THE DEATH OF PRINCE IMPERIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 20049, 14 December 1928, Page 10

THE DEATH OF PRINCE IMPERIAL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The complacency pf a comsponcloiit in tlio ‘ Observer,’ who constitutes himself an authority on the death of. tho Prince Imperial in the article reprinted by you,-is on a par with his all-round ignorance of Jus subject. Wo must bear in mind that this tragedy took place some time after Laminin, where the 24tli regiment (tho South'Wales.Borderers) was massacred, and Lord Chelmsford was now taking tho most elaborate precautions against the Zulus. He impressed on his subordinates that they must undostand that tho Prince (having hopes of a Napoleonic restoration) held-no military rank in tho British Army whatever. The Prince was not shown in field of parade states as having any other title; but extra aide-de-camp. Tho G.O.C. further commanded that at all times His Highness would bo under the command of_ a British officer, with a sufficient force accompanying them should ho have his lordship’s permission to venture beyond the advanced parties. “No foundation existed,” said the bite Duke of Cambridge, “ for Carey’s assumption that the Prince was in charge.” Why did Colonel Harrison send'or allow the Prince to go on this mission in defiance of the orders of the G.0.C., and stranger still, why did Carey volunteer to bo the officer in command? Colonel Harrison admitted that Carey knew ho was in command. “ I gave him ” (Carey), said Harrison, “an order on the Cavalry Brigade Major for six white troopers and six mounted Basnto scouts.” Strange our presumptive critic in the ‘ Observeris ignorant of that, and of tho fact also that the Basntos paraded at the wrong tent and failed to join the party under the command of Lieutenant Carey at anv time that fatal Sunday. Tho late Lord Grenfell (then major GOth rifles) accompanied the Prince for several miles, riding alongside the young Napoloon, uiul ou leaving luiyi remarked, “Take care of yonrscll, Prince, and mind yon get shot. “ Oh no! lie will take very good care that nothing happens to' me, ’ replied the Prince, pointing to Carey at tho same time. Had the young man any presentiment of something out of the ordinary about to happen, for the first entry iu his note hook was, “ Ist June -Started from Ttilegi to find camping ground for 2nd Division. Party under Captain Carev”? Then followed a- description of the country, ■illustrated by sketches showing the Prince to have some considerable skill as a draughtsman. The rain had ceased, and the Prince put the notes in the pocket of his “siphonia” tho light waterproof carried hy officers, the last entry being “1.30 p.ni.” The Prince referred to Carey as “ Captain ” because it was onlv a matter of the mail arriving to confirm bis appointment to the higher rank. What convicts our critic of the 1 Observer ’ is his occupying the arcater part of a column under a maze of ambiguity trying to enforce Ins point of view on tho so-called misplaced title. The excitement in Lugland at that time had no bearing whatever on that, for the simple reason that the Prince’s effects were not recovered until some time alter the conclusion of tho campaign. Surely fie does not insinuate that the latc^(fuoou Victoria and the ex-Empress Eugenio were stating falsehoods, and that some Zulu forged tho Prince Imperial s handwriting?—l am, etc., Eighteen Seventy Ninek. October 18. • "