On Tuesday the War Office published a long despatch from
Lord .Roberts to the Secretary of State for War drawing attention to the excellent work done by the various Depart- ments of the Army up to November 29th, 1900. We cannot possibly condense this long report, which not only deals with the Departments, but mentions by name the officers of all ranks who distinguished themselves ; but we may men- tion one or two points of special interest. Lord Roberts tells us, for example, that the lines of railway to be guarded aggregated 2,017 miles in length, and that up to October 24th, 1900, there had been despatched to the front over the military systems a total of 7,920 officers, 193,656 men, 148,948 animals 411 guns, 3,012 vehicles, and 360,028 tons of stores and supplies. Noticeable in another way is Lord Roberts's eulogium of Sir Alfred Milner's tact and courage,—a courage which has never faltered, however grave the responsibilities. But in all this stream of eulogy which naturally and rightly flows for the gallant men who have devoted their lives and energy to our service in South Africa one name is inevitably wanting, that of Lord Roberts himself. Yet that is after all as it should be, for truly we may say of his work and his fame: Roberts—non graphite verbum. The country cannot put into words what it feels for the man who served the State as he has served it, and did his service with a graciousness and a gallantry to which the history of war affords no parallel, or affords it in Marlborough alone. But if we go beyond the qualities of graciousness and gallantry, and make the test true manliness and nobility of character, it is not Lord Roberts who need fear this comparison.
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