Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-11-16
DEATH OF LORD
ROBERTS SUDDEN,
FOLLOWS A CHILL
Field Marshal About to Return to
England When Attack Causing
End Occurs.
LONG URGED MILITARY TRAINING
Did Much to Impress on Public
Mind Necessity of Preparing
for Struggle.
MOST POPULAR WAR FIGURE
Declared by Kaiser to Be Greatest Of
Fighting Men.
WAS EIGHTY-TWO YEARS OLD
sent Against Beers when Forces
of Empire HumbIed I'm south
Africa and Turned the
Tide
MOST POPULAR WAR FIGURE
Declared by Kaiser TO Be Greatest Of
Fighting Men.
WAS EIGHTY-TwO YEARS OLD

LONDON. Nov. Is,--The death OF Field
Marshal Earl Roberts which occurred
last evening at the headquarters OF the
British expeditionary forces in France,
wes extremely sudden. He was in his
usual good health when he left England
Wednesday With his daughter. Lady
Aileen Roberts, and his son-in-law.
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 conti-
nent. In fact, he was about to return
home when death occurred.
Earl Roberts had motored to the Brit
ish bases and camps, had reviewed the
Indian troops and had conferred with
the leading officers. II was not until
about dinner time Friday evening that he
complained Of a slight chill. AS he was
subject to trifling ,hest troubles, he fol-
lowed his usual course and went to he'd
early.
Relieved of Pain.
AS his temperature increased. medical
men were called in and pronounced his
condition critical. They relieved the gen.
eral of his pain and he fell asleep. HIS
death occurred during sleep.
created profound grief throughout the
country. At all churches and in the Dol-
diers training camps touching references
were made to his death today.
In a telegram to Lady Roberts, Field
Marshal Sir John French, in the name
of the army serving in France. expressed
deep sympathy, saying: your grief Is
shared by us, who mourn the loss OF a
- A. - l~4
seems fitting to the ending of the life Of
a great soldier that he should have passed
away in the midst of the troops he loved
guns"
Surprise fin England.
The news OF the death of Lord Roberts
came as an entire surprise to England.
The veterans devotion 70 the interests
Of the army, his hard work in this con-
nection and his seeming good health had
been the subject OF comment since the
beginning OF tho war He was the most
popular military figure in Great Britain
and national hero without rival in the
affections of the people.
Despite his years, he had never ceased
hard work since his nominal retirement,
and, as ne had often remarked, he lived
a rigidly abstemious life. that he might
preserve his strength for the service of
his country.
During the last five or SIX years. when
the German war cloud had been grow
ing. he prosecuted an active campaign
TO persuade the nation to adopt a COM
pulsory military service. His belief was
p that Great Britain required the training
OF the whole male population in arms
rather on the plan OF Switzerland than
the longer terms OF conscription enforced
in the case Of continental military ma
tions.
Urges Military Training.
BY speeches in Parliament and addresses
before meetings throughout the Kingdom.
by magazine writings and letters he
preached increasingly and untiringly
the necessity for the nation to have
its men trained in the rudiments
at least of the soldiers work SO
that they could be called quickly to
arms to defend the country against in
vasion.
In private conversation he expressed
the conviction that Germany was plan
ming to make war ON Great Britain when
she found an advantageous moment, and
he believed that tine supposed menace OF
civil war in ireland was a factor In
setting alight the present European con.
flagration. Lord Roberts commanded
none of the arts of the orator and usually
read his speeches His popular nickname
'Bobs" implied no lacksof personal dig.
nifty. Although only five feet three
shade shorter than Field Marshal
Freneh-his figure and bearing were the
embodiment of soldierly character
Cared Little for Society.
His home at Ascot was a modest. un
pretentious villa. For society he hat
neither time nor inclination. but he wa
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