The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-04-03

The average soldier is superstitious
and takes professional view of fight !,
ing. He longs to go into battle, if go
he must, under winner.
Both Roberts and Kitchener are ac- ,
credited to Ireland, so that the bada-
hur and the sirdar (he "boss" of the
Sudan and the "boss' of Afghanistan)
are fighting against the heart of their
native Erin. Roberts especially has
had hand in the most romantic wars
of the empire. He Joined the army in
1851 and served in India 40 years. His
Indian record covers the struggles
against sepoy and Afghan "from Delhi
and Lucknow to Pesawur, on the
northwestern frontier"
Being small and 1.-the, Lord Roberts
has been compared to panther, so
swift and silent his movements. Nat
urally man worshipers find countless
good things to say about soldier who
has won no end of honors, but there is
no doubt as to Roberts strong and en-
gaging personality. The Irishmen in
the British army like him, and they are
not slow to make it known. Besides,
what Pat thinks of British chief, If
it is favorable, weighs more in the long
run than the opinion of Tommy Atkins,
who must take in good grace every
thing appointed to him in the name of
the queen.
One of Lord Roberts popular traits
is his remembrance of the faces and
names of the humblest of his subordi-
mates. When he was general leading
an army through the mountains of In
dia, he one day came face to face in
pass with a lieutenant of engineers
whom he had seen only once before, at
a mess dinner. Reaching out a hand
Familiarity, he said, "Well, Blank, how
are you, old fellow?" Incidents Of that
kind are not allowed to die out of army
traditions, and the harshest discipline
is suffered at the hands of a leader so
considerate as to honor human nature
in every rank. Another trait is his In
vfncible belief in victory. In one of
his early battles as general in India the
day closed upon what his officers all
counted a defeat. They wished to re-
tire from the field, but Roberts would
not listen and ordered the army to rest.
Next morning the enemy had disap-
peared. Afterward under other lead
ers when the army suffered real defeat
the soldiers would cry. "Oh. for one
hour of Bobs!
One Of the incidents which Illus
trate Roberts genial ways with the
men dates from the days when he was
a colonel Walking along near the bar
racks he was chased and parked after
by pack of mongrel dogs belonging
to the soldiers. The owners rushed out
with clubs to drive the ours away and
humbly apologized for their conduct.
The colonel listened with sober and
dignified air, the men breathlessly
awaiting sentence. Concealing what
ever annoyance he felt Roberts said
In his usual calm tone Of voice, "Your
dogs undoubtedly make good sentries,
but hardly like the way they salute
superior officers" Then he passed on,
and the dog nuisance was left for the
men to suppress after their own fash
ion.
The great Indian mutiny was the OPP
portunity for the young lieutenant
whose father had been gallant sol
der Inathe capture of Delhi Roberts
was wounded, and his horse was killed
under him. He marched to the relief
of Lucknow and fought off the natives
on the outside when the place was
finally captured. For his numerous
personal exploits he was mentioned in
II tn, 1,n Of hi
generals.
Roberts received his baptism of fire
while fighting against odds to get into
Delhi, which was surrounded by Sc
poys. In his first skirmish s of a party
led by him were killed and 80 wound
ed. Soon afterward he was hit by a
bullet while helping the men at the
guns. A leather pouch fortunately
Eopped the bullets force, and the
wound was not serious. This and 9th
err like incidents gave rise to the be.
lief that Roberts was born to luck.
A deed of yalor accompanied by an
other hairbreadth escape gave the
young lieutenant his Victoria cross.
This was in minor engagement while
fighting to clear the rebellious sepoys
out Of the country around Lucknow,
when Sir Colin Campbells column cut
its way through the besieging lines.
While chasing some of the mutinous
sepoys Roberts saved the life Of ma
tive officer, but during the melee two
rebels seized and carried off the British
standard. Squirting his horse reckless
Iv Roberts rode after the flag and
wrenched it from the hands of its cap
tors. During the struggle a sepoy
placed the muzzle of his rifle against
the body of the brave boy Lieutenant
and snapped the piece. But it missed
fire, and Roberts rode back with the
flag and the credit for charmed life.
Still another exploit of Roberts in
front of Lucknow recalls the famous