LATE LORD ROBERTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 149, 18 November 1914, Page 4

LATE LORD ROBERTS.

FAREWELL TO IRISH GUARDS. , SIR E. WOOD'S TESTIMONY. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Reeived 17, 6.15 p.m. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, November 18. Lord Roberts, when farewelling the Irish Guards on their departure for the front, said: "I am proud of being Colonel of the Irish Guards. We are fighting in a good cause—our country's liberty, the preservation of our great Empire, and to prevent friendly nations being crushed by a formidable and unscrupulous eneniv. You are in. God's hands. Trust Him, be of good courage, and he will help to strengthen you. Pray God I may live to welcome you on your returning covered with honour and glory. He shook hands With every officer.

Sir Evelyn Wood says that if the nation had listened to Lord Roberts our war casualties might have been materially lessened.

A NATIONAL MONUMENT;. WITH APPROPRIATE INSCRIPTION. Received 17, .55 p.m. London, November 16. 1 Tn the House of Commons, Mr Asquith announced that the Government would ask Parliament to erect a national monument to Lord Roberts, with an inscription expressing the admiration of the House for his illustrious military careet, and gratitud for his devoted services to the State. A PEACEFUL END. AN EXEMPLARY CHARACTER. ■London, November 16. Another account says that Lord Roberts was not taken ill till after dinner, when he complained of a slight chill. Being subject to chest troubles lie retired early. His temperature increased, and three doctors decided that his condition was critical. Lord Roberts complained of pain, which the doctors re- | lieved. He fell asleep without showing 'imeasin.'s-s and yas-sei away in his 1 sleep. It is expected that the funeral will be at All Saints, Ascot, where lie has resided for eleven years. His correspondence to the end was enormous. He always wrote his own letters and conducted morning prayer every day for the household. He was a very regular church-goer,'and always walked to church rather than give his chaffcur work. Everybody in Ascot worshipped him. Lady ftoberts declined a\ri offer for her ' husband's burial at Westminster Abbey, j There are many French, Danish and Italian tributes to Lord Roberts. / Amsterdam, November 16. Practically the wliolo German press pay a trilmte to Lord Roberts. Among Lord Roberts' last remarks in England were regrets at the too, great secrecy of the military censorship concerning tho bravery and deeds of the troops. The Daily Chronicle strongly attacks the Government censorship of thrilling deeds on the battlefield, and contrasts it unfavorably with the Gorman nieth- ■ ods.

ROUSING THE NATION*. In recent years oril Roberts devoted himself to a difficult task, that of rousinc the people of the United Kingdom from their contented apathy, and making them realise the necessity of universal military training for national defence. After seven years of strenuous work there is almost a note of sadness in Lord Roberts' last speech at the Mansion House on this subject, delivered some time apjo. Referring to his first address on the subject, the veteran soldier said:—

I then affirmed that the armed forces of this country were as absolutely unfitted and unprepared for war as they were in 1599-1900. And I grieve to have this afternoon to repeat to you that we are' no better fitted, no better prepared, to carry on a war than in 1005. He pointed out that tliis state of things was due to the tendency of a self-confident nation, devoted to commerce and industry, to ignore the contingency of being forced into war, and he declared that "the men who ought to state the facts in plainest terms, and rouse tJio nation from its fatal apathy, are the men who are fostering that spirit of indifference and self-confidence to which the nation is 'alroady too prone."

AS COJOIASDER-IX-OHIEF. As Commander-in-Chief of the British Army (appointed after he left South Africa), Lord Roberts did much to place it on a stronger footing,' and lost 110 opportunity of arousing the nation to the necessity of increasing its defensive | strength against the time when it shall "meet its enemies in the gate." When | the office of Commander-in-Chief was abolished to make way for the new scheme of army organisation which was inaugurated in 1904, Lord Roberts continued to urge his counsels for efficiency on the nation. The audacity of his genius, his noble humanity, and solicitude for the welfare of his troops, the high view which he took of liisyprofession, his amelioration of its conditions, together with his fine personal qualities and charm of manners, made "Bobs" the darling, of the army and the nation at large. His autobiography, | "Forty-one Years in India," presents a | masterly and modest record of liis East-1 em career. His life was one continuous progress in affection as in fame.

ROBERTS, THE MAN,. An American correspondent in London thus described him in the "Argonaut":— "I was impressed with Ms resemblance, not in appearance, but in char-

acteristic traits, to General Grant. He is quiet, unostentatious, reserved in speech, tolerant in judgment, and. sweetnatured. Short in stature, and without commanding presence, he stands so erect and lias so much natural dignity that he justifies Mr. Kipling's jingling description of him. His eyes are keen, and his bearing is self-possessed an'd . alert, and his faco is kindly, and reflects the goodness of his heart."Easily approached, he sets every visitor at ease by talking in the most unaffected way. Controversy he dislikes, and invariably shrugs his shoulders whenever voices' are, raised, and there is a menace of heated argument, The most versatile and accomplished British soldier since the Duke of Wellington, he is a man of peace in camp and in private life, without jealousy, and without a passion for controversy and feuds. Like General Grant, he has > nobility of nature and serenity of mind, and underneath these is the guileless heart of a child. Of genius required for saving the Union, as saying: 'General Grant had the genius required for Bay-

ing the Union, and ougTit not to taj placed second to any modern comn mander." f Lord Roberts had a reputation for re-* partee, and on one occasion lie adminis-* tercd a smart rebuke to a bore which' caused a good deal of amusement. ItN was at a clul), and there was a very tall gentle.man present, who seized every opportunity of raising a laugh another expense. Now, as is well known, Vird Roberts is very short, and when thij gentleman was introduced tothe famous soldier, he patronisingly remarked; ''l have often lipard of you, but"—shading his eves with one hand as though "Bobs" wks too small to be seen without difficulty—"l have never seen you." TTpon which Lord Roberta promptly replied: "I have often seen you hero, sir, but I have npver heard of you'." The rest was silence.