The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-27
M That II Known IL That wsrrsn
Has withdrawn From spionkop
Under Cover Of Night, ana wheth-
er He was Driven Out, Found th!s
Position UntenabIe or Of No
strategic Value, II Purely Com
JectsraI-The One Cry I'm London
now IL More Troops ~ the 0nIy
sussestion to Beat the Bserb.

intact. and Gen. Butler 706 weaker. accord
ing to the ofiicial casualty lists. which
seemingly do not include the Spionkop
losses. as those last forwarded do not mem
ton Gen. woodgate's wounding.
Sense OF FaiIrre.
England is possessed of a depressing
sense of failure, although not word In
criticism of her generals and soldiers IL
uttered. Not much effort is made to place
happy construction upon Gen. Buffers
eighteen words telling of the retirement
from Spionkop. and there is an uneasy
impression that worse news Is yet to
come.
More Bad News Expected.
At ono Of the military clubs tonight the
statement passed from one person to an
other that the war office had received an
unpleasant supplementary dispatch from
Gen. Butler. which was being held up for
twelve hours.
Loss Of spionkop.
Spencer Wilkinson. in the Morning Post.
writes as follows Of the spionkop losses:
This is serious matter. and an at
tempt. will not here be made to minimize
II, for no greater wrong can be done to
our people at nome Lndn TO mIbicd0 LueM
about the significance Of the events Of the
war. The right way 10 to tell the truth ~
Tar ~ We know IT.
sspDly Of News seant.
But facts from the neighborhood Of the
Tugsla are scantier than ever. The cen
sorship now is simply prohibitive. and
something is wrong with the cables. The
break on the east coast lines has been
repaired, but the cable between San
Thome and Loanda. on the west coast. is
now INTERRUPTED.
More troops!" is the only suggestion
here as to the way to break the Boer re-
sistance. Mr.. Wilkinson regrets that
Gen. Butler has not 10000 more men, de-
claring that II they would not make VIC
tory certain. his enterprise without them
Is hopeless.
The Spectator. dealing with the necessity
of large additional military preparations.
SAYS:
TT may be that we have vet another
cycle of disaster In front Of u.s.
Further Reinforcements Arrive.
The transport Assaye arrived at Cape
Town last Friday with 2,127 officers and
men. The first portion of the Seventh di-
vision is afioat. Hence. with the lo,0QO
men of this division and about s,0O0 others
now at sea. it lies in the power of Lord
Roberts to reinforce Gen. Butler heavily.
This course Is advised by several military
writers.
Country's Nerve Unshaken.
Although England's nerves are severely
tried her nerve is absolutely unshaken and
probably nothing that can happen In South
Africa will change in the slightest degree
her intentions. She will continue to re-
ceive bad news, If 1t comes. with dignity
and will maintain her determination to win
at last.
Comment Of the Papers.
The morning papers editorial.y advise
and Judgment and careful avoid
ance of overestimating the Importance OF
the lost position.
The Times says:
1.-THE natural disquietude of the public Is
by the singular vagueness and
of Gen. Buffers dispatches.
There is. indeed, very singular and some-
what disquieting attitude of detachment
on Gen. Buffers comments as revealed in
the Gazette's dispatches. For instance. his
as to the action at Zoutpans
1rift, his remark concerning the probability
that British officers would In time learn tbs
salue of scouting properly have come from,
4 foreign military attaehe, but II Is rather
more than surprising that 1t should be
thrown out In this casual. irresponsible
fashion by the head of the forces concern
ng his subordinates week or two, more
over. after the loss of the guns on the
rugela-
"The consequence OF this latest check may
be very serious to the gallant Ladysmifh
harrison. 1t is impossible to estimate the
lext movement. IT may be That Gen. Er.
er viii be compelled 10 retire from tfe
ground he lately won. but In any event we
nay be sure that the British people will
lot show themselves wanting In fortituds
ind steadiness. The government would be
well advised to call out immediately all the
militia and to expedite the dispatch of the
eighth division and the Fourth cavalry
,-igade. No doubt Lord Roberts win ST. ain
very nerve to enable Gen. Butler to renew
he attempt to relieve Ladysmith.
Possible Explanntions.
The military critic OF the Times, dis
,ussing various possible explanations.
iwells strongly upon "the terrible. draw
back to British generals involved in the
lbsence of maps. Of this tangled hill coun-
try
The Standard. which thinks still more
troops will be required. and which com-