New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-15

assistant ouartermnster general OF me
pcryal Rrirade in the Abyssinlah
War His energy and resource IN inns
detail won for him the brevet OF leu-
tenant colonel.
Returning TO India. he compiled codes
Of transport regulations LOT ihuleh
armies. served in several campaigns
became colonel and then. IN lS'o' aiter
,ventv-four years of hard work, was
nominated TO the permanent appoint
ment of ouartermaster general WIN
the rank Of major general
Relieved kandahar.
I, WINS soon Sir Frederick Roberts,
bc 6ohting mans services IN the early
Afghan uprisings bringing him to
ltnishthood The Afghan revolt became
Seneral in 1879 with the nine days IN
Sestment Of Kabul This was frus-
,rated and "Bobs," now lieutenant gen
sral urged that an expedition should
proceed to the relief of Kandahar win
10 600 men he plunged into regions be
yond reach of news. and from August -
| iSsO. 10 August 81 England was breath
less with anxiety.
Then. on the latter date, he emerged
from the wilds at Kandahar, broke up
the whole Afghan army the Following
dav and became the nero of the hour.
In November. broken down by illness
and exposure. he arrived in England,
invalided by 8 severe and neglected
malady.
He was received with combination
Of official recognition and popular ac-
claim. He was summoned TO the palace
nv the Queen, the freedom OF cities was
Given 10 him. oxford and Dublin con-
ferred degrees. and he was elected 10
honorary membership IN all the civic
companies.
Festivitv was cut short in March,
1881. and he was sent to command the
troops in South Africa and made gov
ernor of Natal. Peace followed Maluba
Hill before he reached his post ana he
was recalled. made n baronet, ana IN
the fall sen. TO command the Madras
army. Four years more and he had at
tanned his ambition. He was a COM
mandcr in chief in India. lie assumed
Amand of the forces in East India IN
November, 1885, when he was NIFTY
three years old.
Following in the footsteps of Sir
Donald Stewart. after seven years Lord
t
proud distinction Of having rendered
England's military resources in India
equal TO the responsibilities imposed
by the empires political supremacy.
The year before he had been ele-
waited to the peerage and in 1895 he
was made commander in chief of Ire
land. Then came the appointment 20
South Africa in 1899. Efforts TO put
down the Beers had not been signally
successful when the call came for
Lord Roberts to proceed TO the COM
mand of Cape Colony, while the un-
fortunate Butler remained in Natal
The position of "Bobs" enlisted the
sympathy of the empire. His only son
was mortally wounded at Colenso, ard
scarcely had the news been received
in England than the grieving father
was on his way to South Africa.
But if Lord Roberts was grieving,
the empire, even in its sorrow for him,
was rejoicing. Everything would now
be all right British disaster would
end. Ii was q merry Christmas for
England. Two days before the new
commander had sailed. The general
feeling was that il was all up with the
Beers.
Reaching Cape Town January 10, his
DOMNflu4 UIGNtIN@ Was at NiANN Ar+Ns
He made the ColonialS feel that they
were Of some value. and soon Roberts's
Horse and Kitchener's Horse were two
Colonial regiments to be respected. A
reverse greeted the new commander,
that Of Spion Kop, but the brighter
days were coming.
"Bobs" Becomes Popular Idol.
Ladysmith was relieved. Then fol-
lowed the advance on Kimberley, its
relief. and then the action at Paarde-
berg. where Cronje was defeated.
Cronie surrendered on the anniversary
of Majuba Hill. England was seething
with Joy and jubilation reigned at the
news Of the successes of "Bobs,' who
was again, in a new generation, becom-
ing a popular idol for hero worship.
There followed the various opera
tions that eliminated in the capture OF
Pretoria, July 5. That was the end OF
all except guerilla warfare.
The Boer war over, Lord Roberts
became commander in chief Of all the
British arms, serving until his retire
ment.
OF honors he had more than can be
enumerated, but one, the Kaiser's gift
Of the Order Of the Golden Eagle, may
be mentioned with timeliness. Explain
ing why this gift had for the first time
been conferred on non-Germanic
warrior, the Kaiser said:
Roberts of Kandahar has much OF
the subtlety and ability to perceive his
opportunities that have distinguished
the greatest military geniuses of the
past hold him the ablest of to-days
soldiers"
The Boer campaign ended Lord Rob
ertss active service in war. He re-
ceived for the third time in his sixty
one years of life as a soldier the
thanks of both houses of Parliament
and was created an earl Of the realm
with the title Earl of Kandahar, Pre-
toria and Waterford. two of his most
brilliant battles being thus recorded.
With the title went the unusual priv
iege Of descent through the family
line-a privilege evidently designed to
mark Queen Victoria's sympathy with
Lord Roberts over the loss of his only
son. With the peerage went a grant
Of 100000 pounds sterling (approXi-
mately S500,000) to maintain the dig
nifty of his earldom.
Lord Roberts was eighty-twO years
old on September 80. He was born in
J Cawnpore, India.