The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-30
BACK ACROSS THE TUGELA.
Butler Gables That the Beers Were
Too Strong For Him.

london, Jan. 2S.-The following dis
patch from General Butler, dated Spear
mans Camp, Natal, Saturday, January
q, O:1O =. H., was made public by the
War OFFICE tonight:
''On January 20 Warren drove back
the enemy and obtained possession OF
extending from the line of Acton Homes
and Honger's po0rt to the Western
Ladysmith hills. From that time to
January 25th he remained III close con-
tact with the enemy.
The enemy held strong position on
a range of small kopjes stretching from
northwest to southeast across the pla
teau from Acton Homes through Spon
kop, TO the left bank OF the Tugela.
The actual position held was perfect
ly tenable, bat did not lend itself TO an ad-
vance, as the southern slopes We're 50
steep that Warren could not get an eff
fective artillery position, and water sup
ply was a difficulty.
"On January % assented to his
attacking Spion Kop, large hill, indeed,
a mountain, which was evidently the
key of the position, but was far more
accessible from the north than from the
south.
"On the night OF January % he attack
Ell Spion Kop, but found it very diff
cult to hold, as its Perimeter was toU
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 heavy shell
fire. Our men fought with great gal
NH / .ialf = ha
conduct of the Second Cameronians and
the attack ON the mountain from the
steepest side, and, In each case, fought
their way to the town; and the Second
Lancashire Fusiliers and Second Middle
sex, who magniicently maintained the
best traditions of the British army
throughout the trying day of January
9th and Thornycroft's Mounted In
fantry, who fought alongside of them.
General Woodsate, who was In COM
mand at the summit, having been wound
ed. the officers who succeeded him decid-
ed on the night of January Oath to aban-
don the position. and did SO before dawn,
January 21th.
Il reached Warren's camp at 5 a. nj,
on January 2Jth, and decided that 4
second attack upon Spion KOp was use
less, and that the epemy's right was too
strong to allow me to force it.
Accordingly | decided to withdraw
the force to the south of the TuGelA. At
& a. m. we commenced withdrawing the
train. and by s 4. m. January - Sat
urdaylW Warren's force was concentrated
south of the Telgela without the loss OF a
man or q pound of stores.
The fact that the force could with
draw from actual touch-in some cases
the lines were less than thousand yards
apart-with the enemy in the manner it
did, is, | think. sufficient evidence Of the
morale Of the troops. and that we were
permitted to withdraw our cumbrouS OK
and mule transport across the river,
eighty-fye yards broad. with twanty-foot
banks and very swift current, urmolest-
ed, is. think, proof that the snelny has
been taught to respect our soldiers fight
ing powers"
% OFFICERS KILLED.
London, Jan. 29.-General Butler
wires from Spearman's Camp. January
29th. that the casualties among the Off
GERS of the Fifth division and mounted
brigade at Sp;on Kop January 24th,
were: Killed, %; wounded, 20; miss
ing. 6.