Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-08

SOiuler DOTn 10 Tue ElDu OI WdTIdTe now
on hand-that is. bush fighting, savage
and irregular foes, warfare which defies
military rules and theories The V. c.
tackled to his name stands for the Vic
toria cross, won 30 Years ago by valor
in the South African Zulu war
General Butler is man of marvellous
GOODNESS and high personal courage;
moreover, so say his admirers. one of
the greatest soldiers of his time. His
chance has come to show that this last
tribute is not above the mark. He is so
years of age and has had experience in
every conflict waged by England since
he was boy. 1t was 80 years ago that
he took his baptism of fire in the Chi
nese war of 1860 He marched and
fought with Lord Wolseley in the Red
river campaign of 1870. He next took
part in the Ashanti war. then went to
South Africa to fight savages until the
wiping out of Cetewayo's Zulus in
1879. 1t was in the Zulu campaign that
General Butler. then colonel. won the
Victoria cross
This decoration is given to none but
those who in actual presence of the
enemy perform some signal act Of de-
votion to the army or the country.
In the Egyptian war of 1882 and also
in the expedition for the relief of Chi
nese Gordon Butler served with distinc-
ton 1t is General Buffers practical
knowledge of South Africa-the topog
raphy, the climate, the savages and
the enemy to be met-that gives the
British people faith in the new military
star All England as well as the war
Office and the experts in South African
warfare knows only too well the size Of
the task confronting Tommy Atkins to-
day. 1t is not question of a perfect
machine simply. but of a war god with
his hands on the lever. The price OF
Boer defeat, if defeat must come, which
President Kruger Gays will stagger hu-
manity, is the bone and blood Of the
British soldiery. The general who pays
out the price in too heavy doles or gets
too little return for the CORY investment
will find himself on bed of thorns. If
Butler handles the army of 1899 as
skillfully as he did his corps of irregu
lars in 1879. then England has made no
mistake This knight of the Victoria
cross is the man for the hour.
< General Butler is not of the class
which essays to do all the work Of his
command alone, but his intimate ac-
auaintance with every detail acts as a
check and stimulus to his subordinates-
And he is well and Loyalty served. for
he has the knack of getting the best out
of his men Though his manner seems
cold and even repellent, his speech
sharp and abrupt, his brief, pithy mem
oranda caustic and occasionally cruel
yet he freely forgives for what is be-
hind. Intolerant OF shams, he is never
unreasonaDly hard on any one.
In 1889 General Butler fought all
over that country which seems destined
to be the theater of the present war
He won his Victoria cross fighting
Zulus within few miles of Majuba
Hill and Laingsnek and in the Transvaal
region His command then was an ir
regular body of horse made up of local
companies and in general character an
swering to the ideal rough riders. Bull
Ter and his steed were both noted for |
their toughness and endurance Forbes,
the English correspondent. says that
Buffers favorite mount was fiddle |
headed, brindled, fat sided, eve necked |
cob named Punch. Useless to add after |
that description that he was the ugliest |
horse of his day and generation in all |
South Africa
He was as valuable as he was ugly, !
and his master often rode him hun