WORK FOR KITCHENER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1079, 18 March 1911, Page 5

WORK FOR KITCHENER.

A- SUGGESTION. By Telcffrapli—l'rcss Association—Oopjriuht London, March 16. The "Evening Standard" says that in military circles it is considered that Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener's time is being frittered away. The suggestion is in ado that ho should ho employed for five years in developing tho overseas armies, acting as adviser and intermedinry between the respective Governments, and framing a concrete scheme of defence such as that outlined by Sir Joseph "Ward and General Smuts (South African Minister for Defence). j THE ORGANISER 01? ARMIES?. Lord Kitchener's power to combine and organise material into new and definite shape (wrote Mr. 'William Maxwell in tho "Daily Mail" recently) has been manifested in a thousand ways eince he tooj; charge of the Egyptian War Office and established. his reputation as a great administrator ruthless in carrying out reforms and resolute to secure efficiency. This, continues Mr. Maxwell, is his supreme faculty. He has others less rare, but not Ms. useful. He is a hard and accurate thinker, always forcfceing and planning, nfe' records in tho War Office will reveal some day. His industry, patience, and perseverance are phenomenal, and earned for him on the banks if tho Nile the title of Master of tho Patiguj Parties. Nothing escaped his sleepless eye—not even the .ice-machine which the Guards tried to smuggle on tj» way to Omdurman. His impatience of red-tape and official reports was shown in Egyptian days by the fact that his office stationery consisted of a few telegraph forms which he carried in his helmet. On tailing up the commands in India, Lord Kitchener found tho forces disposed as in Mutiny days when railways were few. He left tho Army concentrated at vital points and organised ou an intelligible plan with some regard to its instant and effective uso as an instruct of war. .He found no attempt to secure uniformity of training of the troops and' no provision for the special •■taff training, of officers. Both thess defects he has remedied. It was inevitable that reforms so drastic, and far-reaching should provoke hostility. Lord Kitchener has had to endure the penalty ot all reformers, but lie has tho satisfaction of knowing that he leaves India armed and ready to meet with every chance of victory'cither invasion or mutiny.