LORD ROBERTS

Grey River Argus, 7 October 1914, Page 6

LORD ROBERTS

TBIBUTE TO AUSTRALIAN^ 1 . FREMANTLE, Sept. 25. The British Australasian just to hand contains a special interveiw with Lord Roberts. "I am very pleased indeed," Lord Roberts said, "to hear that contingents are coming from Australia and New Zealand. I have very . vivid recollecitons of the splendid work done in South Africa by contingents from those dominions. I was very much struck witn the first lot of men that came from Australia — those roughriders of yours, men who seemed to have been born in the saddle. I feel sure that these new contingents will be equally useful in any work they may be required to perform in Europe. I am looking forward to meeting them on their arival, and am proud of being their Colonel-in-Chief . " On the morning of the interviewer's call the official news of the successful landing of the British Expeditionary Force in France had just been made public, and Lord Roberts referred to the achievement in eulogistic terms. "It was splendid work," he said, "and I think the manner in which the British press has respected the wishes of the War Office in not publishing the details or news of any kind beforehand is * really admirable, . and altogether praiseworthy. Even now you will notice that although the facts are known to many not a word has been said as to the composition of the force, its numbers, or its destinations. This is a fine instance of patriotism. Secrecy is all important jusf now. "