The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-22

mothers strength ana happiness were
shattered by this discovery, and society
grew unbearable to her. AT the merest
contact with a stranger she would burst
into tears Yet her pitiful condition had
no desirable effect on her husband, be-
cause of whose miscoduct the Princess
was after a time obliged to retun to
her fathers house.
In 1898 through the fntercession Of va
rious members of the royal family,
reconciliation was brought about. In
February of last year. just before the
Princes departure for South Africa, a.
third child was born. The Princess is
now in Cape Town, having accompanied
Lady Roberts there. 1t is feared that
this scandal will undermine her already
delicate health.
She will be the greatest sufferer by the
scandal. ''Dollie" himself is not easily
shamed, even by such a storm Of indig-
nation as sweeps Britain today.
Tho most unfortunate man in the
British army today is propably Major
Gen. William Forbes Gatacre, K. C. B.,
the soldier made a scapegoat for a royal
CON ard.
A few months ago there might have
been prophesied for him a peerage, a seat
in Parliament, wealth, official distinction.
For England had not forgotten his gal
lantry at Chttral in 1895; at Atbara, at
Khartoum and at Onndurman, in the Sou
dan, 1898; had not forgotten the enrgy
that made Tommy Atkins dub him Gen.
Backacher for his impetuous forced
marches.
In fact, these llonors were prophesied
in anticipation of more glories for Cat
acre in the Transvaal, and in forgetful-
ness of the VOW the sad-eyed, haggard-
faced soldier once made in the hour of
his supremest tragedy.
For Gen. Gatacre learned to know mis-
fortune long before the little Tin soldier
Prince "Dollie' of the house of Teck,
embarked for South Africa, his timorous
sword unstained.
1t is not many years ago that stern,
handsome, digniied Col. Gatacre was
ordered to Dublin to take command Of
the Eighty-eighth Connaught Rangers.
With him went his bride, a young light
hearted creature. No woman was ever
so completely idolized by her husband.
No woman was ever more weak and
unworth.
For within a few months after their
arrival in Dublin knowledge came to the
unsuspecting Colonel that there had de-
vloped under his own adoring eyes a sit
uation in which a certain Col Fitzgerald
played an unpleasant part.
Il viii not gill him-or you," said Col.
Gatacre to his wife 'I demand no sep
aration, save that you and he leave the
country Immediately. I, too, will leave
England forever"
There was no thought of appeal from
this sentence The man and woman who
had robbed the brave soldier OF his hap
piness fed to America. And Col. Cat
acre-now Major General-has never since
returned to England.
1t was natural that when the present
war broke out the man who had achieved
shining triumphs in India and Egypt,
who seemed to have no dearer ambition
than his country's welfare, should have
been depended upon to win fresh glories
for England in South Africa. And he
justified this hope by winning the first
victory of the war.
Up to this point England would have
gold In the man who said to his soldiers,
81 shall never ask you to go anywhere
that I would not go myself" ~ army
and the nation had perfect truA.
Then the tide turned Gatacre was de-
feated at Stromberg on Dec. 10. His
country heard of him again and again
on the losing side and in a few weeks
for so rapidly is a heros lustre tar
nished-he was a fallen idol
His achievements were in the past
tense. There was no word of praise for
him. And he was entirely superseded
by Gen. Lord Roberts, who has allowed
the British public to think his veteran
associate incompetent. The secret of it
all was that he had been the Duke of
Teck's commanding officer
1t is plain that the responsibility for
the present situation rests with Lord
questioned, as his authority Is supreme.
1t is not likely that the Duke of Teck
of personal sympathy. 1t is perhaps
equally unlikely that the royal soldier
will be disciplined for his crime. Rob-
erts, being a faithful servant of a mon
archy, has no doubt decided that the
military execution or even the public
punishment of the brother in law OF the
heir apparent is impossible and that the
victimizing of Gatacre is preferable, even
with the accompaniment Of the ire
mendous scandal which can no longer be
suppressed.
And so the old soldier, who for weeks
past has suffered shame and condemna-
ton is again the tragic victim of cir
cumstances. Not until the whole truth
is known will England perceive in him
the hero of a tragedy. And then, per-
haps, it may be too late for reparation.