The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-19
New Chief of British Forces in
India Is Notable
Figure.

lEC /. -GEN. SIR JAMES WILL
COCKS. who has just been APP
- pointed to the command in
chief OF the British forces in India,
that is to say. OF hghting force of
near 100000 men. is one of the most
distinguished officers of the service,
and his selection cannot fail TO inspire
confidence and to create general sat
isfaction.
He Is one of a family of brothers
who have each made their mark. For
|, Sir William Willcocks. after having
assured the prosperity of Egypt, and
vastly added to its agricultural area
by his wonderful scheme Of irrigation,
including the construction of the huge
dam Of the Nile at Assouan, and help
ing TO rid the Upper Nile of the sud-
which rendered navigation impossible,
is now restoring the vast Babylonian
irrigation works OF the Euphrates Val
ley, and transforming Chaldea once
more into ona of the granaries OF the
world.
Another brother is the foremost
railroad engineer of the Indian gov
erument, and IS the creator of many
of the most important lines in that
portion of King Georges empire. Sun
another brother has done admirable
work as one OF the heads of the In
dian medical service; while the one
whom the brothers acknowledge TO be
the cleverest CT them all is clergy
man, famous at oxford for his deep
and varied knowledge OF Oriental
languages, who spent a quarter of
century of his life as government
chaplain in India, where he incidental
ly became famous as big game shot
Since taking his pension he has turn
cd engineer and is building railroads
through the heart OF the Indian forest,
from his sheer love OF work.
The general that is TO say, Sir
James, will be recalled as the man who,
at the head of a small force. relieved
the English Governor and his family
at Kumasi. the capital OF Ashanti, Tor
which, although mere major at the
time he was knghted and decorated
by Queen Victoria with the star and
Ribbon of The Order OF st. Michaei
and St George. OF late he has been
commanding one OF the two divisions
OF which the Anglo-Indian army is
now composed, ind as In charge OF
the Northern Division, with headquar-
ters ut Murree. may be said TO nave
been intrusted with the guard or the
frontier.
All his life may be said to have
been spent amidst lighting. FOR ne
was born at Delh' only Few wseKs
before the outbreak OF the great IN
dian Mutiny of 1857, and in his in
fancy had several narrow escapes
from sharing the fate of those thou-
sands OF English children ana women
who were massacred during the re-
bellion. AS a boy. he ran away 10 sea.
He failed twice for the examination
for a commission in the army, ana
then wandered about the world on
tramp steamers. having rough ana
bitter experience When al length he
returned TO England with only two
pence in his pocket. his father per
suadcd him to try for the army, ana
this time he managed to pass. Went
through Sandhurst, and was SaZctteu
TO the Leinster Regiment. Wthih
year he had the good fortune TO take
part in the wonderful march OF Lord
Roberts from Cabul To Candahar. and
since then his life has been one long
succession of frontier warfare inter
rupted by service in Egypt and IN the
Soudan, in Burmah. In West AFRICA
where he commanded the frontier
force, and in South Africa. lie mas
been thanked by Parliament, has been
presented with tho freedom OF the
city OF London and with sword OF
honor, and has longer row OF medals
each showing n different campaign
than any other field officer OF the
British Amy
There are few men who have NOR"
thorough acquaintance with India. us
peculiar military conditions. and us
requirements. than Sir James his
experience OF the natives is almost
uncanny. ana his mastery of the Nari-
Gus languages and dialects phenom-
email. In fact, the natives OF overy
class have the most profound respect
for him, while among his countrymen
In India he is renowned for his PROV
ess as a shooter OF big game. Add
to this that he Is In splendid health
and as hard as nails, differing in this
respect from General Sir OMoore
Creagh, an elderly veteran who has
been an invalid almost throughout
his entire term of office, whose III
health rendered him cranky and irri-
table, and who was led by his AMI
mostly against Kitchener to cndeaVor
to undo everything that tho latter had
accomplished before him in his mar
velous reorganization OF the British
forces and defenses In India.
Sir John Home Purves Hume Camp
bell, eighth holder OF n baronetcy be-
slowed by Charles II. upon William
Furves. his solicitor General for the
kingdom OF Scotland, Is Advertising
for sale his beautiful country seat OF
Mnrchmont, In Berwickshire. COM
handing magnificent view OF the
Cheviot Hills. framed In park of
thousand acres, the entire estate en-
bra9ing some $4,000 acres, including