The weekly tribune., 1892-04-02
INJUsTICE IN THE WAR OFFICE.
The Duke of Cambridge Punished Brave
man Contrary to all Reason.

The Duke of Cambridge Punished n Brave
Man Contrary to all Reason.
LONDON, March 3O.--Some months age
attention was called to one of the worst
cases of injustice that ever occurred
even in the British war office. In 1875 a
young surgeon named Briggs, just 81
years of age, entered the army. Two
wears later he was in India and served
in Afghanistan. He afterwards was
with the Nile expedition in 1884, taking
part in the famous desert march for the
relief of Gordon. On his return he was
promoted to be surgeon-major for bril-
liant services in the field, being put over
the heads of over forty surgeons. Later he
was sent to India a second time on the
staff Of the governor of Madras, Lord
| Connemara. who had Just been raised to
the peerage. For two and a half years
Surgeon Briggs was with Connemara,
when the latter's wife. who was the eld-
est daughter of the Marquis OF Dal-
| housie, began proceedings for divorce.
Connemara filed counter suit. impli-
eating Briggs. who Immediately came to
England to fight the case. That there
was no foundation for Connemara ac-
cusation was plain from the fact that
Briggs insisted on and obtained writ
ten apology from Connemara, notwith-
standing which the charges We're re-
pcated.
In order to be here when the trial
came up Briggs asked for leave of alb
sence Instead of that he WAS appointed
| to far-otf Irish station, with instruc-
tions that no leave would be given. The
only course to pursue when the trial was
at hand was to place his commission in
the director generals hands. Before the
duke of Cambridge would permit him to
come up to London and before the trial
came up he was peremptorily ordered
back to India. The duke Of Cambridge
was inexorable. Briggs was obliged to
resign. although in three years more he
would have been entitled to retire on a
pension of 50 per day. When the
trial was over and Connemara had lost
his case Briggs asked for reinstate
ment. Mr.. Lockwood, NJ. p. took up
the case and her Royal Highness rein
stated the surgeon. but without any al
lowance for the years loss of pay and for
the loss of years time towards retire
ment and pension. Besides this thirty
five officers had been pat over his head.
Thus he was deprived of all the advant
ages gained by his bravery in the Sou
dan. No man of any self-respect could
stand this. SO for the second time
Briggs was driven out of the army. Most
of the London newspapers were afraid
to criticise the Duke of Cambridge. and
when parliament opened Briggs with a
bulldog look began to haunt the corridors
of the house of commons.
His case looked perfectly hopeless un-
til the question was finally raised IN the
house, when Stanhope confessed that he
was unaware of the facts of the case,
and said: briggs shall not suffer loss
as regards position or promotion in con
sequence of an act which any gentleman
was bound to perform. Briggs there
fore will be restored to the seniority held
before retirement. Now the newspapers
which previously were afraid to attack
the Duke of Cambridge are coming out
with vehement outbursts of Indignation
and loudly call on the old man to retire.