There is no end to the versatility of Lord Roberts.
Soldier, strategist, statesman, diplomatist, he now emerges, in the correspondence given in Monday's Daily Telegraph, in the light of a. humourist as well. It appears that after the bombardment of Kimberley by the 100-pounder grin early in February, Mr. Rhodes came to the conclu- sion that the military authorities outside ought to be aroused to a sense of their responsibilities, and he accord- ingly asked Colonel Kekewich to transmit to Lord Roberts a message drawn up by himself in concert with some other civilians, setting forth the privations and sufferings of the inhabitants, actually suggesting that " if the Spytfontein hills are too strong for them [the troops], there is an easy approach over the flat"; and winding up,—" Yon must be the judge as to what number of British troops would be required to deal with this body of men, but it is absolutely necessary that relief should be afforded to this place." Lord Roberts's reply, which was addressed not to Mr. Rhodes, but to Colonel Kekewich, ran as follows;—" I beg you to repre- sent to the Mayor and Mr. Rhodes as strongly as you possibly can, the disastrous and humiliating effect of surrender after so prolonged and glorious a defence. Many days cannot
possibly pass before Kimberley will be relieved, as we commence active operations to-morrow. Future military operations depend in a large measure on your maintaining your position a very short time longer." We gather that after this Mr. Rhodes sent no more messages to Lord Roberta.
Previous page
