Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-25
THE HERO OF CANDAHAR.
Con. Sir Frederick Sleigh Roberts Given
ReerAgo.

Con. Sir Frederici< Sleigh Roberts Given .
Peerage.
Gen. Sir Frederick Sleigh Roberts has been
gazetted as Baron Roberts Of Candahar and the
city Of Waterford.
Gen. Sir Frederick Sleigh Roberts is one Of
the English New Year peers. The queen on
that day conferred baronial honors on three
distinguished men-Ger. Roberts, eminent in
the military service; Admiral Sir Arthur W. A
Hood of the naval service and Sir VIM. Thorn
son, the great scientist. Gen. Roberts was
born September 30, 1882. He is younger son
of Gen. Sir Abraham Roberts, and was educated
at Etou, sandhurst and Addiscombe. He en-
tered the Bengal artillery at the age Of nine
teen. He served as deputy assistant quarter
master Of artillery throughout the Indian
mutlny. In this war he was wounded and his
horse was shot under him at tine capture Of
Delhi. He assisted in the relief Of Lucknow,
the operations at Cawnpore, the defeat Of the
Gwalior contingent and the final capture Of
Lucknow, besides taking part In minor engage
ments. He was repeatedly mentioned in dis
patches and received the thanks Of the gov
ernor general and the brevet Of majo At
the siege OF Delhi he won the Victoria cross
for sabsring standard bearer and capturing
his flag.
After this he was in the northwest frontier
campaign Of 1862 superintended the embarks-
ton OF the entire army In the Abyssinian CAM
paign OF 1858 was in the Looshai affair of 1871
and obtained the brevet of lieutenant colonel
for his Abyssinian services. 1t was as COM
mander OF the kuram field force in the Afghan
war that Sir Frederick first attracted public
notice. In 1879 he captured the Pelwar Kotal
dan Pass occupied the Khosh district and re-
connoitered the Kuram river. Later he COM
mandcd ut the occupation of Cabul and the bat
tie of Charasab. led the whole force in the cele-
brated march to the relief Of Candaha and COM
manded at the battle Of September, 1850.
This march in August, 1880, il ono Of the
greatest military feats in the worlds history,
and ranks alongside OF Shermans brilliant
march from Atlanta to the Sea-" Ayoub
kLan's opposing force was %, 600 men, while
tho force for the relief of Candahar which
Roberts mustered, numbered only z,636 Euro
peans with 1850 natives and 1000 camp follow
ers. He reached Candahar Oh August 81, having
marched 345 miles in twenty-one days. or more
than sixteen miles day, and he accomplished
this remarkable feat with the loss Of only one
British soldier and less than dozen natives.
For these brilliant exploits he was again
mentioned in dispatches. received the thanks
of parliament and of the governor general and
government of India in council and was created
X. c. b., 6. c. B. and baronet. His return
to England was marked with great attention.
He was given the freedom OF London and many
other British cities, was feted and banqueted
in all parts of the Kingdom. was a guest OF the
queen at NlhuSor Cilstie anu was nailed as the
savior of AfShanistan." Now when he comes
to be titled as peer, like Lord Napier of Mag
dala, he takes the name of the place Of his
greatest triumphs and becomes Baron Roberts
OF Candahah. Gen. Roberts later made fly
ing visit to South Africa and then became
commander-in-chief in Madras, a position
which he retained until the summer of 1856
he was then appointed commander-in-chief of
all the forces in India. His term expired in
July, 1880. but he consented TO serve two years
longer and still holds the post. As commander
in-chief in India he superintendent the operations
in Burmah, which resulted in the conquest of
that Kingdom. and in October, 1886, took per-
Burmah on the death Of Gen. Sir H. T. Mac
Pherson. He has done more than any other
Englishman to help make the history OF the
Indian empire.