New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-13
FORBES AND THE ZULU WAR.
A KEEN REPLY TO LORD CHELMSFORD.
lie BRILIIANI WAR CORRRsHONDENT LAYS BIS

lfROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRfBUNR.l
MoRiYsHIRE, Aug. 30-Mr Forbes has laid his
fellow journalists under an obligation by his reply
to Lord Chemsford's accusation against correspon-
dents in the field Party feelings and political bias
colored their writings and warped their Judgment
In Zuluand, said the late Commander Of the British
Army. MIR. Forbes's answer is to quote, from the
dispatches Of journals of every hue In politics,
criticisms and COMBINATIONS Of Lord Chelms-
ford not less severe than his own. 81 know
very little about politics myself adds Forbes but
he has heard that his Lordships family Is COnserva
tive, and that he subscnbes to the family politics.
Yet ii is Conservative correspondent who
plains of Lord Chemsford's inactivity, weakness.
vacillation. and inability to gain the confidence Of
his men. Again Would his Lordship have it I'M
derstood that General in the field is politically
identified with the Government which has COM
missioned himY The representative of the Govern
ment organ strains decency in the of such adec
tives as dsgraceful aud contemplated
So much for this particular case. But Forbes
rightly considers Chelmsford's attack as an attack
on the whole profession and it is his reply to that
attack for which we have all to thank him. lie says,
81 have been n war correspondent for ten years.
and have never known colleague permit party
feelings and political bias to influence his judgment
concerning matters purely military The danger
lies rather IN the direction of over clarifying the
leader and force he Is accompanying. As for him.
SELF like not few other war correspondents, 30 far
he has any particular politics. he does not concur
in the political views OF the journal with which he
is connected.
try IN vain TO imaeine a war correspondent submit
Ting tn such bondage Of degradation the acceptance
ofnstrucuons. Of hints to color his writing and
myself. Say. with all socmuy, that rather tlHu
drIie the shadow eraationI would shake
the dust of such polluted journalism on NY feet and be
content. n necdiu IN the old days. to bump the sad
die of private dngOon.
There is no mstaking the utter sincerity and hon
est, hot indignation Of that. Forbes has fought his
way to place where independence is easy to him.
but neither in the early days of his career would
anybody who wished TO dictate his opinions TO him
have had a good time Of il. As a dragon his habit
OF doing his thinking for himself may at times |
can fancy, have been troublesome. As a CORE
spondent ii has been main secret of
his success. He refers 10 his dissent from
the pol ties Of his own journal. Ii Is
probably foreign politics be has IN mind. He gave
some startling proofs of his independence during
the Russo Turkish war and the Arglo-Afghan war.
I'm The Diiy Aers he confined himself pretty strictly
to military matters. But IN the magazines he pub
lished at least two articles saturated with political
convictions of a very firm KIND aud crammed with
facts unpleasant to Liberal mInls. The Tories
hailed him as n convert. but presently ont came an
than the Liberals liked the discourse on Bull
garia. The truth seems to be that Forbes has II
strong affinity for facts and strong indifference to
the political effect his facts may produce.
Before the letter to Chelmsford appeared 1t was
said Forbes was to have the Victoria Cross. The
official mind had awakened 81 the gallantry of the
ride from Ulundi and the proper official machinery
had begun 70 grind ont official recognition of the
great service he then did. The letter, say some of
Forbess friends Will put stop TO all this. The
Queen Is the fountain and source of such honors,
and the Queen is much too fond of Lord Chelmsford
10 bestow favors upon his prcsumptuous and Veto
rious critic. Fer the credit of the Queen
and the Government - which latter must
have It's own share in thc decision
lct MS hope that tais view is mistaken
Mistaken or not, would rather have written
Forbes's letter than get The decoration. Forbes al
lows himself but little rest after his campaign, and
wound and illness lie arrived only last week. He
begins lecturng i'm England next, and so goes on TO
the New Year. On the first of February he starts of
in America-New-York probaby-with Royal
People / have known" The subject IS his own
choice and good one. But you will do still bet
terri YOU can get HIM to tell something Of his own
adventures these ten years last past.
If Lord Chelmsford cannot fatter himself that
he is a great favor.te among the people, he has
abundant marks Of royal goodwill. Every day
brings fresh proofs. HIS movements are chroniced
IN the papers with much assiduity, and we know
from them that his visit to Balmoral is fixed for
Tuesday next He goes by the Queens command.
and he will presently be permitted to kiss tho
hand of his sovereign. From Tuesday to Thurs
day he is to basb in sudh sunshine rs may happen
10 CLEAN out amonG the hills. The hi CHEST distinc-
lion TO which n morta--an English mortal-can at
tain will be his. lie will read in The Court Circular
that on such day General Lord Chelmsford had
the honor OF dining With Her Majesty. He will sleep
n night at the Castle; hut even there the ghosts
from Isandula may slip past the sentries and stand
at his bedside. lie SAYS he is content with himself
and would alter iot % his plans had no the work
To do again. Yet | fancy one or two or forbess
sentences must keep ringing his ears. That
Army does It's own criticism" said Forbes; and it Is
true. worried by constantly contradictory or
derS. harassei by nervous Gdgettiness, frettcd by
spasmodic vacillaton" 1t made up its mind that its
commander was failure. And that, too. Lord
Chelmsford knows.
Very different was the verdict on Sir Evelyn
Wood. and very different the reception given hIm
ON his return 1t does not appear that the Queen
has invited him To Balmoral. But the people have
taken him into their hearts. and the Army mas made
M its mind that it has another General To-day
there il not regiment that would not go anywhere
and do ANYTHING with Wood in command. After
the hearty greeting which welcomed BIN to
English Shores he had the best of all wei
cornes-a welcome from his friends and neigh
bors at his home in Essex He has not won
popularity by any sort of military dandysm or any
coddng Of his troops. lie referred In his specific
the parting between him and his men: 1t was
commonly said worked their souls ont. These
men worked day after day and night after night
while It was necessary, aud treated them with the
sternest discipline Yet, in saying goodbye they
did so In manner can never forget" Ana all DIS
.nlogy is for his men, lie cannot say enough OF their