The Holly chieftain., 1900-02-02
BRITISH WITHDRAW.
suLLER REcRossEs THE rv-
CELIA.

HULLER REcRossEs THE rv-
After Severe Repaiss at spion Kep He
Decides It ImpFactlcabis to coptapue
the Advance to Ladysmith.
London, Jan. 2s.-Following is the
text Of General Buffers dispatch, dated
Spearman's camp, Saturday, January
9th, 6:1O p. M:
January Goth General Warren drove
back the enemy and obtained posses
sion of the southern crests of the high
table land extending from the line Of
Acton Homes and Hongers poort to
the western Ladysmith hills. From
then to January 25th he remained In
close contact with the enemy,
The enemy held q strong position on
a range of small kopjes stretching from
northwest to southeast across the
plateau from Acton Homes, through
Spi0n kOp to the left bank Of the Tu-
gela, ~ /!
The actual position held was per
fectly tenable, but did not lend itself
to an advance, as the southern slopes
were 80 steep that Warren could not
get an effective artillery position, and
water supplies were difficulty.
january 2Srd assented to his at
tacking Spion kop, a large hill, indeed
mountain, which was evidently key
to the position. but was fur more Access
sible from the north than from the
south.
ION the night of January 23rd he at
tackled Spion kop. but found 1t difficult
TO hold, as its perimeter was too large
n nd fars Nx.1f h<,h hnJ Ir,xJs lao,
lieve existed in this extraordinary dry
season was found deficient.
THE crests were held all that day
against severe attacks and heavy
shell fire. Our men fought with great
gallantry. l would especially mention
the conduct of the Second Cameron In
dians and the Third Kings Rifles, who
supported the attack on the mountain
from the steepest side, and in each case
fought their way to the top, and the
Second Lancashire Fusiliers and Sec
ond Middlesex, who magnificently
maintained the best traditions of the
British army throughout the trying day
Of January 9th, and Thornycroft's
mounted infantry, who fought through
the day equally well alongside of them.
General Woodgate, who was in com
mand at the summit, having been
wounded. the officer who succeeded
him decided OH the night of January
oath to abandon the position, and did
so before dawn January 25th.
II reached Warren's camp at n. m,
January 25th, and decided that sec
ond attack upon Spion kop was useless
and that the enemy's right was too
strong to allow me to force it.
Accordingly, decided to withdraw
tl, 81 \, Of . In.
At @ a. m. we commenced withdrawing
the train, and by 8 n. m., January 9th
Saturday.. Warren's force was concen-
trated south of the Tugela without the
loss of man or a pound of stores.
"rhe fact that the force should with
draw from actual touch-in some cases
the lines We're less than a thousand
yards apart-with the enemy in the
manner 1t did is, l think. sufficient evil
dence Of the morale of the troops, and
that we are permitted to withdraw our
cumbrOus OK and mule transports
across the river, eighty-tive yards
broad, with twenty-foOt banks and n
very swift current, unmolested. is, l
think, proof that the enemy has been
taught to respect our soldiers fighting
powers"
A dispatch from Pretoria, dated Jan
uary 25th, via LourenZO Marques, Jan
nary 26th. says:
1.-THE government is advised that, af-
ter heavy fighting near Spion kop, some
British on the kop being stormed hoist-
ed a white flag and 100 surrendered"
Boer Head Laager. Ladysmith, Jan.
25, p. m.--The British dead left on the
battlefield yesterday numbered 1900.
1t is believed in London that this in
cludes the wounded.
1t appears that General Butler had
all together five brigades, wholly or
partly engaged. General Cookies, Gen
eral Hildyard's. General Hart's. Gen
eral Woodgate's and General Lyttle-
toms, and. the 270 casualties already
announced in Lyttleton's brigade are
thus explained. Much mystery still
surrounds the. retreat. 1t is possible
that General Butler has withdrawn his
whole force. but it is generally assumed
that Lyttleton's brigade and Lord
Dundonnld's cavalry and other troops
are still on the north side OF the Tu-
gela.
General Buffers confidence that the
Beers did not molest his retreat be-
cause they had been taught to respect
the fighting powers of the British SOL
dier, is not shared in London. 1t is
thought rather that the Beers had
some other plan in store, or did not
wish to waste their men.
Large arrivals of troops are due at
Cape Town during the week.
There has been great activity in mill
tary quarters in all parts of England
since Saturday morning.
At the very moment when DIR. Leyds
is being received as nm honored guest
in the highest circles on the contin .nt,
Great Britain has to face the worst
disaster in n campaign thus far dis