The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-28
SITUATION REVIEWED.
Spencer WiIEinsOn's Statement-A
CabIegram from Lord Roberts.

Spencer WiIkinsOn;s Statement-A
CabIegram from Lord Roberts.
LONDON, Jan. 2S.-Mr. Spencer wilkin-
son, whose articles on the war situation
have attracted much attention here and
abroad, wrote the following review of the
situation for the Associated Press at mid
night. and after the War Office had given
out telegram from Lord Roberts, dated
at Cape Town. Saturday, saying there was
no change in the situations:
1.-The affair of spion kep appears very
decisive battle. According to Gen. Buffers
telegram, General Warren determined to
take the hill because it commanded the
enemy's other positions. Having taken it
on Tuesday night, he abandoned it Wednes-
day night, presumably because he was un-
able to hold it.
1.-The published words of General Buffers
telegram have the tone in which a re-
verse is announced. Whether the mishap
can be made good is impossible to say.
"A general attacking has, to some ex-
tent. the power of making his own de-
cisive point. General Warren may yet be
at the enemy by successfully attacking
some other point or he may retake Spion
kpp and keep it. but until, the one way or
another the battle now going on can be
won there is no probability of Ladysmith
being relieved.
General Buffers army. unless successful,
will be in critical position, for it's re-
treat would be a difficult operation. The
main Boer force is as near to any point
on the railway as is General warren's wing
of Buffers army, and the Beers have the
advantage of speed. For this reason. as
well as because of the Importance Of his
purpose to relieve General White, we may
expect General Butler to do his very ut
most before giving up the attempt, and
in this necessity lies the best hope of sue
cess
"The American civil war showed how
rifled fire arms, by rendering assault diff
fcult, produced battles lasting several
days. and as since then the range and
rate of fire have been greatly Increased
the prolongation of the duration of battles
was to be expected. But without fuller
knowledge than the kilograms as yet af-
ford it is not yet possible clearly to in
terpret the episodes of the unfinished fight.
1.-THE report from Boer sources that
Mafeking has been relived is credible for
Colonel Plummer has been, persistently
working in. that direction. and there has
been time since he was last heard of. near
Gaborones. for him to cover the interven-
ing distance. Moreover, the Beers have
wisely been concentrating their forces at
more decisive points. but it requires con-
firmation.''
An eminent British general, reviewing the
situation to representative of the Asso-
ciated Press. thus summed it up: First of
all, we underestimated the enemy; sec
| ondly we knew nothing of the power of
| modern weapons when opposed to each
| other in the hands of tolerably equal
| forces; thirdly, we deserted strategy to sat
| isfy sentiment. BY that. mean Ladysmith
and Kimberley appealed to us, and we an
| swered as quickly and as unthinkingly as
| does an electric receiver to a transmitter.
I'VE have learned many things, but,
| chiefly, We have learned that long range
| guns and rifles minimize tremendously the
| advantage which formerly accrued to the
| aggressor. Yet, 1 thoroughly believe, and,
/ am not speaking without experience, that
| had any continental nation undertaken the
| same task with the same force it would
| by this time have been wiped out. There
are lot of things which might have been
| learned had we watched your land fight
| ing at Santiago. But, we did not. AS a
result. we did not have nippers to cut wire,
| and we knew nothing about Mausers. But.
| the appreciation of our shortcomings only
makes us the more determined 1t may be
six months, and it may be year; but, We
| shall achieve our object"