THE POSITION ON THE TUGELA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXIV, Issue 37, 14 February 1900, Page 2

THE POSITION ON THE TUGELA.

HOLDING THE DRIFTS. Regarding the retirement of General Buller s troops across the Tugela after the river had been crossed, "TJitlander " in the Melbourne " Argus " says :— " The withdrawal of troops across the Tugela exercises the public mind, but there is no sufficient ground for supposing that the whole of the British forces re? crossed. The assumption is that the main army retains its position on tho north of Potgieter's Drift, and that only Warren's division retired. Had the retirement been a general one, and had Sir Redvers Buller's force also regained the southern banks of the Tugela by -way of Potgieter's Drift, the probability is that far greater excitement would havo been caused in London than was apparently the case. Moreover, had tho retreat been general, news would have leaked out in some way or other, and the War Office dared not have ventured to suppress it. " In the absence ef precise information to the contrary, it may be assumed that, although Sir Charles Warren's forces have been withdrawn to the southern Side of the Tngele River, the command of Inchardt's Drift is still held by the British. The importance of controlling tho drifts is very great. For purely strrtegical purposes, directly the difficulties of turning the Boer position wero recognised, it really did not matter whether Sir Charles Warren occupied the northern or the southern banks of tho stream, as long as the control of the drifts was maintained. In fact, to withdraw immediately to the south of the Tugela, was not only an advisable proceeding, but was what every prudent general would have done under the circumstances. Had such a movement not been made, Sir Charles Warren's force .vould probably have been entirely cut off from the main body, and with the Boers strongly posted m the neighbourhood of Spion Kop, between the two British forces, combined action would have been rendered difficult, if not impossible."