To the Editor of the Standard.

London Evening Standard, Wednesday 10 January 1900

Sir,—Yet another regiment accounts for retirement by having been duped by a command from the enemy to “Retire.” This is pardonable once; hut having once happened, surely officers might have wit enough to prevent its recurrence, especially when a regiment is detached for a special and isolated duty. Had I commanded the Suffolks near Colesberg, I should have warned every man that the word for retire, until their return to camp, would be “Smith,” “Snooker,” “Kuruman,” and for “Cease Fire,” “Thunder,” “Plum-duff,” or something—anything but “Retire.” The bugle calls should be varied in like way to dinner call and defaulters.

With dozens of Indian officers with both White and Buller, simple messages signalled in Hindustani, and written messages of English put into phonetic Hindustani characters, would surely have puzzled the Boers and ensured secrecy. Shall we never learn to be “slim?”

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

D. A. C.

January 8.