Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-14
TOWNsHEND HOLDS HIGH
PLACE IN BRITISH ESTEEM
Some Of Critics Hall Him as One of
Most brilliant Soldiers Pro-
duced by Empire.
PAPERS FILLED WITH EXPLOITS
With Comparatively Small Body OF
Troops, Makes Remarkable Stand
at Kut-ei-Amnra Against Large
Army Of Turks.

Correspondence of Associated Press.]
LONDON. January 31.-The remark
able stand which has been made by
or-General Charles V. +. Town
shcnd and his comparatively small
body Of British troops at Kut- ell -Arnara,
Mesopotania, where for nearly two
months they have been besiegcd By 4
large army of Turks. has raised Cen
eral Townshcnd to a high place in the
esteem OF the English public. The far
away war thcater has been watched
with the deepest interest by those at
home since the British rcpulscd the
Turks at Ctcsiphon and began their
retreat to kut. and the exploits Of
General Townshcnd have occupied
much space In the newspapers, some
military critics hailing him rs one
or the most brilliant soldiers the en-
pire has produced.
During the long siege General Town
shcnd has beaten off all attacks OF
the Ottoman troops and Kept his lit
tie force intact. Every dispatch which
has come through from the commander
has been read with deepest interest
by the public that ha. feared that the
relieving army, which is said to have
been held up BY natural obstacles
would reach Kut-cl-Amara too late
General Townshcnd's recent report that
nc had sufficient supplies for his sol
dicrs partly relieved the minds OF
tho British people. who now are any-
:ou3ly awaiting the outcome.
STORY WILL MAKE
THRILLING CHAPTER
When the full story is told of tho
battle OF Ctcsiphon, the retreat TO
ku; and the siege It is expected by
the british to make as thrilling q chap
ter as any in the history of the world
war ana the name of General Town
Shchd VIII occupy an important place
In that story. The conflict at Ctesiphon
vas desperate work. and the general
himself fought as fcrcely as any OF
MS soldiers. who that day put 20 flight
Il body of Ottoman troops said 10 have
been six times their number. There
"cre critical moments, and It was at
these times that General Townshend
showed himself to be n cool and ro-
sourccfnl commander ana an ah,o
'"ctician -Four times he rallied his
men ana LED them in their charges
Military critics declare tina; the victory
OF C'csphon was a marnincort ono
but that the retreat to lIut viii oc,a,
II not surpass, II in q military achieve
in'nt under disadvantages of an or
traordnary kind. 1t is stated nm,
not only did General Townshend yra-J
OIL the Turks. but he did SO with !,
loss insignificant under the ctrcu,n
stances. and he succeeded In tnkinc
win him Ill his wounded. II has beer
declared ;hat the men under hin, v-ou,d
follow General Townsherd anvwhe-e
FGHCES HIS WAY UP
THROUGH SHEER MERIT
General Townshcnd is said 70 hay.
forced hi: way up 10 high command
through sheer merit. When he w,s
Only lieutenant he became an avid
"asht OF Napoleon. He studied ever
WORK on tho military theories and prac-
ices OF mat great general He mad,
IL RUE 7" study seven hours a dov
ana he never failed in CARRYING on,
ms Investigations OF the military %.
MUS OF the MASTER.
fuFther' he visited every battle field
on when Napoleon fought. and recon
stfCcted for himself the dispos;tio, NJ
'he forces in the battles which decided
me late o! nations. 1t is stated That
there probably is no greater authority
on Napolconic warfare in the Hrt,isi,
army than he.
"ehcral Townshend long before 1914
nhu SlucIed the possibility Of war with
Germany. He always held that wb.p
war ana come. Great Britain would no,
nc "pic 10 rely solely on her navy. hut
"ou!o need To have a Great arm,
ready ior the field. Believing that his
country would require an aruIy Of mil
Mons not thousands, he favored CON
pulSoFE service. re expressed tho
opiMion that Germany would make her
"''acN on France--and eventually ON
E"si'hd--'hrough Belgium, and many
Zines surveyed what he thought wouII
pc me coming battle field. The ren-
.'"' ~ hity-iour years old He is
"eT presnmpfivc 20 the Townshend
marquisate.