PASSING OF "BOBS."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 171, 28 December 1914, Page 4

PASSING OF "BOBS."

GREAT SOLDIER'S LAST HOURS. GLAD TO DIE NEAR SO MANY OLI> ] 1 COMRADES. , London, November 10. :Ojj It appears that Lord Roberts con-*- * tractod a chill almost i "'mediately he ar- j rived in France, but he insisted on vj ™i ,g to the front to see' the troops, | with many of whom he shok hands. Ho ,| rrossed "round which i* now a bog. HW ■ * tang 'iltaewi developed, and he returned 3 to Boulogne, where he said: "I dont er- % so many old comrades." When ths .j „°cws o? his death reached the trenche. ■ many veterans sobbed. The jrrenen - nation regards Lord Roberts's end as ; the most inspiring and historic Kiel- ~ dent of this war. _, . Lord Roberts left England on Wed- ri nesday, with his daughter, Lady. Aileen, , and his son-inMaw, Major Lcw.n. On -j Thursday and Friday he paid" visits to .. the British bases and camps, and dis- -, cussed affairs with a leading general. He also inspected the Indian troops and attended a dinner. On Friday night he complained of a slight chill. Hifl tern- - v perature increased? and a doctor was -■ summoned. The latter made a serious diagnosis, and two other doctors were called in commutation. Lord Roberts foil ; asleep, there being no symptoms of uneasiness. He never woke again. Major, Lcwin brought the news to Lady Roberts, who bore the ordeal well. Lady Aileen remained by his deathbed to tne last. . A distinguished officer, in the course of an interview in London, said that ~ undoubtedly Lord Roberts went to the . front as an example to his countrymen. High inbuence was brought to bear m * order to dissuade him from going, but all objections were mot with the answer: "I cannot remain quietly at home when old comrades are fighting for our e»B- , tence." , , ~ An officer, just returned from tne , front, says that Lord Roberts refused to wear his overcoat when inspecting tne - Indians on Thursday, and insisted on seeing the fighting. On Friday, despite heavy rains and a bitter wind, he went to the top of an exposed hill and was seized with illness a few minutes after he returned to headquarters. Many Indians wept when told of DM death. What was probably Lord 1 Robert's last public message was the folt lowing telegram read at a recruiting 1 dinner held in Hull on Saturday: "Glad men and staff of the Hull Coal and Shipping Exchange arc doing their duty ■ for King and country. Proud to have so many men in the regiment of which I am honorary colonel."