THE FIGHTING AT SPION KOP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 8

THE FIGHTING AT SPION KOP.

SAN FRANCISCO. .January 24. The latest news from the Transvaal comes in the following despatches: — General Buller reported from Spearman's Camp on January 22, 3.20 p.m.: —"'General Warren holds the position Rained two days ago. In front of him, at about 1400 yds, is the enemy's position, west of Spion Kop. It is on higher ground than General Warren's position, so that it is impossible to see into it. It can be approached only over bare slope? and lidges held by General Warren, but they pre so steep that guns cannot be placed on them. We are .'helling with howitzers and field artillery placed on low ground behind the infantry, the enemy replying v. ith Creufcot and other artillery. In this duel the advantage rests with us, as we appear to be searching their trenches, and their artillery file is not causing v* much losp. An attempt will be made to seize Spion Kop, which forms the left of the enemy's position facing Trichard's Drift, and which divides, it from the position facing Potgieter's Drift. It has considerable command over all the enemy's, entrenchments."

The Daily Chronicle published a belio-gi-aphed message from Lidy&mith. dated January 22, as follows: — "Yesterday we could fee the British shells bursting close to the Boer camp on the plateau this side of Potgieter's Drift* but the camp Btill remains in possession. To-day we heard very heavy firing. All this morning the bombardment was slack, but the big Boer gun on Mount Bulwan is still firing."

The Times publishes a letter from Ladyemilh, dated December 9, in which, the writer sto,tes that the besieged had been on half rations for at least two months. Boers (January 22) report the destruction of General White's headquarters at Ladysmith. but it is not known whether the occupants were killed.

The London Daily Telegraph publisher the following despatch from Spearman's farm : — " Tuesday.- January 23. — On Monday Sir Charlea Warren's force cannonaded and fusilladed the Boer position west of Soion Kop. near Acton Home?. The lyddite battery cooperaied with the other batteries, and the Maxim fire was effective, causing the enemy serious losses. The Boers clung desperately to their works, from which they are onbglowly being driven. To-day the enemy fired their guns oftener, using also our captured IS-pounders with shrapnel. Our casualties to-day were less than those of yesterday. The fighting began about 6 in the morning, and continued until dark, but there has been nothing like an engagement. The naval Ms? guns assisted from Potgieter's Drift in shelliner the Boer positions. Later the British field artillery and howitzers shelled the enemy posted on the crest of the riclge. This morning the infantry, under excellent cover, kept ud an effective rifle fire. The Boers resigned the kooje, on which the British infantry took possession. When retiring the enemy sheltered themselves behind a. stone wall on a slope of the kopie, which they held for hours. Tlr's afternoon they recros^ed the ravine. The British artillery poured shrapnel and lyddite into them, and the infnntrv took the stone wall. The British casualty list is small."

The Daily Telegraph correspondent continues :—": — " Spearman's Camp,- Saturday Evening. January 20. — That portion of General Buller's forces which is under the command of General Warren him fought a deliberately planned and successful battle. This important engagement took place on the west of Spion, Kop, and has practically resulted in our securing a rough tableland, which constitutes the key to the Boer position. After a fierce cannonade had been directed against the enemy's lines <"or pome time, the British troops assembled near an eminence known as Three Tree Hill, which forms the centre of •a semicircle of a crest crowned with the enemy's works, which are some fix miles long. Steadily and wiHi great dash the British infantry went forward in the face of a heavy fusillade from the Mauser rifle?. Our troops were disposed as follows: — Woodgate's brigade on -the right. Hart's 'brigade in the centre, and Hildyard's brigade on the left. Soon after mid-day the battle on the hills became furious. From 3 o'clock in the afternoon until 6 o'clock the fire of both cannon and rifles was extremely heavy. Point after point of the enemy's positions was seized by the British troops. Eventually the Boer right broke, and was forced back toward Spion Kop. Our force is bivouacking upon the ground they have captured during the fighting to-day. The enemy brought into action a few guns, one of which was a quickfirer. To-morrow ought to settle the matter.

" In to-day's fighting our losses were trifling, but the Boers suffered peverely. While General Warren was fighting his engagement an effectual demonstration was proceeding at Potgieter's Drift, the enemy's position near there being 1 shelled vigorously by the British batteries. During last night there was occasional firing, and this morning a heavy bombardment was opened on the Boers from the British batteries at this place. At the same time the guns of General Warren's forces were heard. Four more Boer prisoners who are slightly wounded have been brought into camp, making the total captured so far 23." London, January 21. — One account of Saturday's fighting paj^g that the British had a few killed. Little reliance can be placed upon these report. and although the main position of the Boers has not been attacked, and nothing is known ns to its strength, Saturday's and Sunday's fighting, which can hardly be described as more than outpost affairs, evidently entailed severe losses. The Boers are following their old-time tactics, making a show of resistance, and then retreating in good order to prepared positions, and as they are working from the interior of their lines, they may be able to bring strong 1 forces to defend the main position. Nothing

is heard regarding any counter attack by Sir G. Whito from Ladysmith, and General Buller's wire, " I think we are makiilg substantial progress " remains the last word. This shows that there is still some very hard work in front of the British forces.

The Times has the following, dated Sunday evening, from Spearman's Camp: —"All j'esterday and to-day General Warren has been attacking the Boers. Their position is a long ridge four miles north-west of liichards's Drift, ascending from the river. At dawn on Sunday our guns occupied a kopje on the cast of the range. The enemy's ' defence were chiefly some sangars extending | forward and right along the spur, making the position semicircular. At 11 o'clock General Hart's brigade advanced on tho left along a rocky, uneven spur into the semicircle until he could fire from three directions. Taking advantage of all possible cover, the troops advanced to a point within 500 yards of the enemy's right wing, but they did * not advance beyond the edge of the j cover. There they remained until dark j and bivouacked. In addition to Maxim- | Nordenfeldts the enemy fired shrapnel from the guns captured at Colenpo. Their fire was intermittent, and was always temporarily silencocl by our masked batteries. At night the enemy's right wing evacuated its position." ' A despatch to the Daily News from I Potgieter's Drift, dated Friday, January 9, says: —"The spirits of the troops are greitly raised by the conviction that General Buller now has a thorough grasp of the situation. As the force has left the railway, transport difficulties are being experienced. The rivers are often flooded, and what were a short time ago trickling streams ara now deep torrent?."