Sir Redvers Buller's examination was continued on Wed- nesday. Replying
to questions with reference to Colenso, he attributed the loss of the guns to their being advanced too close to the enemy's position, " contrary to his intention," and gave reasons for believing that it was impossible to rescue them. As regarded the famous heliogram to Sir George White on December 16th, he meant that the suggested steps—making of terms, &c.—shonld only be taken if Sir George White could not hold out for a month. " He thought that it would have been quite practicable for Sir George White to break out and join hands with him, and although he did not like directly to ask Sir George White to attempt this, he thought that the message in question might have the effect of inducing him to do so." As for Spion Kop, he held that the action was, not without advantage, "as his men in these movements gained in knowledge of war, and in confidence in themselves and their officers, while great loss both in men and moral was inflicted on the enemy." Finally, Sir Redvers passed a sweeping con- demnation on the present Army system as being injurious to individuality.
Previous page
