Lord Roberts reached Cowes on Wednesday, and paid his visit
to the Queen. On the Thursday he landed at Southamp- ton and proceeded to London, where the welcome from the Prince and Princess of Wales and half the great men of the nation was as hearty as that of the crowd that thronged the streets. We cannot, however, describe the procession, but must note the characteristic fact that the little speech made by Lord Roberts at Southampton was chiefly devoted to a warm panegyrio of Lord Kitchener, and a defence of him from the charge of self-seeking. " As Chief of the Staff of the army in South Africa Lord Kitchener has been my right- hand man throughout the campaign, and I am glad to take this opportunity of publicly expressing how much I owe to his wise counsels and ever-ready help. No one could have laboured more incessantly or in a more self-effacing manner than Lord Kitchener has done, and no one could have assisted me more loyally without a thought of self-aggra.e- disement."
