THE PASSING OF A GREAT SOLDIER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2308, 16 November 1914, Page 4

THE PASSING OF A GREAT SOLDIER

The death of Earl Roberts, Announced in a cablegram 'which we publish to-day, doprives the British Empire of as gallant a : soldier as ever wore a_ uniform, and one who leaves behind a name and fame which will endure and be an inspiration to his countrymen for ages to come. Such a man stands in no need of sounding panegyrics, for the long and brilliant career which carried him to the summit of his profession ■ and earned the highest honours; in the gift of the State endeared him also to the hearts of the multitude. His active military •'career was followed by years of strenuous endeavour on behalf of his country at an age when most men would "have been content to rest upon their laurels. The campaign which he inaugurated three years ago on behalf of compulsory military service was not the least of his achievements, and even those who dissent from the measures which he advocated must recognise the clear foresight by which ne was inspired to take the work in hand. Extreme age prevented the veteran Field-Marshal taking any active part in the great conflict of nations now raging, but it may truly be said that he died in harness, for his life ended at Paris, where he had gone to greet a body of the Indian troops who have come forward to do their part in defending the Empire. The son of a soldier, Earl Roberts was a soldier born. He joined the Bengal Artillery in 18,52, when he was_ twenty years of age, and served his apprenticeship to war in the Indian Mutiny. It was in one of the battles following upon the relief of Lucknow that he earned the Victoria Gross, that supreme distinction with which Great Britain rewards its valiant soldiers. Long years of strenuous soldiering in India were followed by the his : toric march to Kandahar, which made his name a household word. There remained a dozen years or-so of command in India before the retirement which preceded his call to South Africa. Saddened by the death, of his son, who had lost his life and oarned the V.O. in an heroic attempt to recover a battery of guns at tho Battle of Colcnso, Lord Roberts yet showed himself as untiring as ever in the service of his country, and added still another chapter to his famo. He will bo remembered not only as ono of the greatest soldiers in his generation, but as a reformer who did much in years of ceaseless activity to improve the ef-' ficiency of the British Army and the lot and treatment of the British soldier. It was in every way characteristic, too, that when the outbreak of a great war had so palpably demonstrated the wisdom of his untiring advocacy of military preparation and e(hoiency t he in no w t iy slackened his activities, but turned with fresh energy to give all tho help that be could in the practical prosecution of tho war. His powerful influence and tho inspiration of his life and work did much to stimulate rcwuitinff, and until he was (stricken down at last si tba m> of fiS ue lat>.

oured Unceasingly for the nation which he o had served so well and faithfully for more than sixty years. Much might be said of the. high spirit of chivalry which animated Earl Roberts throughout his life, but indeed it shines out through all his work and achievements. He leaves an example which all men may be proud to follow, but few may hope to equal.