The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-29
Forced to Abandon Spionkop Hill. With Reported Loss
Of 1900 Dead and Many Captured.
London Times Says the Defeat Is Likely to Lead to British Ca
tastrophe Without Parallel Since Yorktown-1he Talk
Now Is to Leave Ladysmith to Its Fate
More Troops Urged.

new restrictions upon visitors during the
session.
Posting Buffers Dispatch.
LONDON, Jan. 2S-During the morning
and the earlier part of the afternoon, a
placard bearing the words. mo news"
hung on the iron railing in front of the
war office. and the shivering sentries, who
stood guard on Pail Mall in the rain and
sleet. had the district all to themselves.
About 3 p. M. however. the placard was
taken in and on the bulletin boards in
side Gen. Buffers long dispatch was dis
played.
Talk Mt the Clubs.
The Sunday papers issued extras. but
only the faintest interest was manifested
In the streets. At the service clubs the
situation as revealed by Gen. Butler was
considered very unpleasant. His excuses
or explanation were characterized as very
weak. The absence of water. which Sir
Charles Warren was lied to believe" ex-
listed. and the facts that Spionkop was
Indeed mountain" and that Its peri
meter was too large, are all matters
which even Gen. Buffers warmest ad-
mirers hold should have been ascertained
before he attacked.
Belief In Final Success.
One comforting feature OF the situation.
however, is the fact that Gen. Buffers
retirement across the Tugela river was
accomplished without loss, which puts an
end to the unpleasant rumors that were
in circulation here and on the continent.
The splendid gallantry of the men in cap
turing Spionkop is read of with great
pride and satisfaction. 1t is taken as an
assurance of the ultimate success of Brit
ish arms.
No idea of Casualties.
The war office does not give any idea
of the casualties in taking and holding
Spionkop, but a report from the Boer
headquarters near Ladysmith. via Lour-
EMO Marquee says that 1.5O0 British dead
were left on the battlefield. This number
is thought to include the wounded
The report also stated that Gen. Bull
Ter had been down with fever but had re-
covered.
From the BOer Side.
If Boer reports are to be accepted ''the
abandonment of Spionkop was due to the
inability to resist the Boer attack, the
Beers carrying the first of the trenches
and taking $50 prisoners"
The following dispatch has been re-
ceived in London from Pretoria, dated
January 25, via Lourenzo Marquez, jan
uary 26:
1.-THE government is advised that after
heavy fighting near Spionkop some Brit
ish on the kop being stormed hoisted q
white flag. One hundred and fifty pris-
oners. God be thanked, although we also
had to give brave and valuable lives.'
Text of Buffers Dispatch.
LONDON, jan 2s.-Following is the text
of Gen. Buffers dispatch, dated Spear
mans camp. Saturday, January q, 6:IO
p. M:
''On January 20 Warren drove back the
enemy and obtained possession of the
southwestern crest of the high table land
extending from the line of the Acton
Homes and Hongerspoort, to the western
Ladysmith hills. From then to January
% he remained in close contact with the
enemy.
Position of the Enemy.
''rhe enemy held a strong position on
a range of small kopjes stretching from
northwest to southeast across the plateau
from Acton Homes, through Spionkop to
the left bank of the Tugela.
'The actual position held was perfectly
tenable, but did not lend itself to an ad-
vance, as the southwestern slopes were
so steep that Warren could not get an
effective artillery position and the water
supply was a difficulty
Attack on Spionkop.
''On January 23 assented to his attack
ing Spionkop, large hill-indeed, a noun
tain-which was evidently the key to the
position but was far more accessible from
the north than from the south.
''On the night Of January % he attacked
Spionkop, 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 extraordinary dry season,
was found very deficient.
Held the Hill All Day.
"The crests were held all that day
against severe attacks and a heavy shell
fire. Our men fought with great gallant
nv. I would especially mention the con-
duct Of the second Cameronians and the
Third Kings rifles, who supported the
attack on the mountain from the slopes
side, and in each case fought their way
to the top; and tho Second Lancashire
fusilers and Second Middlesex, who
magnificently maintained the best ira
ditions of the British army throughout the
trying day of January "a. and Thorny-
croft's mounted infantry. who fought
through the day equally well alongside of
them
Second Attack Useless.
Gen. Woodgate, who was in command
at the summit. having been wounded, the
officer who succeeded desided, on the night
OF January "a, to abandon the position. and
did so before dawn January 25
II reached Warren's camp at a. n. on
January Is, and decided that a second at
tack upon Spionkop was useless and that
the enemys right was too strong to allow
me to force it.
Recrossed the Tugeln.
Accordingly, decided to withdraw the
force to the south OF the Tugela. AT q,
..i