Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-26
LEADER ROSE FROM RANKS
Chief-of-staff Of British Army Spent
Ten Years as Private
Soldier.
HARD STUDY GAINED PROMOTION


Correspondence OF the Associated Press)
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS. France,
sept. 1O.--IAttle II known 10 the outside
world about Sir william Robertpon. X
C. v. o., X. c. b.. ID. s. o.. whose re-
narkabie career from the ranks 10 chief
of staff OF the army IL so we'll known 70
the army itself. His work in relation 10
that OF Sir John French. the commander
in-chief, has been described as that OF
the general manager OF n great corpora
tion that that OF Its president.
A powerfully built country boy. he came
TO London at the age Of 10 and enlisted IN
the Ninth Lanoers. Promotion from the
ranks In not frequent The great majority
OF officers come from the military school
nj sandhurst. But the door Is kept open
for a private OF good education and good
character. BY passing a stiff examina-
tton he may secure n commission.
Young Robertson had had only an ele-
mentary education; but he set out 20
make up for the deficiency by study. He
invested his shilling n day. which is the
pay OF a British private. In books. As n
British regular trooper has none too
much time TO himself. ne used 20 get
comrades 70 read TO him from Bacon and
tho English classics while he was groom
ing his horse or cleaning his equipment.
Not until he had served ten years did
ne pass his examination which gave him
a commission In tho Third Dragon
guards lie was then q and the average
second lieutenant had about eight years
the start OF him on the army list. In
the course OF lneal promotion he could
mover hope to be more than a major. spe-
clal promotion would only come through
distinguishing himself MasDonald, who
won fame By his charge al omduran,
and other emident British commanders
who had risen from the ranks had won
their way as natural leaders Of men in
the field. Robertson's career Is the more
striking, officers say. because Il IL due
to excellence In organization and In the
application OF the methods Of modern
war which presupposes the grounding OF
a thorough scientific military education,
Fsnds OiYnrsunitv IA lads.
-Four years after ne had received his
commission he had won enough attention
TO be assigned to the intelligence branch
OF the quartermas.ers department IN
India. In India he found his opportunity.
Rewards are given officers for learnlns
native dialects.
To the average officer there is nothing
very attractive IN spending hours with
native ''munshi.' or teacher. In aeauir-
ing n tongue which can be OF use with
only some frontier tribe. Robertson Of
fered his niunshi quarter Of the reward
when he was proficient enough TO earn II
by passlng an examination.
Sir William. when he Il reminiscent will
recall what all excellent bargain this
proved 20 be. The munshi saw 70 Il that
his pupil did not fail TO improve any
spare moments. He would be waiting at
his pupils door at daybreak and put
him through an hours lesson before
breakfast, Having mastered one dialect
Robertson undertook another and then
another. SOON he became known as a
language expert. This gained FOR him
another opportunity which was 10 apply
his knowledge by explorations on the
northwest frontier. When the Chitrai
trouble came his linguistic accomplish
ments and his knowledge OF the country
were invaluable. lie came out OF the
Chitral campaign with the DISTINGUISHED
Service order for services which included
gallantry in action when he was severely
wounded. Now he was marked man"
In the service. marked by stubborn APP
plication which had brought him from
the ranks and by his demonstrated ability.
Everyone had 10 admire him," as an
other general said. "Iio had won his way
without influence against odds by sheer
hard work. making the most OF his nat
ursl gifts
4 On the staff throughout the South
African campaign he earned the praise
OF Roberts and Kitchener by his capacity
for getting thinRn done ,vhen ofhara
sometimes failed. When In 1910 he was
placed IN command Of the Army STAFF