bocrs..
Message Looked on as
aa Apology
A MIGHT ATTACK is PLANNED

aa Apology
lcndon. Jan. %, a:4o a. M Con
tlarN TO AN announcement made short
~ before midnight by the war office
INA! nothing further would
be issued until Wednesday
forenoon. the following dispatch
from General Butler. dated Spear
mans camp, January -, GEO p. M,
has lust been posted:
warren holds the position he
gained two days ago. In front of him.
at about l,+co yards. is the cnemys
position. west OF Spion's lsnp. II is
higher ground than Marren's position.
so it is impossible to see into it prop
erlN. 1t can Ice approached only over
bars. open shapes. and the ridges held
hN Warren arc so steep that guns can
not he placed on them. but we are
shellns the enemy's position with
hcwitzers and field artillery placed on
lower ground. behind infantry.
The enemy is replying with creusot
and other artillery. In this duel the
advantage rests with us. as we appear
To be searching his trenches. aud his
artillery fire * mot causing us much
less.
"Nn attempt will be made tonight
TO ssilc Spion's l>op. he salient of
which forms the left of the enemy's
position facing the IIricharG's drift,
and which dividesc it from the posi-
ton facing Pofsieter's drift. 1t has
considerable command over all the en-
emN's intrenchments."
Regarded as an Apology:
General Buffers great turning
movement. ri which so much had been
expected, has come to a standstill. His
carefully worded message 10 he war
office last evening after silence OF
two days reads like an apology and an
explanation.
General Warren holds the ridges,
but the enemy's position is higher.
The British artillery is playing on the
Beer positions, and the Beers are re-
PLYING. The British infantry is sep
arated by only l.,nD yards from the
enemy. but an approach to the steep
slopes. across he bare open. would
expose the British TO a fatal rifle fire.
General Buffers plans have reached
their development. He declines to send
his infantry across the zone against
formidable positions by daylight. and
disc'oses his purpose to assault the
spion kop heights during the night.
This appears 70 be the key to the Boer
defcnsas. If he takes ii and thus COM
maras he adjacent country an inn
poltant and possibly decisive step
Will he accomplished.
II seems that General Buffers dis
patch reached the war office rather
early in the night, aud was The subject
of 4 prolonged conference between
Lord :.ans,iowne. MIR. Balfour and sew
eial staff officials. a determination
appears to have been reached not TO
give out the message during the night.
bat toward :, a. IN. copies of the dis
patch We're made for distribution
among the newspaper offices. These
arrived too late for extended com
ment.
The Morning Post and the Standard
touch lightly upon the unpleasant fta-
lures of the dispatch. and take hope
from the projected night attack. but
all things considered the dispatch
looks like preparation for worse news.
Parliament will meet i'm five days.
lhe cabinet had been hoping for one
rallyng British success to rhcu, The
country and to command generous
support for fresh revenue measures.
Among ,hes" will ha probably am in
crease OF the income tax to Il shilling
in the pound hut this would only pro-
vide the cost of five weeks hostilitics.
The duties ON tobacco, alcohol. tea,
and coffee are likely to he raised
INA. Ms, n, a
the week and discuss the situation.
Political considerations. both for
eign and domestic. press upon the mil
itarv authorities the necessity of
speedily accomplishing something.
THESE authorities may have persuaded
General Butler 10 attempt his operas
ton without adequate preparation.
This impression. whether true or not
is abroad
Apparently Lord Roberts has moth
ing Whatever to do witl, General Bull
ler's operation. General Butler and
me war office communicate with each
other direct. Buffers scheme was
conceived before Lord Roberts arrived
at Cape Town. and it's execution was
begun OH the day he landed. The fact
hat the Judgment OF Lord Roberts
has not been brought to bear on The
movement does not add to public CON
fidence.
The Times. commenting editoriallv
nj on General Buffers dispatch, says:
III can bat tend to increase The Sc
we're strain from which the nation is
suffering. We must await lhe result
his attempt TO seize the formidable
,eer position with courage and cool
ress. His success may be decisive. but
the danger OF The attempt is evidently
great. The intense excitement of the
besiegch in IadNsmith may be mae-
i;i2d.
General Warren is moving with
eomnrndab!e. indeed, Imperative. ca,i-
tom: but il must not be forgotten that
delay. homcver caused. must tell in
many respects i'm favor of the enemy
The Peers have. it is true. fallen back
when l.ard pressed. hut they have
Gained time 10 bring up men. guns.
annaaitien ard supplies to the posi-
ton they have selected for their prin-
eual siartsaid and TO trench it in
thorough fashion. the fashion they un-
der, ';fsd 50 well. Until that position
HIS heen taken AID lis defenders roui-
cd and badly cut up The relief of Lady
smith can not be considered secure"
From Vienna comes The statement
that the idea OF the intervention OF
European powers is gaining adhercnts
in Influential quarters. The Daily
Mails correspondent regards the signs