Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-01-29

London, Jan. 29-The war ONCE dc
MES the report that Ladysmith had
surrendered and announces that very
heavy list of casualties will be issued
tonight.
New York, Jan. ga special from
London to the Evening World says
at is learned from reliable source
that Field Marshal Lord Roberts has
advised the abandonment of Lady
smith. At the war Office the dispatch
adds that no confirmation could be
obtained of the advice said to have
been given by Lord Roberts.
THE BRITISH SIDE.
London, Jan. 29-The following dis
patch from General Butler, received
Sunday, is dated Spearman's Camp.
Saturday, January 81, 6:10 p. M:
"On January goth, Warren drove
back the enemy and obtained posses
sion of the southern crests of a high
table land extending from the line of
Acton House and Hogerspoort, to the
western Ladysmith hills From then
to January 25th, he remained in close
contact with the enemy.
The enemy held a strong position on
a range of small kopjes, stretching
northwest and southeast across the
high plateau from Acton Homes
through Spion KJp, to the left bank of
the Tugela. The actual position held
was perfectly tenable but did not lend
itself to the advance as the southern
slopes were so steep that Warren
could not get effective artillery in po-
sition and water supplies were difficult
January 23d, assented to his attack
ing Spion Kop, large HILL indeed
mountain, which was evidently the
key to the position, but was far more
accessible from the north than from
the south On the night of January
2Sd. he attacked Spion Kop but found
it very difficult to hold, as it's perime-
ter was too large and water which he
had been led to belive existed in this
extraordinary dry season. was found
very deficient. The crests were held
all that day against severe attacks
and a heavy shell fire. Our men
fought with great gallantry l would
especially mention the conduct of the
second Cameronians and the third
Kings Rifles, who supported the at
tack on the mountain from the steep
est side and in each case fought their
way to the top, and the second Ian
cashire Fusileers and second Middle
sex, who magnificently maintained
the best traditions of the British army
throughout the trying. day of January
oath, and Thornycrofts mounted in
fantry. who fought through the day
equally well alongside of them. Gen.
eral Woodgate, who was in command
at the summit, having been wounded
the officer who succeeded him, decided
on the night of January oath, to aban-
don the position, and did so before
the dawn of January 25th. reached
Warren's camp at 5 a. M, January
25th, and decided that a second attack
upon Spion Kop was useless and the
enemy's right was too strong to allow
me to force 1t. Accordingly, decided
to withdraw my force to the south OF
Tugela. At a. M. we commenced
Withdrawing the trains and by a.
M, January 27th, Warren's force was
concentrated on the South Tugela,
without the loss of a man or a pound OF
stores, The fact that the force should
withdraw from actual touch-in some
cases the lines were less than thous-
and 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 with
draw our cumbrous OK and mule trans
ports across the river eighty-ive
yards broad. with twenty feet banks
and very swift current unmolested
is, think, proof that the enemy had
been taught to respect our soldiers
fighting powers"
THE B0ER SIDE.
Boer Headquarters. Modder Spruit
Upper Tugela, Jan. "a, midnight.-vis
Lourenzo Marques, Thursday Some
vryheid Burghers. from the. outposts
on the highest hills of the Spion Ko1
group, rushed into the laager saying
the Kop was lost and the English had
taken It Reinforcements were or
dered up but nothing could be done fol
some time the hiIl being enveloped il
thick mist. At dawn the Heidel
berg and Carolina contingents. sup
plemented from other commando.
began the ascent Of the hill Three
spurs, preeipitous projections. faced