A NATION'S IRREPARABLE LOSS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 65, 16 November 1914, Page 4

A NATION'S IRREPARABLE LOSS.

DEATH OF I.OED EGBERTS. during official visit to FRANCE. The Prime Minister has received the following from the High Commissioner dated London, November loth; Official. — Lord Roberts died to-day. GENERAL FRENCH'S MESSAGE. The Prime Minister received the following from the High Commissioner, dated, London, November 15th; Laid Kitchener received thin evening a. ie’egram from General French cor raining the following message:-- “ Deeply r egret, to tell you Lord Rob- ' ■■rm di <\ at eight o'clock this even-. ' - i lug.” VISIT TO THE INDIAN TROOPS. Laid Pol cits was on a visit to France tc greet the Indian troops. He cor traded a chill on Thursday and succumbed io an attack of pneumonia. SUDDEN BENTH CAUSES GEE AT SHOOK. DECEASED’S ACTIVE INTEREST IN MATTERS AT THE FRONT. A VICTIM OF PNEUMONIA. Press Assoeial ion—Copyright. (Received 8.45 a.an.) LONDON, November 15. Lord Roberts had been remarkably active since ihe beginning ol tho war, and had dealt with vast correspondence with friends in the army to whom he gave hia advice and sympathy. He was a constant visitor to the Government Departments and was apparently in robust health. The suddenness of his death has caused a great shock. Many references were made in the churches. The deceased was making a brio! visit to the Indian troops of whom he ivas Cclcnebiu-Chtef. He contracted a chill on Thursday and succumbed tc pneumonia. . THEIR MAJESTIES’ CONDOLENCE. QUESTION OF INTERMENT IN ST. PAUL’S. (Rec. 12.5 a.m.) LONDON } Nov. 15. The King and Queen are greatly distressed at Earl Roberts’ death and have sent niesages of condolence to Countess Roberts and family. The question of interment in St. Paul’s is being considered. NEW ZEALAND’S TRIBUTE At the request of the Prime Minister the Governor has sent the following cable to the Secretary of State for the Colonies: —Myself and my Government and people of New Zealand learned with the deepest sorrow of the death of Field Marshal Earl Roberts, who did so much to uphold the honour and integrity of the Empire and who earner? the love of the whole of the British race. Please convey our deepest sympathy to Lady Roberts and her family [Field-Marshal Earl Roberts was born in 1832. He was the most distinguished of living British soldiers. He was born in India, and at the age of IS was serving with the Bengal Artillery. In the Indian Mutiny he proved his capacity on many occasions. He was at the relief of Lucknow, and assisted lip ..the siege and. capture of Delhi. He again saw active service with the Abyssinian Expedition of 1867-1868, and with that to Lushai of 1871-1872. In 1878-1879 he was entrusted with the command oi the Kurain Field Force, and made his historic march from Kabul to Kandahar in 188. In 1888 he had command of the army in Burma. In 1892 io was raised to the peerage as Daren Roberts of Kandahar. In 1893 \e returned to England from India, and two years later he was appointed to succeed Lord : Wclseley in the Irish command. In 1900, alter the many disasters which befel the English forces in South Africa ho was despatched as Command-er-in -Chief, and in the course of a few months entirely changed the aspect of affairs, relieved the besieged places, ami won complete victories over tho Boers'. Ho shen handed over the command to Lord Kitchener, returning to England to snccod Lord Wolseley as ■ Commander-in-chief of the British army He received a grant cf £IOO,OOO. He was deeply interested in a scheme for compulsory National Service, which bo strongly advocated.]