Lord Roberts before leaving South Africa made two important speeches.
In the first, delivered at a public luncheon on Monday, he paid a notable and significant tribute to Lord Kitchener, "in whose judgment and military skill he had implicit confidence," declaring that he felt sure that under his able guidance the guerilla warfare would be brought to a speedy conclusion. This, we trust, will be taken as a final answer to the persistent efforts that have been made to misrepresent the relations subsisting between Lord Roberts and his Chief of the Staff. With regard to the disappointment of the refugees, Lord Roberts assumed entire responsibility for fixing the date of their return prematurely. The postponement was due to military, not civil reasons. Sir Alfred Milner had done his utmost on behalf of the refugees, and his co-operation had been of immense aid to the military authorities. A special feature of the gathering was the enthusiastic reception given to Sir Alfred Milner, by way of answer to the violent attacks made upon him at the Afrikander Congress.
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