LORD ROBERTS AND HIS GENERALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 52

LORD ROBERTS AND HIS GENERALS.

Mr A. B. Paterson's third Jecture, the subject of which was the ever-victorious " Bobs-"* and his generals, attracted another large audience at the Garrison Hall on Friday night. In. the course of his wanderings over different pa-rta of South Africa is his capacity as war correspondent Mr Paterson had the good fortune to see a good deal of the great military specialist who was at the head of affairs, and also of the 'different generals who were under his command, from the chief of the staff downwards. In succinct, fluent, simple language the speaker detailed the impressions he formed of these .British leaders, "and the principal features in. their -characters, both as individuals and as soldiers. Naturally, the greatest amount of interest was attached to the Empire's hero, " Bobs," and what he had to say concerning him was listened to with unremitting attention. Like everyone else who came into contact with. Lord Roberts, "Banjo" was struck with' the courtesy, innate, dignity, and gentlemanly bearing of the great general, and the solicitude hs displayed for the health and welfare of his troops, down to the most insignificant Tommy. Lord Eoberts, he said, always foiind time to go through the Hospital and pee the wounded, dropping words of comfort and encouragement as he proceeded along. His visits always leffc a more cheerful tone in the atmosphere. Personally, his life on the field was Spartan-like in its simplicity. He lived in a covered-ia waggon, furnished with a small table and a narrow, trestle bed, on which was a hard mattress. Although he was 68 years of age, hia whole life was severely devoid of luxury. Tho rigorous discipline which, marked' the enforcement of obedience to his orders was also dwelt upon, and instances given of the stern and unrelenting manner in which he visited punishment on generals who had not fulfilled hJa mandates or failed in their duty. The formality and military ceremony which Lord Roberts always displayed on entering a city or on other notable' occasions — a peculiar feature in a man whose private life was so unostentatious — was attributed by the speaker to the fact that Lord Roberts had spent so xnany years in India, where everything .is judged by outward appearance, and where the minds of native princes could alone be impressed with Great Britain's power by an. elaborate parade of the pomp and circumstance of war. An interesting portion of the sketch, of Lord Roberts -was that Vherein the speaker made mention of the Field-marshal's constant companion, an old warrior named General Johns. General Johns .and Lord Eoberts, it was stated, commenced their military careers together.* -Each earned his V.C. about the same time, and both were associated in many an exciting quarter of an hour. General Johns was older than Lord Roberts, and something like him in personal appearance. The old General was on the retired list, but when Lord Roberta went to take command he could not remain behind, and the two were constantly to be seen. together. In his remarks concerning General Buller, Mr Paterson paid that distinguished soldier a high tribute, speaking of his gallantry and military skill. His description of the qualities which were uppermost in that military machine," General Lord Kitchener — a. man with brains and without heart— was an admirable one in all respects; while the tactical genius of Baden-Powell, the fearlessness and doggedness of French, the splendid fighting qualities of the hero Highlander, -Hector Macdonald, and the leading attributes in the - .personality of Sir Archibald Hunter, of Methuen, of Hutton, were all graphically delineated, the lecturer parenthetically remarking that Hutton was likely to be the general for federated Australia.

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