THE WAR COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 821, 20 February 1903, Page 2

THE WAR COMMISSION.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 11.33 p.m., Feb. 19. London, Feb. IS. In his evidence Sir Rcdvors Duller said that the telegram on December 15 merely implied an abandonment of an immediate attempt to relieve Ladysmith. The Government, not consulting him. deprived him of the fifth division. He did nut consultr himself sirong enough io relieve the place. The G-nernment’s sending a division to Modder River he interpreted that they preferred the relief of Kimberley. Tire heliogram was intended to be hallowed only in the event of Sir G. White s inability to bold out for a month. His hopes, thinking it practicable, was that it would induce White to break out and join hands with him. Sir Reavers Duller testified that he withdrew the guns at Coleusu early. The guus were too close to the enemy, which, contrary to his intention, the openness of the ground aud the men’s exhaustion, prevented him covering the guns. A rescue would have required mauy under tiro until night, and possibly they would not have succeeded without great loss. The action at Spionkop enabled the men to gain a knowledge of war and confidence in themselves and their officers, besides inflicting on the enemy great loss in men and morals. The existing training system was inimical to independent judgment in action ; men know howto do things, but not what to do.