Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-09
PRINCES SLIGHT FIGURE
CONCEALs ROYAL SPIRIT
Overcomes Handicaps Put Upon Him
by Nature and Proves Himself
Real Man.
ENGLISH PEOPLE FEEL PROUD
In Calm, Undemonstrative Way, Heir
to British Throne Plows Ahead ut
Duties, Making Uniform Record OF
Excellence.
BY HERBERT TEMPLE.

known the Prince of Wales had gone
to the front last autumn there were
many who scoffed. No, in print, Of
course, but in private conservation
there were real patriots who bcmoaned
the lack of splendid figure to repre-
sent the King in France. English
men were q bit ashamed Of the princes
wan, pinchcd face and slouching, non
aggressive figure s
But the prince has made He
is not the weakling he appears. Those
who follow field sports know that
many. indeed most. good cross country
and long distance runners are slight
in appearance. Such is Prince Ed
ward. He carries no weight. and his
endurance is astonishing.
On several occasions the prince has
marched his twenty-five miles day,
carrying heavy equipment. and turned
up fresh and brisk at the end. He has
never faltered. but in a calm, un-
demonstrative way he plowed ahead at
his duties. day after day. making a
Uniform record OF excellence
So the English people are beginning
to feel proud of their Prince Of Wales
He has overcome the handicaps nature
put upon him. His open-air life. too
is at last beginning to broaden him
out. His appearance Is much more
rugged than 1t was when he appeared
before Earl kitchener last summer
and demanded that he be sent to the
front.
On that FIRST occasion he was re-
fused. The War Secretary firmly in
formed the prince that he had not had
sufficient training. Bp.f,s little more
IMAM TWO monthS7 kitchener had
the same cs' me same GRAND,
and this nc did not turn him
down.
HAS SEEN HALF-YEAR
OF THIS TERRIBLE WAR
Now. not yet twenty-one years of
age. nc has seen half-year of war.
He has proved himself an Is
patch bearer and staff officer He ia
not allowed 10 expose himself to cap
ture by the Germans. for. as hostage,
he would embarrass the British fright
fully. But he has been under fire many
times. especially when directing the
building Of trenches near the battle
field OF Ncuvc Chapclle.
To the army he is simply up. w"
This is. OF course. an abbreviation OF
Prince of Wales" The officers and
men like him. He enjoys no special
privileges. lie wears a plain khaki
uniform with star on the sleeve.
There is bit OF braid on his can.
which all guard regiment officers wear.
while piece Of scarlet cloth on the
coat lapel indicates that he is a STAFF
officer
When travelling with dispatches the
prince keeps several rifles in hi. car.
and has been under fire more than
once
The prince was four montlsfT the
held before he even visited Paris.
Then he lunched with President poin-
care. and returned shortly 10 his
duties.
He often is seen in the military hos
pi'als. and always carries big stock
of his favorite brand OF cigarette.
which he passes around freely. He
speaks CHEEKY word 10 man after
man.
DISCIPLINED ONCE
IN COURT-MARTIAL.
Only once has the prince been dis
cipl!ned since leaving England.
He was sent with dispatches TO
Major Deane, who commanded the
forces in village near ST. Eloi. the
scene OF fierce fighting. AS he arrived
he passed German officer being led off
man had been found in the English
lines wearing an English officers great
coat.
The prince spoke 10 the prisoner in
German. and learned the man had be-
come detached from a German patrol
and was simply endeavoring TO reioin
his own lines when captured He said
he had taken the coat from n dead
English officer because he had lost his
own and was suffering from cold.
me prince was impressed with the
mans story, and asked the lieutenant
In charge of the firing squad to send
the German to the local prisoners
camp and have his case examined fur
Their.
Major Deane was indignant and in
formed the prince that whether he was
a spy or not, the prince had no right
to interfere with the lieutenant. who
was carrying out definite and strict
instructions. He added that he would
be compelled 10 report to the British
headquarters that TIE prince had used
his rank as the son of the sovereign
to prevent these instructions being
carried out.
The court-martial resulted in the
prince being severely censured and
ooopChdCU QulE TOT three davS
But the prisoner was declared not TO
have been spy. and was sent to Eng
land as an ordinary prisoner of war.
YOUNGER BROTHER, ALBERT,
Is AGAIN WITH FLEET
The princes brother. Albert, one
year younger. has a much better figure
carriage than the heir to the
rome Like King George, he has
taken. to the sea. He has now recov.
cred from the operation from appen-
dicitis he underwent in the early DAVIS
Of the war. and is again with the fleet.
1t is said that for several years the
Prince of Wales has been no match
for the sailor brother in boxing and
wrestling bouts. Albert has a special
contempt for all sorts Of wraps, and in
earlier years often brought down the
wrath OF Queen Mary by the lightness
of his dress. The Queens over-con-
scientiousness in protecting her chill.
dren is handicap all her sons have