Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-04-26
STRONG CENSURE.
Lord Roberts Complains of Two
Blunderers.
He Blames Gems. Warren and Butler
for the Defeat at Spion Eop-Prog-
ress of the Siege of Wepener
-Reinforccments StarttO
Aid the British There.

tdutH lne adventurous cOIn1nanuOS
that have been making mischief in
the southeastern part of the state.
The net has not yet been drawn in;
but at the headquarters of Lord Rob-
erts the impression exists that the
power of the Beers is decreasing. A
Daily News correspondent has them
fleeing to the southeast; a Standard
correspondent reports them fleeing
northward,
London, April 1S.-The war office
publishes in the Gazette dispatch
from Lord Roberts, dated February
13, submitting Gen. Buffers dis
patches describing the Spion Kop and
other operations from January II to
January "a. Lord Roberts deals Sc
verely with Gen. Warren and some
others. Even Gen. Butler does not
escape. LORD Roberts complains that
the plan of operations is not clearly
described in the dispatches. After
sketching Gen. Buffers intentions, as
communicated to Sir Charles Warren,
who commanded the whole force,
Lord Roberts points out that Gen.
Warren seems to have concluded, af-
ter consultation with his officers, that
Gen. Butler was impracticable and,
therefore, SO changed the plan of adj
vance as to necessitate the capture
and retention of Spion Kop.
Lord Roberts continues: "As War
ren considered it impossible to make
the wide tlanking movement which
was recommended if not actually
prescribed in the secret instructions,
he should, forthwith, have acquaint-
ed Butler with the course he propos-
ID to adopt. There is nothing 20
show whether he did so or not. But
it is only fair to Warren to point out
that Butler appears throughout to
have been aware of what was hap
pening."
Regarding the withdrawal from
Spion Kop, the retention of which
had become essential to the relief of
Ladysmith, Lord Roberts says:
IL regret to be unable to concur
with Butler in thinking Thornycroft
exercised wise discretion in ordering
the troops to retire. | am of the
opinion that Thornycroft's assump-
tion of responsibility and authority
was wholly ineXcusable."
The war Office has received the fol-
| lowing dispatch from Lord Roberts,
dated BloemfOnteln, April II:
Our force at Wepener is still sur
rounded, but it is reported that the
enemy are attacking in a very half
hearted manner and are anxious
about their communications, hearing
that forces are approaching Wepener
from two directions-one under Gen.
Rumble, via Reddersburg, and anoth-
er under Gen. Brabant, with Gen.
Hart's brigade in support, via Roux-
vile. On the re-occupation of Roux-
Vile, April Is, the few Beers there re-
tired and Gen. Brabant made some
important arrests.
violent storms of rain have some
what interfered with the march of
these columns, but it is hoped they
will soon be able to make their pres
ence more decidedly felt.
Gen. Settle reports from Ken
hardt, April II, that 200 Transvaalers
made determined attack the pre-
vious day on Dopaspoort, held by
party of Orpon's horse. Our losses
were two killed and one wounded.
The enemy's losses must have been
heavy, as they applied to us for doe
tors ana an ambulance.
London, April 10.-Heavy rains i'm
pede the movements of the British
columns. The blockade of Wepener
continues, although relief is near,
Large quantities of stores are being
moved southwark from Bloemfontein.
which is reversal of the course of
freight for the last six weeks. These
shipments are made necessary by the
operations in the southeast of the
Free State. There are 1000 sick in
the field hospitals.
With the exception of these facts,
the embargo upon war intelligence Is
almost complete.
1t is now generally accepted that
the government had a purpose in the
publication of Lord Roberts dispatch
and that the recall of Gen. Butler and
Gen. Warren has probably been de-
cided upon.
According to BOer reports, there is
steady flow of foreign volunteers to
the rranSyaal. Hitherto these advcn.
turcrs have been attached to the va
rious commandos. Now it is said they
are to be formed into a special legion,
with continental officers, and there
is a rumor that the command will be
given to It distinguished French sol
der, lately retired.
London, April 2O.-A deluge of rain
lasting ten days, has brought the OPP
erations in the southeastern part OF
the Free State almost to a standstill
The creeks have become roaring riv
ers and the roads are streams of mud
The Bloemfontein correspondent OF
the Daily Chronicle says:
"The requisite remounts and equip.
ments have arrived and all the infan.
try divisions are now supplied with
tents. The Beers in the immediate
neighborhood are quiet, but both
ides are steadily preparing for the
coming struggle. Lord Roberts is
now ready. Several lots of concealed
arms and ammunition have been dis.
covered here this week.
Nice Present for Dewey.
Washington, April 1s.-A beautiful
and unique souvenir autograph album