Year: 1879


mind were the probable political consequences and
sympathy for the widowed and now childess
Empress. But at present the feeling uppermost in
the English heart is one of shame for the blot cast
upon the English army by the want OF proper
guardianship over the young Napoleon displayed by
his superior officers whose guest he but mostly
by the ignoble flight of his comrade in arms. Lieu
tenant Carey and the other English soldiers with
him. In military circles in England nothing has for
years. If ever created such of disgrace. The
papers are filed with letters from army officers
expressing Indignation at the conduct OF
their fellow officer. and urgently demanding an
impartial Investigation. "He is fine young fell
low, wrote the Duke of Cambridge to Lord Chelms-
ford at the time the Prince went out to Zululand,
ful of spirit and pluck and having many old cadet
friends in the artillery he will doubtless find no
difficulty in getting on and if you can help him in
any way pray do My only anxiety on his &C
count would be that he is too plucky and go-ahead.
The Duke also wrote that the Prince wished to
III the army. bur the government would not per-
NIT it.


BRITISH HOSPITALITY.


The Prince therefore went out a spectator and o
guest. In spite of the above warning the young
Bonaparte allowed to go into the heart of the
enemy's country with meagre escort Of less
than dozen men, who, when surprised, all
scampered away and left their guest and comrade to
follow foot best could Perhaps the soldiers
whose bodies were found by that OF the Prince did
die in his defence Later accounts will tell. and
every one hopes they did. for English honor is at
stake and Lieutenant Carey did little for its glory.
What chance this was for man to have earned the
thanks of a nation and the personal gratitude Of the
heir Of the Bonapartes. not to speak of more SUBJ
stantial rewards in the shape of the Victoria Cross
and promotion. There models of bravery for
Lieutenant Carey. but unfortunately the stuff Of the
hero was wanting IN him. "Such story" writes
gentlemen to the Telegraph. "reddens the cheek Of
every Engishman-aye, and every English woman
with unutterable distress and indignation


WHERE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS.


1t was possible for him to service without
risk. The Prince would have been the last to sane
tion such tender He brave to reckessness,
and would have smarted under any more restraint
than j. customary in similar He was not
serving in the army. however and his place should
have been by the side Of the commander-inchief or
General Newdigate into whose care he had been put
The Neto citing supposed parallel case, says that
eff son of General Grant or of Marshal MacMahon
had been allowed to be present with the British army
in South Africa under conditions similar to those
under which the Prince Louis Napoleon accom-
panied it. the of the and protection
due to guest would have involved precisely the
same obligations toward either of them toward
the Prince" To show you how this part of the
incident is regarded by the English army it is only
u
from one who says, "Up to this time we have sus-
tained many military disasters and have made many
military blunders but never before this occasion
have blushed to sign myself a British officer"
Another signs himself "a Much Ashamed English
man" The Standard. in printing these two
munications, II does with pain, but that
is useless to conceal the or humiliation and
shame which is felt throughout the length breadth
or the land at the i'll which the gallant young
Prince was detailed for most dangerous duty and
then deserted by his escort upon the first in
tmation of the fact that the Zuius had surprised
Them


THE INCOMPETENT COMMANDER


"A proof that Lord Chelmsford never realized
the Importance of the charge committed to him is
the matter of-course way in which his official de-
spatch is written. To him it unfortunate
affair, as he described the Isandula massacre, and
when he meets the "brave Carey and the other sur
viyors of this later affair. he will probably say.
THANK you all very much for your very gallant
prudence" Sir Bartle Frere and the colonists are
still less consijerate. Donald Currie n Co. offered
that the news might be telegraphed to
Europe from there instead of later from
ton to the offer. Yet another example Of disregard
OF propriey and good taste Is the announcement
that the festivities connected with the of
Bartle to Cape Town would not be interrupted, be-
the Prince Imperial did not hold an onicial
position. Sir Bartle has been. you doubtless know
making triumphal tour through the colony. He
to make grand entry into Cape Town. and there
was to be great procession and banquet Triumphal
arches were being erected when the last mail left
though where the cause for triumph is nobody i'm
England has been able to discover. The glad music
In celebration of the unknown triunlphs of Sir
Bartle Frere will be mingled with the requiem of
the Prince Imperial his body carried on its
way to England. No wonder British pride IL
wounded.


AN ARMY OFFICERS LETTER.


TO give you an idea OF the Indignation that pre-
walls may give the letter OF British officer to the
Stdnddrd. He says:-'The report of the incidents
connected with the death of the Prince Imperial will
n deep sensation not only OF sorrow but of
shame. throughout the British army. In the first
place ii was an act of the most extraordinary reck
lessIess to send two young officers miles away from
the support OF the British column, with a scouting
party OF six irregular troopers. white men, and a
kafiir guide. SO great has been the dread felt
by the authorities for the Zulus that they suffered
dead to lie Mt lsandula TOR four months within
sight of a military post, aud during this time only
scouting party ventured to pay flying visit to
the place; and yet these young officers de-
spatched many miles into utterly unknown
country with only six troopers. II would in any
case have been act of objectionable recklessness
TO despatch this little party upon such an expedi-
serious when 1t is remembered that of these
officers was the Prince Imperial OF France
1t is clear that in his case the greatest
caution should have been observed, and that he
should have been the very last person chosen for
u service of extraordinary danger. Does any
suppose that, had the Duke of Connaught been pres
with the force. the Quartermaster General would
have despatched him upon such duty AS thsy Yet
lie sent the Prince Imperial. the heir to the throne
OF France, the guest OF England lad new to soldier
ing, who could have known nothing whatever of tho
duties OF scouting and the necessary to be OBJ
served upon such am expedition an that on which he
was engaged. Nor does the officer who accompanied
him appear to have been more instructed in his
duty. II 1t be true that the party unsadded their
horses and sat down for hour in the heart Of
zulnland without even taxing the precaution Of
putting a man OH duty to act rs a scout.


HEnoIsM.


But. sir, unhsppiy, tins terrible blundcr of a
British staff officer high position s not the only.
indeed the most lamentablc and disgracefu fca-
ture OF the affair. Englshincn cannot read the
count of the struggle itself without deep feeling OF
shame. The party had just saddlcd their horses
when the alarm of the Zulus was given. Each oapt
upon his horse and gaoped for his life. There was
thought of the brave young Prince; one looked
round to see IL the whole party were together, or
had thought for any one but himself. Contrast
this selfish flight with some of the heroic incidents
of the present campaign which have been pub
lshed Think OF Major Leet. at Zlobane
hotly pursued by the Zulus. yet sticking by
his dismounted friend, Lieutenant Smith. who ran
by his side holding by the saddle. aud from time
time turning round shot with his revolver those
Zuus who came within asscgai reach. Hotly
pressed and with smiths strength failing, Major
Leet made great effort, aud by main forcs hauled
his comrade up to bis horse behind HIM and bore
him of ia safety. Think, again, Of captain Brown
ut Kanlbula, who--whcn volunteer who had dis