New-York tribune., 1903-03-25
BRITISH ARMY SCANDAL.
Sir Hector Macdonald To Be Tried
for Alleged Immoral Conduct.

Colombo, Ceylon, March 24-Charges Of the
most serious nature have been brought against
Major General Sir Hector Macdonald, command
ting the British forces In Ceylon. in consequence
of which the Governor OF that island, Sir Joseph
West Ridgeway, has been authorized to convene
court martial to try General Macdonald The
general. when the charges were filed some time
ago. went to England TO confer with his friends
and superior officers. and now. it ts understood
he will return and face the charges, which. 1t is
alleged, are based on immoral acts
London March 24.-The announcement from
Colombo thai Major General Macdonald is to be
tried by court martial on most serious charges
Of immoral conduct will undoubtedly prove TO
be the greatest sensation in British military
circles since the case OF Colonel Valentine Baker
who was sentenced August ., 1870, to pay
fine Of So 500 and to undergo twelve months Inn
prisonment for assauting woman in g. railroad
carriage. General Macdonald was regarded as
one Of Britain's great soldiers He rose from
the ranks in the Gordon Highanders to his
present place and the service list shows no more
honorable war record than his. while few Off
GERS possess more harder won decorations. He
was extremely popular in the army and in civil
life.
While the army officials and many OF his
brother officers aware that charges were
pending against General Macdonald. no intim1-
of the officers of a Highland regiment on March
21. at which Sir Hector was not present. Lord
Roberts the commander in chief, paid tribute
in a speech on that occasion to the Highland
officers who had served with distinction, but he
did not mention Macdonald. This attracted con-
siderable notice and the sensation was in
creased when another speaker, who was not
aware of the facts in the case, lauded Macoona!o
as a typical Highland soldier, and found that MS
remarks were received in cold silence by the ma
iority of the officers present
General Macdonald, it is announced left Eng
land for the Continent some days ago, ana II IS
understood that he is returning to Ceylon under
the advice of Lord Roberts after hearing Mac
donald's version Of the charges.
Major General Sir Hector Macdonald, who is an
a,dede-camp to King Edward, born in 1S5a en-
listed in the Gordon Highlanders and served nlne
wears in the ranks. He accompanied slr fFeoeTich
(now Lord Roberts In his famous march to Caoul;
vas present at the battle of Kandahar and was
promoted to be second lieutenant Since then Mac
donald has served in the Boer war. 1S, IN whlch ne
took part in the battle of Majuba Hill; the Nile
expedition 1875 Suakn. 1888: the Nile, 1857 cap
ture Of Tokar 1891; commanded the Second Infan-
fry BRIGADE Of the DorgoIa Expediuonary Force,
1909 commanded the Feyptian Brigade 1887 9 TAX
ing part in the battles Of Abu-Haned. Athara and
Khartoun; received the thanks Of Parliament and
was appointed an aide-de-camp to the late queen
Victoria: commanded the troops in the Slrhino
district Of India, 1895; commanded the Highlano
Brigade, South Africa, 1e99-1s01; was wounded at
the battle of Paardeburg and made a knight Com
rnander Of the Bath, and commanded the southern
and Belgaum districts, India from 1901 until lSO2
when he was appointed to command the Britlsn
troops IN Ceylon. The general has been repeatedly
mentioned in oficia1 dispatches for gallant con-
duct in the field, and has about half dozen orders
and medals and nearly q dozen clasps.