The Washington times., 1914-11-15

ed that Lord Roberts was to 90 TO the
front to see the men from his beloved
India, and there was no intimation un-
I'll last Thursday that the veteran war
rlor was not in his usual good health
only the bare announcement of the
great field marshal's death was receiv-
cd. This came in Field Marshal
French's dispatch to Lord Kitchener,
secetary of state for war, which read ::
II deeply regret to tell you that Lord
Roberts died at o'clock this evening"
Lord Roberts. who was eighty-two
years old, had expected to be in France
only short time in order to greet the
Indian troops, Of which he was colonel
In chief. He contracted a chill Oh
Thursday in the trenches and succum-
BED to the attack of pneumonia which
followed
.'Englands greatest soldier since
wellington" was, the verdict of one
military critic on Earl Roberts after
MS successful conclusion of the Trans
vaal war. In the length and briliancy
of his service he overtopped all contem-
porarfes. just as in the affections of
the army rank and file, who fondly
called him "Bobs," he had no rival.
Enters Army at Nineteen.
Earl Roberts was of Irish descent.
son OF General Sir Abraham Roberts.
member of a prominent Waterford
family, hero Of the first Afghan war,
good soldier and true" and "one
whose zeal and activity were proven
bal His younger son, Frederick Sleigh
Roberts, was born on September 30. 1882.
at Cawnpore, India. where his father
was then IN command. Eton and
sandhurst and Addiscombe were the
scenes of his education for the in
evftable army life.
He was only nineteen when he en-
tered the. Bengal artillery. and began
that long career in the East which he
has interestingly related in his Forty
one Years in India He was one OF
5000 whites who by force of person
ality dominated 10000 native troops and
In turn 25o.00o00o restive natives. In
the Indian army even then were strong
men like Outram. Havelock, Nicholson.
campbell, and the Lawrences. and un-
Ger them he worked year after year un-
I'll the mutiny.
II was in 1857 that young Roberts
had his first strong taste of war, going
With Sir Colin Campbell to the relief
OF Lucknow. When they were nearing
tne city he II was who raised a flag
or house close to the enemy's lines
10 tell Outram of their coming Twice
The flag was shot away and twice he
replaced it. In the final battle at
lucknow ne took a conspicuous part, !
az wei as IN the operations at Delhi. !
'awnpore. Miangange, and Khuda-
Gunge. At the last named Elace he won
me Victoria Cross by his valor in
nand-to-hand fight
At Siege of Delhi.
He took an active part in the siege of |
Delhi, where the besiegers were at
tunes equally the besieged and were |
"ntnumbered three to one. There he
"as wounded. After Delhi, Roberts /
~as appointed to Colonel Greathead's
oNsoie column and was in the fights
AZ Bolundshur. Allyghur, and at the
'spture of Agra He was with Sir !
i1cpe Grant in the march on Lucknow.
Sno soon after was with Sir Colin
'smpbeH at the battle of Cawnpore
In 1850. after passing some time in
England on account Of illness, due to
ne herce campaign which he had gone
through, Lieutenant Roberts was made
captain, and shortly after was
" 'Ssrded the title of brevet major for
~ distinguished services in the field.
Years that followed the Mutiny were
ILIi OF active work for the rising Young
"ncer. He was in the frontier cam
lalen al tmbeyla in 1853. had charge
-, me ;emaarkation Of the Abyssinian
expedition four years later and was SEN
lnr star off1cer in the Lushaf campaign
of I6Il-R. His workmanlike ysv Of do
.ng ms cutN so commended itself to his
superlors that he was twenty-three
Tunes mentioned in oficial dispatches.
Swift Rise to Fame.
From 1875 TO 1878 Roberts was quar-
termaster general of the Indian army.
md IN the latter year came his first
opportunity as an independent COM
Insnoer The Ameer of Afghanistan re-
belled and Roberts went out AT the
neeo OF the kuram field force to pun
vide turning movement he carried the
enenys stronghold in Peiwar Pass
a against great odds and won the atten-
non Of the empire.
For this victory Roberts. then ONLY a
oreVet colonel. was promoted to major
general made a X. c. B. and APPOINTED
on the army commission at Simla He
WAS there In September. 1879 when news
anne that Sir Louis Csvagnari had been
murdered by the Afghans Roberts was
selected to avenee the crime. At the
head of 5000 men he cut his wsv 10
,abul In thirty DAYS despite fierce oppo-
'ition by the Afghans. In the captured
;itadel he waited for more men. mean
Thile scattering the foe at Charasiyab
houGh outnumbered ten to one
When re-enforcements came he took
!" 900 men and with them made one Of
he most famous marches in British
history, from Csbul to Kandahar, 300
niles, in twenty days.
The sensationally swift success Of the
>abul- -Kandahar march, which culmi-
lated in the crushing defeat Of Ayoob
<han, stirred Great Britain. He was
allied home, made q baronet, thanked
" the Queen and parliament, and feted
'ublicly and privately. He was put In
ommand at Madras. where he remained
I've years, and In 1ss6 became COM
Of the forces in India.
N the eve Of his retirement from this
ost, In 1893, he was created Baron Rob-
rts of Kandahar. V
cruGhes Beers In Africa.
Quiet years succeeded his two dse-
4es Of active military life. He was
tbetntsd commander-fn-chfsf Of ths
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