§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War at what time was the War Office in possession of the news of the retreat of Buller's army across the Tugela, which was accomplished at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning; and, on what ground was this news held back from the general public till Sunday at 5 p.m.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThe message from Sir Redvers Buller was received on Sunday morning. It was a long one and took some time to decode. It was issued to the press soon after one o'clock, and placarded for general information at 2.30.
§ MR. MACNEILLWas a previous message to that referred to received?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThere was no previous message as to having encountered a reverse, but there was one announcing that a battle was to be fought. There was no previous message giving the issue.