FRIEND AND FOE FIGHT SPLENDIDLY.

Evening Star, Issue 11152, 30 January 1900, Page 4

FRIEND AND FOE FIGHT SPLENDIDLY.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, January 28. General Buller cabled that General Warren's position up to Thursday was perfectly tenable, though an advance was difficult, owing to the enemy's strong position, stretching from Acton Homes through Spion Kop to Tugela. General Warren was unable to secure an effective position owing to the steepnessof tho southern slopes and experiencing a deficiency of water. He seized Spion Kop, the key of this position, and held the crests of the mountain on Wednesday with great gallantry. The 2nd Cameronians, 3rd King's Royal Uillei, 2nd Lancashire Fusileer3, 2nd .Middlesex, and Thorneyeroft's > minted Troops behaved magnificently, maintaining tlv: best traditions of the a:inv ihroiighe tit a trying day. i'.i'<;.'.<du"-_>.'iiei'al WoudgHte'.s successor it' Midi'iie.i Sjiior,- Kop b-lore daylight on 'i niii.-.iUy. ;it in ■nil P.uiler immediately i.r.leird a wir.i draw;,l south of the Tugela Jlvr. c.y ei.r'.f i.V'nrk no Saturday morning '-•ii ill V> .-.i-i-ri.'s ni-ce was across tho '!'!.• ! ' vv,!_!.,.1,i, th- i..-s nf a. niivi «r a ! ii •■! -'• !••■<. hi'i.'jli i:i s< me pieces the '■]•■;" ii.-ii'..>'li!!'.-. v-ei- ; t .-, s than 1,000 yards rl , V H T. (.;■''. i -iml !'.'i!\r .;',.:-ii,. ihat tho perfect w i ! dr..u i! i., |.i.ui!' ; f the. ino.-ale of the a: in ~ :n il i \ i.i.'i cc .f - jir; P.. er»' lespeet I'i tin" !'ri:i>ii lighting powers, or they v..,n!.i ii..t. have H-lmv ii ti cm to rccross a I'i-n d and vi ry .--vit'r. liver, with banks Ll.fi lii'jli, Kiiiiiu'estcd. l-'u'Mier particulars show that the l'.ri:i>-li troops came within thirty yards ot the Spinn Kop trenches before the P.ners awoke f> their presence. They fired a harmless volley, and then tied. At daybreak the Boers opened a withering shell lire, splendidly accurate, from a high [> hit eastward, besides storming with gteat determination.' Part of General Lyttelton's brigade reinforced the troop's. The Cameronians and King's Rifles sealed tho steepest sides of Spion Kop. When halfway up they were exposed to a sharp flanking fire, and lost heavily. Climbing on their hands and knees, they reached the summit punting and exhausted. The British held the eastern and western ranges all Wednesday. Tho Boers held the intermediate range, besides commanding positions on an adjacent kopje. A BOER VERSION. LONDON, January 28. A Boer account declares that four commandos, covered by Krupps, Creuzots, and Maxims, stormed Spion Kop. The British vainly tried to use the bayonet, but fell like grass before the scythe. After desperate efforts they fought their way to the summit of the kopjes, hoping to outflank the Boers, but were unable to face a wall of flame from Maxims and Mausers. They broke their formation and abandoned the position, 150 surrendering. The Boers assert that the British lost 1,500 men killed. The War Office is silent as to the general casualties. THE CHAMPION PESSIMIST. LONDON, January 29. The London 'Times,' in its laudable efforts to cheer the British public, declares that there is a strong probability that Ladysmith must fall. " Strategically this would not entail a great disadvantage, but the political and moral results would be exceedingly serious. It is imperative, 'The Times' says, to organise at least another 50,000 men, and to contemplate the early need of an equal number. The same journal considers that it is hopeless to conduct the campaign with four widely-jeparated columns. Concentration is essential. THE REST OF THE PRESS. LONDON, January 29. Tho Press maintain a very cool tone, but insist on Great Britain redoubling her efforts. They also complain of General Buller's obscurity, which renders it doubtful whether Lord Dundonald or General Lyttelton recrossed the Tugela River. The French Press were aware of the reverse before the British.