KAID MACLEAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 25 July 1907, Page 3

KAID MACLEAN.

Kaid MacEean is the adventurous Scottish soldier, Sir Harry Aubrey MacEean, who wore a tartan kilt in a Highland regiment before he entered the Moorish service, to become commander-in-chief of the Sultan’s forces.

Born in 1848 at Chatham-, where his father was a senior surgeon to the garrison hospital, he obtained a commission in the 69th Regiment of Foot in 1869, and served in the army in various parts of the world till 1876. He also took part in the Red River expedition, and also did duty at Bermuda and Gibralta. It was while he was at the lastnamed station that - he came into touch withdhe country which was to be chiefly connected with his life’s work'. In 1876, while on a visit to Tangier, he was asked by the then British Minister to Morocco, Sir Drummond Hay, it he would accept the post of instructor to the Moorish troops, the Sultan having asked the British Minister to find him an English officer for that purpose. MacEean accepted the offer, resigning his commission in the British Array. The first work given to him by his new master was the ordering of a number of large guns. So pleased was the Sultan with the way in which the young foreigner did the work entrusted to him that he took him permanently into the employ of the Moorish Government and subsequently gave him the rank of Kaid. During his 28 years’ command of the Moorish army, Kaid MacEean has made it a fighting machine not to be despied. His influence in the country is immense, and his presence has been of great value in favourably impressing the Sultan with English ideas and diplomacy. He is extremely popular with the soldiers, who delight to speak of his bravery, and his influence among the people, and at Court has been immensely enhanced by the lact that he has never meddled in politics, but has always devoted himself to his own work. He has organised practically the whole Moorish army, arming the troops with European rifles. Owing to bis representations, the soldiers receive their pay with comparative regularity, and he has been instrumental in checking the barbarities which have been practised in Morocco, so that his name is regarded as synonymous with inflexible justice, tact, and indomitable energ5 r and braverj r . As he has accompanied the Sultan in all his expeditions, he has seen an immense amount of fighting. Many years ago he lost the sight of his right eye as the result of opthalmia contracted during one of these expeditions, but this is in no way apparent, both eves having the appearance of normal health. In spite of the loss of one eye he is a magnificent rifle shot, firing from the left shoulder. “The Kaid, with his flowing robes, sun-browned face and white beard,’’ wrote one who saw him when he was on his special embassy to congratulate King Edward on his accession, looks like a typical Moor, but a very warm-hearted Scotsman is to be found under the Oriental exterior.

Raid Macßean receved the honour of knighthood from the King in 1901, “for services rendered to the British Government.” His heart is with the old flag evidently, for his son is in the British army, and went through the South African war.