Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1900 — WARREN IS REPULSED [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WARREN IS REPULSED

BOERS FORCE BRITONS TO FLEE FROM SPION KOP. News, of the Reverse Shrouds London in Deep Gloom—-Belief Is Expressed that the Burghers Led Bailer’s Hen Into a Death Trap. England was startled Friday morning to learn that Gen. Warren had abandoned Spion Kop, the position he had occupied Tuesday night. The news came in a dispatch from Gen. Buller to the Secretary of State for War and van posted at the war office. Lolidon was shocked, through and through, by the announcement. Thp shock was the greater because of the prediction of Bulier Thursday which lifted British hope. Extra papers carried the news over the city in a few minutes after the bulletin was posted at the war office. Knots of men gathered on the street and discussed the disaster. In 'an hour Gen. Warren fell from a position as England's idol to one of disgrace, though

many were inclined to await further news before condemning him. Crowds flocked to the war office for further news of the reverses. Military men find a clue as to the cause of Warren’s reverse in Buller’s dispatch of Wednesday night. He said then that Warren was holding the kop under a most annoying shell fire and that his losses were severe. This, taken ip connection with Warren’s easy occupation of the place, leads to the belief that the Boers led the English into a death trap. Artillery was probably placed on the surrounding kopjes with Which the Boers poured a constant and galling fire into Warren’s garrison on the kop all day Wednesday, making it so hot for the English that they had to retire under cover of darkness. High military officials refused to discuss the reverse until full details were learned, but they ad* mitted that it might again halt th§ Natal campaign. The situation in the neighborhood of the armies other than around Ladysmith is unchanged, but a forward movement by Gen. French is daily expected. The heat is reported as terrific, the thermometer registering 107 degrees in the shade. A letter received in London from Pretoria gives the text of a complaint which President Kruger made to President Steyn regarding the want of co-opera-tion on the part of the Free Staters at Modder river and also President Steyn’s address to the Free State troops. Mr. Kruger said that he had learned with regret that “only about 1,000 men of the Free State fought in the last battle and that many others remained in their camps while their brothers resisted and even defeated their enemy.” These statements appear to give official confirmation to the reports of disagreements between the allies.

GEN. WHITE’S HEADQUARTERS.