The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-11-19
MOURNS
HEROIC SOLDIER
'assing of Lord Roberts, Aged
81, on French Battle Front,
Comes As Blow to Eng
liSh Nation.

London. Nov. 17.-The death OF Field
Marshal Earl Roberts, which occurred
Saturday evening at the headquarters
of the British expeditionary forces in
France, was extremely sudden. He was
in his usual good health when he left
England Wednesday with his daughter,
Lady Aileen Roberts, and his soninlaw,
Major Levin. The party had a rough
trip crossing the channel. but the aged
general felt no i'll effects and went
through with his program on the con
tinent. In fact, he was about to return
home when death occurred.
Earl Roberts had motored to the
British bases and camps, had reviewed
the Indian troops and had conferred
with the leading officers. 1t was not
until about dinner time Friday even
ing that he complained of a slight chill.
Pneumonia quickly developed. His
death occurred during sleep.
The passing of the great warrior has
created profound grief throughout the
country. At all churches and in the
soldiers training camps touching ref
erences were made to his death.
Lord Roberts vas SO a old. He
was born in Cawnpore, India. He
gained fame in India, especially at
Kandahar against the Afghans, in
Egypt n the two wars against the
Beers in South Africa. He received a
vote of thanks from parliament three
times and rose from the ranks to the
highest military honors, being reward-
ed for personal bravery many times.
The emperor of Germany once called
him the greatest living soldier.
Sketch of His Career.
Roberts of Kandahar, Pretoria and
Waterford" as Field Marshal Lord
Frederick Sleigh Roberts was known,
sums up briefly the career OF the noted
soldier whose death has plunged the
empire into mourning.
Scion OF a noble Irish family, Lord
Roberts was born in 1882 In Cawnpore,
India. where his father, Gen. Sir Abra-
ham Roberts, was serving. 1t was in
the Indian service that the gallant and
efficient Irish soldier achieved his first
and lasting fame. 1t was In South
Africa In his later years that this was
supplemented and magnified by his
ACHIEVEMENTS in Great Britain's victo-
rious campaign against the Beers.
But IL IL was as field marshal and
earl that Lord Roberts was formally
known, 1t was as 'Bobs" that the men
OF the ranks knew him. loved him and
greeted him. In their estimation and
in that of the admiring public, which
appreciated n applauded his gallant
services for his country. no name could
fit him better than this diminutive of
his family name, the word meaning
nero III hlnQOO
For more than half a century Eng
land had occasion to take pride in the
career of Roberts the soldier. AS the
career ripened she came to hold him
In the same affection as Wellington,
Give and Kitchener. In nine of her
wars he was in the fighting and many
times vas wounded. As he fought he
rose in rank from the supernumerary
subaltern in the horse artillery to field
marshal and commander Of all the
British armies. As further rewards he
was made a peer of the realm and the
recipient of distinguished orders. chief
of which was the Order of the Garter.
This browning honor came to him in
1901. after his services in leading the
British to victory in South At
RIGA. aH
Lord Roberts military education be-
gan early in life. When an infant in
arms he was taken to England to re-
ceive education in the warlike art. For
more than 40 years. he served in the
orient, bringing honor to the arms OF
Great Britain.
Beginning with the Indian mutiny.
the record Of his services Is studded
with brilliant exploits and gallant
deeds.