The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-11
BUTLER, THE MAN.
Personal characteristics of the south
African Commander.
New York Press.


Butler. the British commander-in-chief in
South Africa, which have recently appeared
in print none gives a better idea of the
mans personal side than the following from
Mainly About People:
What manner of man is Redvers Butler,
who left last Saturday, amid the plaudits of
the crowd, carrying with him the good
wishes of all? Well, he is a soldier of dis
tinction, one who has won battles and wears
the v. c.. who has led and followed the
lead of others, who has worked his way up
step by step with no particular influence TO
help him. TO the highest prize of his profess
SIGN. the command of what will be- the larg-
est British army that has ever left these
shores. All this you know; you know his
counterfeit presentment, too, but not to
very large extent for Butler is a rare
product in this advertising age; he has al
ways been averse from giving an interview
to d pressman or Il photograph to a news
paper, and IL his picture is to be seen in
print or in the London shop fronts to-day
it is but recent and certainly grudging
concession. Butler in full dress blazing with
medals; Butler in undress on horseback re-
viewing troops; Butler as slim young
colonel--a Queens aid-de-camp: Butler as
something of jowl; all these are familiar
enough 10 you now. But the Butler I'm time
the personal Butler. himself. his traits,
character. idiosyncrasies; how much does
the public at large know of these? Little
enough, and only through glass darkly IL
Is high time that the generalissimo of her
Majesty's forces in South Africa, who will
shortly bear great burden fraught with
fbo ~ n
be better understood by his fellow country
men.
First and before all, it cannot be stated
too clearly and emphatically that he is what
our friends across the pond Gala real live
man." There is no humbug about him. nor
anything unreal; what he says he means:
what he promises, he performs; what is
given him to do, he does or has done so
far. and that is much to say in this disap-
pointing world. His fitness for the job now
Entrusted to him cannot be questioned. He is
the best soldier of his star ding available
for the present crisis. Lord Wolseley's time
for Held service is pretty well over, so is
that of Lord Roberts. The sirdar can afford
TO wait for his next great chance, and, Sc
riously speaking. he has not Buffers quail
hcatlons for this particular business
Butler knows his trade by heart IL up TO
every move, can handle every tool with the
has studied soldering necessarily, practiced
II continually, and gained an intimate ac-
quaintance with thai most difficult profess
sion, war Those who have seen him at
work will bear ample testimony TO his
worth. He ,as the natural gifts indis-
persable to a good general: he is watchful
ard observant, with keen eye for coun-
try, a full appreciation of what troops can
do and when it should be done: he can wait
Tor the righ, moment and then strike with
concentrated effect. He has the cool iudg-
mept that comes of profound self-reliance,
and his C urage is not only OF the physical
y O'Clock In the morning" kind amply
of dor rrr
h3i1 words, but the rarer moral quality that
rises superior to the darkest and most dan
EefG 'S crisis Isis OF war II His record tells but
day at Hamdi, when the shaken squares
stitfened into fresh and successful resist
ance under his personal direction: or OF the
mastery manner In which he got the desert
column out of the highest of tight places at
Metemmeh, after Herbert Stewart and
Burraby had been strack down at Abu
Klea
A British general called TO high command
has more to do than march and counter
march to bring his enemy to battle and
meet him. He has to manipulate the
threads Of the somewhat cumbrous military
machinery that holds him tight and may
often hamper and hinder him from a dis
lance. He Is never quite free of War
Office control. for he Is at the end of the
wire and may always expec. interference
he knows our War Office by heart for he
has been closely associated with IL for years
grades He 6as profound c On the highest fsr
too. His evidence given before the commit,
tee for decentralizing War Office work and
giving more initiative to the generals COM
handing districts and stations at home and
abroad was quite amusing in its outspoken
ridicule of War Office methods. He gave il
as his opinion that the clerks thought the
army existed solely for them, and that they
had invented half the red tape and routine
simply that they might justify their exist
ence, and that one of the first results OF
decentralization would be to cut down their
number.
Butler is no courtier, but he has always
been popular with the royal family There
Is strong bond of personal attachment be-
tween him and the Duke of Cambridge He
was long the trusted friend and right hand
of the late commander-i chief TO such an
extent that he was practically the head OF
the army for years. 1t was then. no doubt
that Sir IL. Campbell Bannerman, as secre-
tary of war, conceived that high opinion
OF him which nearly made him the dukes
successor. Butler could say anything TO the
Duke. A year after the latters retirement
he was sitting in Buffers room Ohe duke
could not keep away from the War Office
at first; the habit had become ingrainedl
bemoaning his hard lot when Butler turned
on him and said: Come, sir admit that
you are ever so much better since you went
out of harness.. Upon my soul you're
laugh. II believe IT has added years TO my
| life"
Another plain speech. to a more august
parsonage, Is attributed TO him " hich Is ben
| tfovato. IL not precisely true. AT the first
Aldershot review graced by the Queens
presence. after Butler took up the command,
| her Majesty Is reported To have said: II
have not seen much OF you lately, Sir Red
vers Butler" That's not my fault, ma ami
was the blunt soldiers reply. Perhaps the
she issued her command for him 10 so TO
BalmOral to say goodbye.