"FIGHTING MAC."

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 853, 30 March 1903, Page 2

"FIGHTING MAC."

The cablegrams still throw no light on the nature of the charge that had been preferred against General Macdonald, but a rather fanciful sort of tale is repeated from Edinburgh. The tale is ridiculous on the face oi it,

but it is possible- there may be more than a grain ot truth in the statement that “ Fighting Mac ” lias been a

■ ictim oi society’s whims. It has teen proved only 100 truly in recent nontlis that social influence not only »oes a long way towards promotion in the army, but that a man oi sensitive disposition may have to put up with a great deal indeed if he happen not to he one of the society coterie. It was a well-known fact that General Macdonald cared not for the silliness of so-called society, and he had a wholesome contempt for that class which fawns on a name, and it is I quite possible that this contempt did I

lead him into trouble. But it cannot for a moment be believed that an ambush was deliberately, laid for the purpose of luring him to destruction. '1 he statement that the King was an on-looker, too, stamps the tale as absurd, for .whatever may, be the faults of the King they, do not run in .the direction of seeing his best officers sacrificed at the behest of fashion’s favorites. The affection in which the deceased soldier’s memory is held in Scotland especially, is shown by the prompt steps taken .to have the remains brought from France for interment in Scottish soil. One of the features of General Macdonald’s visit to New Zealand shores was the interest he manifested in the cadets, and the lesson he most strongly inculcated into the minds of the boys was the necessity for discipline and obedience, and his advice had good effect, because he himself was so much admired for his soldierly qualities.