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

on which he carried a shield, between thei'' 'hus
preventing their being shut; on his hand oe'hs
badly wounded by a sword-cut he drew IL out
instantly thrustng in the other arm. when the
right hand was all but severed from the wris''
But he gained mis- object: the doors could not DE
closed and were forced open altogether, up N
which the 18th Punjab Infantry. the Odd, "'d ana
some of the attachments. swarmed IN III Is
unnecessary TO linger over the ensuing passages
in the chapter from which this Is taken. the
scene of bloodshed was ore which Lord Roberts
confesses requires the pen of lola to be syTnpa-
theticaIy described Our author is compelled
to traverse many SUCH But nothing could be more
tactful, more manly. than the manner in which
he has recied the events Of his adventurous
career. There are, as has been said numerous
eloquent touches which revive the very moment
of vaor, with the central figure. whichever 1t
may be. splendidly portrayed. That is superb
picture of Nicholson dying in hospital while the
attack upon Delhi was being prosecuted Gen
era Wilson was waverng and there was talk Of
retirement from the position on the edge OF the
city. Thank God, have strength yet to shoot
him. If necessary exclaimed the wounded SOL
der and as Lord Roberts dryly adds: Wilson
gave up all idea of retreating." But there must
be an end to quotation and the nuggets of per-
sonalia must be left TO the discernment Of tine
reader The practical value of the work before
us is all that can be further touched upon In this
place
Lord Roberts ceased to be commandments
in India in 1899. Before he resigned and returned
to England Little Bobs'' had endeared himself
to the army through many acts Of gallantry,
but still more through the profound good sense
with which he carried out every commission
given to him either in the field or along lines of
administrative reform. He left the northwest
frontier infinitely better fortified than he found
it, and his whole management Of the difficulties
in AfghanistaE Of n nature TO perfect the
British scheme of resistance against Russian
encroachncnt His book Will be read for his
own sake with deep interost throughout the
British dominons. There is no officer OF the
English army more beloved than the present
Commander-in-Ch Of Her Majesty's forces in
Ireland But his rccollectons commend them
selves peculiarly - those who survey with IN
terest the political condition Of the Queens
Indian Empire. and wonder how stable it 49,
what methods best continued there what
reforms would best lie introduced The ground
swell of national feeling which is felt all
through the first of these volumes goes rumbling
on through the years following 1891, and Lord
Roberts pauses on the conclusion Of his nara
tive in q frame Of mind which finds quick
parallel in that of his reader. He sets forth in
detail the troubles with Afghanistan, from the
first negotiations with Sher Ali to the igno-
minious abdication Of Yakub Khan and the
enforcement Of Abdur Rahman He shows the
treacherous and turbulent State settled at last
in what seems To he lasting amity with the
British power. But after the Kaleidoscope
movements of Afghan rulers in the past. after
the delirious stages through which the province
Of Oudh had to go. after the period of fcrmenta-
ton in which the whole of India was for so
many years immersed. is il not wise to treat
that entire country still with as much care as
in the first years Of its experience under British
rule? That is the question that Lord Roberts
poses and that will undoubtedly engage the
serious attention Of the most thoughtful Eng
lishmen everywhere. 1t is in the wisdom OF his
own reply in the judicious advice he offers upon
the mooted points Of Indian administration. in
sisting always that the native must be governed
native. never as an Englishman. that he
sets the capstone to his splendid career He
SAYS little comparatively. about his own ex-
PLOTS. But there is tacit evidence in every
chapter that he rendered magnificent service
during and after the Mutiny. that he well won
in Afehanistan the appropriate title of Lord
Roberts Of Kandahar. and that no one is moro
completely qualified to point out to Her
Ma icsty's Cabinet the points In the government
of India which are crucial and need to be
handled with most foresight and liberality.