The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-22
SIMMONS A FINE SOLDIER.
Record of the British General Who
Was Wounded at Glencoe.

Maj. Gen. William Penn Symons, who was
wounded In the battle at Glencoe, has had a
varied and %eventful career, his life having
been spent amid stirring scenes in all
climates all over the world. He is fifty
seven years old, but does not look to be over
forty. He has a well-built. active figure. Is
about middle height, has a face bright but
hard-bitten, eyes keen and piercing. He has
great natural aptitude for the command OF
men. His career well illustrates the old
saying that everything comes to him who
waits. His promotion was very tardy. At
the commencement of the Zulu war of 1853
he had but just become a captain, and was
still at the bottom of the list when a single
day. the dread day of the massacre Of
Isandlwhana, pushed him almost to the top.
1t was his good fortune to be on duty else
where when his comrades fell in heaps un-
der the Zulu assegais. So, after spending
twelve years as a subaltern, three carried
more he was a brevet colonel. Yet he had
no great opportunity vouchsafed him In this
arduous Zulu campaign; at its end he was
ed no special honors or distinctions.
Not long after he was in the Madras army
and attracted the favorable attention of its
ence in trying to improve the marksman-
ship of his men. AS assistant adjutant gen.
eral for musketry he introduced many re-
throughout the British service. Lord Rob-
erts after this never lost sight of Symons,
and henceforth his professional advance
war was afoot In 1885 Symons went with the
expedition, first as a staff officer, then as
commandant of the mounted infantry.
Burmah and beyond. He was a brigadier
general with the Chin field force; he COM
manded the column from Burmah in the
Waziristan expedition, and quite recently
ne was actively engaged in the last hard
fought, TEDIOUS. campaign on the northwest
frontier of India, at first with a brigade in
the Tochi field force and then with a divi-
sion in the Tirah expedition. He has been
nghting almost continuously for the last
bm = e s years ana IS a past master IN the
cry move. He has made a close study of
the drill and tactics of the various arms,
artillery, cavalry and infantry, and can ham
die them singly or in combination with great
skill. Judgment and effect. Withal he is calm,
clearrheaded- r~esolute. prompt and vigorous
In following up an advantage, tenacious and
unyielding when hard pressed.
Sir George Whites regimental service was
with the Gordons. the old Ninety-second
Highlanders, although he is of Irish extrac-
ton. He was on the verge of retirement be-
cause OF the age limit when Lord Roberts's
Cabul campaign gave him his chance and
MS V. Z. From that moment he made
steady progress, was on Lord Wolseley's
staff in the Sudan. had a brigade command
In the last Burmese war, was commander
in-chief In India, and then was Q. M. G.. on
the headquarters staff.
Colonel Baden-Powell is a fighting soldier
who has seen much service in South Africa.
After the Zulu war he went to Malta, where
he earned a reputation as a staff officer
who was equal to any work. He was with
the second Ashantee expedition, and was
useful at the occupation of Coomassie. Then
came the Mashonaland expedition. His own
regiment is the Fifth Dragon Guards, of
which he is commanding officer. He has a
keen eye for country, and a ready apprecia-
tion or what troops can do and how they
can best be handled. 1t was in his position
as chief of Sir F. Carrington's staff in
Mashonaland that he gained that intimate
knowledge of South Africa which will now
he of inestimable value, for he was closely
associated with the very men he will now
command. His training has been such as
strength, self-reliance and tenacity of pur-
pose.