Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-02-03
ANOTHER MAIUBA HILL.
Warren's Retreat Compared to the
Famous Reverse Years Ago.


New York, Jan. 20.--The London
correspondent Of the Herald says:
! Absolutely no light has been thrown
upon the reasons for Spion kop's cvac-
uation. When the first news spread
throughout the city the involuntary
| exclamation, "What, Maiuba again?"
was heard frequently. In fact, the
parallel between Spion kop and Ma
juba is rather startling. Both were
eminences, commanding Boer posi-
tions. Both were seized in the night.
I'm both cases the Beers attacked the
position the next morning. Here, for
lack of definite news the parallel
ceases
There are two equally plausible the
ories for the retirement from Spion
kop. One is suggested by the fact OF
the mountain being SO weakly held by
the Beers, and is that the position had
not the importance which General
Warren attributed to it, 1t is quite
possible that there are other heights
near il, or behind il, which were not
visible from the British lines. From
these eminences the Beers, with their
guns i'm position, could dominate Spion
kop and render it ntenable, instead
OF the British, by the capture OF the
kop, rendering the Boer position un-
tcnable. IT is notorious that all the
maps of Natal in the possession of the
British are exceedingly faulty.
In an interview with DR.. Leyds in
Paris before Buffers last dispatch was
received, the Boer representative said
that Spion kop consisted of series of
ridges or hills rising behind each 9th
er. If this proves to be the reason for
Warreu's retreat it shows that Dr.
Leyds knows more about the British
territory than the British themselves.
The other and far more serious sup
position from British standpoint is
that the position was OF Importance;
that the Beers made desperate efforts
to retake it, and that they succeeded
in their efforts. General Buffers dis
patch is so vague, simply stating that
he was surprised TO find that General
Warren had retired, that such thing
is quite possible. If this is correct u
serious reverse has been suffered by
General Warren's division, since it is
clear that corresponding efforts would
have been made-by the British to hold
the kop. We know that the Beers
were attacking determinedly on
Wednesday.
Should Buffers reverse be as serious
as il now seems, the probability of his
reaching Ladysmith by the western
route is much diminished as the Beers
undoubtedly confront the British in
great strength. Warren's turning
movement having failed General Bull
Ter may find himself in the same fix
as he was in at Colenso, and as Me-
thuen is now at Modder river.
Although Ladysmith is said to have
been made impregnabe and the fever
is abating, there must be decrease
in the supply of ammunition and food.
Moreover, the check of Butler must
have seriously depressing effect up
on the garrison, affecting its physical
health.
II is possible that some other way
may be found of turning the Tugela
river position from the Acton Homes
side or by more direct attack from
Potgieter's. Or one more effort may
be made at Colenso. where the Boer
left must have been weakened by the
loss OF men whom they have lately
bepn can1in0 westward