DEATH OF LORD ROBERTS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 68, 16 November 1914, Page 5

DEATH OF LORD ROBERTS

SUCCUMBED TO ATTACK OF PNEUMONIA. f ON DUTY TO THE LAST. United Piitss Association. London. November 14. Obituary: Lord Roberts, in France, the result of a chill. Wellington, November 10. The Prime Minister received the following from the High Commis l sioner, dated London, November 15:—' .Lord Kitchener received this evening a telegram from' General French as follows:—"Deeply regret to tell you thai Lord Roberts died at 8 o'clock this evening." : '•;. Lord Roberts was on a visit to' France to greet the Indian troops. He contracted a chill en Thursday, and succumbed to an attack of pneumonia.

REMARKABLE ACTIVITY RICHT T!LL THE END. HIS LAST SHORT ILLNESS. (Received BJ-" a.m.) London, November 15 Lord Roberts had been remarkably active since the beginning of the war. having dealt with vast correspondence with friends in the army, to whom he gave advice and sympathy. He was a constant visitor tn the Government Department, and apparently was in robust health. The suddenness of Ims death caused a great shock. Many references were made in the churches. He was making a 'brief visit to the Indian troops, of whom he was Colonel-in-Chief, when he contracted a chill j on Thursday, "and succumbed to pneu- I monia. , '

THE ROYAL CONDOLENCES. ■' (Received 12.5 p.m.) London, November 15. The King and Queen were greatly distressed at Lord Roberts' death, and sent messages of condolence, to his wife and family. The question of interment- in St. Paul's is being considered.

AUSTRALIAN TRIBUTES. (Received 9.45 a.m?) Sydney, November 16. Leading articles in the papers pay a tribute to Lord Roberts as the Empire's greatest soldier. Governor-General (Sir Ronald Mun-ro-Ferguson) cabled to Countess Roberts as follows:—"Australian forces mourn the los.s of {heir Colonel-in-Chief. ,,: . H - I '

NEW ZEALAND'S SYMPATHY. Per Press AsspciATifox. \Ycilihgon, November 16.. Ac the request of the Prime Minister, His Excellency the Governor sent the foil owing cable to .the . Secretary of State for the Colonies: "Myself and my Government and the people of New Zealand learned with deepest, sorrow of the death- of Fieid-Marshal Earl Roberts, who did so much to uphold the honor and integrity of the Empire, and who earned thje love of the whole British Race. Please convey our deepest sympathy to Lady Roberts and her family." "BOBS" OF THE ARMY. Field-Marshal Earl -Roberts, who was born at Cawnpur, in India, in 1832, had a most distinguished military career, which began in 1557 with the Indian Mutiny, when he fought at the siege of Delhi, the relief of Luckndw, and the light at Cawnpur. Ai Khudaganj he won the much-covoted distinction of the Victoria Cross. After serving in (he expedition against the tribes on the north-west frontier in 1863, he served iti the Abyssinian campaign in 1868, and was selected by Sir R. Napier as, the bearer of his final despatch A. In the Lushai expedition of 1871-72 he was senior staff offieer with the Cashar column. He commanded the Kurajn field force from the commencement of the Afghan war in 1878, and after the murder of Sir Louis Cavagnari, the British representative at the.'Afghan Court, Sir F. Roberts marched rapidly on Cabul, which he occupied, after some hea.\v fighting, in October, 1879. While there he had news of the defeat of General Burrows at Maiwand by an Afghan force, and at once a force of 10,000, with which ne setoff for Kandahar on August 9. Oh the 31st he entered that town, .laving traversed 300 miles over nounlaiuous and most difficult country.

and completely routed the enemy, For - this work he was created a baronet, and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Madras army. Five years la cor lie was made Commanderin-Chi >f in India, and in 1886 , (the fallowing year) "he commanded the army in Burma. In 180° he was raised to the peerage as Baron Roberts, and three years later obtained the r.ink of Field-Marshal. Alter the defeat of General Buller at Coleuso, in December, 1599, in the Boer war; Lord Roberts was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, in succession ta Viscount AYolseley. created • Earl of Kandahar, Pretoria, and Waterford, and voted by Parliament a grant of £IOO,OOO. * In 1904, when he retired from the office of CWiou'-ul. er-in-Chief, his long and eminent services wore specially recognised*in an Army Order issued by King Ed.vi'.rd. Thereafter Earl Roberts devoted himself to advocating universal wiiilitarv training, and on the outbreak if the present war he was appointed Com-mander-in-Chief of the Overseas Forces. In that capacity he was visitino; France, when bis end came, not by wounds, but by an attack of pneumonia, which, at. his very ai3vau"'ed age. he was unable to withstand. jTh« deceased soldier was the autVuof several boots,