New-York tribune., 1899-12-18
ROBERTS AND KITCHENER.
SKETCHES OF THE TWO BRITISH COM
MANDERs NOW SENT TO AFRICA.

Field Marshal Lord Roberts, who has been
lected to supersede General Butler a. Commander
In Chief In South Africa Is the idol Of tho British
army He ls popularly known as "Bobs" His
deeds and career have furnished n theme OF many
stirring and patriotic verse notably by Rudyard
Kpling. Lord Roberts is regarded by the military
authorities OF the leading countries OF Europe as
the foremost British commander OF the Victorian
era his celebrated forced march to Candahar con-
sttuting OF the finest feats Of English arms in
modern times. He ia a pigmy as regards size, and
Is famed for modesty and for his entire absence
Of self-assertiveness, bombast or false pride. He
won his Victorian Cross a young Lieutenant
during the Indian Mutiny in hand to hand hsht
at Khodadunge.
Lord Frederick Sleigh Roberts Is the Of the
late Sir Abraham Roberts, G. C. b. and was born
In 1892 He was educated at Eton and Sandhurst.
He entered the Bengal Artillery at the age OF nine
teen, and in 1852 he posted lieutenant with
mountain battery at Peshawur, India During
the following eight years he performed conspicuous
service In the numerous campaigns, being invalided
TO England In 1883 He returned to India In 1880
and found himself a captain and brevet major for
distinguished services and attached to the staff Of
the Army Headquarters as assistant quartermaster
general In charge OF the commander in chiefs
camp. He continued to perform the work intrusted
to him in such exceptional manner and with
much coolness and courage that In 1867 he pro-
NOTED to be lieutenant colonel, with tho command
Of battalion OF Royal Horse Artillery In 1875 he
obtained the qualifying promotion to colonel and
was nominated to the permanent appointment OF
quartermaster general with the local rank Of major
general. Such the result OF career of twenty
four years hard head work and fighting, whenever
or wherever fight to be had by an Indian
officer. In 1878 he became major general OF tho
Army being appointed to the command Of tho
PunJab Force, the lancehead Of the armament OF
India
On November II, 1879, he placed in command
OF all the forces In Eastern Afghanistan, from
Cabul TO Jamrud. The general uprising OF the
Afghan forces soon afterward their nine days in
vestment OF Cabul. and the Illustration Of their
saut by an English counterattack on December %.
1899, formed one of the instructive episodes
In the history Of Indian warfare.
On hearing OF the disaster OF the Bombay troops
at Maiwand. the following July. General Roberts
at once telegraphed TO Simla urging that
pedtion should start at from Cabui to
lieve Candahar and restore confidence. His gallant
force OF ten thousand men departed from Cabul
August 0, $780, and at once plunged into regions
beyond the reach Of news. England kept In
breathless anxiety Until Roberts re-emerged from
the wllds. on August 81 at Candahar. He broke up
the entire Afghan army the following day. thus
causing the English nation to realize that in Fred
erick Roberts it had found new hero.
Lord Roberts was rewarded by the commander
ship-in-chief OF the Madras army and with the
special thanks of Parliament He also ad-
vanced to the Order of the Red Cross Of the Bath.
He was nvalided by severe malady and arrived
in England in the fall OF 1850. where he re-
ceived with immense popular acclamation. Tho
Queen summoned him to Windsor Castle. London
conferred upon him the freedom OF the city. Ok
ford It's degree Of ID. c. l.. and Dublin It's LII ID.
The great civic companies-the FIshmongers, the
Tailors and the Grocers-immediately made him a
member. while various learned bodies and clubs
elected him in their honorary fashions Important
banquets were given to him at Liverpool. Bristol
and Dublin.
The festivities in his honor cut short in
1881 by the news Of Majuba Hill. He immedi-
ately appointed Governor Of Natal. with the COM
mand Of the troops in South Africa. However.
peace was concluded while he the voyage
to the Cape OF Good Hope and he recalled
Immediately upon his arrival. and soon after re-
ceived a baronetcy
In 1885 he was elevated to the chief command
OF all the forces In India He held this post until
1893 when he was succeeded by General White.
Lord Roberts has been in command of late OF
the forces in Ireland. He is looked upon as the
most popular OF England's Scared veterans.
and II is doubtful IL even Kitchener enjoys a more
idoatrous devotion Of the British soldier than Lord
Roberts