“LORD CHARLES.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2517, 2 June 1909, Page 2

“LORD CHARLES.”

A STRIKING CHARACTER SKETCH

The parting of an admiral from his fleet and flagship is always a sad and •touching ceremony. Never is it more touching than when an officer who has won the affection of his followers takes leave of them for the last time. This a fid the belief that he has been not too kindly treated by tlio powers that he explains tho singular demonstration at Portsmouth when Lord Charles Beresfo-rd hauled down his flag, and passed ashore, after nine years of almost continual service in high command, durmg" which he has won the confidence and admiration of all under him.

Born in IS4G, his years of service in the Navy number fifty. In his early days he * distinguished himself repeatedly by acts of signal gallantry in saving life .at sen. But, though known within the. ranks of the Navy as an audacious and capable officer, it was not until the bombardment of Alexandria that lie came before the nation’s eye. The story of the Condor is familiar to us all. With this little gun-boat, absolutely unprotected, lie- dashed, m under Fort Marabout, and, pouring in a lire from his machine guns-and his heavier weapons, so distracted the gunners in the fort that they were unable to work any mischief. When the signal of recall was made his gunboat was cheered by- the wholo fleet, the signal, ■Well done, Condor,” was made, and Lord Charles was specially promoted and mentioned in despatches. Though of distinguished birth, Lor.l Charles has won every step in.lns profession by sheer merit. In 1884 lie commanded the naval brigade m the expedition sent to rescue Gordon —the expedition which arrived too late. II is name again figured always in the despatches. At Abu Klea, where the dervishes made their fierce rush, lie was outside the square, clearing a jammed machine gun, as the dervishes closed. He escaped bv a sheer miracle; all the naval officers at his side were killed or disabled.

FIGHTING THE DERVISHES. Then followed his rescue of Sir diaries Wilson in the crazy old steamer Safieli. Khartum had fallen > W ilson was wrockod on an island in tlio rsuc, between which and Beresford intervened miles of river commanded by a dervish fort. How he cairied the Safieh up to the fort; how slio was struck in the boiler and disabled; how Benbow mended the boiled under fire while Beresford fought the dervishes from tho deck is recorded m history and in despatches. Never was a more thrilling tale told to the public, yet not till long years afterwards did it become known that to the exploit the relief column owed its escape from disaster. Impressed by Beresford s conduct t . dervishes came to tho conclusion that the British were invulnerable near tho water, and withheld an attack m ■ erreat force. The British started suddenly from tlio Nile, moved pedition; and make good their retreat Entering Parliament for tho second time, on his return, Lord Charles called for a large naval programme lbo First Sea Lord of that day, Sir Cooper Key, had tamely permitted the strength of the Navy to decline until m the words of his biographer and defender, it was no stronger than the fleet o France. Lord Charles’s demand was rejected, amid the usual assurances 'that all was for the best. . . , In Lord Salisbury’s first Administration he became Junior Sea Lord, and immediately pressed for the creation of a Naval Intelligence Department. There was then no organisation lor war and ho preparation for mobilisation The Government would not give him what he wanted, and lio resigned with an utter indifference to his personal prospects. Of course he was treated with scorn —but the Naval Intelligence Department was created. His next act was to call for an expenditure of twenty millions on the Navy. Again his demand was refused; amain, some months alter it- had been peremptorily refused, tho money was voted in the. Naval Defence J'‘t-~ that c-roat monument of British patriotism, as an Italian writer of the day described it. The fleet thus provided kept the peace in 1896, when Germany at the time, of tho Jameson Raid proposed to the European Powers joint action against England and despatched the Kruger telegram. THE NORTH SEA INCIDENT.

In 1893, at a great City meeting, in tho naval crisis caused by the refusal of the Liberal Government to introduce an adequate programme, ho pressed for more ships. When- tho Russian special programme was announced in 1898, ho once more made a demand for a supplementary programme and secured an additional eight armoured ships—we laid down fifteen in all that

year. These were* the very ship 3 which kept the world’s peace in the trying days of 1904, when the North Sea incident all hut caused European war. In January 1900 Lord Charles began the long period of service afloat in high command, which gave him such unrivalled experience, aud winch recently closed. Though Lord Charles was never permitted by tho authorities to train a large fleet, such as ho must have handled in war, though hi 3 ships were often reduced to eight, ten, or twelve armoured units, ho mado tho Channel Fleet a great school of tactics, a train-ing-ground for admirals. Every captain Was required to handle the whole fleet from time to time, and to execute some tactical exercise. Junior officers wore required to take charge of battleships. War conditions were studied with zeal, pertinacity, and splendid inteTigence. In war it may well ho that captains will fall at tho post of duty, and the charge of groat ships pass to young lieutenants. That they might bo prepared for that contingency was the aim of Lord Charles’s training Of his relations with his officers and men it is almost unnecessary to speak. “Other admirals are obeyed,” said an ex-Channel officer to me; “Lord Charles Beresford is loved.” Between him and those he led, as between Nelson and that immortal hand of seamen who followed to such boundless .glory, was the tie of close personal affection, th-.- conviction that in the hour of encounter he would support them to the. last, and that, whatever dispositions those in authority might ordain, and whatever difficulties they might place in the way of success, the Admiral of the Channel Fleet would leave a deep mark on any enemy, and would sink it if ho could not win. In his presence and under his kindling touch, men felt the 'ineffable influence of a great personality; in his simplicity and generous impulsiveness they saw renewed on earth something of the spirit of Nelson. Lord Charles’s future none can predict. But such a career has not ended. There is work on shore for him to do in this moment of crisis.—“ Daily Mail.”