And
In This Estimate Of Means Our Military Authorities, Our
Politicians, And Our Public Were All In The First Instance Equally
Mistaken.
Lord Roberts's plan was absolutely simple, and yet, had it been
carried out as conceived, absolutely effective.
It was not his
intention to go near any of that entanglement of ditch and wire
which had been so carefully erected for his undoing. The weaker
party, if it be wise, atones for its weakness by entrenchments. The
stronger party, if it be wise, leaves the entrenchments alone and
uses its strength to go round them. Lord Roberts meant to go round.
With his immense preponderance of men and guns the capture or
dispersal of the enemy's army might be reduced to a certainty. Once
surrounded, they must either come out into the open or they must
surrender.
On March 6th the cavalry were brought across the river, and in the
early morning of March 7th they were sent off in the darkness to
sweep round the left wing of the Boers and to establish themselves
on the line of their retreat. Kelly-Kenny's Division (6th) had
orders to follow and support this movement. Meanwhile Tucker was to
push straight along the southern bank of the river, though we may
surmise that his instructions were, in case of resistance, not to
push his attack home. Colvile's 9th Division, with part of the
naval brigade, were north of the river, the latter to shell the
drifts in case the Boers tried to cross, and the infantry to
execute a turning movement which would correspond with that of the
cavalry on the other flank.
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