DEATH OF LORD ROBERTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1325, 17 November 1914, Page 2

DEATH OF LORD ROBERTS.

The Prime Minister has received the following message from the High Commissioner : “Condon, November 15th. Cord Roberts died to-day.” The Prime Minister also received the following from the High Commissioner, dated Condon, November 15th; — “Cord Kitchener has received this evening a telegram from Sir John French as follows : T deeply regret to tell you that Cord Roberts died at 8 o’clock this evening.’ “Cord Roberts was on a visit to France to greet the Indian troops. He contracted a chill on Thursday, and succumbed to an attack of pneumonia.”

Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Pretoria and Waterford, P.C., K.P., G.C.8., G.C.5.1., G.C.1.E., V.C., K.G., D.C.L., LL.D., Order of Merit ; Field-Marshal; Colonel of the National Reserve ; was born at Cawnpore, India, on September 30th, 1832, son of General Sir Abraham Roberts, G.C.8., and Isabella, daughter of Major Abraham Bunbury, 62nd Foot, Kilfeacle, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. His title was derived from his services In Afghanistan, particularly at Kandahar, and from the long connection of his family with Waterford, He became 2nd Lieutenant in the Bengal Artillery, 1851, Lieutenant in 1857 ; Captain, iB6O, Brev. Major, i 86 0; Brev. Lieutenant-Colonel, 1868; Brev. Colonel, 1875; Major-General, 1S78; Lieutenant-General, 1883; General, 1890; Field-Marshal, 1595 ; D.A.Q.M.G. throughout Indian Mutiny ; A.O.M.G. (Bengal), 1863-8 ; xst A.Q.M.G., 186972; D.Q.M.G., 1872 5 ; Q.M.G., in India, 1875-8 ; Commander Kuram Field Force, November, 1878, to September, 1879 ; Commander Kabul Field Force, September, 1879, to April, 1880 ; Commander Kabul-Kandahar Field Force, August-September, ISBO ; Commander in Southern Afghanistan, September-October, 1880 ; Commander-in-Chief, Madras, November, 1881, to August, 1885 ; Commander-in-Chief, India, November, 18S5, to August, 1893 ; Commander of the forces in Ireland, October Ist, 1595, to 1899 ; served throughout siege and capture of Delhi (wounded, July 14th, horse shot September 14th, 1557) ; actions of Bulandshahr (horse shot), Aligarh, Agra, Kanauj (horse wounded), and Bantharra; throughout operations connected with the relief of Lucknow ; battle of Cawnpore and several other operations ; Abyssinian Expedition, 1867-8 ; Lushai Expedition, 1871-2. Lord Roberts was Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, 1899-1900 : relieved Kimberley, February, 1900 ; took Commandant Cronje and the Western Army prisoners, February 27th, 1900. He was Com-mander-in-Chief from 1901 to 1904-

LAST WORDS OF LORD ROBERTS.

BRAVE DEEDS OF BRITISH SOLDIERS. London, Nov. 15. The last words of Lord Roberts are contained in an interview with Count Denu for “L’Echo de Paris,” given on Tuesday prior to his departure for France. Lord Roberts declared that the primary reason for his visit was to see his dear Indian troops. He intended to speak to General French regarding the non-neces-sity of secrecy being observed over the brave deeds of the British soldiers. He said that the war correspondents ought to be allowed to receive a fair amount of information, apart from military movements, which must be kept absolutely secret. He urged that correspondents should be permitted to write up the details of the glorious actions fought by our troops in France. “With conscription,” said Lord Roberts, ‘‘we could afford to remain silent; but Great Britain wants many more men. and if we fail to inform our home people of our soldiers’ brave .fights and gallant deeds, how are we going to waken in the souls of our young men the high sentiment of emulation which will lead them to the recruiting offices? They don’t know that every minute they are losing is priceless, their delay perhaps jeopardising future battles.”

Lord Roberts paid a high tribute to the French Army and Generals, particularly General Joffre. As a gunner himself, he commented on the merits of the French 75-millimetre gun. He said that France would shortly feel the effects of the great support which England was preparing to give, and added : —“The people don’t realise that our men are fighting continuously against tremendous odds. We want more men to equalise matters. The information given regarding the Loudon Scottish Regiment might be repeated about other regiments.” Lord Roberts concluded ; “I’ll talk to General French about it.”