Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-24
THE WAR IN AFRICA.
Sir RedVers Butler. who H. to Conn
mnnd the English Forces.

From the London Mail
Sir Redvers Butler. general. prlvy coun-
ciilor. V. c, G. c. r.. X. c. NJ. C. etc. has
so long been man Of mark that his per-
sonality is well known to the British pub
lie. Soldier administrator. politician, coun-
try squire he has done much and generally
well Now he Is called To the most COW
eted if not the highest, post that can be
conferred upon British officer. the COM
mand Of a large eNpedtionary army I'm he
field
He is not in his first youth. hut h. carries
his sixty years lightly; very varied and
eventful service has not laid its weight IN
him: his figure has lost its SHINES, but
not its activity. and Butler sun rides IN
the first flight with the hounds; his brain
power. too, always of the first order is
quite unimpaired. Strength. soldity. Un-
falling self reliance-self-condd it mir ht
be called. until Wide and onorous rrsp,u-
sibility taught him better-are his most
striking characteristics plainly seen o. his
rather austere, impressive face, DlIilly
proved by his attitude in trying Situations.
and his successful conduct Of ardu'u- az
fairs. Butler won his first laurels in Asian
ii. although he had already seen war tn
China and on the Red river.
1t was i'm Ashanti that he justified WolsH-
ley'S keen insight into character, ana 's-
tablished his reputation as a young officer
who would certainly , me triumphaDtly
through any and every task with which he
lDlEnI ne lllIhSltu. After ASldUlA ne II. hue
acquaintance with the country I'm which he
is now to play such momentous role; MS
name is one to Conjurc with at the CIpe,
and there will be many veterans in south
Africa who will hail with enthusiasm tho
return of their dashing commander in the
famous Frontier Horse; the man who ASK
ed no one to venture his skin where he
would not thrust his own, and who repeat
eddy risked his own life to save those Of
comrades sOrely pressed by savage foes.
Butler gave earnest then of what he mas
since abundantly confirmed, his capacity
for troop leading: his tactical skill is IN
stinctive; he can handle men with promp-
titude and precision born Of natural gifts
developed by training and experience. The
best generals might have been pardonably
proud of the calm, wise control he eNer-
cised in the most critical moment at Tamai
and Ell Teb. 1t was Buffers skllful ma
neuvering, promptly conceived and resolute-
ly carried, that saved the shaken squares
in those hard fought engagements.
Again, il will ever be deemed one of Bull
lers best titles to honor that he extricated
the desert column from its perilous situa-
ton after Abu Klea, when it was all but
hemmed in al Metemneh, and had lost its
most trusted leaders, Herbert Stewart,
Burnaby and many more. The hard pressed
force welcomed Buffers advent The had
been dispatched post haste by Wolseley 70
assume commandl. and regaining all It's
confidence, cut its way back to Korti with
out difficulty.
Butler has seen no active service since
ed, and has shown his Astounding worth IN
more than in his war record. He was on
the headquarters staff in Pail Mall tor
nearly fifteen years at stretch. serving
through an the senior grades, until. at he
last, he all but crowned the cdifice by S.-
curing the highest post of all II is no sc-
cret now that in 1895 Sir II Campbell Ran
herman intended him To succeed the Duke
of Cambridge as commander-in-chi-f, and
that only the sudden collapse Of the lihoral
cabinet prevented an act which, despite
Buffers merits. would have been a grave
injustice TO Lord Wolseley. At a time like
the present when he is about to assume
charge of what should eventually be ONE Of
the best found armies that have eft these
shores. it is satisfactory to know that Bull
Ter has all the threads Of army aam!nls;ra-
ton at his fingers ends.
He is not of the class which ESSAYS 10
do all the work himself, but his intimate
acquaintance with every detail will act both
as a check and stimulus to his subordi-
mates And he will be well and Loyalty
served, for he has the knack Of getting the
best out of men All who are brought in
contact with him learn soon to respect him.
What though his manner may seem cold,
harsh, even repellent. his speech often sharp
| and abrupt. his brief pithy written memo
| randa, when they tear through was-ad
verbiage and fix upon the essence Of a
| question, may be Caustic, occasionally Cruz
| ell; yet is he freely forgiven because ~
| what is behind Butler, withal is at heart
one of the kindlieSt of souls. he Is ntplrr-
ant of shams, and will have naught 70 10
| with imposture, but he is never unraason-
| ably hard on any one, and will seldom cN-
act the full penalty from any poor devil
| who as he would say himself, Canno- real
| ly be blamed because he is a fool No
| doubt the ready support and allegiance he
| will always command are largely due To the
| firm conviction entertained by all THAI he
| is perfectly straightforward; he plays no
personal game, his one abiding principle Is
| to do the best with his means and with his
| whole heart and soul for the good OF the
sks,s
As may be supposed, a commander of Bull
| ler's stamp has had an influential say IN
! the choice of his lieutenanJs and immediate
surroundings. He had much to say 10 The
appointment of Sir Archibald Hunter rs
| chief of the staff: Of Col. Wynne also. who
| is TO be his deputy adjutant general; Col.
StOpford, his military secretary; Mai Coop
| er. an aid-de-camp-al Of 'hem notable
| specimens of the young and rising school
| of soldiers. He has been consult IL, too,
| and could no doubt have exercised a veto
| upon the various divisional and brigade
generals who will lead the 'rpopS under his
| orders. They may be said. therefore, 10
| have his imprimatur. and Yet TO such rec
Ommendation was necessary, for they are
| quite the pick Of the basket. W fGG list
| has Yet been published, bat It may he
stated authoritatively that the three livi-
| sions will be commanded respectively by
| Lord Methuen, Sir Francis Clery a7d Sir
William Gatacre.
OF these three the first is 81 familiar a
figure to Londoners that It is scarcely nee
( essary to recall his portrait; the spare, stall
wart erect frame. the fair. handsome lace.
the bonhomie so pleasantly mixed with Did
world courtesy. have won paul" Mathl,n
troops of friends I'm every class In and ont
of the service. He is one Of the best g.. pe
Of modern Woodworking guardsmen, de
voted TO his profession, ever eager 10 Join
in the fray, and having considerable prac-
| teal ability in troop leading. Sir Francis
| Clery may be less well known. except In
| the hunting field, where he is notable per
| former or in the service clubs, or I'm Pall
| Mall. the sprucest and best turned cut man
| in London, but who Yet has none Of the
dandy" in his composition.
Clery is a Woodworking soldier. I'm early
| days adjutant of a crack corps, a staff co.,
| lege graduate. who has served with disIiuc-
ton in South Africa, especially IN ba-llss
against the redoubtable Zulus. and vas en-
gagged in Egypt under Wolseley. Glory has
| few equals in the business of soldering:
| he knows every move. has a quick eye for
country and clear knowledge what troops
| can and should do. Sir William GataCre
| is one of the youngest of majors GENERAL,
| who owes his somewhat rapid advancement
| to the last SOudan campaign, whore he led
| first brigade, then division of british
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