Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/198



You asked me before I left this evening, how I thought the officers of our Artillery compared with those in other corps of the Army. I should not like to draw any comparisons, but without being in any way invidious I can point to the fact that our R.A. officers receive a better military education at Woolwich than is usually obtained by officers educated elsewhere. I have always found them most anxious to learn the higher subjects which constitute a sound military education.

Amongst the ablest officers I have had on my Staff, Generals Sir Henry Brackenbury and Sir Frederick Maurice are Gunners, and I selected them because I deemed them the best men for the work.

From war to peace is the natural transition and therefore the next in order must be a letter from Andrew Carnegie.

Mr Carnegie more than all others was at one with H. H. in his conviction that an easier communication between nations could only lead to a closer union of mankind all the world over; and on September 20th, 1909, he wrote, from Skibo Castle, Dornoch, Sutherland:

I should be very proud indeed to co-operate with you in the great cause of Peace, but unfortunately it is impossible for me to be in London next week.

You do well to cultivate the journalists, for really these people have more influence for good or bad, and especially for peace or war, than any other class.

I agree with you that knowledge of other countries