Might have prevented the besiegers from sending
important reinforcements to Botha, had he needed them. The sequel
is more serious. Losing all heart at his defeat, General Buller,
although he had been officially informed that White had provisions
for seventy days, sent a heliogram advising the surrender of the
garrison. White's first reply, which deserves to live with the
anecdote of Nelson's telescope at his blind eye, was to the effect
that he believed the enemy had been tampering with Buller's
messages. To this Buller despatched an amended message, which with
Sir George White's reply, is here appended:
Message of December 16th, as altered by that of December 17th,
1899.
'I tried Colenso yesterday, but failed; the enemy is too strong for
my force except with siege operations, and these will take one full
month to prepare. Can you last so long?
'How many days can you hold out? I suggest you firing away as much
ammunition as you can, and making best terms you can. I can remain
here if you have alternative suggestion, but unaided I cannot break
in. I find my infantry cannot fight more than ten miles from camp,
and then only if water can be got, and it is scarce here. Whatever
happens, recollect to burn your cipher, decipher, and code books,
and all deciphered messages.'
From Sir G. White to Sir R. Buller. December 16th, 1899.
'Yours of today received and understood. My suggestion is that you
take up strongest available position that will enable you to keep
touch of the enemy and harass him constantly with artillery fire,
and in other ways as much as possible. I can make food last for
much longer than a month, and will not think of making terms till I
am forced to. You may have hit enemy harder than you think. All our
native spies report that your artillery fire made considerable
impression on enemy. Have your losses been very heavy? If you lose
touch of enemy, it will immensely increase his opportunities of
crushing me, and have worst effect elsewhere. While you are in
touch with him and in communication with me, he has both of our
forces to reckon with. Make every effort to get reinforcements as
early as possible, including India, and enlist every man in both
colonies who will serve and can ride. Things may look brighter. The
loss of 12,000 men here would be a heavy blow to England. We must
not yet think of it. I fear I could not cut my way to you. Enteric
fever is increasing alarmingly here. There are now 180 cases, all
within last month. Answer fully. I am keeping everything secret for
the present till I know your plans.'
Much allowance is to be made for a man who is staggering under the
mental shock of defeat and the physical exertions which Buller had
endured.
