The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-28
TOMMY ATKINS IDOL
Lord Roberts of kandahar,
Who Never Was Defeated.
HIS RELIEF OF KANDAHAR
Meant a Peerage--He Ardent
Iy Hates the Beers

has Field Marshal Lord Frederick Sleigh
Roberts, who sailed yesterday from +, G.
land on the Dunoltar Castle to take SUI
preme command of the British forces in
South Africa Fewer sill; are the com
manders who have enjoyed SO large a
measure of their soldiers as that which
the English and Indian armies iolg ago
gave to "Bobs," Little BObs," or. Bob
sy," as he is variously known IN Il cir
terms of endearment.
This feeling for their hero IS almust
that of family for its head. There is
something patriarchial about it. Tom
my be he Briton or Indian dearly loves
hero, but when he finds a nan who
combines moral and physical courage of
a high order with brilliancy, dash and
nodesty and a keen personal regard for
the comfort of the man in the ranks,
Tommy" straightway falls down and
worships And he has been doing that be-
fore "Bobs' for 10! these many yesrs.
it'll never a failure in his record,
Lord Roberts has many feat of soner-
alship and individual bravery to his cred
it. That for which he is most famous is
his march from Kabul to the leiief of
Kandahar in 1880, while England was on
tenderhoOks of anxiety as to his safety.
OF ii he tells us himself that ,le found
his advance to Kabul, in The prev:ous
year, far more difficult task. His Sue
cessful movement of a body comprising
nh 4
Indian-eight thousand camp followers
and twenty three hundred ho-5es and gun
mules through difficult, hostile territory
in three weeks, with the loss of only one
British soldier and dozen natives, is
considered by competent critics the most
remarkable achievement OF tits kind in
modern times. General Sherman's march
to the sea probably is the nearest ap-
proach to it. A special bronze star was
given to each Of the men participating
in thes march.
His rapidity completely baffied the en-
envy in his own country, and enabled
Roberts to administer the crushing blow
which ended the campaign. His tactics
then, taken in conjunction with the fore
sight and caution characteristic of the
man. no less than his tact in dealing with
all around him, augur well for the full
| flment of the British hopes which are
! counting on his skill to counterbalance
| the extreme mobility Of the Boer forces,
| from which the British have suffered
! most heavily in the present war.
Upon his return to England after that
| campaign the country honored Roberts
much as Admiral Dewey was bonored
here. He was thanwed by the govern
ment of India and by both houses of Par
lament The Queen summoned him to
| Windsor. The municipality of London
| presented to him a sword and the free
dom of the city, a rare gift accorded to
comparatively few men. among whom
General Grant was numbered. Univers-
tiles. the ancient trade guilds and COM
mercial bodies WED with one another in
giving degrees, privileges, banquets and
addresses.
But that was only one episoie in a
brilliant career. and many of those best
| qualified to judge believe that Roberts
most valuable services to the empire v ere
comprised in the ardUous, uroblrusive
labors by which he remodallad the f. en-
tier defenses and virtually renal the In
dian army bringing it TO its present high
efficiency. More than one Of his reform
ing opinions were so opposed TO general
notions at the time that they made him
the object of attack. and even ridicule
But ne stuck to them, and later was vim
dictated by their aroption.
Much of his success as a general and
az builder was due not only to his re-
markable magnetism. NUT 10 his Close
touch with the men in the ranks. Leav
ing India in 1893. after two terms, OF
nearly eight years, as commandment
chief. at a farewell BANQUET in Calcutta
he strogly urged upon all officers the ne
cessity fro showing sympaty with sol
diers and their families and of giving
, effect to orders in 4 liberal and intelli
gent spirit.
On the same. occasion he showed hi
t faith in his system by saying that if tn,
2 time of trial should ever come India
could rest secure, not only on her troops
her forts and her guns. but on the 10y
atty of her foundatories and the affec
ton Of her subjects. He always CAV,
the credit of his victories 10 the men un
der his command.
One of his names among the peopl
who honored him only second to thei
sovereign in the parade on the occasion o
her diamond jubilee two and a half year
ago is that Of the soldiers general"
No military leader in England stand
higher in the hearts of the British IA
ton. and in the judgment Of Europea
critics his ability ranks with or abov
that of Lord Wolseley, his commando
in chief
After passing through Elton and Sand
hurst, Frederick Roberts then nineree
years old, obtained his first commissio
as a second lieutenant in the Bengal ar
, / tmery. on December u. ISL Going a
once 20 India he learned from his fathe
| much about Afganistau and the cam
p3ign through which General Sir Abra
ham Roberts had lust passed, thereb
laying the foundation OF the knowledg
which he latter put to such good use.
a He soon afterward obtained stan ar
?. pointment and. discovering the value g
g HinduSIani. set 10 work To acquire tn
= language with the assjduous thorough
a ness characteristic % all his doings.
- He went through the muuny in is
Il and lS'S, from the seige and capture
l. Delhi TO the relief of Lucknow. winuin
;. distinction through his courage and abi
e ity. Three horses were shot under hil
d during the campaign.
3 Al Khoradunge he won the Victor
2. Cross. lie had just saved a native Of
+. GERS life when he Saw two Sepoys ca,
ryinS Gothe cclors. Dashing after ,hel
+ he slew one, and seizing the sJaadar,
= brought IL back in triumph. Re woul
p have lost his life had not a musket Mi