"The result of these movements was that in falling back these companies were surrounded east of Reddersburg and, being without food or water, were eventually compelled to surrender. For this result I must hold Lieut.-General Gatacre responsible. Dewetsdorp is some forty-five miles by road east of the railway on which the mass of the troops were stationed, and is {288} therefore a position in which a small force is much isolated and might be in great danger if attacked. It appears, however, that Lieut.-General Gatacre ordered two companies mounted infantry and three companies Royal Irish Rifles to Dewetsdorp on his own responsibility, and failed to give me the information I asked for as to what he could do with the troops at his disposal as regards holding the place, which, if supplied, would have enabled me to judge of its adequacy or otherwise, and therefore whether Dewetsdorp should or should not be occupied. The small force he actually sent was entirely incapable of holding its own so far from sufficient force, and being partly composed of infantry was unable to move rapidly when a retirement became necessary. I consider that in thus isolating a small detachment, Lieut.-General Gatacre has shown a grave want of judgment which must necessarily shake the confidence of those under his orders and have a bad effect on the _moral_ of his troops. I am therefore unable to retain him in command of his division and have given orders for his relief and return to England. "ROBERTS, Field-Marshal" "BLOEMFONTEIN, "_April_ 16, 1900." {289} INDEX Addis Abeba, Abyssinia: W. F. G. starts for, Nov. 1905, 278 Adjutant-General Bombay Army. See Staff Services. Aldershot: W. F. G. serves there as D.A.Q.M.G. in 1879-80, 37 serves as G.O.C. Third Infantry Brigade, 1897-8, 184 Aldershot Conservative Club: telegram of welcome from, 1900, 264 Allahabad: W. F. G. quartered there, 1862-4, 14 Allen, Colonel E., R.I.R., withdraws detachments to Aliwal North, 258 Aliwal North, O.F.S.: headquarters of Colonial Corps, 1900, 244 Appointments held by W. F. G. See Staff Services and War Services. Arnott, Colonel James: recollections of 1894, 121 Assault-at-Arms, Bombay, 1894, 122-5 Atbara: events leading to engagement on banks of, 1898, 199-202 battle of, April 8, 1898, 203-6 Aylmer, Maj.-Gen. F. J., V.C., C.B.: served with Royal Engineers on Chitral Relief Force, 1895, 131 Baird, Captain A. McD.: killed during siege of Chitral, 1895, 141 Bannu: letter written from, by W.F.G. while on tour, 1887, 67 Barnardiston, Col. N. W., M.V.O., adjutant to 77th Regt.: recollections of, 55-9 Battye, Col. L. R., 5th Goorkhas, killed near Oghi, 1888, 73 Beluohistan. See Quetta, Fort Sandeman, etc. Bengough, Maj.-Gen. Sir Harcourt, K.C.B., late Middlesex Regt.: recollections of, 15 Bethulie Bridge: saved by scouts of Third Division, 241 removal of explosives by W. F. G. and Lieut. Grant, R. E., March, 1900, 241