THE POSITION OF THE LADYSMITH RELIEF FORCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue XXXXII, 29 January 1900, Page 2

THE POSITION OF THE LADYSMITH RELIEF FORCE.

BRITISH ABANDON SPION KOI'. INTENSE DISAPPOINTMENT IN ENGLAND. BOERS' HEAVY LOSSES. (Received 27, 9.20 a.m.) London, January 26. It is officially reported that Sir Oharles Warren's garrison abandoned Spion Kop on Wednesday night. The announcement has caused intense disappointment in England. Consols declined one-half per cent. Mr. Winston Churchill, the war correspondent", reports that when Sir Charles Warren captured thg first line of the Spion Kop trenches he found 200 dead Boers. SHORT DESPATCH FROM GENERAL BULLER. FEARS THAT GENERAL WARREN FELL INTO A TRAP. Dr. LEYS' OPINION. CAPTURE OE ICO BOERS. MORE GUNS FOR THE ENEMY. (Received 28, 0 p.m.) London, January 27. The text of General Euller's solitary despatch with reference to the abandonment of Spion Kop, whioh reads: " Warren's garrison, am sorry to eay, I find this morning had in the night abandoned Spion Kop," raises scores of interpretations. Many fear that General Warren, in occupying the position, fell into a trap, or there is a possibility that the garrison was driven out. Dr. Lsyds, the Transvaal Government's representative in Europe, describes Spion Kop as a succession of hills behind each other. He expresses the | opinion that General Warren seized a 'subordinate ridgo, but found it untenable. The newspapers agree that the absence of maps descriptive of the position is a great drawback. Six officers were killed at Spion Kop on Wednesday, including Colonel Buchanan Riddel, of the King's Royal Rifles. Twelve officers were wounded, wighteen men killed, 142 wounded, and 31 missing. Goneral Warren last Sunday captured 160 Boers. The enemy are receiving fresh gun.', and are entrenching on the Tabumyaoia heights. A CORRECTION. (Received 20, 1.98 a.m.) London, January 28. The War Office notifies that the casualties announced yesterday were General Lyttelton's, not General Warren's. It is unknown if Goneral Lyttelton's brigade was engaged at Spion Kop. §g BULLER'S NEED OF REINFORCEMENTS. AN INCREASE OF 20,000 SUGGESTED.

Rsccived 28, G p.m. Losdon, January 27. The Times Lard Roberts, the Comm%niior-in-Ci)ii-f, to strain every nerve to reiofoi\;o General liullrr, It s»ys th.i O.>vornmf iit must prepare for fresh reinforcements to any oxtent that Lord Roberts demands.

The Morning Post recommends that General liuller's forces be reinforced by 20,000 men.