The sun., 1908-06-03
GEN. REDVERS BUTLER DEAD
A FAILURE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
But STILL A POPULAR IDOL.

His Glory Dimmed In the Boer Campaign
by Lack Of Capacity for High Command
Public Never Forgot HIS Early Ser.
ytces--Had the Confidenee OF His Men.
Special Cable Despatch 10 TIE SUS
LONDON, June 2.-Gen. the Right Hon.
Sir Redvers Henry Butler, who was for
time Commander in Chief Of the British
forces in South Africa during the Boer
war until Lord Roberts superseded him,
died to-day.
Sir Redvers Butler had a notable military
career. He was admired and well served
by his men wherever he was in command,
and for the greater part OF his lifetime
he had not only admiration but adulation
in England. Though his career was dimmed
toward the close by disciplinary rebuke.
he was always acknowledged to be great
soldier If not a great commander. and IL
was said openly that II the lustre OF his
career az a commander was tarnished 1t
was owing TO infrmities Of temper and not
to any lack Of intrepidity on the battle
field or in the service Of his country.
The most recent incidents in his career
in the public memory are naturally those
OF the British-South African war. where 90
many other regulations suffered In 1900
the calamities which overlook him in the
defeats of Gatacre. Methuen and the Tugela.
in his efforts to relieve Ladysmith and In
the bloody struggles around Spion Kop.
All these were minifed by the War Ohioe
and Government in general, and he received
a generous welcome on his return to Eng
land, notwithstanding the rebuke implied
in his final relief from the command OF an
army corps and his retirement on half pay.
Lord Roberts, however, was un6p6ring IN
his condemnation Of his conduct. especially
in regard to his failure to storm Spion Kop.
But the public never forgot the career
he had had. They knew him as a scion OF
an ancient Devonshire family as a fine
sportsman, an honorable country squire,
a man OF social distinction, although not OF
suave manner-rather the contrary-a man
irasoble. intolerant Of all sham, but one
who, born in 1880. had won the distinction
of a medal and two clasps when he re-
turned from the taking Of the Taku forts
in 1858 and from this heroic beginning had
gone on in his military career to successes
which won for him high and hearty commen-
dation from his commanders 10 different
continents. .
1t was ten years after the Taku incident
that he found his next opportunity in the
qualities brought forth praise from Sir
Garnet Wolseley, who chose him for i'm
portant work. although personally the two
men were Of tempereaments wholly differ.
ent Wolseley was 30 pleased with Buffers
services here that he selected him again
as a member Of his staff in the Ashanti ex-
pedition. from which Butler, although
wounded and stricken with fever. returned
with the rank OF Major and with high COM
mendations He had been enabled despite
to incapacitate him to take part 10 the Ave
days bush fighting before the fall OF Coo
massie.
He went into service next in South Africa
in the campaigns against the Gaikas and
Galekas and for the smashing Of the Zulu
power. and he organized there the Frontier
Light Horse. which he led. The public
Of England re- nenber him as the man OF
whom his Ger eral said after this campaign
that he had set an example Of intrepidity
and calm courage TO his men.
His men knew him as an iron disciplinarian.
but as a man also who would not ask them
10 go where he would not 60 himself, and
ss one who would save and had saved men
in desperate peril. In the action Of lnhlo-
bane Mountain he saved two Of his officers
and one Of his men when his force was
compelled to retreat before hordes OF the
enemy after he had completed the task
set for him by his commander, Gen. Sir
Evelyn Wood, to reconnoitre the mountain.
Of disorder. Butler held his calm. He
found Capt. DARCY, whose horse had been
shot under him, retreating afoot. and he
mounted the Captain behind him. Later,
in similar fashion. he rescued Capt. Everett
and again he mounted behind him trooper
whose horse was exhausted while the
enemy was eighty yards away. It was Ia
this Zulu war. when. the Prince Imperial
OF France, son Of the deposed Emperor
Napaleon III. and Eugenie lost his life. that
Butler. coming upon Capt. Carey, who
had TO confess that he had left the Prince
dead in the field. said to him: "You do
serve to be shot and l hope you will b.
I could shoot you myself.
Butler was chief OF staff to Sir Evelyn
Wood in the Boer war Of 1881. and in 1882
he was in the Egyptian campaign, where
he further distinguished himself. as he
did again in 1854 when he commanded the
first brigade under Sir Gerald Graham.
sent to Suakim to avenge the many mas
sacres OF Osman Digma. He found himself
again with Wolseley in the Nile campaign
OF 1885. In 1887 he became Quartermaster-
General and later, after Wolseley, he filed
the office Of Adjutant-G General. becoming
Lieutenant General in 1891
. OBITUARY.