CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 1 February 1900, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

. # The Transvaal. SPIONKOP. BOER ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE. The Boer account of the fighting at Spionkop declares that four commandoes, covered by Krupp, La Crenzot and Maxim guns stormed the Spionkop heights. The British infantry on the slopes vainly tried to nse the bayonet, but fell like grass before the scythe. After desperate efforts, however, they fought their way to the summit, hoping to outflank the Boers, but were unable to face the wall of flame from the Maxims and Mauser rifles, and eventually broke their formation and abandoned the position, 150 of their number surrendering. The Boers assert that the British column lost 1500 killed. TONE OF THE LONDON PRESS. The' War Office is silent as to the general casualties suffered by the British troops. The French press was aware of the reverse before the British newspapers. The press maintains a very cool tone in discussing the situation, and insists that Great Britain must redouble her efforts. Still the newspapers complain of the obscurity of General Buller's cabled despatches -an obscurity which renders it doubtful whether or not Lord Dundonald's or Lieut.-General Lyttelton's brigades have re-crossed the Tugela. In commenting upon the position of affairs in South Africa, " The Times " declares that there is now a strong probability that Ladystnith must fall. Strategically, remarks the journal in question, this would not entail a great disadvantage, but the political and moral results would be exceedingly serious. It is imperative, says " The Times," to organise at least another 50,000 men, and to contemplate the early need of an equ^l number. It is hopeless to conduct the campaign with four widely separated column, says the same paper — concentration of force is necessary. A SAFE PASSAGE OF THE TUGELA. Further and more explicit details are now coming tq hand with regard to the operations of Sir Charles Warren's brigade in the neighbourhood jof Spionkop. General Buller, in a cabled report report to the War Office, says that up toThurscteythe position in which the column found itself was perfectly tenable, through the advance had been difficult owing to the enemy 1 * strong position which stretched from Action Homes through the Spionkop hills to the Tugela. General Warren was, however, unable to secure an effective position owing to the steepness of the southern slopes, and there being moreover a deficiency in the water supply, he seized Spionkop the key of his position and held the crests of the mountain with great gallantry. The second battalion of the Camera* nians, the Third King's Royal Rifles, the Second Lancashire Fusiliers, the Second Middlesex Regiment and Captain Thorneycroft's mounted irregulars behaved magnificently, says the report of General Buller, maintaining by their gallantry the best traditions of the army throughout a trying day. Next day, Thursday, the successor in command to Major.Gen.eral Wood-

gate, who had been seriously wounded, abandoned Spionkcp before daylight. On this being reported to General Buller, he immediately ordered the withdrawal of the column to a position south of the Tugela River. „ The movement was accomplished in perfect order, and by eight o'clock on Saturday morning Warren's force was across the stream without having lost * a man or a pound of stores, since A leaving Spionkop heights. That this should have been done is , considered by General Bnller to be proof of the morale of the army, and evidence of the Boers' respect for British fighting power, for at some places y j. on the route to the river the enemy's !,fl lines were less than a thousand yards distance. Had the Boers not had this respect for their opponents they would not have allowed them to recross a broad and very swift river with banks twenty feet hight unmolested. FURTHER PARTICULARS. Later reports show that on Tuesday night, when the surprise attack vfcjS" made by the British troops, the attack ing party canfte within thirty yards of the enemy's first line of entrenchments before the defenders awoke to their presence. „ The Boers fired a harmless volley and at once fled, but at daybreak they ! ; opened a withering shell fire, timed with splendid accuracy, from a high point to the eastward, besides storm- ,, ing the British lines with grdrftyf . determination. Eventually part of Lieut.- General ; Lytteltons's and Lieut.-General Coke's brigades reinforced the Cameronians i and King's Royal Rifles, and scaled j the steepest side of Spionkop. ' ■>% When half way up the force was exposed to a sharp flanking fire; and lost heavily. But pressing on, climbing at times on hands on knees, the troops reached the summit panting i and exhausted. All day on Wednesday the British held the eastern and western range, besides a commanding position on an adjacent kopje. ] LORD METHUEN. In his despatch Lieut.-General Lord Methuen repeatedly expressed his regret at the lack of cavalry and horse , artillery. REINFORCEMENTS. j The first batch of the Imperial Yeo> M manry raised for service in South j Africa by . Lord Ghesham has ; + embarked after inspection by the |. Prince of Wales. It numbers six | hundred men. ' All the volunteers raised by the Lord ! ! Mayor of London are now on the ! ! water. The last batch of the4jjt)Cps j j j entertained at a supper at the Mansion | ; j House before sailing. || | A corps of 350 picked mounted iften ]ji ; ! has left Burmah for Durban. . !ii j j Troops and ammunition are rapidly, ij; | arriving in South Africa. | NEAR COLESBURG. I !| News has been received, that j I General Clements, who is with GJeaeral j ! French's column in Northern Cape i i Colony, made a demonstration which ||| drew the enemy's fire in the vicinity j I of Reitfontein, in the Colesboj^, j! ! district. ■ipßll ■:■■ Two hundred of the enemy wfip ;! pursued the retiring British infaniry; j j fell into an ambush, and several were | | j killed by the Worcester Regiment. ;: : j LONDON WAR NEWS. ;; i i The momentous decision of Lor^i Roberts as to the future plan of cam* ! j paign in South Africa is being eagerly ,« j awaited in England. Public feeling is depressed over tKjs 1 ;■;, ■, Spionkop disappointment, but the nailif : J tary resolution to persevere is unira- ! i paired. : : It has been announced, in connec- 1 tion with the meeting of the Imperial Parliament, that Lord Edmond Fifczmaurice, M.P. for the Chicklade Division of Wiltshire, will, on behalf pi the Opposition, move a vote of censure on the Government for want of knowledge, foresight and judgment in the management of South Atrican affairs and in the preparations made for wa&l A French inventor and artillerist named Turpin is assisting the Bow army. Turpin is the man who was fined vii France during 1891 for imparting in« formation with regard to the explosive melinite to foreigners. He sold the patent to the Armstrong-Elswick Com* pany. ~ *\'< The immediate mobilisation of the ' British Navy is urged by several newspapers in view of the possible dangers on the Continent. Imperial consols show a further decline, and are now quoted at £100, a tall of £ 1 15s since Wednesday last.