While our men were milting their hopeless stand at Nicholson's
Nek on Monday morning Sir George White was using his whole force, except an obligatory garrison for the camp, in what may best be described as an attempt to push back the slow and steady advance of the Boers to hem him in. Friday's Daily Telegraph contains the best account of the action hitherto published. According to its corre- spondent, General White's plan was to fight three simul- taneous actions—besides, of course, the advance by Bell's Spruit—one on each flank, and one at the centre. At all three points, however, the Beer resistance—the enemy greatly outnumbered us—was too strong, and by eleven o'clock we were obliged to retire. Our soldiers evidently behaved with great courage, and, says the Daily Telegraph corre- spondent, "showed themselves fully a match for the Boers, both in shooting ability and in pluck, although they were faced by double their own numbers, posted upon rough ground, which had been previously prepared for defence and to resist a cannonade."
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