A Famous Soldier

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 21, 22 May 1912, Page 2

A Famous Soldier

LIEUT-GENERAL BADEN-POWELL

Founder of the Scout Movement, Visits Auckland Next Week

G~J~T VERY distinguished visitor to 1 I Auckland next week will be r - 1 Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Baden-Powell, K.C.8., K.C.V.0., well remembered as the guiding spirit in the gallant defence of Mafeking, and almost as well known since as the founder of the Boy-Scout movement. “8.P.,” as he was everywhere called by everybody during the Boer War, has had a splendidly-filled service record. Born in 1857—the date of the Indian Mutiny—he may claim to have had Mars as his natal star, and he has certainly spent his life amid wars and the rumours thereof. He first saw active service with the 13th Hussars in India, Afghanistan, ami South Africa; and next, after a spell at big-game hunting in India and Africa, took part as a Special Service Officer in the Zulu War of 1888. In the light of later developments it is interesting to notice that he was in this campaign selected to take command of the Zulu Native Scouts. It is not improbable that he added considerably to his knowledge of scouting during this period, since the Zulus are famous for their skill as trackers, and their inherited stock of bush-lore has always been the admiration of kindred spirits amongst the Britishers. After an expedition to Swaziland in the following year, BadenPowell’s next campaign was on the opposite side of the Continent: he was sent on special service to Ashanti under Sir Francis Scott on the occasion of the expedition against King Prempeh. Here he was placed in command of the native levies, whom he organised as scouts, and whom he transformed into first-class fighting material. He has himself chronicled the history of this campaign in his well-known and very readable book, "The Downfall of Prempeh,’’ published the year after the Ashanti War. In 1890-7 it was "the camp and the laager again” this time in Matabeleland, where he was Chief .Staff Officer. His scouting proclivities were again in evidence here, for he contrived to put in some notable scouting work in the Matopo Hills, having with him a no less celebrated Scout than Major Burnham, a boy’s hero if ever there was one, who led an extraordinary life full of thrilling adventures and hair-breadth escapes. BadenPowell saw- India again in the same year, when he was in command of the sth Dragoon Guards. From a hunting expedition to Kashmir he was recalled to take part in the greatest campaign of his career, the South African War, in which he was to make his name. On the outbreak of hostilities, he raised and commanded a Colonial Frontier Force for Rhodesia and Beehuanaland, and then took charge of the small force in Mafeking. From the 14th of October. 1899, although surrounded by a greatly superior body of Boers, and in spite of a close investment, of determined assaults, and of starvation rations, he and his plucky little garrison kept the flag living until the siege was raised by Mahon and Plumer on May 17-18, 1900. It is a far cry now back to the dark days of the Boer War —the days after Methuen had been defeated at Magersfontein, Gatacre at Stormberg. and Buller at Tugela. and Ladysmith, Kimberley, and Mafeking were all hard pressed—and we are nowadays a little inclined to take these things for granted, and to forget the stress and tension of that time. There has certainly been a disposition to deprecate the seriousness of the siege of Mafeking. Doubtless a great deal of hysterical writing there was, with ex-

aggerated accounts of what the garrison had to face; but when all allowances have been made for what appeared in the Press at a time of intense national excitement, the fact still stands out that the defence of Mafeking was one of the brightest and most gallant episodes of the war, and its moral effect was of the. highest value. To obtain an idea of how it was regarded by competent authorities, we have to go back twelve years. In the “Tinies” of the day the siege was raised, a very just estimate of the garrison’s work appeared, and in that always well-informed journal we find the following:—“There has been nothing like the defence of Mafeking in modern history. Kars and Lucknow were fine examples of valour, endurance, ami resourcefulness, but in each case the means of defence were infinitely greater than those which were at the disposal of Colonel Baden-Powell and his valiant comrades, and the enemy who beleagured Mafeking were well provided with modern artillery, and were able to make good use of their guns. The defence of Kimberley and the defence of Ladysmith will be recorded among the noblest achievements of the British. Army, and the latter at any rate has had a decisive influence on the campaign. But there is a touch of romantic devotion about the defence of Mafeking that gives it a peculiar place in our military history. Perhaps no personage whose name has become prominent in this war is more admired and trusted than Colonel -Baden-Powell. No man in our day has done so mueh with such slender means; None has shown a more unquenchable cheerfulness in the presence of crushing dangers and cruel trials. None has displayed a greater fertility of resource in devising expedients and in turning to the best account the gradually dwindling powers of a half-starved population. It is to the energy of Colonel Baden-Powell that we owe the organisation of the force which was able not only to hold Mafeking, but to keep the Boers back from raiding Beehuanaland. The Protectorate Regiment which was raised by Colonel Baden-Powell and Colonel Plumer has done work which cannot be overestimated.” ■So much for Mafeking. It is BadenPowell's chief claim to our regard, and just how big a claim it is might be realised if we could recall quite how we felt towards him at the time. Supposing he had come to Australasia to lecture twelve years ago instead of to-day, how we would have thronged to see him and to hear him! The achievement is none the less great because of the lapse of twelve years. He has himself, however, been helping us to forget it because he has focussed our eyes upon him in another capacity'. That the Boy-Scout movement is a big idea is undeniable; that it will lead to great tilings in the Imperial sense is the belief and hope of some of the most eminent of our military experts, and upon this subjecj none speaks with greater authority and none has more belief and hope than the enthusiastic founder. He delivers an. address at Auckland next Monday evening.