The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-02
NAVAL PREPARATIONS
Causing Much spsculatlon-l[ore Of
the spiOn Kop Fight-whiie Butler
Crossed the Tugela, BE Was None
Tao Sam.

the Sp10u AoP G4EAV--N " 4A4O . 3eAA4S4 ~
Crossed the Tugela, BE Was None
Too Soon
NEW YORK. Feb. 1.--London papers
have little news from South Africa to-
day, and there 10 not much comfort In
the little. except that the beleagured
garrison OF Ladysmith did not despair
when they learned Of General Buffers
second reverse, but were still hopeful
and determined. The public does mot
believe that General Buffers army Is
| capable of relieving Ladysmith, so the
| talk OF a. fresh movement does not In
spIre hope. 1t Is not true, as has been
reported that General Butler has with
drawn all his troops south OF the Tugeia
His big guns were stili at Mount Alice
on Sunday, with Lyttleton's brigade
covering them.
According to the latest Information.
the retirement from Spion kop was IN
evltable., When reinforcements and a
few gunh arrived during the night tine
position sim held by the British foreeH
was so confined that the various regi-
ments were huddled together, andit was
| impossible in the darkness TO make
proper arrangements to meet the storm
Of shell and bullets that the daylight
would bring upon them.
I The campaign in Cape Colony does
not develop rapidly. The Beers at
Colesburg. Steynsberg and Stcrmherg
seem to be content II they can keep the
British troops In check while Cronje OPP
crates between Modder river and KIM
beTley, holding Methuen quiet while the
Beers lombard the Diamond city.
Or. Leyds' popularity in Berlin seems
to be worrying the London papers. He
IL to hold another conference with Count
Won Buelow, the German foreign min
lister.
lessness OF the British Isles increases.
The London Daily Telegraph publishes
dispatch from Portsmouth, saying;
Naval Preparations,
IN the naval circles OF Portsmouth
there is a strong Impression that he
fore long the government win mobilize
the reserve squadron and commission
several cruisers to be added to II. This
impression is borne out by the fact that
the naval officers who are unemployed
have been notified to hold themselves
In readiness to proceed on active ser
| vice at short notice.
',The work on ships in hand at Ports
mouth Is being pushed with all speed.
Only the most necessary repairs on sew
erTl cruisers, now Feattihg, have been
taken In hand.
THAT the Channel squadron should
at the last moment have been retained
In British waters, instead OF being sent
direct to Gibraltar, is also considered
a sign that Some important step may be
taken. The squadron remains for ten
days or a fortnight at BAntry, and then
proceeds to Suda Bay or Gibraltar"
| All this, too. at time when the tone
of the sentimental press ls not more
hostile toward England than 1t has been
for years: when no threat against Eng
land is hoard in Russia or Germany.
or even In France.
Orders Misunderstood,
Advices from spearman's camp say
that General warren's retreatlng force
crossed the Tugela river without the
loss OF a single man. but got away none
too soon, BOer ilfteen-pounder firing
at the cavalry column as 1t was re-
tlrlng The Beers are mounting an
other big gun to fire on Ladysmlth.
Men who We're on the fighting line at
spion kop describe the flerceness Of the
Boer attack and the terrific havoc
wrought by the cncmys shells When
the Beers were first seen they were one
thousand yards away They then de-
/ SCended into a hollow. When next IL
was possible to see them they were only
seventy yards on, ana the foremost
British line sought shelter behind the
rocks
At this stage the first Boer she'll burst
and the order was given for one regi-
ment TO retire to the edge OF the kop1s
where there was moro cover. The or
der was misconGtrued by some Of the
foremost trenches, who fell back The
Boer8 seiEed this opportunity and rush
ed at the trenches, capturing few men
This mistake was Boon Observed
bayonet charge followed and the Boera
ned, Two OF the Boer Maxim -Norden-
feldtB commenced TO drop ghell8 among
the Britlbh, doing terrible damage The
Boer rldemen, noticing the havoc
wrought, attempted to creep close up
on two occasions, only 10 be driven back
with loss. AZ they retreated, they ap-
pealed TO the British to surrender. the
response was q volley. The formation
Of the hill top Is like q table. Q mile
long and a quarter OF mile broad
The shorter side alone was available Tor
rife IRE, The firing party which re-
spondcd 10 the BOer attack was neces-
Harily small The remainder OF the Brit
iah force was scattered about, seeking
F! shelter.