13 OCTOBER 1917, Page 11

[To THE EDITOR or ran " Secerzros."1 Spa,—As you have

must kindly allowed some correspondence to appear in the Spectator in reference to this cage, may I be given the opportunity of saying how grateful many of us feel for your action in the matter? I am no relation of Captain Hower-Colt- burst's, idid only met him once or twice; but I cannot help saying. in -which I know many who understand will agree, that his cap- tivity is becoming a good deal more than trying. " Logic " has stated his case most fully, and pointed out the shortcomings of tile authorities in appointing a broken-down man to a responsible position of command. However, if the doctors at Broadmoor can certify to his sanity, which it seems they now can (you eel') properly say-it is a matter for the doctors), to risk the gallant officer's sanity for all futurity by shutting him up with criminal lunatics would seem to be an act of something like barbarity. He did lvyally for his country—very much, if the full truth were -

known—and it does seem intensely ungrateful to deny him the liberty which has been given to murderous Sinn Feiners. South Irish loyalists, of whom Captain Bowen-Colthurst is one, are living in the experience of Mr. Birrell's famous and historic state- ment that " minorities must suffer."-1 am, Sir, fle., A SOUTH IRISH LOYALIST.