Taranaki Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16. THE LATE EARL ROBERTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 147, 16 November 1914, Page 4

Taranaki Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16. THE LATE EARL ROBERTS.

The news of the death of Earl Roberts will cause a feeling of the deepest regret throughout the Empire, for his name and fame are deeply revered by all classes. Throughout an exceptionally prolonged life of ceaseless activity in his country's [ service this brilliant soldier and ardent [patriot made for hiinaelf a name that [ will live in history for all time among tlio greatest and best of the warriors who have raised the British Empire and its arms to the proud position which they occupy to-day. The feeling of sincore sorrow at the loss of such a tower of strength to the Imperial army is mitigated by'the feeling of pride that the army has been so fortunate as to have included among its long list of warrior heroes and commanders a man so preeminently qualified as Lord Roberts to slied lustre on -its deeds of glory in the defence of the Empire. By birth and inclination Lord Roberts was a soldier through and through. He was born amid the rattle of arms in India, his father being a General, and his mother the daughter of a Major. For sixty-three years ho has been an officer, rising from second lieutenant to that of Field-Mar-shal and Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, and his end came while on active service, though not at the enemy's hand. Doubtless lie was well content to | die in harness, but his life, exploits, and example remain as witnesses to his brilliant attainments and intense zeal for his country's honor. So far as honors could testify to the nation's estimate of those services, they weer showered upon the deceased soldier with a profusion that sets him at once far above the ordinary soldier, and marks him as the greatest General of his time, though Lord Wolseley ran him close in this respect, yet fell far short of him in the matter ef army re-organisation. After retiring, as ho then thought, from activo service, Lord Roberts, instead of devoting the evening of his life to a well-earned rest, entered upon a campaign that would have severely taxed the powers and endurance of a man in the prime of life. Looking ahead, ho saw England's need of an army far greater than that which had sufficed in the past, and he put his hand and heart into one of the greatest tasks that any British soldier has ever undertaken—that of securing universal military training. Tie tackled this matter with all the determination and pluckthat he had exhibited on the various battlefields whereon he had taken a leading part. It may be that he saw hidden in the future the terrible struggle which is taking place to-day. At any rate, he felt the need of universal training, and he lived to see thab his vigorous efforts to attain that object were thoroughly justified; moreover, his country has been compelled by force of circumstance to acknowledge his wisdom, and, may be, to regret that' so

marny valuable years have been wasted over the controversy. There is to-day no more honored name in the Empire tkan that of Lord Roberts, and it is safe to say that in the long list of British heroes there is not one which appeals with such telling force to overy adult citizen of the Empire as does that of the hero of Kandahar and many other notable military triumphs. He has not lived in vain, and tlie Empire is the greater and more solid for bis gallant deeds. It was fitting that the closing episode of his life should be linked with the command of the overseas forces in their union with the army to defend and maintain the country's honor and champion the causo of the oppressed against the tyrant. It was largely owing to his efforts that the overseas dominions adopted universal military training, and set the Motherland that example which was so much needed. While, bowing their heads in sorrow over the loss of so grand a soldier, the people of Greater Britain must feel glad that ho was spared so long to carry on his great work, and to enhance the majesty and power of the great Empire of which they form part. His work is done, but theirs remains, and will remain from generation to generation, animated by the great spirit of patriotism which lord Pobcrts placed in the forefront of his life's work.