Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-01-26
SPI0N KOP TAKEN.
British Capture Key TO the Beers
Entertainments.

Night Attack Was Led by Gen. War
ren---Boer Forces Are Now Divided
---If Warren Can Crush Enemy's Ex-
treme Right RELIEF to Ladysmitb VIII
Not BE DImeuIt.
Gen. Buffers forces, which crossed the
Tugela last week, had intermittent fight
ing against the Beers Saturday and Sun
day, advancing about two miles, and driv-
ing the enemy from hilltop 10 hilltop. The
British found many difficulties in their
advance, the ground being adapted to
the Beers method of fighting. The
war news has been watched with feverish
anxiety in London, as Buffers defeat
would mean the surrender of Ladysmith.
1t was known in England Tuesday and
Wednesday that the British planned a night
attack on Spion Kop, an important strate-
gical position, and on yesterday the fol-
lowing despatch from the commanding
general dated at Spearman's camp caused
rejoicing throughout England: "Gen.
Warren's troops yesterday evening Tues
day occupied Spion Kop, surprising the
small Boer garrison, who fed. 1t has
been held by us all day, though we we're
heavily attacked, especially by a most an
noying shell fire. fear our casualties are
Gen. Woodgate is dangerously wounded.
Warren, it is believed, has rendered the
enemy's position untenable The men are
in splendid condition"
Buffers reports were at once forwarded
to the Queen, Lord Salisbury and other
ministers. Military clubs were early crowd
ed. The general opinion is that Butler
succeeded in driving the entering wedge of
relief for Ladysmith, not far off. Gen.
K. r. p. WoOdgate is dangerously wound
ed. He commanded the Ninth brigade of
Warren's division, was a distinguished of
hcer and served in the Ashanti and Zulu
wars. He previously commanded troops
in Sierre Leone and suppressed the rebel
lion.
Spion Kop is described as a second
Majuba Hill, but the conditions here were
reversed, the Beers commanding the hill
and the British being obliged TO assault it.
Gen. Butler believes Spion Kop is the key
to the position of the Boer right. In max
ing the hanking movement the British
forces have gone from a point within less
than 20 miles of Ladysmith to over 80
miles west of the beleaguered city.
The British success cuts the Boer army
into two sections and each may now be at
tackled in turn. If the extreme Boer
AIDS cavalry will be in position to try to
advance by the Dewdrop road through
comparatively open country direct to Lady
smith, or may try TO cut off the Boer re-
treat through Van Reenen's by pushing on
| to Ladysmith along the Harrismith rail-
way.
Should the British who have succeeded
in capturing Spion Kop push back the
| right flank of the Boer defence, the road to
Olivier's Hoek Pass would be opened, as
well as the road to Ladysmith. Should
the pass itself then be seized, the whole
Boer position on the Tugela and immedi-
ately around Ladysmith would be COM
promised. The great depot of provisions
at Zunkles described in the Pretoria
dispatches may be presumed to be the
temporary base depot of the division act
ing toward Olivier's Hoek Pass; and &C
cording to the Boer reports it is supplied
by light field railway laid from General
Buffers former headquarters at Frere
through Springfield Should General
Butler succeed in gaining possession of
Olivier's HOek Pass, and throw a strong
division with artillery and a strong cavalry
force into the Free state, the relief of
Ladysmith would be at once effected, and
an entirely new turn be given to the course
of the campaign.
To attain this object would be worth
some sacrifice, for as a base for the advance
on Pretoria, Natal, with its shorter distance
from the coast TO be traversed is infinitely
preferable to the route by any of the other
lines, and the turning of the Drakensberg
passes would force Joubert to evacuate all
northern Natal and withdraw into Trans
vaal territory.