SIMILARITY BETWEEN TWO GREAT GENERALS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1612, 21 January 1903, Page 20

SIMILARITY BETWEEN TWO GREAT GENERALS

A selection from the despatches of tho Duke .of Wellington, dating from 1799 to 1815. which has just been published, gives a personal insight mto the character of the Iron Duke, and remind us constantly of Lord Kitchener, of Khartoum. Between therir oariers there is a close similarity. Tho Duke of Wellington not only helped to capture Seringapataui and fought the battle of Assaye when in India, but be proved himself a great organiser, a capable administrator, and possessed of high qualities for statesmanship. In. the long Peninsular campaigns tho Duke never wearied. He exercised iron discipline over his officers and troops, but at tho same time, was merciful to the inhabitants of the country ana appreciative of good work. Both the great Duke and Lord Kitchener were young men, as generals go. Lord Kitchener entered Khartoum at the ago of 48, and concluded peace in South, Africa when he was 53. The Duke of Wellington fought" Assay© when he was 34. and entered Paris after Waterloo at the age of 46. Writing frpm Bombay on 12th March, 1804, the Duke said:—“When war is concluded, I am decidedly of opinion that all animosity should be forgotten, and that all prisoners should be released.”