KAID MacLEAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 20 July 1907, Page 3

KAID MacLEAN.

Kaid Mac-Lean, captured by Raisuli, is the adventurous Scottish soldier, Sir Harry Aubrey Mac Lean, 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 G!)th Regiment of Foot in )/fl9, and served in the army in various parts of the world till 1876. He took part in the Red River expedition,-and also did duty at Bermuda and Gibraltar. It was while he was at the last-named station that he came in touch with the country which was to be chiefly connected with his life's work. In 1875, while on a vi.-*it to Tangier, he was asked by the then British Minister to Morocco, Sir Drumnmnd Hay, if he would accept the post of instructor to the Moorish troops, the Sultan having asked the British Minister to find an English officer for that purpose. Mac Lean, accepting the offer, resigned his commission in the British Army.

The first work given him liy his new master was the ordering of a number of huge guns. So pleased was the Sultan with the way tin- young foreigner did the work entrusted to him that he took him permanently into the employ of the Moorish (lovcrnment and subsequently gave him the rank of Kaid. During his 28 years', command of the Moorish army, Kaid Mac-Lean has made it u lighting machine not to he 'despised, liis inlluenc-e in the country is immense, and his presence has been of great value in impressing the Sultan with English idea, ami diplomacy. Tie is extremely popular with the soldiers, who delight to speak of his bravery, and his influence among the people and at the Court has been immensely enhanced by the fact that he has never meddled in politics, but has always devoted himself to his own work. He has organised practically the whoe Moorish army, arming the troops with Kuropean rifles. Owing to liis 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 indexible justice, tact, and indomitable energy and bravery. As he has accompanied the Sultan in all liis expedition*, he has seen an im- I mense amount of lighting. Many years ago he lost the sight of his right eye as the result of ophthalmia contracted during one of these expeditions, but this is in no way apparent, both eyes having i the appearance of normal health. In spite of the loss of one eye he is a magiiiliceiit rille shot, firing from the left j shoulder. "The Kaid, with his Honing robes, sun-browned face and while beard," wrote -one who saw him when he was on his special embassy mission to congratulate King Edward on his accession, looks a typical Moor, but a very warm-hearted Scotsman is to be found under the Oriental exterior. Knid Mac Lean received the honor of knighthood from the King in 11)01, "for services rendered to the British (ioveinincnt." His heart is with (he old ling I evidently, for his son is in the British army, and went through the South African war.