Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-01
FIGHT AT SPIONKOP.
A Dispatch Received from Gen.
Butler on the Engagement.
A BOER ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE.
The English Infantry Went Down Before
the BOer Rife Fire as Before q Scythe
Roberts Visits the Hospital
Ship Maine.


Roberts Visits the Hospital
Ship Maine.
London, Jan. 29.-During the morn
ing and the earlier part of the after
noon 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 three
p. NJ, however, the placard was taken
in and on the bulletin boards inside
Gen. Buffers long dispatch was dis
played.
The Sunday papers issued extras,
but only the faintest interest was
manifested in the streets. At the
service clubs the situation revealed
by Gen. Butler was considered very
unpleasant. His excuses or eNplana-
tions were characterized as very
weak. The absence of water, which
Sir Charles Warren was lied to be-
ieve" existed, and the facts that
Spionl1op was Indeed a mountain"
and that its 'perimeter was too
large are all matters which even
Gen. Buffers warmest admirers hold
should have been ascertained before
the attack. The splendid gallantry
of the men in capturing Spionkop is
read of with great pride and satisfac-
ton. It is taken as an assurance of
the ultimate success of British arms.
Text of Gen. Buffers Dispatch.
London, Jan. 29.-Following is the
text of Gen. Buffers dispatch, dated
Spearman's camp, January p, 6:10 p.
m: ''On January 20 Warren drove
back the enemy and obtained possess
sion of the southern crests of the
high table land extending from the
line of Acton Homes and HOnger's
Poort to the western Ladysmith hills.
From then to January 25 he remained
in close contact with the enemy. On
January % [ assented to his attack
ing SpiOnkop, a large hill, indeed
mountain, which was evidently the
KEY to the position, but was far more
successful 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. The crests were held
all that day against severe attacks
and a heavy shell fire. Our men
fought wig great gallantry.
Gen. Woodgate, who was in COM
mand at the summit, having been
wounded, the officer who succeeded
him decided on the night of January
"a to abandon the position, and did
so before dawn January 25. reached
Warren's camp at five a. NJ, on Janu-
airy 25 and decided that second at
tack upon SpiOnkOp was useless and
that the enemy's right was too strong
to allow me to force it. Accordingly
L decided to withdraw the force to
the south of the Tugela. At six a. m.
we commenced withdrawing the train
and by eight a. m, January 81 (Satur-
day), Warren's force was concentrated
south of the Tugela without the loss
of man or pound of stores
Isoer Account of the SpiOnk"p Battle.
Boer Headquarters, Modder Spruit,
via Lourenzo Marques, Jan. 25.-I
"Some Vryheid burghers from the
outposts on the highest hills of the
Spionkop group rushed into the laa-
ger saying that the kop was lost and
that the English had taken it. Re
Inducements were ordered up, but
nothing could be done for some time,
the hill being enveloped in thick mist.
Horses were left under the first ter
race of rocks. Scaling the steep hill,
the Beers found that the English
had improved the opportunity and en-
trenched heavily. Between the lines
of trenches was an open veldt, which
had to be rushed under a heavy fire
hut
shrapnel from guns. The English tried
to rush the Beers with the bayonet, but
their infantry went down before the
Boer rifle fire as before a scythe.
1.-The Boer investing party advanced
step by step until two in the after
noon, when a white flag went up and
$50 men in the front trenches sur
rendered, being sent as prisoners to
the head lager. The Boer advance
continued on the two kopjes east of
Spionkop. Many Beers were shot, but
so numerous were the burghers that
the gaps filled automatically. To
ward twilight they reached the sum-
NIT of the second kopje but did not
get further The British Maxims
belched flame, but wall of fire from
the Mausers held the English back.
Their center, under this pressure,
gradually gave way and broke, aban-
doning the position
Roberts Visits the Maine Hospital Ship.
Cape Town, Jan. 29.-Lord Roberts,
after visiting the hospital ship Maine,
over which he was conducted by Lady
Randolph Churchill, expressed his en-
tire satisfaction with the arrange
meAts. The Maine has sailed for Dur
ban.