IN A FIELD HOSPITAL ON THE TUGELA RIVER.
That night the defeated general telegraphed to the Home Government a brief and manly account of the unlucky day. He neither minimised nor exaggerated the disaster. He has been censured for opening his melancholy dispatch with the words, "I regret to report serious reverse;" but if this was not a "serious reverse" speech has no meaning. It was a matter of absolute necessity to give the authorities at home true and exact information as to the situation, that they might be able to gauge correctly the measures necessary to meet the danger. Not General Buller for making this report, but the home authorities, for publishing it, must be blamed, if there is to be any blame.
Armistice.
Thus checked, the General next day obtained an armistice for the purpose of burying the dead and recovering any of the wounded who might have escaped notice. The dead were found to have been stripped of their clothes by the Boers, who were short of clothing themselves, though the wounded near the enemy's lines on the previous day had been very kindly treated and given water. They were deprived of their arms and accoutrements, but were allowed by the enemy to be carried off by our stretcher-bearers and ambulances, only the slightly wounded officers being detained as prisoners.
THIRSTY SOLDIERS TAKING THEIR TURN AT THE WATER-BARREL.
The scarcity of water is one of the great obstacles to the rapid movement of troops in South Africa.
A day of blunders.
[Dec. 15, 1899.