SIR ALFRED MILNER.
[To THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR.") SIE,—Your first article of last week contains two errors of fact. In the first place, it is not nearly five years since Sir A. Milner went to Cape Town. I think it was in May, 1897, when he succeeded Lord Rosmead. In the second place, what is much more important, there is no reason whatever to think that his health is giving way ; the latest accounts show his health to be good.—I am, Sir, Sco , X. X. X. [We are extremely glad to hear that the reports as to Sir Alfred Milner feeling the strain of work and being in ill. health are unfounded. Oar remark as to his tenure of office was, we admit, wrong in fact and badly expressed. What we meant to suggest was that by the time the war is completely over his five years will have nearly run out. We distinctly stated that Sir Alfred Milner should "see the war out." We notice that in some quarters our article on Lord Roberta has been taken to imply depreciation of Sir Alfred Milner. Surely that is very unreasonable. To praise one man is not to decry another. We do not profess to regard Sir Alfred Miler's conduct of South African affairs as perfect, but what- ever is the final word on his statesmanship, he has certainly shown high courage and splendid devotion to his country, and, as our readers know, we have not failed to defend him when made the target of what we considered to be unfair and untrue charges.—En. ,qpectator.]
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