New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-17

few years that an immediate increase IN
British men was needed, but his representations
to the home authorities were ignored ana Loro
Roberts points out that when the Mutiny be-
gan the whole effective force of the British
amounted to but 10000 men. while there were
no less than 257.0O0 native soldiers scattered
over the country. Not content with leaving the
army in India thus short-harded, the Govern
ment persisted In sending out officers whose
seniority entitled them to command but whose
experience had been obtained elsewhere. In
consequence Sir Colin Campbell was embar-
raised by their presence, and was compelled TO
appoint more seasoned men to command. at the
risk of offending the Duke Of Cambridge and
others high in place at home
There .were men upon the scene admirably
fitted for the task Of placing the empire In India
upon firm foundation. there were men to cope
with the Mutiny as It grew. and to quell 1t when
it had reached its height. Lord Roberts cites the
two Lawrences. Outram. Herbert Edwardes.
John Nicholson and Others But these had to
deal with constant distractions on the part OF
the home Government and scores Of It's represen-
tatves in India and even when most Of the
strong men were alive and to the front affairs
were in so chaotic condition mat one is sur
prised at their having accomplished what they
did The picture drawn by Lord Roberts Is OF
q political and military tangle in which valiant
Englishmen were struggling, only TO die with
their tasks half performed. The imagination
kindles at the thought Of what a man like Sir
Henry Lawrence might have done had he been
granted from the start exactly the support he
needed-and knew he needed. Lord Roberts is
enthusiastic in his praise Of this statesmanlike
ruler. He declares that he was the only Euro
pean who properly read the signs OF the times.
predicting the Mutiny fourteen years before it
broke out, and he lays stress upon the sagacity
with which Lawrence fortified the residency at
Lucknow so that the defence of that place. when
the hour came. was rendered an Infinitely more
hopeful task than otherwise would have been
the case Most of all he admres Lawrences
friendly feeling for natives. and his cxtraor-
binary insight into their character This SYM
patty for the people he ruled was. in the judy
ment of Lord Roberts. one Of his best qualica-
tons for governing as well as he did. The author
of these volumes has been noted all his life long
for such common-sensc attitude as Lawrence's,
il has been source of his enormous pop
ularity in the army and out of it. and his me-
moirs testify from beginning to end TO his quick
response TO every character or incident that in
piled practically and simple virtues. 1t seems
natural to find him eulogzing John Nicholson
as not only the pillar of strength on the from
tier" which Lord Dalhousie called him, but III
every way the type of what British soldier III
India should be. He sketches him perhaps more
wildly than he does any one else among the
scores of historic personages whom he knew
Nicholson impressed me-" he says, more pro-
foundy than any man had ever met before,
or have ever met since. l have never seen any
one like him. He was the beau-ideal of soldier
and a gentleman His appearance diStn-
guished and commanding. with sense of power
about him which TO my mind was the result OF
his having passed so much of his life among the
wild and lawess tribesmen, with whom his au-
thority was supreme"