The Irish standard., 1900-05-26
HE IS A ROYAL COWARD.
The Duke of Teck Disgraces the
British Army.

"A Royal Coward" is the title which
the Duke of Teck, brother-in-law to the
Duke OF York, England's future king,
has succeeded in adding to his princely
name in the South African war, says the
Chicago Inter-Ocean.
Among all the recent scandals of the
British war Office none has aroused so
much public indignation as the dis
graceful part which the member of the
English royal family played at the Skin
mish of Koorn Spruit. Shame for the
prince, and indignation that brave
veteran like General Gatacre should
have been made to bear the penalty for
royal cowardice, are uppermost in Lon
don talk and London print.
At Koorn Spruit the Duke of Teck
was escort officer for convoy of artil-
lery He allowed his men to walk into
an ambuscade, and then, turning his
horses head, he fled at mad gallop,
permitting $50 men and six guns to fall
into the hands of small detachment of
Beers. This is the story which is being
talked of in London clubs and among
military men. The prince, according to
reports prevalent in military circles,
founded on official information, is not
only accused of gross negligence, but is
suspected of equally gross cowardice.
The surprise prepared by the Beers on
this occasion was one for which
brave soldier, alive to his duty, should
have been prepared. Teck was neither.
When the word first came to him,
eve are trapped" his womanish terror,
it is said, was pitifu1.
Not one of his men but would have
stood his ground, ambush or not. But
the leader, terror-stricken, turned, leav-
ing the greater number of his men in
the trap where his own folly had lei
them, and taking with him a small
guard for his protection.
1t is not likely that there is another
such instance in the recent history of
British arms.
Teck and his men did not draw rein
until they had fled 1900 yards, where the
untaken guns were numbered and
perfunctory attempt was made to shell
the Beers, who quickly got out of range
with their booty. Nor were the guns
followed up, though it is known that
recovery was feasible. Yet the only Sc
quel thus far to this piece of egregious
cowardice is the victimizing of Gatacre.
Teck was major in the First Life
guards. An untitled Britisher holding
such position and committing such
disgraceful act would have been
promptly shot. That the war depart
ment is silent as to what measures, if
any, will be taken to punish the young
duke is causing extreme resentment
among all classes.
General w. F. Gatacre was the Duke
of Teck's commanding officer. In dis
patches to the war Office, at least those
made public, the entire blame for the
disgrace OF Koorn Spruit was laid upon
Gatacre by Lord Roberts.
1t is not believed, however, that the
royal coward will ever be disciplined
for his offense. 1t is said that Lord
Roberts has not shielded the duke be-
cause of any personal fear or sympathy,
but merely with the conviction that the
victimizing of an old soldier is prefera
bic to the public disgrace of member
OF England's ruling family.
Prince Adolphus of Teck is grand
son of George III. and son of the late
Duchess of Teck, cousin of Queen
Victoria. He is also the brother of
Princess May, who married the Duke
of York, heir-apparent to the throne.
So that he is both the cousin and BROTH
er-in-law of England's future king.
A hint of Prince Adolphus' family
history may be the best explanation of
his conduct as soldier His father was
the handsome but degenerate Duke of
Teck, who died insane not long ago,
his mother being the amiable Princess
Mary, Victoria's first cousin.