New-York tribune., 1910-10-09
Anglo-Arnerican Memories
LXXXVIII.
FIELD MARSHAL WscoUNT WoLsELEY-WHAT DOM
lcnprrlrht. 1e1o. b. eeorrr w. sna1lerA

every feature chiseiled: the forehead
broad and full; the poise Of the head
such as comes from long leadership of
men. What th~ photograph cannot give
is the light in the eyes; or in one OF
them. since the other-and it's not easy
to tell which-is artificial But the one
the bullets left him is filed with blue
fire; and when he talks flashes and
burns.
Writing twenty years ago, when some
people were alive who are now dead, 1
said that Lord wolseley had been known
TO send a letter from the Nile TO school
girl in which the burden Of just re-
sronsibility for the delay in resolving
on the Gordon relief expedition was laid
sqUarely on the shoulders where 1t be-
lcnged. Now I will add that the girl
herself showed me the letter. said
also that Lord wolseIey had been known
to repeat the same accusation on his
return home in dozen different COM
panies. and to all corners, and with
every circumstance of publicity. as If
he intended it to reach the ears Of him
whom he thought guilty: as no doubt
1t did
Yes, but this publicity was never Of
print London journalism was then,
perhaps. more reticent, more discreet,
than it is to-day-at any rate, Lord
wolseley's accusation never, so far as
know. found its way into the papers.
myself was discreet because the guilty
person was then alive But had no need
to inquire Of others, for I heard Lord
Wolseley more than once denounce the
author of that diIatory policy which in
its result. though of course not in its
intention, left Gordon to be hacked to
pieces by Mahdist spears in betrayed
Khartoum. It was Mr.. Gladstone. then
Prime Minister and ever a lukewarm
friend Of Gordon. if not his enemy. who
held back the relief force during that
summer of 1885. while the Nile was
steadily falling and an overwhelming
savage force was besieging Khartoum-
7 tell you" said Lord wolseley, Il
put every military argument before Mr..
Gladstone. I pressed upon him the ur-
gent necessity Of haste. I assured him
that though others had been discussed,
P
that was the Nile: and that as the Nile
fell the problem Of transporting troops
and munitions and provisions by that
stream grew each day more difficult l
4 besought him TO act He would not"
At another time the bafied General
put his case still more compactly. Mr..
Gladstone. he said. knew well that time
vas of the essence of the whole matter.
4 was on my knees to Mr.. Gladstone
for months, entreating him to let US go.
/ He steadfastly refused"
/ And so Gordon's doom was sealed in
/ Downing Street Lord Morley. In his
I Life Of Gladstone" makes half heart
I ed attempt TO put the blame. or some
Of the blame, on Lord Harrington. then
/ Minister Of War. He quotes a sentence
from a letter of Mr. Gladstone to Lord
Granville in 1885, saying: L don't think
/ he harrington ever came TO any sharp
issue Qike mine about Zobeir); rather
that in the main he got what he want
! ed" But that is the plea of the accused
( II his own behalf. The answer is simple.
! Mr.. Gladstone was Prime Minister and
/ Lord Harrington was not. Mr.. Gladstone
may have had difficulties with his Cab
/ met as he did about GOrdon's request
for Zobeir. But he was the most mas
terful Of First Ministers when he chose
to be. The truth is. Mr.. Gladstones
heart was never in Egypt and his sym
pathies with Gordon were ever sluggish.
No decision was taken till August s,
1855. Later, Lord WOlseley was ap-
pointed 10 command the expedition. On
+. September he reached Cairo; on Octo-
Der 3, Wady Halfa- Not till then did
the Nile campaign begin. Lord Wolse-
ley's letter TO Lord Harrington, recon-
mending immediate and active prepara-
tions for an exclusively British expedi-
ton TO Khartoum, had been written and
sent April 8. To that list Of facts and
| oates I do not care TO add any com
ment u w D