The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-01

Forces Are in Excellent Condition
definftcly-BOers, Finding Assault
Out of the Question, May Attempt
to Drown Out Those in the City.
LONDON. Jan. 31.-All the news that
has come from South Africa today has
been of casualties at Spion Kop, and
other battles in which so many British
lives were sacrificed. Silence prevails,
but it is grim, and expectant of the fu-
tGre. 1t is understood, though not openly
talked about to any great extent, that
Gen. Butler will certainly make another
attempt to relieve Ladysmith, and it is
hoped here, with better success.
Accounts of the battle Of Spion Kop
continue to filter through. All turn on
the terrible effects of the Boer fire. The
total loss of Gen. Buffers movement is
approximated at 1,50O When reinforce
ments arrived the troops were most
cramped on the top of spion Kop. Prep
arations were made below to secure the
position, guns were on the way, and en-
gineers had been ordered UP to strength.
en- the intrenchments.
Col. Thornycroft was not aware of this
when he ordered the retirement, and he
actually met the artillery coming up.
Gen. Woodgate was wounded in the aft
ernoon. Even then he protested that he
was all right, and had to be held down
on the stretcher.
1t is reported that the Boer commander
at first insisted on the release of some
Boer prisoners before he would permit
the English to collect their wounded.
A curious incident is related of the
fighting on Jan. "a. One of the Lancas-
ters, while firing from a prone position,
had his head taken clean off by shell
To the afnazement of his comrades the
headless trunk quietly arose, stood right
up for few seconds and then fell.
ALL EYES ON LADYSMITH.
The latest advices from Ladysmith
showing the existence of better condi-
tions there than generally believed to be
tle case. have been received with intense
tisfaction, but there Is no unreasoning
c1erconidence, as may be judged from
the Pail Mall Gazette's remark:
Let us, while preparing for the worst,
hope for the better
The possibility of Gen Butler making
a dash across the river leads to wonder
ing on the exact position of Gen. Lyt-
tleton's brigade. That 1t is across the
north side Of the Tugela is merely mat
ter of suggestion. If Gen, Lyttleton still
holds the drifts on the north side of the
river, Gen. Butler maintains the open
ings, end might attempt another attack
by way of Potgieters Drift, or some
Dther valley. The location OF Gen. Lyt-
tleton's brigade is all this time of the
purest supposition. 1t would require
news of the greatest Importance to at
tract attention from. Ladysmith's di-
lenlma.
BRITISH OFFICER DEFENDED.
Gen. Butler telegraphs from Spearman's s
Camp, under todays date, that Col
Thornycroft was the officer who ordered
the retirement from Spion I<op. Gen. Bull
Ter adds:
''It is due to him to say that believe
his personal gallantry saved difficult
situation early Jan. "A, and that under a
loss of at least 40 per cent he directed the
defense with conspicuous courage and
ability throughout the day. No blame
whatever for the withdrawal is in my
opinion, attributable to him, and 1 think
his conduct throughout was admirable" T"
BOER LOSSES AT SPION.
PRETORIA, Monday, Jan 29.-It is Of
ficially announced that the Boer casual
ties at Spion Kop were f1fty-three men
killed and 100 wounded.
Webster Davis, assistant secretary of
the interior at Washington, accompanied
by United States Consul Hollis, and
the state attorney, started today for the
Boer head laager at Ladysmith, in the
presidents salon carriage.
BRITONS NOT DEFEATED.
winston Churchill, in further dispatch
to the Morning Post, which describes
the passage of the Tugela, says:
1.-The army is eXasperated. not defeat
ed Gen. Butler will persevere, and all
will come right in the end
APPALLING CASUALTIES.
The supplemental lists of casualties fill
two columns in nonpareil type in the
morning papers, making 1900 reported
thus far for Gen. Buffers operations
north of the Tugela. The Daily Chron-
lcle estimates tfst the total exceeds 1000.
The 40 per cent loss at Spion Kop is great
or than any British force ever suffered,
axcept possibly at Albuera, Spain, in 1911.
The admiralty has warned all half-pay
naval officers to hold themselves in readi-
ness for service. This, with the fact that
able seamen not thoroughly experienced
have been withdrawn from the channel
squadron, is taken to indicate the early
mobilization of the reserve fleet.
A resolution yesterday at meeting of
Liberals to support whatever the govern
ment considered best commanded only
two votes. Instead, q motion was adopt
ed calling for the immediate formation of
a homo defense division.
Lord Salisbury has summoned another
council meeting for Friday or Saturday.
public spirit is at a very low ebb
COMPACT BROKEN.
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily News says:
"Eyidence is accommodating that some
thing beyond a tacit understanding ex-
iated between the Boer executives and
the inner circle of the Afrikander bund
concerning what should follow the ripen-
ing rebellion at the outbreak of war
TTully 5000 colonial Dutchmen have joined
the enemy The Beers, however, believe
that this number will be multiplied ten
fold. Consequently the Afrikander bund
is now execrated at Pretoria and Bloem-
fontein.
HAD A CLOSE CALL.
A dispatch to the Times from Pieter-
maritzburg, dated Saturday last, says:
"Col Thornycroft had a narrow escape
last week. He went to meet Boer flag
of truce, which asked a parley, but, be-
coming suspicious, he told the Boer COM
mander he would not parley. Both raised,
and the Beers fred voliey, the colonel