The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-26
CHELMSFORD'S CRIME.
WHERE THE BLAME ATTACHES FOR THE PRINCE
IMpERIAL's DEATH.
4l,oI ,l,., nailu

WHERE THE BLAME ATTACHES FOR THE PRINCE
IMpERIAL's DEATH.
From the London Daily News.l
HEADQUARTERS CAMP. |
IrYoTYosI RIVER. June 8. 1873.
Our position here is within sight and close by the
spot where Prince Louis Napoleon was killed. Since
the discovery of his body that of the black inter-
prefer has been found about three-quarters OF
mile from the place of the first attack. He had
thus far. and clearly made fight before
death. All four of his assegais lay broken
and bloody about him. With the departure of the
ambulance containing the Princes body there re-
main no tokens among US, save the reconnaissance
sketches made by him. of his genial and soldierly
presence with the army but he lives in the memory
of all who knew him. Statements being called
for from all who had any official cognizance of the
sequence Of untoward errors of omission and CON-
mission that contributed to his sad fate. OF course
everybody lays the burden of the response
bity somebody ese till the redactio ad absurium
comes about, that nobody is responsible at all,
cept perhaps the hapless dead youth himself. do
not quite understand how in Lord Chemsford's
command it is always dead men who made re-
sponsble for catastrophes. have read report after
report, have listened to statements which have
family SAVIOR Of self-exculpation. and have striven
to regard the subject dispassionately and impair
tally for to mpue blame in such case is solemn
responsible and surely unwelcome task.
1t would be labor lost and time wasted to detail
at length the statements of Colonel Harrison and
Lieutenant Carey. These the subordinates. who
no doubt have their portion of responsibility to
bear with what success they may; but. beyond the
faintest doubt, crushing weight OF responsibility
for this calamity must fall on Lord Chelmsford
There is no alternative so far as can see. from
this conclusion in broad. common view
1911, koI
itself, protest with heartfelt sincerity should
joice to adoptlt; but must face facts as find
them. And what the facts? Prince Louis
Napoleon is sent out to be attached to Lord Chelms
fords staff. Even without the special injunctions
that accompanied him-and these were of the great
est wei ght and the loftiest origin-the Prince
hardly to be regarded in the light of ordi
nary galloper. That his advent gave additional
embarrassment to already staggering
under the responsibilities Of his position is not diff
cult to believe but the Lieutenant General accepted
the draft and it was incumbent him duly honor
it. 1t one person merely who drew the draft
on him of this lads protection. but the English ma
ton a whole. How did Lord Chelmsford honor
it? l reply, by permitting him to join reconnais-
sance after reconnaissance, every participator in
which took his life in his hands. The risks of
to an army in the field to take his
chance of, irrespective OF external con-
sideratons. Scions OF German and Russian reign
ing families the heirs Of these indeed have stood
stricken fields with faces to the fire of the foe but
petty reconnaissance raids are of wholly another
character, and to their risks such o Prince
Louis Napoleon ought not to have been permitted to
expose himself. On hearing Of the lads impetuous
recklessness service from which it was Lord
Chelmsfords duty to have prohibited him. that
General gave instructions that he should make
such expeditions without adequate
escort. But the fatal looseness that pervades
arrangements in his lordship's headquarters nulli-
fed an instruction which, in the circumstances
WAS i'll itself indefinite and insufficient to meet
the Lord Chelmsford is eager with the
nervous intimaton that he did not know that tho
poor Prince had gone out ut all. 1t would
seem he considers this fact exculpates him.
TO my thinking 1t Is the very essence OF his
blameworthiness. It his business and his
duty to have made it certain that the illustrious
youth entrusted to his protection could not have
gone out such an errand without his having
first been informed. No special pleading; at
tempt to turn responsibility from functionary to
functionary till at length no individual stands
sponsible; accumulation OF self-exculpatory re-
ports from mere subordinates, can avail against the
overwhelming cogency of this conclusion. The
lies in q nutshell 1t was Lord Chelmsfords duty
effectually to provide against the exposure of the
Prince to undue and wanton risk. Lord Chelmsford
failed the results and his own statement alike
demonstrate, to make such etfeotual provision.
Therefore, Lord Chelmsford stands burdened with
the primary responsibility for the catastrophe. II
saw any escape from the memorable logic of large
facts solemnly protest that would gladly recog-
nize and put it forward. see none