4 OCTOBER 1913, Page 19

We desire to offer our warmest congratulations to Lord Roberts

on the attainment of his eighty-first birthday on Tuesday last. All parties and sections of the nation will be agreed in wishing him health and vigour and a still greater length of years, but we may whole-heartedly wish him also what he cares far more about than these blessings, that is, success in the work which he undertook the moment that his active military labours came to an end— the work of convincing his countrymen that they are not safe and that they are not full citizens or, in the true sense, worthy citizens unless they learn how to defend their homes, their lives, and their liberties in arms.