Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-15

LONDON. November IL ue:55 a. Nd.
--7Ftcid Marshal Earl Roberts died
last night ia France from pneumo-
mia y telegram from Field Marshal
British cxpeditionary forces or the
Continent, apprised Earl Kitchener
|Secrctary on State for War. Of the
dcati, Of lsnglands great soldier. The
telegram read
IL deepl, regret TO tell YOU that
Lord Roberts died ut o'clock this
Saturday evening"
Field Marshal Roberts. who WAS
fcoloncl -chicf of the Indian troops.
| had gone TO France TO greet them.
Soon after his arrival he became Sc
lriously Ill. He suffered from q Sc
we're chill on Thursday. and pneumo-
! mia rapidly developed. His great age.
fcighty-two years, initiated against
his recovery, the crisis In the disease
1comins quickly.
The news OF Lord Roberts's death
came as ;in entire surprise TO Eng
land. Tie veterans devotion to the
,iutcrcsts OF the army. his hard work
I'm this connection. and his seeming
/ good health had been tho subject Of
comment since the beginning OF the
war. lie, was the most popular Mill
o. tary figure in Great Britain. and a
national hero without rival in the af-
fccuons of the people.
NEVER CEASED HARD wonK
IN SERVICE OF NATION
Despite His years, he never had
ceased hard work since his nominal
retirement. and rs he often had re-
marked. he lived Il rigidly abstemious
i life that he might preserve his strength
for the service of his country.
During the past five or six years
when the German war cloud had been
growing. he prosecuted an active cam
t., q
n compulsory military service. His be-
5ficf was that Great Britain required
the training of the whole male popu-
iation in arms. rather upon the plan
&of Switzerland. than the longer terms
. OF conscription enforced in the case
Of Continental military nations.
He preached increasingly and untir-
ingly tho necessity for the nation to
have it's n,sn trained In the rudinients.
at least, OF the soldiers work, so that
they could be called quickly to arms TO
3defend the. country against invasion
In private conversation lie expressed
tho conviction that Germany was plan
2ning to make war on Great Britain
when. she found an advantageous mo-
ment, and he believed that the supposed
menace of civil war in Ireland was a
uiust factor.
II was only yesterday that another
official announcement was made that
war zone to see the Indian troops"
The explanation OF the field mar
,hal's visit to France was accepted
Is plausible because Lord Roberts WAS
porn In Cawnpore, India. eighty-two
wears ago, and was worshiped by the
native troops.
1t was popularity believed, however,
That the presence OF the field marshal
IN the lighting zone presaged active
Developments OF the campaign 9
Lord Roberts was born Frederick
Sleigh Roberts, In Cawnpnrc, India
4September 80, lS3a. He was the son
Iiiencral Sir Abraham Roberts, G.. c.
e.. and Isabella Bunbury Roberts. To
WAS very young when sent To England
o {be educated There lie graduated
FROM Eton, .Sandhurst and Addiscopfbe.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. - -.
R& S.2g, y. fOH FIGHTING: CAREER
alJc Ircmained In England until fSSa,f
FFfcn he returned to India to begin
hc Foundation for the lighting career
ESliich caused Emperor William lin. Sep
fefnber. 1912. to rcferhto him as "the
tblcst soldier OF the time
%Like all those who build nightly.
ic sbegan at the very foundation, and
spantsFfour mopths in the laboratory
With; h;tlienativ9dicl cid d'batteryat Dumdum.
us most Important duties then CONF